On June 27th, someone abandoned at least 26 domestic pigeons at the Mission San Jose Park in Fremont, CA. Pigeon rescuer Hussain Mkhan cares for feral pigeon flocks at several locations in the area including this one and he spotted these birds. The Fantail-Homer crosses can’t outfly the hawks but they can outfly humans and despite his best efforts, Hussain wasn’t able to catch any during the day. He went back that night when their low light vision would give him an advantage and caught 17 of them. As is the case with so many of us who rescue pigeons, Hussain’s home was already full up with birds in his care. It was nearly midnight, he was exhausted and upset about those he couldn’t catch and with no place to take them when, responding to his online call for help, Palomacy volunteer Cynthia offered to house the pigeons overnight in her bathroom. At midnight, Hussain drove the rescued pigeons to Cynthia’s place in San Francisco.

Domestic pigeons like these have no ability to survive in the wild. They are handicapped at the genetic level. Unlike the survival of the fittest feral pigeons whose bodies and skills are perfected by wild living, domestics are deformed by humans. When domestic pigeons are “set free” in a park like this, people tell themselves they’ll be okay because feral pigeons live there but they won’t. Hussain, as a protector of the feral pigeon flocks, knows this only too well as even the feral pigeons, with their perfect DNA and expertise, survive on a razor’s edge. Predators and starvation are a constant threat.

Cynthia got the birds comfortably set up with food and water and checked them over for injuries. Except for their filthy, poop-crusted feet and ragged feathers (evidence of being kept in poor conditions), the rescued birds weren’t hurt. Cynthia spent hours soaking their feet clean and falling in love with them.

Cynthia recorded this video for us.

That afternoon, I shifted some of my special needs pigeons to make short term aviary room for the Fantails and picked them up from Cynthia (all except for Mocha who went to fosterer Emi). Behind the scenes we were scrambling to figure out how we were going to foster all these new birds when we’re already overfull.

This rescue story required a lot of heroes and one of them is Tri City Shelter director Kelly Miott! Though new to pigeons, she immediately said yes to helping us and together we started figuring out how to make it work. Kelly offered the use of an outside kennel but because it wasn’t predator and rodent-proof, it wouldn’t work for the pigeons. We needed more heroics.

Our Care Coordinator Jill and her husband Fred spent that evening picking up, transporting and off loading a big, heavy Wingzstore aviary. The next morning Jill and Faye and I met Kelly and her team at the shelter to assemble the aviary and get the Fantails moved in.

These sweet beautiful birds arrived shy and spooky. They are starting to relax now that they are safe and comfortable. Two couples have revealed themselves, Hercules and Tsunami at Tri City and Fifi and Phillipe- fostered in Christa’s Half Moon Bay aviary. They are all available for adoption through Palomacy. They need homes. They need you! You can apply here.

Hussain has gone back many times to try and rescue the others. On June 28th, he was devastated to find the remains of one that he had not been able to save.

On 7/9, Hussain caught his 18th Fantail and the incredibly lucky-to-be-alive pigeon is now with the flock fostered at Tri City Shelter.

These sensitive, gentle, smart pigeons are relieved to be getting help and grateful for the food and security and care their rescue heroes are providing. Thank you for helping Palomacy to save them!