September 6, 2021
by Elizabeth
Comments Off on What’s the Difference Between Pigeons & Doves?

What’s the Difference Between Pigeons & Doves?

Guest Post by Nina Bohn

L-R: Diamond dove, Ringneck dove, Homing pigeon, King pigeon, feral Rock pigeon

Pigeon and Dove – the terms are sometimes used interchangeably, and often incorrectly. Both comprise the order Columbiformes, with over 300 species.

Rather than delve into the technical and scientific names, let’s focus on the domestic species that Palomacy primarily serves, why it’s important to distinguish them, and how they differ as pets. Depending on your location, you may see other members of the Columbidae family in your backyard – we’ll save these species for another post.

Who Do You Think of When You Hear “Pigeon”?

Affectionate married pair of feral Rock pigeons photographed by Ingrid Taylar

Columba Livia – The most common variety of this bird, the ‘feral pigeon’ is grey and black with an iridescent head, either a darker gray ‘bar’ or checkered pattern on its wings, and is commonly seen in parks and urban spaces where people congregate. In the US, this bird is known as a ‘Rock Pigeon’ but depending on what part of the world you live in (especially prior to British orthinologists changing it in 2004) you may refer to this well known bird as a ‘Rock Dove’ as well. They are the feral descendants of domesticated pigeons bred, over thousands of years, from the wild Columba livia native to Eurasia. They are among the earliest animals to be domesticated. There are numerous varieties and colors of domestic pigeons: All human-created breeds come from the species Columba livia, with a huge variety of traits that have been bred to the extreme (much to the birds’ detriment). Pigeons have been bred for sport, show, meat, messengers and laboratory testing and different traits are prized according to their use. Racing pigeons are bred to be exceptionally strong, fast homers. King pigeons, bred for meat, are big for maximum meat yield and white because white feathers ensure the pink skin meat consumers prefer. Many fancy breeds are trapped within bodies which nature perfected but humans have deformed- some breeds have beaks too short to feed their own young, others have feathering so extreme they can barely see or even walk, Parlor Rollers have been bred so that just opening their wings triggers somersaulting seizures.

Domestic Pigeon Breeds

These are only some of more than 300 domestic breeds of pigeons (all are the same species- Columba livia domestica)

Are White Pigeons Doves?

Homer pigeon Nova is a survivor of the “dove release” business rescued & photographed by Lisa Caccioppoli

No, white pigeons are domestic pigeons that the “dove release” business calls “doves” to capitalize on the positive image people have for doves while simultaneously exploiting the homing abilities of pigeons. (Domestic doves have no ability to home.) When you hear about a “dove release” or “wedding doves”, it usually means that Homing Pigeons, selectively bred to be all white, small and dove-like, were rented so as to be ceremoniously released. (They don’t call them “wedding pigeons” for some reason…)

Most will survive the flight home.

But the reality is very different from the fantasy.

The “dove release” business perpetuates the idea that white birds can be “set free” and they will just fly away and live happily ever after. Even under the best of circumstances, trained “wedding doves” are hurt, lost and killed trying to get home. It’s even worse when do-it-yourselfers mistakenly buy white Ringneck doves and King kigeons to release. Nearly all of them will die. (Read Why “Dove Releases” Are Cruel)

Doves

Ringneck doves (front to back) Emma, Doug, Scoop, Pekoe & Jackson fostered & photographed by Liese Hunter

Palomacy Rescues Doves Too: Ringneck doves, Eurasian Collared doves & Diamond doves.

Streptopelia Risoria – Ringneck doves are the most common species of dove kept as pets. The domestic Ringneck dove originated from the rose-gray (Rosegrisea) species of the African Collared Dove, found in north east Africa. There are several different sub-species of this bird that can be found in Eurasia, along the Arabian Peninsula and in North Africa as well. Sixteen different color varieties have been bred into Ringneck doves including all white (often mistakenly called albino). These birds were domesticated several thousand years ago and kept as pets. They are territorial and tend to form not-always-monogamous pairs. Doves are also intelligent and take excellent care of their young.

Diamond dove Ziti rescued by Nina Bohn

Pigeons & Doves

King pigeon youngster Neo in hand & Ringneck dove youngster Lily on the camera

Pigeons and doves have much in common and share many physical and behavioral similarities while also having important differences that make correct identification really important for appropriate care.

Pigeons and doves have a similar body shape with a round head, short neck, short legs, thin short beak and a stout compact body.

They both lay a clutch of two eggs with both parents taking turns spending time on the nest incubating the eggs, about 18 days on average for pigeons and 14 days for doves.

Both can produce a thick, nutritious, fatty liquid substance known as crop milk with which to feed their young in the first few days of life.

Both pigeons and doves can be territorial and possessive of their ‘space.’

Both generally maintain a monogamous relationship with one chosen mate during their lifetime, however pigeons seem to practice this moreso than doves do.

Both pigeons and doves ‘coo.’

Pigeons and Doves have similar diets consisting of seeds, grains, and fruits.

Courtship rituals are similar between the two species. Bowing, cooing, calling to the nest, wing twitching, allopreening and the deep open beak kisses are behaviors common to both pigeons and doves, with slight differences between the two.

There are some visible and some ‘not so visible’ differences between the species, however.

The most obvious difference is size. Pigeons, even the petite Roller Pigeon (weighing in at an average of 275 grams) are bigger in size than Ringneck doves (average weight around 170 grams while Diamond doves weigh only 40 grams) although there is much variance in weight and size amongst individuals. In fact, some varieties of pigeons can weigh in excess of 800 grams! Since both species are territorial, should a turf war break out, the larger pigeon can do serious damage to the smaller dove. The two species should not be housed together or left unsupervised.

Another fairly visible difference is the beak. While both species have short thin beaks, the part of the beak known as the ‘cere’, located at the base of the beak, will appear as a white powdery ‘growth’ on a pigeon whereas it appears non-existent on the dove.

There are audible differences in their vocalizations. While pigeons ‘coos’ will vary from bird to bird, one specific ‘coo’ that is universal to the feral and domestic pigeons we are familiar with is the territorial and/or mating dance ‘coo’ that sounds something like ‘rooo roooo’, a Ringneck dove’s ‘coo’ will sound more like ‘coooo ka roooo.’

There are some differences in the ‘courtship dance’ as well. A Ringneck dove will ‘bow and coo’ to his potential mate while a pigeon will sort of prance around her, often dragging his tail and cooing at her to try and get her attention.

Ringneck doves laugh, pigeons do not. That’s not to say that pigeons don’t have a sense of humor.

Pigeons have homing instincts where Ringneck doves do not.

Nina, shown here with Ringneck dove Steve, moved to the Pacific NW in the late 90’s to attend the UW, where she dual majored in Biochemistry and Ecology. While looking at options for grad school, she took a job as a software tester, and has been working in software development ever since. Nina has worked with animals her whole life in one capacity or another but her path diverged into pigeon and dove rescue in 2014 when her son brought home a 5 day old squeaker, named Sam. Currently Nina cares for many pigeons, and various Ringneck, Eurasian Collared, and Diamond doves. In addition to bird rescue, Nina is an avid bird watcher, amateur naturalist, and nature photographer. She also enjoys reading.

Bonus Content

by Pam Thompson, Palomacy Help Group Member

Domesticated “Rock pigeons” are classified as Columba livia domestica. Domesticated “Ringneck doves” are currently classified as Streptopelia risoria. Rock pigeons and Ringneck doves are two separate species classified into two separate genera. In the context of this group, “pigeon” almost always refers to the domestic Rock pigeon (Columba livia domestica), and “dove” almost always refers to the domesticated Ringneck dove (Streptopelia risoria). As noted in the original post by Nina, these are different species with different behaviors and different care requirements!

Rock pigeons that are pure white are often called doves, and they may be mistaken for white Ringneck doves. Many breeders purposefully refer to white Rock pigeons as “doves”. White Rock pigeons are not the same as white Ringneck doves! Nina has some really great info in the original post about how to tell the two apart.

When it comes to how birds in the family Columbidae receive their common names, I don’t think there is any pattern determining what gets called a pigeon and what gets called a dove. For example, why are birds in the genus Leucosarcia given the common name “Wonga pigeon”? Why are birds in the genus Macropygia given the common name “Cuccoo dove”?

If anyone wants to go down the rabbit hole and explore the many MANY species and subspecies of birds in the Columbidae family, here is a good place to start:

https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Columbidae/classification/#Columbidae

The Rock pigeon species contains several subspecies (not just the domesticated subspecies we are familiar with) depending on where the birds live. There are no subspecies of Rock pigeon that are native to North America. As far as I can tell, the feral pigeons living in North America are still classified as Columba livia domestica, the domesticated Rock pigeon. Despite this classification, feral Columba livia domestica are not always reliant on human cities for survival. Last year I was privileged to observe a feral Rock pigeon colony living among cliff formations in eastern Oregon, far from any large cities or towns. They were wild birds, for all intents and purposes.

The common name “Rock pigeon” was previously “Rock dove”, because all of this wasn’t confusing enough. Around 2004, British ornithologists decided to change the name to Rock pigeon, and America soon followed. There is a movement to change the name back to Rock dove, but it has not been successful so far.

https://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCprop109.htm

https://www.audubon.org/news/we-should-definitely-call-pigeons-rock-doves-again

September 1, 2021
by Elizabeth
Comments Off on Earl Gray

Earl Gray

Guest Post by Heather Hamilton

It is difficult to write about Earl. The words on paper never seem to do justice to the wonder that he is.

Earl became part of our family in November 2019. My husband and I adopted our feather baby Earl about a week after we married. After following Palomacy on social media for about a year, and then attending the Mascoorade where I spent the evening cuddling recently rescued squab survivor Courageous, I reached out to Elizabeth and Jill letting them know that I was interested in fostering to adopt. I let them know I wanted a pigeon with special needs. Not long after, Earl joined the family.

Waqar, Courageous & I at Mascoorade

Earl was about two at that time. He had been injured as a fledgling which left him with nerve damage- unable to stand, walk or fly. The exact nature of the injury is unknown though we suspect he was hit by a car or a hawk. However, his feet and legs are mobile and he’s able to flap his wings. For the first year and a half of his life, Earl lived with the family who found him grounded in the parking lot. The family loved Earl and was well intentioned but they didn’t know how to care for a pet pigeon (and, unable to walk, Earl had special needs). He didn’t get any expert help until they found Palomacy. My understanding is that most of his time was spent in a crate under a table. After two months of care coaching, he was surrendered to Palomacy and became a foster bird.

En route to Palomacy

Getting to know Earl has been wonderful. At first, I thought he was perpetually angry. He made noises I didn’t understand, and he bit me when I got close. My thought was to give him space. And I gave him space. Over time, I learned that Earl was not angry. And also with time, Earl learned that he can trust me. I cared for him, I never harmed him or gave him any reason to fear me. And then, we found ourselves in a relationship built on trust. Earl taught me, possibly for the first time in my life, what building trust in a relationship looks like. After that trust became our foundation, the love began to grow. I love Earl to my core and I say with confidence the feeling is mutual.

Earl

Earl is a great adventure buddy

While Earl doesn’t walk or fly, he sure does scoot! When he wants affection, he scoots himself to me wherever I am in our studio apartment. Because of Earl’s handicap, he usually lays on the same side of his body. When I have him, I hold him perched on my thumb and he preens the wing he usually cannot reach. It is my service to Earl, and it is my honor. I have OCD and watching him meticulously clean his wing is very therapeutic for me. The nights when Earl’s feeling frisky, my finger gets all the love. It’s beyond precious.

Earl has another lady in his life, and that is our daughter Peach we adopted so that Earl could also have a pigeon companion.

The day we met Peach

Peach is a sassy independent Fantail Mindian and also the queen of the castle. She loves Earl dearly. Peach lays eggs about every 6 weeks. The eggs are not fertilized*, yet she and Earl hopelessly and endearingly take care of those eggs. Earl won’t let me near them and protects Peach when she is sitting on them. Earl scoots around picking up grass and twigs to help build the nest. He scoots his way to the eggs and when he’s next to them, uses his beak to position them under his body as best he can.

Earl & Peach & I

Peach & Earl

Peach preening Earl

Earl is a pigeon, a pigeon who cannot fly. Some may not understand the value of this being. The inherent value of this creature – this loving, caring, loyal, assertive, genuine animal. But I know the miracle that is Earl, and I know that my life and this world is better because of his existence.

Never underestimate the inherent value of life.

Heather, Earl’s mom, lives in San Francisco with her husband, Waqar, and their two pigeon children, Earl and Peach. Heather has been in San Francisco for many years, earning her BA in environmental studies & urban agriculture from USF and her JD from Hastings College of the Law. Heather now practices plaintiff’s side employment law at a small firm in Oakland. Heather says her life has forever been changed, for the best, by Palomacy and the unexpected bonds she has created with her pigeon children.

Editor’s Notes:

*Always check for and replace fertile eggs with fakes to prevent hatching. There are far too many unreleasable pigeons literally dying for homes to breed more. And never assume eggs laid with a male pigeon around (even special needs) are infertile. Make sure you know how to tell the difference and swap with fakes if there is any doubt. Learn more about Hatch Prevention.

Palomacy has a saying, “We don’t have to start with euthanasia.” While Earl’s injury has left him unable to stand, walk or fly, he is still very capable of living a happy, healthy and dignified life. He loves his family, avian and human; he’s full of ideas and inspiringly good at scooting in fulfillment of them; he’s a master of the leisure arts including sun and water bathing, zenning out in nest-sitting bliss and a great traveler. Earl does not feel sorry for himself. He loves life and with good care, is making the best of every opportunity. There is another saying, “Pigeons bloom where planted” and Earl is just one of myriad examples we have seen. Not every pigeon can survive their injuries and recover enough to live happily but please, never start with euthanasia. Get help from a pigeon-friendly expert so that you provide the best care possible. Our Palomacy Help Group is an incredible resource available to coach 24/7. Learn more about caring for rescued pigeons.

Read about more special needs birds:

River’s Flow
Violet’s Journey (or What’s Wrong with Roller Pigeons?)
Fleetwood
Saving Beatrice
Little Bell’s Big Problem
Charlie Girl

August 31, 2021
by Elizabeth
Comments Off on Craig Newmark Philanthropies Supports Palomacy!

Craig Newmark Philanthropies Supports Palomacy!

Craig Newmark & friends

Craig Newmark Philanthropies Grants Palomacy $20,000!

Bird Nerd? Avianthropist? Columbiformephile? Who is this hero of Palomacy? Craig Newmark, a self-described old-school nerd doing what he can “to support the people who fight to protect the values that America aspires to: fairness, opportunity and respect” extends his compassion even to the birds.

His foundation, Craig Newmark Philanthropies’ mission “to support and connect people and drive broad civic engagement, working to advance grassroots organizations that are effective and getting stuff done”, coupled with his appreciation for pigeons, perfectly dovetails with Palomacy’s work and ever since we connected in 2013, Craig’s support has helped keep Palomacy aloft.

Palomacy (which means pigeon diplomacy) was hatched to correct a strange and deadly gap in animal welfare. Humans have been breeding, using and endangering pigeons – as meat and messengers, for sport, hobby, and ceremony – for thousands of years and still do- in the many millions. And yet, when lost, hurt or displaced as so many inevitably are, they have been traditionally refused help, turned away as a “pest species”, both for being non-native and for being domestic, by the vast majority of shelters and rescues. Palomacy has been working, since 2007, to help fix this. We save the lives of those otherwise unserved: domestic, unreleasable pigeons and doves that are injured, lost, displaced and abandoned and in doing so, we are creating understanding, appreciation and supporters for these amazing birds.

A visibly weak, helpless domestic racing pigeon (with band on leg) huddles on a porch looking beseechingly up at the photographer, pleading for help with her eyes.

This is what a lost, exhausted, dehydrated, starving-to-death racing pigeon looks like begging for help. (Click photo to see her story.)

Six large but young snow white domestic pigeons huddle together on the sand of Ocean Beach, clearly out of place & helpless

Domestic King pigeons bred for meat (squab), purchased from a live poultry market & inhumanely “released”. (Click photo to see their rescue home.)

The denial of care is especially egregious considering how closely connected humans and pigeons have been throughout history. And how numerous they are. Palomacy is called upon, at an ever-increasing rate, to rescue, foster, vet treat and place hundreds of helpless, hurt birds in Northern California that would otherwise be killed. We also provide 24/7/365 care coaching, referrals, advocacy and education worldwide via our 12K member online Help Group and website resources, helping others to save the lives of thousands more. In 2020, our placements increased 58%. Our website visits doubled. We, 1.5 staff and 150 incredibly dedicated volunteers, are responding to more than 1,200 requests for help every month.

We could not sustain this effort without the amazing generosity of our supporters and Craig is our most generous!

Palomacy shares Craig Newmark Philanthropies’ commitment to making “sure everyone is included and treated fairly and respectfully”. We believe that everyone deserves compassion, everyone deserves a chance. Learning the truth about pigeons, who are so routinely mistreated, is a gateway to compassion that Palomacy leverages every day, to everyone’s benefit. Our position is: compassion for all, including the pigeons and doves living their gentle lives in our hard world.

Thank you, Craig and team, for all that you do to help so many!

A pair of married feral pigeons standing so close together that their breasts touch

Pigeon Lovers by Ingrid Taylar (www.IngridTaylar.com)

July 12, 2021
by Elizabeth
Comments Off on Fantails Saved by Heroes

Fantails Saved by Heroes

Photographed & rescued by Hussain Mkhan

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.

Cynthia sheltered (and photographed) the 17 rescued pigeons the first 24 hours

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.

Dirty feet indicate poor care

Bathed and frightened

The rescued Fantails were very reassured by resident pet pigeon Miu’s presence

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.

Mocha went to foster with Emi

Cythnia saying goodbye to the bathtub pigeons

Short term sheltering the Fantails

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.

Welcoming their new fosters

Assembling the Wingzstore aviary

Jill moves pigeons into the aviary with one hand while clutching her popsicle with the other

Settling into their new foster aviary

Teamwork! Jill, Elizabeth, Faye & Kelly

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.

Hercules & Tsunami

Fifi & Phillipe are fostered in Christa’s aviary

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.

All that’s left of a predator-killed Fantail

Hussain spots another Fantail while caring for the ferals

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.

Number 18 caught & now safe

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!

Phillipe & Fifi – pigeons are all about love

July 12, 2021
by Elizabeth
Comments Off on Please Support Palomacy: Do It for Moo

Please Support Palomacy: Do It for Moo

Moo

Rescued unreleasable pigeons like Moo depend on Palomacy for life-saving care and we depend on your donations to provide it. One surgery costs on average $2000. One month of Palomacy’s rescuing and rehoming costs $18,000. This Wednesday 7/14, starting early in the morning at 6 AM PT, donations of $100 – $1000 made to Palomacy will earn much needed bonus match funds until they run out. Please- donate!

Moo and her mate Cooper were among a whole flock of pet pigeons displaced when their person’s rental home was sold. Palomacy flexed and stretched and together, in partnership with Great Lakes Pigeon Rescue, we were able to take them all in to foster care in April 2021.

Cooper & Moo

Fosters Chris and Gary instantly fell in love with the sweet couple and they were doing great until, near the end of June, Moo stopped eating and started hunching over in pain.

Moo hunched in pain

Chris rushed her to our Care Coordinator Jill who immediately got her seen at Medical Center for Birds. The diagnosis was worrying. Ultrasound showed a big mass in her abdomen, likely reproductive disease-related, possibly cancerous and, if it was, prognosis was poor.

Moo cradled in Dr. Baden’s loving arms

Moo’s ultrasound- the red & blue markers suggest the mass may have blood flow (potentially indicating cancer)

Moo was too weak for surgery to even be considered so she went back foster home with Jill for supportive care and pain management while we figured out what to do.

Jill carefully nursed Moo along with small, frequent, gavage fed meals of nutrition-rich Emeraid, supplemental heat, pain meds and lots of encouragement. Moo got a little stronger but she was suffering. Jill felt strongly that, despite the low odds and high expense, we needed to give Moo a chance with surgery. She might have inoperable cancer for which she’d be euthanized on the table or she might die from the strain of surgery or she might be saved. We wouldn’t know until we knew. Moo had surgery on July 1st.

When Dr. Baden called Jill that afternoon with the post-surgery update, she asked, Do you want the good news or the good news? Moo woke up after surgery and it wasn’t cancer! Both good news! Moo had a severely impacted oviduct (through which she was inexplicably able to pass a normal egg on 6/17) which was removed. She had had a successful salpingectomy. (Graphic photo of the removed oviduct and impacted material is posted way down a few inches after the end of this post, if you want to see.)

Moo recovering after surgery

Her no longer smooshed intestines resumed working and she began to improve immediately. Tiny little Moo is doing great now! While she’ll no longer lay eggs, we are cautiously optomistic that she can still live a good life nest building and sitting on fake eggs with her mate.

And that was the plan- to reunite her with husbird Cooper, patiently waiting at their fosters’, when she was healed up. But Moo, only eight days after surgery, surprised us by giving her heart to sweet, lonesome Apollo, another special needs bird fostered in Jill’s bird room, the day before he was to be transferred to his new foster home.

Love is… newlyweds Apollo & Moo

They are so happy to be together that we can’t bring ourselves to interfere. But don’t worry- Cooper is already signed up for pHarmony and is flirting hard with an androgynous Fantail named Dulce.

Together, this is what we do. We combine everything we have, all of our knowledge and empathy and money and time and hope and tears, to catch these incredible little birds from falling, to save them when they need help.

Thank you for helping! Please donate if you can.

Scroll down for graphic photo showing the impacted oviduct surgically removed from Moo.

Keep scrolling if you want to see, stop here if you don’t…

Warning: Graphic photo below

Impacted oviduct surgically removed from Moo

July 6, 2021
by Elizabeth
Comments Off on Our Greatest Strength…

Our Greatest Strength…

Gremblin thanks you for saving his life

Our greatest strength lies in the gentleness and tenderness of our heart. -Rumi

Your tender heart saved the life of a tiny, skinny and badly injured Valencian Figurita pigeon named Gremblin. Rescued on May 17th, he’s been hospitalized twice and there were times we feared he wouldn’t make it. Our Care Coordinator Jill has appointed herself his round-the-clock nurse and he rewards all of our kindnesses with an impossibly grumpy, bitey, wee ferocity that makes us swoon.

Echo, a “released” King pigeon found with a huge, terrible neck wound, was facing shelter euthanasia until Palomacy volunteers and donors intervened, saving his life. Lovingly fostered by Nath and Darren, he’s made a full recovery and is working on winning a mate.

Echo’s wound was stitched & he began recovering on 4/22

On the night of June 22nd, we were alerted to a broke wing racing pigeon who had been hiding in a garage for eight days, being fed by the kindly homeowner who was hoping she would heal up and fly away. Palomacy rushed to help her.

Raced pigeon Corazón, badly injured by a hawk, took refuge in a garage

We named her Corazón and rushed her to Medical Center for Birds where the vets, in partnership with our Care Coordinator Jill, did everything they could to save her. Ultimately the necrotic wound was too deep, too severe. On Sunday July 4th, she was, through tears, lovingly euthanized to release her from suffering. She is missed and loved. Your tenderness helped Corazón when she needed it most.

We all, volunteers, vets & Corazón, tried our best. Rest in peace, sweet bird.

We were amazed when a young, lost, completely emaciated racing pigeon was rescued alive, despite weighing only half of what she should have. With gentle supportive care, Merritt has made a full recovery and will never be exploited again.

Merritt lost half her body weight & nearly starved before being rescued

There are so many… See Death Defying Rescues, Peepers: Brought Back to Life, The Car Lot Kings and lots more on our blog. Every day, across all the miles and time zones and issues and challenges, we are coming together to help gentle little birds that used to go unnoticed.

We are saving individuals, sharing their stories, raising awareness and creating compassion as we do.

Thank you for being our greatest strength.

June 10, 2021
by Elizabeth
Comments Off on The Car Lot Kings

The Car Lot Kings

Guest Post by Andrea Crebassa

Once upon a time, but not really that long ago… five white King pigeons escaped the butcher.

Somehow, they safely made it to, of all places, an auto body repair shop. When employees arrived, what to their wondering eyes should appear, but five white “doves” on top of one of the totaled cars in the back of the lot. Now, for a body shop, birds are not a good thing to have around because they poop on cars! And bird poop is known for ruining car paint.

So, one of the technicians waved his arms to shoo the birds away. Slowly, they did finally move, fluttering their beautiful white wings a bit… but landed on the ground and went under the car. An office employee saw all of this and realized this was not normal behavior for wild birds.

Within a day or two, she started bringing food and water for the “doves,” who each day could be found in their safe space under the car. Unfortunately, after weekends, lots of poop could also be found on the three totaled cars in the back. The rest of the cars were always parked inside the shop overnight and weekends. She was starting to get pressure to stop encouraging the birds to be anywhere near the shop. As in: don’t feed or water them, shoo them away, etc.

Abandoned King pigeons making themselves at home…

But the employee now knew that the birds were at least partially domesticated or they wouldn’t keep staying there. That employee was me, so I will now finish the story in the first person.

I called the Humane Society and asked if anyone had reported five missing white doves. I swear she kind of laughed, but she said she would post a notice that five had been found.

Then I called Wildcare in San Rafael that helps all kinds of animals. I missed the first return call from them, so left messages but when we connected, they couldn’t help. They did tell me I should call a pigeon rescue organization named Palomacy.

In the meantime, the owner of their “home” came to remove her personal items in preparation for her car being towed away. I pointed out the doves and told her how we’d found them. She was absolutely thrilled (although her car was covered in you-know-what), since the car had belonged to her mother who had passed some time ago. She saw it as a sign from or about her mother.

A day later that car got towed away — so the birds moved next door underneath another total.

But now, about a week after my first phone call to get help, I had a hard deadline for removing the birds. It was Monday, and on Friday the landlord was getting the parking lot re-surfaced. We needed to move all cars into our shop by end of the work day on Thursday. I was now starting to get frantic.

I called Palomacy and left a message. The next day, I got a call back from the Pigeon Queen herself, Elizabeth. She tried to refer me to the San Rafael organization. I told her they’d already said they couldn’t help me. I also told her about the Thursday deadline. Elizabeth sprang into action.

She had me text her photos. She told me they were King Pigeons, and were indeed domesticated: bred for meat and therefore not good fliers, and bred to be white. And that they were maybe six weeks old. They would not survive long in “the wild.” She was surprised they’d survived so far. Sooo many predators.

Elizabeth said we’d need to trap them for any kind of rescue. I had neither the knowledge nor means to do that. On Wednesday, she set up a volunteer to help. Unfortunately, I was already on my way home to Petaluma with hubby when I got the text that Tim would be coming with a dog cage. Valiant Tim tried for over 2 hours — actually had 4 in the cage when they got spooked, and then there were none.

Trying to trap the Kings…

Four of the five in…

Spooked by a crow, they retreated back under their car

Elizabeth and Tim kept me apprised of all the goings-on via text. It was so sad for human and birds that it didn’t work out. But the next morning, I put the food and water dishes back in the cage and waited. Since now the birds were hungry and thirsty (and a bit used to the cage?), I felt more confident I could trap them. And within 15 minutes, all five went in the cage and I quickly closed the door! Woo hoo! What a relief!

Safe!

It was now D-Day. The Pigeon Queen had arranged for another volunteer, Jerri, to pick them up and transport them to foster at Sindy and Steve’s in Benicia. Jerri probably added at least two hours to her trip by coming to the shop. Later that afternoon, Jerri arrived and she and I took the cage full of scared pigeons into the bathroom. Jerri had to practically crawl into the cage to grab them one by one, and we put them into individual cardboard carriers. Some of the pigeons squeaked in fear or anxiety during and after the transfer. But we knew they were going to a safe, wonderful, new home.

All the cars were now moved into the shop garage. Early the next morning, the re-surface folks arrived. I sent Elizabeth a picture of the re-surface vehicle finishing up in our now empty lot.

Later, she sent Jerri’s photo of the five in their new, roomy aviary. I was so grateful for that.

Safe & comfy in their foster home with Sindy & Steve

From start to finish, everybody at Palomacy could not have been kinder, more helpful, educational, gracious, and wonderfully communicative! I cannot imagine what the fate of “The Auto Body Shop 5” (Elizabeth’s moniker for them) would have been without Palomacy.

Andrea & Stan visiting the fostered Kings

All Hail the Pigeon Queen (MY moniker for Elizabeth) and all her “subjects”!

And five sweet pigeons lived happily ever after… (and are adoptable)!

Merton- the suspicious one

Clark- the biggest one

Snow white, lady-like Jeri

Mild mannered Morgan

Jackson cleans up nice!

These beautiful birds need new foster or forever homes before June 30, 2021. Please apply to help them (and we’ll help you).

Andrea writes: Andrea Crebassa is older than the hills…OK, not quite that old. She is one of 9 children. Her husband owns Crebassa’s Auto Body in San Rafael (since 1982). Andrea, who previously worked in the tech field, started working at the shop five years ago; their son has worked there almost 20 years. Andrea has always had a heart for animals and feels a strong connection to them. Between her own observations and researching the web, she has learned quite a bit about many of them. Mostly she notices that they have many of the same behaviors as humans (especially small humans). So how could she not try to help the pigeons that landed in her bailiwick?

www.crebassa.com

May 31, 2021
by Elizabeth
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Pidgy: The Pigeon Who Survived Against All Odds

Guest Post by Seyma

Pidgy and her sibling were born as wild rock pigeons, enjoying the comfort of their nest and the warmth of their parents until someone with ill intentions decided that he did not want them there. They were not given the chance to grow up and fly away, with the excuse that they were “on his property”. So their nest was taken down and the babies were left on the corner of the sidewalk near the trash bins, to die… Someone found them and took them to an animal shelter, only to be put on the list to be euthanized because they did not deal with pigeons. So this is where our story begins…

This is a story of love and perseverance. Love of life and willingness to survive against all odds. I met these two babies after they were brought to the shelter, cold, sad and separated from the parents that cared for them up until someone decided they didn’t deserve to live. I knew at that point I needed to step in and rescue them from being euthanized. Humans have failed them twice by now, and they needed another chance. After getting some warmth and nutrition, they started to perk up and in a few days, they became the happiest, funniest baby pigeons. I bought them nests, toys, and cages, just to spoil them and get them ready for the wild life ahead. The plan was to raise them up with minimal human exposure so that they could be healthy and wild, and live a long happy life as wild pigeons they were. However, life doesn’t always happen according to plans. This plan failed miserably after I purchased them a very big, fancy and considerably expensive cage so that they could get acclimated to the great outdoors. It was made of metal fencing that was rodent-proof. Sounded good at first. Then, on their first day there, after barely an hour, I noticed blood! Then I saw that Pidgy was bleeding from the beak and the lower beak was split into two, like a fork!!! I can not put that moment into words. I was sick to my stomach, nauseous, angry, and guilty. I couldn’t believe that I missed to see a wire sticking out in the cage and to this day, I still have no idea how she managed to put her soft lower beak into it and slice it like that. Another human had failed her yet again… And that’s when everything changed…

I stopped the bleeding, cleaned the wound and looked for emergency vets. There were no emergency avian vets on a Saturday evening, literally the worst time for such an injury. I knew from experience that it was bad, and very unlikely to heal, but I kept praying I was wrong. I read probably everything online about beak injuries that night and couldn’t sleep. It was not until Monday that I could find an avian specialist that was willing to see her, and I confess I literally cried genuine tears on the phone for an appointment. Blessing in disguise, I came across the wonderful Dr. Speer at Medical Center for Birds who agreed to see Pidgy when no one else would, and helped us tremendously. He not only helped Pidgy, but also helped me by saying that even though she was not releasable any more, she could live a long and happy life if taken good care.

So that was a problem… I was not equipped or capable of taking care for this pigeon in the long run due to multiple personal reasons. But humans have failed Pidgy so many times already and I was not going to fail him again. I tried contacting every resource that could provide long-term care with no avail. I hate people who take a responsibility and leave it half-way so I needed to find a way, but I just couldn’t… until Elizabeth at Palomacy lended me a helping hand! I will never forget the email she sent me after 10 days of hell I’ve been through thinking how I will help Pidgy! It was comforting, reassuring, very helpful, and it was the email that saved Pidgy at the end of the day. Elizabeth was going to try to find a placement for him!!!

Pidgy’s split lower beak surgically bolted

Seyma helping Pidgy eat with a DIY seed feeder.

Until the time Pidgy went to foster to adopt, he went to see Dr. Speer for 2 more times. After the initial glue came off, (which he managed to do in less than a week!) he had an operation under anesthesia to try to hold the beak together using a needle, stitches, and glue – which was a work of art. He also managed to take that needle off after 2-3 weeks, and even though that made the beak a little better, it was not healed. Now, it was misaligned. So we went to see the doctor one last time to accept that at this point, further intervention would be experimental and since he was in great body condition and a really happy pigeon, it was best to see what happens. Pidgy had a greatly misaligned beak, but that sure did not stop him from being funny, happy and friendly. He was getting supplemental feedings until he was ready to self-feed.

Pidgy using her self-feeder

Pidgy smiling her crooked grin

With the help of Elizabeth, we were able to find a great person, dear Garni, to care for Pidgy. Garni already had 3 pigeons of her own, and accepted to give Pidgy a try. Funny enough, one of Garni’s rescues, Peepers, was born the same day Pidgy was probably born! Her pigeon was a very pretty, mostly white, bigger pigeon and Pidgy was a special-needs standard looking pigeon with a very crooked beak but Garni did not care about the looks. She accepted her as she is, with her big heart and personality. It was bittersweet to say goodbye as we’ve been together for about two months, went through hell, tears of sadness and happiness, a crazy rollercoaster of emotions. But it’’s only been three days and I can already see that Pidgy is happy and improving on learning to self-feed under Garni’s amazing care! Thank you Palomacy, Dr, Speer, Elizabeth, and of course, dear Garni! Pidgy is Pidgy all because of you amazing people. Every time we humans feel sad, hopeless or just bad overall, I think we should remember the awesome and resilient birds pigeons are, and perhaps be a little less human, and a little more pigeon!

Peepers & Pidgy making friends

Video courtesy of Jenna Close of www.BuckTheCubicle.com

Seyma

I’ve been an animal lover for as long as I can remember. I did not have any siblings or friends growing up until I started elementary school, and even after that, animals were always my closest friends. I started rescuing and volunteering at a very young age. I volunteered at shelters in the UK, Turkey and the USA. I was one of the co-founders of a no-kill shelter abroad that helped strays and disabled dogs and cats find homes in Germany and other EU countries. To this day, I take pride in saying that animals are my passion and life force.

May 15, 2021
by Elizabeth
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Building Aviaries Saves Lives

Guest Post by Sindy Harris

My husband, Steve, and I brought home our first pigeon, Glory, about a year ago. She was a self-rescue, and a beautiful white homing pigeon. Steve and I didn’t even know that she was a pigeon! Steve just knew this white bird refused to fly away, despite much “shooing,” and instead remained unreachable under his car.

Glory asked us to help

So, Glory came home to me in a box, with the task of answering, “what do we do now”? Research quickly led me to Palomacy, and like a porthole, I stepped into a whole new world: the world of rescued pigeons.

I guess, it started slowly enough: talking to Elizabeth Young, Palomacy’s founder and director, about domesticated pigeons and what owning pigeons would be like; getting a mate for Glory, the handsome and devoted King pigeon, Cy; building an aviary in our backyard and filling it with rescues. As each pigeon arrived with his or her own rescue story, own unique personality and own distinctive and beautiful love life, it opened my eyes and my heart to these amazing birds. So too did the human beings of Palomacy. Palomacy itself is something of a “flock,” a community of people who are deeply committed to educating others about domesticated pigeons, rescuing them and being a source of support and encouragement for other animal lovers.

The first aviary Glory built

This could be the end of the story, having found peace and joy with my backyard flock and a new community of like-minded friends. But this is just the beginning. Two things happened the last several months that inspired me to build another aviary. This time at a farm sanctuary in Martinez, called One Living Sanctuary.

First, Steve and I and another Palomacy volunteer, Shiva Se, were able to rescue 15 of 16 Roller pigeons, which were apparently “dumped” in an industrial center in Concord. A kind employee of Magna Chrome had called Palomacy about the new flock of colorful birds, all wearing metal bands. Roller pigeons are deliberately inbred for a genetic defect that strikes in mid-flight, causing a brief seizure that sends the birds spiraling (“rolling”) uncontrollably toward the ground. Why they were left and by whom will never be known. All that was clear is that they needed help, and the three of us were able to rescue 15 of the 16 tattered, helpless hungry Rollers. (We went back many times but were never able to catch the 16th.)

Rescuing Rollers

But then what? Shiva had all the pigeons she could house. Our backyard aviary was full. The Palomacy aviaries at Ploughshares and in members’ back yards were overfull with rescues. So, I did the unthinkable: I took the Rollers home, cleaned out my spare room, covered the furniture and let them free there.

Rescued Rollers

That is, until some sort of temporary structure could go up outside. A week or so later, with the help of Jill McMurchy, Palomacy’s Care Coordinator, we erected a temporary 6’ by 8’ Wingzstore aviary (one of two donated by adopter Penny Noel) on the side of the house. It wasn’t ideal, but it wasn’t my spare bedroom either, and the Rollers could remain comfortably there until each could be fostered or adopted. Time passed, none were.

Emergency fostering

15 saved Rollers

The second thing that happened was similar. On January 7th, seven baby King pigeons huddled at Fort Funston were rescued by the San Francisco Animal Care and Control. They were likely part of a release, perhaps even well-intentioned, as baby King pigeons are sold at live markets for meat – squab.

Domestic King pigeons helpless at Ocean Beach

They were taken to the San Francisco Animal Shelter, where they remained for three weeks. Palomacy volunteers reached out to sanctuaries seeking placement and Ari Wee’s appeal to One Living Sanctuary, owned by veterinarian Faith Albright, worked! She brought them home and two days later, Palomacy volunteers (including Steve and I) set up the other 8′ x 6′ Wingzstore flight cage for them.

Setting up the aviary

Love

Teamwork!

Rescued Kings’ initial aviary

These King pigeon babies would soon outgrow the small space. Then what? Incoming rescues were quickly outpacing any place to home them, and the ones already rescued weren’t getting fostered or adopted fast enough.

Saved!

So, it was time to create more aviaries! I approached Faith about building a more permanent structure in her sanctuary for her fast-growing King pigeons and the rescued Rollers. It could also house more rescues for Palomacy. She graciously agreed and so our builder created a big, gorgeous permanent aviary. On April 7th, the beautiful birds, seven Kings and eight of the Rollers moved in: home!

Home!

Thank you!

We are happy to be safe & home!

There are two things that are desperately needed by Palomacy: more aviaries and a place to put them. Quite often, one person has one of these resources but not the other. That was the case in the match between One Living Sanctuary and myself. One Living Sanctuary had a place for an aviary, but little funds for such a venture. I had no place for another aviary, but a little extra money. We put our resources together and now there is a big, beautiful aviary for rescued pigeons to finally call home.

Elizabeth coined the term, “super,” to be applied to any bird that inspires the adoption of another. Hence, Super Glory, who has inspired the adoption of 40 pigeons (and counting!), is Super, Super, SUPER Glory!

Editor’s Note: Sindy and Steve are saving so many lives with the aviaries* they are building! Their success is inspiring us to develop additional partnerships. Thanks to donor Marian Issac and Dennis Barwick’s Backstretch Horse Rescue in Aromas, an 18′ x 25′ aviary is being built to house rescued Ringneck doves in one half and rescued pigeons in the other. And thanks to donor Heather Hohlowski and adopter Christa Livingston, an 8 x 24′ foster pigeon aviary is being built in Half Moon Bay. And even so, we need more! With your help, we can save lives. Contact Elizabeth@pigeonrescue.org and together, we’ll get birds home.

*Here’s another that Sindy & Steve built!

Stacey, Theo & their flock with Sindy!

May 14, 2021
by Elizabeth
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