On Sunday, February 23rd, someone bought at least 23 domestic King pigeons from a live poultry market and then, thinking they could survive if “set free”, let them all go in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. Fortunately for the 20 that were rescued, Good Samaritans in the park that afternoon (including some who volunteer with Palomacy) recognized that the birds milling around in the street needed help.

San Francisco Animal Care & Control was contacted and officers came out and rescued 10.

Later in the evening, another bunch was found and again San Francisco Animal Care & Control was called out. They saved 8. Pigeon lover Jen who saw and called them in also contacted Palomacy and we met out there at 8 PM, miraculously finding 2 more.

This story is still unfolding. I’m on my way to the San Francisco Animal Care & Control shelter now to assess and assist with the placing of these pigeons. They are domestic and unreleasable. They evaded the butcher for whom they were bred and miraculously were rescued before the raccoons, coyotes, cats, owls and hawks massacred them. Few would have survived one night in Golden Gate Park. (Read Elma: Sole Survivor for more info.)

These beautiful birds make wonderful pets, inside with the family or outdoors with other pigeon in a predator and rodent-proof aviary. We can help you to help them. Our fosters and adopters LOVE their birds. We hear “best pet I’ve ever had” a lot.

Apply here to foster or adopt, read our care guidelines here, see how to build a safe aviary here. Questions? Concerns? Join our amazing Palomacy Help Group for great support and if you can help with one or two or ten of these lucky, lucky birds, please contact Elizabeth@pigeonrescue.org or call 415 420-7204.

This story is still in process and updates will be provided as news develops.

Tuesday, February 25th Update

 

On 2/25, Palomacy volunteer Ari and I were able to assess the 23 rescued pigeons at SFACC and thankfully the majority were in good shape. We pulled the six pigeons obviously in need of immediate vet care- four sick youngsters and two adults-  and rushed them to Medical Center for Birds whose staff stayed late to help.

The four pigeon youngsters- Bernie, Nacho, Sage and Pyot, stressed out, sick with respiratory infections and coccidia, were hospitalized for a week. The youngest and weakest, Bernie, went straight into oxygen but, despite all efforts, he passed away. Ellen had surgery to remove the giant tumor growing under her wing and one-foot Flaca, whose injury wasn’t new, came foster home with me.

The next day, I went back to SFACC to assess the other pigeons and pull six more into foster homes.

I delivered four lucky pigeons- Bernice and Winston, Arthur and Bianca, to Palomacy adopters Chie & Joey’s big beautiful new foster aviary.

And then I delivered pigeon youngsters Valiant and Eno to their new foster family and they were so lucky to have Michelle and Jack taking such loving care of them because they fell ill and needed vet visits and twice daily meds to get them through.

On Thursday, 2/27, super volunteer Jerri picked up seven more of the pigeons from SFACC and drove them all the way out to foster volunteer Robin’s aviary in Fair Oaks. One, Pinto, died unexpectedly the second night and all required flock treatment for worms and coccidia. The six survivors- Vesta, Dutch, Angelina, Wendy, Barron and Sandy are all doing well now.

During the night of Sunday 3/1, one of the four Golden Gate pigeons still at SFACC died unexpectedly, a beautiful, unnamed youngster who had appeared healthy and happy when I saw last saw her on Thursday. On Monday, I went and picked up her friend, now alone, and named her Lido. She (or he?) is a big, tall, rangy showgirl of a pigeon. On Tuesday 3/3, I picked up the three surviving youngsters from Medical Center for Birds all the kids are doing well (though Nacho is still sick with a terrible respiratory infection).

Nacho, the white pigeon below, is still sick and fighting to get well. She and her friend Pyot (also shown) are staying together in my bird room so that Nacho can get the meds, support and rest she needs to get well. All of these pigeons are survival miracles- all were destined to be butchered but then got “released” to a park teeming with hungry predators. Thanks to the animal control officers and Good Sams who rescued them and Palomacy taking them into foster care, they now are safe.  Thank you for helping Palomacy to help so many! And please- adopt, volunteer and donate– so that we can help more.