This incredible life-saving aviary resulted from the learning moment of an innocent but misguided plan to include a “dove release” at San Damiano’s Blessing of the Animals Fair on October 5th, 2019. Lindsay Wildlife Experience, responding to an invitation to participate in the event, declined, writing:

“Lindsay Wildlife Experience does not attend events that include pigeon and dove releases. These releases are harmful to the doves and pigeons. I have included Elizabeth from Palomacy. She is incredibly knowledgeable about these events and can answer any questions you may have. If the dove release is canceled, Lindsay Wildlife Experience will reconsider your Lindsay in the Community request.”

And with that, the seemingly benign “dove release” was understood to be the dangerous exploitation that it really is and cancelled. Instead, Palomacy Pigeon & Dove Rescue was invited to participate. Volunteers Christiana Reed and Patti Delaney drove all the way from Sacramento to Danville, bringing rescued pigeons to receive and bestow blessings. They had a wonderful time, made many new friends for pigeons and helped to further San Damiano’s plan to create their own aviary for rescued pigeons.

  

San Damiano’s knew just the right place to build their big, beautiful, life-saving aviary- front and center where all could see and hear the rescued pigeons. They repurposed a grape arbor into this amazing, safe, happy home for a flock of 20 domestic (unreleasable) pigeons!

On January 3rd, 2020, I had the privilege of delivering the first four incredibly lucky pigeons to their new home! Newlywed couples Jewel and Swift and Fannie ‘Mo Mannie and Dora and I were all very warmly welcomed.

Facilities director Ron says, “As soon as Lisa and I found out we could have an aviary here up at San Damiano, it was like a perfect fit for us. We all new knew that it would fit right in with our Franciscan traditions.”

The San Damiano team, assisted with aviary-how-to info Palomacy provided, built a perfect aviary! It is big-  9′ wide by 18′ long and 10′ high. It is lined underneath the river rock substrate with 1/2″ hardware cloth to prevent dig ins, built strong to protect against predators, half roofed to provide deep shade in the hottest weather and shelter during the coldest rainy storms. The ten nest boxes (one for each pair) are sheltered to stay dry, roomy for married bird luxury and spaced out to facilitate happy relationships with neighbors. The aviary roof is slanted and shingled. The door has an auto-closing hinge and a predator-proof latch. Finishing touches will include a sign explaining why these birds are confined (they wouldn’t and shouldn’t be if they could live free) and a NestCam that will allow staff, volunteers, guests and fans to watch and hear these lucky, happy birds by simply clicking on this link.

On January 16th, Palomacy volunteer Jill and I delivered six more super-lotto-lucky pigeons: Sparrow and Captain Jack, Iris and Violet, and Mackenzie and Olive, bringing the flock up to ten (will be home to twenty when full).

On January 31st, Palomacy volunteer Jill delivered the next four super-lotto-winning pigeons: Odette and Alvarez and Octavia Champagne and Chocolate.

And then, on February 7th, four more super lucky pigeons moved in! Rescued Flying Flights Hank and Sprite and unreleasable feral pigeons Milo and Annabelle! What a beautiful flock and amazing home!

We are all so incredibly grateful to Ron and Lisa and everyone at the San Damiano Retreat for extending their loving care to include these miraculous birds. Without rescue, foster care and now adoption, each one of these vibrant, unique beings would have been dead. They are survivors of being bred, used and endangered by humans for their businesses and hobbies. Fannie Mo’ Mannie, bred for meat- squab, sold live and inhumanely “released” in Alameda, was starving to death by the time he was lucky enough to be rescued. He weighed only 370 of the 600 grams he should have. He’s safe, happy and home now.

Violet, a pigeon racing survivor who lived through a predator attack and was rescued by Palomacy from shelter euthanasia, was bred to be used for pigeon racing, a “sport” that cruelly exploits pigeons’ deep devotion to family by trucking or shipping thousands of them hundreds of miles from home and then releasing them to fly their hearts out trying to get back home. Many die on the way. They can burn through half their body weight in a race and starve to death before they get home. They are blown off course, attacked by predators, shot by hunters. And even those that do make it home may still suffer and be killed (“culled”) as not winning enough or sold to hunting dog trainers, falconers and live target shooters as “surplus”.

Olive, Mackenzie, Dora and Swift are all “dove release” survivors, Homer pigeons bred to be snow white, look like doves (because nobody wants “wedding pigeons”) and rented out to be released at celebrations. They are supposed to make it home safely but many do not. Everyone who rescues pigeons is full of the lucky few who get rescued when lost or injured. Can you imagine how many die alone, unnoticed?

If you love pigeons, you speak out on behalf of the wild and free and you support pigeon rescue in whatever ways you can. Volunteer, donate, foster, adopt… they are easy to help and so much need to be. Those of us who are helping pigeons are out numbered 1000 to one by those breeding and using and losing them. They treat them as if they were disposable. Together, we are changing that. Together we are saving lives, stopping suffering and inspiring compassion.

Palomacy is so very appreciative of the San Damiano family and their compassion in action. We thank you, San Damiano, for all of the ways you embody the Franciscan values of Hospitality, Caring for Creation and Embracing the Marginalized.

Palomacy hopes you too are inspired to bring the joy and kindness of a rescue aviary into your world. There are many birds in need of homes and we are eager to help you. Contact Elizabeth@pigeonrescue.org, call 415 420-7204 & see our aviary guidelines here.

And dove lovers, along with all the rescued pigeons in our care, Palomacy also has beautiful, coo-ful rescued domestic Ringneck doves in need of aviary homes. They are smaller, busier and their singing coos are beautiful to hear!