Spoiler Alert: This is an amazing, happy story of kindness and generosity. Marian has been a volunteer bird rehabber for 36 years. She has helped doves, pigeons, songbirds, corvids, waterbirds, raptors and parrots in Modesto, Sacramento, Fairfield and beyond. Marian wrote, “All too often, I heard, “They’re just songbirds.” “They’re just pigeons,” as excuses for awful care and no care. So I would take them home. It was/is so heartening to learn years ago that Palomacy had been established. I’m a Mickaboo donor too, and that’s how I found Palomacy. I can’t do the work any longer, though if I get a call about pigeons or any bird, I can’t say no to a desperate animal. Each life matters. Their lives are just as important to them as our lives are to us.”  

Indeed.

For many years, Marian soft released rescued pigeons to homes that she would visit to feed and water a couple times a week. When those sites were no longer available, Marian housed the pigeons she rescued in her own backyard aviary- lugging their 50 pound bags of feed, climbing ladders to winterize the roof, providing all their care- for as many years as she was able.

On October 4th, I received an email from Marian asking for help to rehome her flock of 36 pigeons. I was hit with a flurry of emotions: Gratitude to Marian for helping thousands of birds over so many years, sadness that she could no longer care for her flock, panic about how overfull Palomacy could rise to this challenge and a flicker of hope. Marian was offering to build an aviary for her flock if an adopter could be found.

Buoyed by Marian’s game-changing offer, I wrote back, “Thank you ever so much for all you’ve been doing through the decades to help so many birds! And thank you for being a friend & supporter of Palomacy! As you know all too well, it is always challenging to find adopters for pigeons but with your incredible offer of building an aviary on your birds’ behalf, it is MUCH more doable. It will take time but we should be able to help.”

I am constantly striving to develop and inspire aviaries for rescued pigeons- small backyard aviaries, big sanctuary aviaries, life-saving partnership aviaries and so, with Marian’s offer, I reached out to five Palomacy volunteers to start the conversation about short-term support and aviary building that I expected would require months.

And then, just five days later Angela the angel and her family answered all our prayers with an offer to build an aviary for Marian’s flock at their home!

Angela is an incredible lover of animals. She has rescued and adopted pigeons and doves and shares her beautiful home with ducks, chickens, dogs and two banana-loving pigs. Angela and her husband Gabriel volunteer at our outreach events and now, in one heroic leap, they have joined the ranks of our biggest adopters!

On Monday, December 9th, I had the privilege of meeting Marian and her 36 pigeons at Angela’s house to witness their moving in to there big, custom-built, safe, beautiful new aviary home!

It was an incredibly happy experience. Marian writes, “Their faces went from “We’re gonna be eaten alive” to “Our lives just became fabulous.” The looks on their faces, of contentment and joy were very visible. It was a joy to see them laying on the rocks taking sun baths after their water bath. And the flock on the tree trunk equally pleased with their new home. Both populations ignored food for about an hour, so happy were they in their new home. Most of these birds were hand raised as orphans. The others consist of racers and the others injured or starving.”

I am so honored to be a part of such a kind and compassionate community, our Palomacy community. Marian saved and healed each and every one of these beautiful 36 pigeons with her loving care and now, thanks to her careful financial planning, has safely landed them in their incredible new home with amazing Angela! Angela’s committed to giving these birds the best gift pigeons can ever receive- a forever home. And lifelong rescuer Marian, already a monthly donor to Palomacy, has also made a big, extra donation to Palomacy to help us keep helping. Please plan ahead for your beloved birds’ future and remember, you can name Palomacy as a beneficiary in your will, trust or estate plan on behalf of your birds’ future. (Contact Elizabeth@pigeonrescue.org for assistance.)

BONUS VIDEO:
Angela’s Pet Pigs Tara & Pua Love Banana