Baby homing pigeon Bella was bred for “dove release” but “set free” because of her/his black feathers & splayed legs. (See The Truth About Dove Releases & learn about culled pigeons*.)
Baby Bella
The helpless, two-week old nestling was left in a park and it’s a miracle she survived long enough to be rescued. A kind person knew she needed help and brought her to Napa Wildlife Rescue where they recognized she was domestic and contacted Palomacy. We said Yes to helping and began making arrangements to find her a foster home and get her to Medical Center for Birds for assessment.
Click to see Bella’s legs
While we worked on that, Napa Wildlife and WildCare worked together to get her x-rayed and her legs splinted into position underneath her. The radiograph showed folding fractures of the left radius and ulna, no fractures of the legs, the bones looked normal for her age, congenital tendon abnormalities suspected.
Vet tech Nick welcomes his new foster baby Bella
Tiny baby Bella is full of life
Dr. Rachel Baden chats with Bella
Bella’s feet are taped to a snowboard-style fixator
Brave sweet baby
Bella’s doing very well. She’s learning to self-feed and we’re monitoring her legs to correct them as much as possible. Her legs will likely always be a little wonky and special.
Bella will be an amazing indoor companion for the right Northern California adopter. Hurry and apply now for maximum squeaky baby-ness!
If we had our way, there would be no pet pigeons. They would all be wild and free, not captive. Palomacy doesn’t believe that birds should be domesticated, bred and used by people for any reason. But, because people do breed, use and lose domestic unreleasable pigeons, there are a great many in need of rescue and homes. This is for those birds and the compassionate people who save their lives through rescue and adoption. There’s lots, lots more to learn about pigeons and what amazing companions they can be. Keep reading and join us in our Help Group on Facebook. Thank you for being a friend to pigeons. They are angels among us.
RESCUED OR ADOPTED INDOOR PIGEONS NEED
an appropriate cage for their home base 36″ or more wide
a big mirror (pigeons self-recognize & enjoy mirrors )
fresh food and water daily (flat bottom ceramic dishes are best)
safe, daily out-of-cage time in the house for exercise & fun
a big flat-bottom casserole type dish for bathing
safe access to sunshine unfiltered by glass & avian-safe full spectrum lighting
Janelle & Beep chat up Petey & Pineapple in their double-flight cage
House pigeons can wear pants! (Click image to learn more.)
SETTING UP AN INDOOR CAGE
Cages can only be used indoors (they are death traps outside). The bigger the cage the better and length or width are more important than height (pigeons don’t climb like parrots).
We recommend a cage at least 42” W x 27” D x 30” H for one or two (compatible) pigeons. (Only a mated pair can live in the same cage.) If you don’t have cats or dogs in the home wanting to reach in through the bars, wide spacing like that of dog crates is fine. If you do have cats or dogs, you’ll need a cage with narrow bar-spacing (0.5” max).
To be pigeon-friendly, the bottom should be covered with something flat and easy to clean such as vinyl or paper cage liners cut to size. Pigeons should never have to stand on a wire cage bottom. It is uncomfortable and unhealthy for their feet!
The cage needs shelves to offer destinations to fly or hop to and hang out on. (Perches are less useful for pigeons- all you can do on a perch is stand or sit. Shelves offer more options including strutting, courting, lounging, napping, etc.)
Include a nice big mirror (pigeons really love mirrors. It’s like TV for them, and they are proven to self-recognize) and a basket (weighted so as not to tip) or nest box. Use heavy, ceramic flat bottom, straight-sided crocks for food and water (usually found at thrift stores).
Pigeons enjoy mirrors
Provide a casserole dish or big plant saucer for a bathtub. Healthy pigeons are very fastidious about keeping their feathers clean. They love to bathe. I leave bath water out for my pigeons all the time so they can bathe whenever they feel like it. If your pigeon is healthy but not bathing, you can inspire them to preen by misting the air above them (not directly at them). Being damp will trigger preening and should eventually lead to bathing.
Joey celebrating bath time
A big dog crate is a great indoor-safe cage (add mesh if there are cats in the home)
Sahra found a big, beautiful fancy cage for Muriel & Silkie
RESCUED OR ADOPTED OUTDOOR PIGEONS NEED
a predator & rodent-proof aviary (they cannot live outside loose or in a cage) with a maximum hardware/mesh opening of .5″
Helen’s aviary is a safe, happy home for 8 rescued pigeons
Laurie’s patio aviary is a great home for 4 rescued pigeons (click image to see the story)
Jameson Humane built a beautiful panel aviary for 22 rescued pigeons (click image to see story)
Requirements for an Aviary to be Predator & Rodent-Proof
Build your frame tight & sturdy! Use 2 x 4s & bolt together with screws. (If you can wiggle the structure, it isn’t safe, no matter where you live nor what predator deterrents you have.)
The entire enclosure- the 4 walls AND the bottom & top- has to be encased in .5” (or .25”) hardware cloth, each piece securely connected to & overlapping the next, all seams tight with no gap bigger than .5” square. (If there’s a gap you can fit your finger tip through, it’s not safe.)
Or if you’re building on a cement pad & not lining the bottom with hardware cloth, be sure & bolt the frame down snugly. (You do not want mice -or anybody- getting in. Trust us.)
Plywood/siding/roofing/flooring goes on OVER/AFTER the hardware cloth. (Rodents will chew in unless there is a hardware cloth barrier.)
Never use chicken wire (nor bird netting) as it is a death trap for the birds confined within it.
Build it as big as you can.
Half should be sheltered (with roofing & siding) & half open for light & air.
Locate it in a sunny spot (shade is easy to create) where you can see & enjoy the birds.
Secure the door with 2 child/raccoon-proof latches, one high & one low & take care that the gaps around the door are too tight to fit your fingertip.
If you’re not sure about your cage or aviary or your design, please join & post photos to our Palomacy Help Group & we’ll happily help assess & suggest fixes if needed.
HAZARDS & RISKS
Pigeons adapt quickly to living in human households, but we must always keep their safety in mind. Their cage or aviary should be predator proof (safe haven from pets like dogs and cats, as well as outside threats like rats, hawks, raccoons, etc.).
The Ways Pet Pigeons Get Hurt
Being injured, lost or killed while in a situation their person felt was safe but actually wasn’t. I.e. hurt/killed in unsafe aviary/cage/crate/yard while family/dog/cat is “right there”; being spooked & lost/blown away because person thinks their bird can’t/won’t fly (any pigeon with 2 wings can get airborne & blown away); being injured/killed by a predator or another pet (chicken, parrot, dog, cat).
Being crowded. Crowded/incompatible pigeons are socially stressed, trapped in conflict/fighting, immune-suppressed & highly susceptible to illness & injury. (Learn about pigeon relationships.)
Getting loose & lost or killed (pet pigeons do not survive long on their own, learn more). Do not take your pigeon outside unsecured, not on your shoulder, not in your yard.
Reproductive complications related to egg-laying. It’s nearly impossible to stop a happy female pigeon from laying eggs so provide optimal nutrition, full spectrum lighting & proper use of fake eggs to minimize risks.
Accidentally stepped on, sat on, rolled over on the couch or in bed.
Getting entangled in any kind of loops including dangling cords, curtain pulls, etc.
Eating foreign objects such as staples, screws, pins, paperclips, beads, earrings, cat litter, etc.
Exposure to pollutants such as smoking, vaping, wood smoke, household chemicals, incense, candles, etc.
Teflon-coated pans (they outgas at high temperatures and can kill birds very quickly)
Accidents involving ceiling fans, hot stoves, open aquariums or toilets, house doors that slam shut, open windows or doors, getting stuck in narrow spaces, etc.
Pet pigeon Pearl found & swallowed 2 (closed) safety pins (opened by gizzard action) that required expensive surgery
We do not recommend clipping wings; clipped wings only prevent birds from flying while indoors. Clipped-wing birds can and do get airborne and lost outside all of the time! The biggest risk to a pet pigeon is getting outside and being killed by a predator before he can get back in to safety. It’s unsafe to free fly domestic pigeons and doves outside. They are easy prey for predators including hawks, ravens, gulls, cats, dogs, raccoons, etc. Your pigeon should only ever be outside in a safe carrier or a predator-proof aviary.
You don’t need to worry about pet pigeons needing heat or being cold – they are very well insulated & fine even during freezing weather. Drafts are fine, the more fresh air, the better!
A Palomacy stroller is a great, safe way to get your pigeons access to sunshine & fun
DIET
Pigeons eat seeds and grains and you can buy pre-mixed blends called pigeon feed at feed stores or online. Palomacy recommends a quality blend that includes popcorn and safflower seeds. Tips for feeding:
Feed pigeons only as much as they will eat in 24 hours. If they have food left over, let them finish that and reduce the amount you feed. If your birds have lots of food left at sunset, they are being overfed and are eating only their favorite seeds (such as high fat safflower) rather than getting balanced nutrition.
Start with 2 tablespoons of feed per bird (probably too much) and then adjust the amount down until the amount you provide in the morning is completely consumed by evening.
Mix a good avian vitamin & mineral supplement into their food & just a little crushed oyster shell or grit into the food, like a seasoning, for extra calcium. (Pigeons don’t need grit to digest their food. We’ve seen a lot of harm done by pigeons eating too much grit but none from lack of grit.)
High quality pigeon feed blend including popcorn & safflower seeds
NO BREEDING! REPLACE REAL EGGS WITH FAKES TO PREVENT HATCHING
There are so many domestic (unreleasable) pigeons literally dying for lack of homes that it is essential to prevent breeding. Pigeons can’t be neutered nor can they be allowed to breed, so every real egg they lay MUST be removed and replaced with a fake egg (“fegg”) for hatch prevention. It’s very important to understand how to use fake eggs to prevent hatching! Just putting them in the nest isn’t enough. Learn more here.
Fake wood eggs, fake plastic eggs & real eggs
SIGNS OF ILLNESS & GETTING MEDICAL CARE
There is a lot of misinformation about pigeons and disease. They actually pose almost no risk to humans and you’re more likely to contract a zoonotic disease from dogs or cats than you are from pigeons. Pigeon poop is easy to clean up and apple cider vinegar works great. If you want to have your pigeon out and about in the house without pooping on stuff, you can put pigeon pants (“flypers”) on them.
Avian vet care is a specialty and is very different from the treatment of dogs and cats. Signs of illness in pigeons are also unique and include:
Sudden change in behavior or activity level
Persistent change in color/consistency of poop
Fluffed up, sitting on floor (not perching/flying)
Somebody used beautiful, gentle Lilo for their cruel hobby of pigeon racing. He was flying his heart out hundreds of miles trying to get back home when the hungry hawk hit him. The shock and pain and terror overwhelmed him. Sharp talons ripped into his leg and side and he struggled and flesh tore and miraculously, Lilo got away. Badly injured, he fell to the ground, still doomed except for another miracle: a nice person scooped him up and took him to the local open door shelter. The shelter took him in but, without avian vet care, he was still doomed.
PRO TIP: Please study Lilo’s photo above. Could you tell from seeing him that he is seriously wounded? We have a saying at Palomacy: Feathers hide a lot! Please, if you rescue a bird, always connect with an expert for assistance.
I love this photo by Michael Milicia of a Piping Plover parent brooding three chicks to illustrate how feathers can hide so much! (used with permission)
Upon examining Lilo, shelter staff found this wound.
First glimpse of the wound
Shelter staff reached out to us for help on March 4th and Lilo was picked up by a volunteer and emergency transported 50 miles to Medical Center for Birds where, despite being booked solid, they said yes to helping him.
Together, you- Palomacy volunteers and donors and partners- saved Lilo.
Warning: graphic wound photos below
At Medical Center for Birds, the vet’s exam revealed the true extent of Lilo’s wound.
3/5 Vet exam reveals extent of Lilo’s wound
3/7 Damaged tissue declaring itself
First sedated wound cleaning & stitches
3/11 Dead tissue removed during second sedated debrieding
3/11 Cleaned wound protected by Duoderm
3/11 Lilo back in his tank post procedure
He was hospitalized for eleven days while his wounds were treated, debrieded and healed. Palomacy donors made his life-saving care possible, paying the $2100 it took to put little Lilo back together.
On March 15th, when he was ready for discharge, Lilo was volunteer-transported 90 miles to his special medical foster home for continuing aftercare. And, thanks to all of us working together, Lilo is safe!
Lilo’s first day at his foster home
3/21 Having some cage free time in the bathroom
3/22 Healing up beautifully
3/26 Recreation time, first bath& loving the sunshine
Click to See Lilo’s Happy Flappies Celebration
Lilo’s all done with his medicine, doing great with his foster family, regaining strength and his ability to fly. His foster mom Jessica says, “He’s perfect! I really do love him. Super chill, loves to eat and hang out, easy to catch. Perfect representation of a pigeon.”
Bird by bird, together, we are making the life-saving difference these innocent pigeons and doves desperately need.
January 7, 2023 Update: While we see this most often in male pigeons, it does happen with females too so I am updating the term to Underemployed Pigeon Syndrome (UPS).*
Margaret contacted Palomacy seeking marriage counseling assistance for her pigeons Emma and Ezra. Ezra had become very aggressive with Emma. This is something we see a lot. We call it Underemployed Male Pigeon Syndrome (UMPS)*. Pigeons are flock birds and they have a lot of social energy, especially the males. In a flock, even though married pigeons are very devoted to one another, the males flirt with all the females and show off to, trash talk and challenge all the males. They are busy most of the day. Feral city pigeons have even more to do looking for food all day. But a lone male pigeon living as a companion in a home, either with his mate or just his people, will often get bored, frustrated and angry. It happens all the time! Fortunately there are ways to help. Here’s Margaret’s story of Emma and Ezra with additional info from me along the way. EY
A quiet moment together
I adopted Emma and Ezra three years ago from Avian Underdogs, a pigeon and dove rescue in Orange County. When I first read Ezra’s story and saw his picture, I immediately fell for the little guy. He had been rescued a few months earlier with an injured wing, in downtown Los Angeles. His rescuer contacted Palomacy, who put her in touch with Avian Underdogs and paid for her bus fare to Orange County, since she didn’t have a car. She was the one who named him Ezra. I had only intended to adopt him, but when I got there, he had a choice of three lovely lady pigeons for a mate. Since pigeons are such social animals and mate for life, I knew it was the right thing to do to make sure he had a partner. I chose his favorite of the three, Emma, and adopted her as well.
I live in a small apartment, but work from home, so they have the run of my living room all day, with their open cage in a corner by a window. At first, they had a whirlwind romance, and Emma wasted no time in laying two lovely eggs, to be repeated each month. They both love to spend as much time as possible sitting on the eggs, with Emma sitting on them in the morning and Ezra in the afternoon. In the evening, it was always a constant battle for the privilege of sitting on the eggs, with the sweetest little wrestling matches to determine egg supremacy. Mostly Ezra would be the winner, so he would sit on them, and Emma would perch on the side of the nest, snuggled up beside him. They spent a large amount of time carefully preening each other. They loved those eggs more than anything else in the world.
It was like this until recently when some problems began to emerge. Ezra began to encourage Emma to abandon the nest earlier and earlier. When she laid the next two eggs, he would sit on them for longer periods during the day than he had previously and fight her when it was her turn. He seemed bored, but felt if he was going to be bored, he might as well be sitting on the eggs. The hardest time for him was when she laid the first egg, and he missed all the fun they had had exploring the apartment together. The honeymoon was over.
When he wouldn’t accept the new eggs and constantly fought with Emma, I contacted Palomacy. It turns out he has Underemployed Male Pigeon Syndrome (UMPS), as Palomacy calls it. Living with these little guys for three years, I am constantly being made aware of how intelligent they are. He was bored and needed a job.
This is what they recommended for him.
The first point is zero tolerance for him fighting with her. If he does, he goes straight into his pet crate in a quiet place for a timeout. I am still working on this, and it may take some time, but consistency is the key.
EY: We have seen great success with time-outs though it can take many repetitions. (We sometimes use it to stop a persistent bully in an aviary too.) Implement this approach when you have the time to observe and interrupt the bullying consistently. When the aggressor attacks, say, [Name], NO and scoop them up and into a waiting pet carrier or crate. Leave them in for five minutes to start and then let them out. Watch and repeat. You can extend the timeouts to 30 minutes or even a couple of hours if needed. It will likely feel like it’s not working but stay with it and it nearly always does. (The longest I’ve had to do this is for a week.) Ultimately the aggressor makes the decision to stop attacking and, once they do, we’ve found that it holds. We have former bullies living peacefully beside their prior target safely. (I recognize that this is not a positive reinforcement training approach and welcome input on the subject. These next tips are positive.)
The other recommendations are the fun part, keeping them both engaged and happy, without becoming bored.
Foraging for their food – Since they spend a large amount of their time in the wild foraging for food, it helps to make them work harder for their food if they can forage. They have a small seed bowl in their cage, but a larger tray at the other end of the apartment. I also used some shells I found at the beach for foraging, hiding some of their favorite seeds under a group of shells. They both really enjoy this. Ezra can flip over the shells faster than I can place the seeds. Emma will pick up the shells one by one, but he’s an impatient little bird and can knock over several at once with a beak swipe.
Hunting for seed under shells
EY: I love Margaret’s creativity with the shell game! There are lots of good ideas out there for foraging (mostly designed for parrots but some will work or can be modified for pigeons). One approach we often recommend is using a big fake turf mat or a snuffle mat dog feeder as your pigeons’ food dish so that they have to forage for every piece. Be sure that you only use the old fashioned rubber fake turf (not the fancy looks & feels like grass cellophane kind) so that your birds don’t foreage and ingest and become impacted with the fake grass. Use the same caution with snuffle mats or any fabric- no long fibered material as it can be preened and ingested and cause severe problems. Use only short fiber fabrics, think velvet or velour.
Stroller or carrier for walks – I have a small pet carrier with mesh sides I’ve been taking them out for a walk, one at a time. So far Emma has enjoyed this more than Ezra, but she got to see some other pigeons while he only saw squirrels, so I will keep doing this each week. Emma saw a large flock of pigeons, and really enjoyed the sound of their cooing.
EY: We highly recommend taking your pigeons for safe outings and it is especially valuable for underemployed male pigeons! Even though he may only be riding in a pet carrier on an errand or in a stroller or bird back pack and not physically active, it really wears them out- mentally and emotionally – and gives the mate a break while he’s away, too. Please always keep your pet pigeon safely secured. Riding on your shoulder or otherwise unenclosed is super dangerous for them.
Socks and other toys – This helps to channel some of his male pigeon energy. Ezra had always loved a good tussle with my sleeve, But I was recommended to use a sock over my hand as a toy. This made him go ballistic, biting and wing slapping it with great gusto. Now I try to engage him in a game a few times a day. He can distinguish the difference between the sock and my unarmed hand, if I show him my hand afterwards, he isn’t aggressive. Emma has learned the sock game by watching us, but her idea of fighting it is to gently grasp it with her beak and give it a soft shake.
EY: Play fighting is wonderful for your underemployed male pigeon! And it won’t make them more aggressive but rather the opposite. They need to burn that energy and play-fighting them with a puppet or sock on your hand or plush toy is great for them. (Short fibers only!) We also recommend creating a punching bag toy for your underemployed pigeon by hanging a plush toy where he can play fight anytime. (Use only a single strand of ribbon or string to hang it- NO LOOPS! Any loops in your pigeons’ area are a stranglulation risk.)
Showing the towel who’s boss
Bonus: Pigeon Marian Boxing Her Flamingo!
Pigeon TV – Being flock animals, they really enjoy the company of other pigeons. I have tried to show them videos of other pigeons on my iPad. At first Ezra was very interested and would peck the screen, but he became bored when he couldn’t find the other pigeons behind the iPad. Emma only showed a mild curiosity, but I have noticed she does enjoy the sound of other birds, particularly the Birds Sounds channel on Pandora.
EY: Male pigeons especially enjoy being able to show off in nice big mirrors and can burn off a lot of excess energy cooing and dancing at themselves. Move mirrors around so that he gets the fun of looking for and discovering them. While mirrors may or may not be good for some birds, they are great for pigeons (and they have been proven to self-recognize). Pigeons also appreciate watching videos, television (Sponge Bob is one of our adopted pigeon’s favorite), interacting via FaceTime or with two way pet cameras or monitors (especially helpful for when you’re away). If yours isn’t much impressed, try another channel or approach.
Where did that pigeon go?
Building the nest – This is a major event in their lives. Ezra is the principal nest builder, although Emma does occasionally help. I use food grade carboard, cut into twig sized pieces. When it comes time to build the nest Ezra can go overboard, running all over the apartment in search of good twigs. Its important to make him really work for those twigs, so I hide and scatter them in various places. He can spend hours at a time on this, and it does make him very happy.
EY: Palomacy suggests putting out a variety of different types of nesting materials if you can (long pine needles, long grass, thin twigs, zip ties in different colors, paper shreds, etc. etc.) because they all seem to have their preferences and it’s fun to see them express theirs. In addition to different materials, you can also use different lengths with some being to short and others too long to give them the satisfaction of finding just the right stuff. And like Margaret says, make them work for it. Put the nesting materials as far away from the nest as possible so that they spend lots of energy looking for and trundling it back to the nest. And don’t limit how much you put out. Some pigeons are very industrious and will build huge nests given the materials.
Amelio likes to build a big nest
So, are these new engagements working? It’s hard to tell because they can’t directly tell me how they feel, but they do seem happier. Ezra did accept the latest eggs and is spending time tending them. They both are napping less, and Ezra is spending a little less time on the nest. Emma has been doing more exploring outside the cage by herself. I am going to keep trying to find more ways to challenge and occupy them, and in the process we should all have more fun.
Margaret Brooker lives in Marina del Rey and works from home in software development, with her feathered co-workers, Emma and Ezra. Birds have always held a special place in her heart. She has previously worked as a volunteer with aquatic birds at International Bird Rescue in San Pedro. Emma and Ezra have taught her how rescue pigeons can make such loving, quirky and intelligent companions. You can see Emma and Ezra in action at Twitter: @emmaandezra1
I am passionate about my Prudence! (Prudence Penelope Delzingo is certainly a boy, but I still call her “she” because 3yrs, Old Dog New Tricks… ) Anyway, here’s a bit of my lighthearted pigeon love (& lunacy) in honor of Valentine’s Day… who knows more about love than your pigeon?!
It kills me when I see people struggling to rehome pigeons. Especially pigeons who someone has been able to put the time in to not only “tame”, but bring out the best in him to where he can be handled, adored and (like a recent post) even walk on a leash!
We “Pigeon People” know the unique joy of loving & being loved by a pigeon. It takes time and is complicated but I feel so lucky not to have missed out on this just because I had no idea. It’s the best kept secret in the world. No matter how loud we shout it from the rooftops, it falls on deaf ears, likening it to that one parakeet they owned in ’92 or their Aunt’s stressed & screeching parrot that got her evicted from her apartment that one time.
It’s Valentine’s Day, and one thing pigeons DO KNOW, is LOVE.
When I ask people to consider a pigeon, they don’t know that by doing so, I am doing THEM a favor. I am offering THEM the opportunity to share life with a partner who is an expert on love & loyalty throughout the ages, who knows the value of a truly heartfelt gift and the thought behind it, who is ALLLL ABOUT THE ROMANCE and enjoys nothing more than showering their partner with adoration, song, dance and swoony eyes (or whatever their “Love Language” may be – Prudence & I have been giving the same green & white bread ties back and forth every few days for over TWO YEARS. And not just hey, take this…every time is like a freakin proposal ). The list goes on.
I know that I have been lucky to have found & raised my accidental soul mate from such a young age, I know they’re not all cuddlebirds, but I do see that Prudence still continues to change and find new ways to be with me. Things that have been HARD NO’s (like lying her on her back to pet her tummy) suddenly changed from Maybe to “Mama Scritch Me’s”! The playful but tiring Bitey Game went from 24/7/365 wait, maybe she really just HATES me? to less & less. Run- AWAY softens to Run-TO. It’s evolving, patient people, have faith & stay with it. And sunflower hearts are your friend.
I just wish therapists & Councils On Aging had pamphlets in every office that said “Lonely? Adopt A Pigeon and You’ll Never Feel Lonely Again” with one of those gorgeous, smiling faces of the plain old, garden variety pigeons we see here on these Palomacy Help Group pages every single day.
Shout out on Valentine’s Day to all the times your pigeon/flock made you feel loved. Whether it be that first time they allowed you to pet their downy, gumball head to giving you a raggedy green bread-tie, tell me about the connection you have to your pigeon and how you enrich each other’s lives.
Stacie Delzingo of Arlington, MA is an avid horsewoman and pigeon lover. Since a recent horseback riding accident forced her to quit both riding and her job in a busy Boston-area Emergency Dept, Stacie has been helping with pigeon rescue & transport, as well as assisting other wildlife in need. Her horse Townes, Italian Greyhound Lillian and pigeon Prudence are the apples of her eye.
January 28, 2022
by Elizabeth Comments Off on Sindy’s Pigeon Servivce!
Sindy’s Pigeon Service is an online store providing the best food and supplies to pigeons and their people. The online store was inspired by my love for pigeons. Since my husband, Steve, found white homer, Glory, in an illegal dump of an apartment on the freeway, our lives have never been the same. In the couple of years since her self-rescue, we have volunteered with Palomacy as rescuers, fosters, adopters and aviary builders. I have designed and had built four aviaries: one in Benicia; one at One Living Sanctuary in Martinez; one in a backyard in Oakland and one in Jacksonville, Oregon, where Steve and I now reside. During that time, Steve and I have constantly experimented with creating new enrichments for our aviary flock as well as our blind birds, Jake and Rosie. Sindy’s Pigeon Service hopes to share these creative ideas and enrichments in this online store.
Sindy’s Pigeon Service also came into being as an alternative to pigeon pet supply chains which serve the dove release, roller and racer communities. Foy’s and Jedd’s Pet Supplies, among others, solicit and encourage the misuse of pigeons by: promoting starting a dove release business (“White Pigeons: The Color of Money”); promoting “racing” with numerous “how to” guides and offering every necessary product to band and train racing pigeons; encouraging inbreeding of roller pigeons and “spinners,” and promoting the creation of even weirder fancy breeds by understanding “pigeon genetics.” Sindy’s Pigeon Service is new and growing and does not yet purport to compete with these established wrongdoers. But, it has started. And, now there is a place for pigeon lovers, rescuers and rehabilitators to buy high quality food, “feggs,” and necessary aviary and cage supplies. Each month, new products will be added.
Why do we bother to rehabilitate non-native wildlife species like pigeons?
The rock dove, or “rodo” as we call it here, or pigeon to most people, is a common patient at the Philadelphia Metro Wildlife Center. Although they’re a highly adaptable and incredibly tough species, they are still brought to us when they’re poisoned, shot, abused, hit by cars, caught by cats, and stuck on glue traps. They’re not native to North America; they were brought here by Europeans and have since proliferated in urban areas throughout the United States.
This pigeon had surgery to fix a broken wing. The blue object is an external wing fixator that was removed after a few weeks.
But you can read about the natural history of pigeons elsewhere…we do not need to reiterate it here. What we are here to talk about is why we love them, why they matter, and why we treat them at our wildlife center.
Wildlife rehabbers do not make a difference in wildlife populations, nor do we try to, any more than a paramedic saving a human life matters to the population of 7.5 billion people on planet Earth, it is infinitesimally negligible. However, to the person whom that paramedic saved, it makes all the difference in the world. You save a life because it needs saving, and because life matters, and because compassion matters. When a person has the compassion to step out of our narcissistic, dehumanized world to help a suffering life form, be it an endangered piping plover or a common rock dove, we are here to affirm and validate that behavior, and hope they teach it and pass it on to their children. As with anything else, including humans, if you look at them in terms of populations and statistics, you get a skewed, partial picture. When you hold a hurt individual in your hands and see in its eyes, you see more into the truth of things.
This pigeon had a fractured wing, seen here in a stabilizing “figure 8” wing wrap
Oh yes, and we really dig pigeons. They’re here in North America because of humans, it’s not their fault. We can’t un-ring that bell now, we can only learn from our mistakes and try not to repeat them. We caused the extinction of the passenger pigeon a century ago–that’s on us. Then we caused the proliferation of the rock dove–that’s on us too. But when you get to know these birds, and their unique personalities, the endless variation in their individual colors, and most of all their gritty toughness, you cannot help but love and respect them. They remind me most of all of our home town of Philadelphia: scrappy, tough survivors, but with an unexpected beauty, and depth, and complexity. Can you dig it?
Beautiful checkered pigeon
Editor’s Note: Palomacy Pigeon & Dove Adoptions is deeply grateful to everyone at the Philadelphia Metro Wildlife Center for all they do to help so many.
January 26, 2022
by Elizabeth Comments Off on Palomacy Connecting with Monthly Zoom Parlor
As a far-flung, decentralized community, we are able to serve so many birds! It comes at a cost, though, because opportunities to connect with & support one another are few.
In December, Palomacy had our Board meeting via Zoom & it was SUCH A BIG TONIC to see & connect with each other.
It reminded me how important it is to come together for mutual support! And it reminded me of Aileen’s monthly Palomacy Parlor gatherings that she hosted at her home throughout 2019. We came together (optional, not mandatory) to work on projects, brainstorm ideas, learn from guest speakers & each other & it was really good for Palomacy & for us as individuals.
Aileen’s Palomacy Parlor 2019
And so Palomacy volunteers, adopters & rescue partners are invited to join us as your interest/availability permits for our monthly Palomacy Zoom Parlor.
Our first was held Monday January 24th 7 – 8:30 PM PT & was a lot of fun!
Palomacy’s first Zoom Parlor
Per survey respondents’ input, our priority goals will be to gain: encouragement, reassurance, mutual support & care; rescue community camaraderie; & rescue, rehab & care expertise.
Our next Palomacy Zoom Parlor will be at 6 PM PT on Monday, February 28th. It will be hosted by Aileen & include a presentation by Tiffany on self-care, stress management & burnout. We’ll also be pre-planning for Palomacy’s 2022 party! First thing we will need is our theme! What will it be?
You’ll always be able to see info for upcoming Palomacy Zoom Parlors on our Events page.
January 17, 2022
by Elizabeth Comments Off on Sweet Pigeon Haku
Haku was rescued from San Jose Animal Control by Palomacy (then MickaCoo) on January 29, 2011. He was lovingly fostered, then adopted by Cheryl Dickinson when he married her rescued lab pigeon, Gracie.
On July 27th, 2012, Palomacy rescued a young King pigeon, Penelope Peanut, who also went to foster with Cheryl.
Haku, in a rare pigeon divorce, left Gracie for Peanut. Haku & Peanut became an item.
Meeting Haku at HSSV 5/27/15
On May 27, 2015, as part of the former partnership between Palomacy and the Humane Society of Silicon Valley, I greeted Haku & Peanut as they arrived at the HSSV to be our new lobby ambassabirds. The Lobby Pigeon program was a short but exciting program showcasing a rotating pigeon couple in the lobby of the Humane Society to raise awareness of the plight and the need for homes for domestic pigeons. During weekdays, volunteers would take the pigeons to a “meet and greet” room to socialize and have some flight time, and during the weekends, volunteers would take pigeons around to meet and educate visitors at the HSSV facility.
Meeting Haku & Peanut at HSSV 5/27/15
Meeting Haku & Peanut
Haku & Beth Ward-Haddan
Haku relaxing at HSSV
Haku & I, education day
In August, Elizabeth Young, founder of Palomacy, told me that someone was interested in adopting H&P, and I couldn’t bear it. After three months spending time with these amazing birds, I couldn’t imagine not having them in my life. September 12th, I brought them home on a foster to adopt basis and on October 10, 2015, I formally adopted them.
Adoption day! 9/12/15
Peanut, Haku, & millet
Haku & Lily
Haku was an amazing ambassabird. He was a working bird, and met dozens, maybe hundreds of people, at outreach events. I will include photos of Haku working his magic. Everyone who met him absolutely loved him. He was perfect in every way.
Leda Chung Hosier & Haku.
Peanut & Haku educating new pigeon people
Peanut & Haku at For Other Living Things
Haku & Faye
Haku with Naomi Cissna
Haku snooze
In 2018, the shadow of Virulent Newcastle Disease settled over California and I opted to keep my birds at home and forego any outreach. In Southern California, entire flocks of chickens, pigeons, doves, parrots – basically any domestic birds – were being killed by officials in an attempt to eradicate the disease. I was less afraid that we would catch the disease than that we would be reported and potentially face some sort of formal visit and possible slaughter, a fear which increased when a case of VND was reported in the Bay Area. I had no way of knowing that Haku’s semi-retirement would be permanent, but of course, the coronavirus pandemic eliminated the outreach gatherings that we previously attended. I think it’s possible that the pigeons missed outreach as much as the humans did, but I also believe that Haku and Peanut were so firmly connected that they didn’t really need any human connection at all to be happy and fulfilled.
Peanut & Haku
Sweet gift from Cheryl
Haku & Peanut lived together in my bird room with my doves Doug & Emmy Love, and an ever-changing flock of foster doves (and a couple of quail). They love “Dove TV” and share rotated out-of-cage time (doves & pigeons are very different in size, and it’s not safe to let them hang out together unsupervised) and dayviary time. (A daviary is a tiny predator-proof aviary that I have in my patio that the birds can enjoy in the daytime and get some essential vitamin D and some fresh air. Unfortunately it’s too small for the birds to get a lot of flight time so they get their flight time in the house.)
Blissed out Haku at home
The happy couple.
True love.
Haku.
Haku by Ashley Castaneda
Haku, Lily, & Fizzy
Last Thursday was a gorgeous day, and I carried Haku & Peanut out to the dayviary in the morning. I checked on them before I went hiking with friend and fellow volunteer Faye, around 2:15 p.m., and first thing when I got back home at 5 p.m. to bring them in before dark. I could see from the sliding glass door that something was wrong. Peanut greeted me but Haku wasn’t moving, having died from natural causes while I was away. I followed the recommendation of Palomacy leadership and carried Haku up to his cage where Peanut stood vigil over him on her terms. On Sunday, she had finally stopped trying to waken him, and we buried him together. My eternal gratitude to my Sabby Jill McMurchy who helped me get through the deep grief of this unexpected loss.
Haku was not sick a single day in his life. He was a healthy weight and had no signs of any illness. I hope that his death was as quick and painless as possible, and it is a comfort to know that he was enjoying the outdoors with his wife of nearly 10 years at his side.
I’ve written about Haku before. Haku was a “homing” pigeon, casually bred by people and exploited for weddings and other events. Because Haku was not pure white, he was likely discarded or dumped by his breeder and was lucky enough to end up at the shelter instead of lunch. Wedding and event release dove events are cruel and unnecessary. To celebrate an event by putting another life in danger makes no sense. A white bird is incredibly visible and becomes a vulnerable target for all sorts of predators. Pigeons have many skills, but they cannot see well at night which makes them even more vulnerable if they are left out after a release. I’m also not a supporter of birds as pets. Birds should be birds, flying free, not indoors in tiny cages. Unfortunately, Haku and Peanut and millions of other pigeons are domesticated, and bred and overbred for certain characteristics that subsequently make it impossible for them to survive in the wild. Birds like Haku and Peanut need good, non-exploitative loving homes with humans. Nine years ago I met my first pigeon, Santino, and I will never stop loving and advocating for these incredible birds.
Our happy nest.
Haku had a very important life. He loved his wife, he loved people. He was busy all day. I believe this is true of all beings and I hope, if you have read this far, that you take the time to learn more about pigeons or maybe some other critter that you encounter that you haven’t always had a good feeling about.
Fly free, my beloved Haku. Always loved. Never forgotten.
Reprinted with permission from Liese’s original Facebook post.
January 12, 2022
by Elizabeth Comments Off on Zsa Zsa Gabirdie
I named my bird Zsa Zsa Gabirdie after the famous actress from the 1930’s, Zsa Zsa Gabor. She is a beautiful, sweet, smart, amazing Eurasian collared dove. However, I recently found out that she is a HE!
On 9/20/2020 I was outside on my back patio relaxing, my backyard neighbors were playing their jazz music quite loudly so my two cats that would normally be spending time with me outside were nowhere to be found, thank goodness for the birds’ sake & thank goodness I was there for what was to happen next! As I continued to enjoy the splendor of my day, I suddenly noticed a bluejay flying above. It dropped what looked like a brown, yellowish leaf on my lawn. As I kept looking at the leaf, it seemed to be moving slightly but there was no breeze in the air. As I moved closer to see what I thought was a leaf, I suddenly couldn’t believe my eyes & wished I hadn’t left my glasses inside! Surprisingly & most shocking I realized it was no leaf but instead a tiny newborn baby bird! What were the chances? It was crazy! I panicked! I had no idea what to do! One of his wings looked damaged. I called the wildlife rescue in my area hoping they could care for him but to my dismay they informed me they don’t take any type of song birds including doves. I was heartbroken & had absolutely no idea how to care for a baby bird.
Baby Zsa Zsa at rescue
In my desperation I turned to the internet, I looked on YouTube & found some great videos of what & how to feed him (different baby birds eat different ways, who knew!). I also put him in a box with a towel & placed him on top of my dryer to keep warm. I kept looking for help & found your website & was grateful for Palomacy’s existence & for all the information, advice & help!
Eventually, over time he grew bigger & stronger, we stopped giving him baby bird formula (which he was always VERY excited to eat!) & started giving him bird seeds, fresh veggies, fruit & vitamins. His wing that looked damaged is fine & healed on its own, he has a great aviarian vet & pretty much has free reign of the house. He has grown into such a handsome, strong birdie!
He certainly has a BIG personality! He lets you know what he wants, he pecks on my bedroom door when he wants in, he makes pterodactyl sounds (one time my manager heard him on the phone as Zsa Zsa flew by screeching his pterodactyl sounds (he gets jealous when I’m on the phone), my manager thought I had an elephant in the house! Haha). When Zsa Zsa isn’t happy about something he sure lets you know, he is very vocal about it! He also makes these cute “Woo hoos” sounds at me & especially my feet, my FEET & others are his most favorites! He loves to take showers, he jumps on the shower head & raises his wing letting me know he’s ready for his shower too! He LOVES to play with my glasses! Little stinker! Not good, I needed to find a way for him to stop playing & dropping my glasses, so off to the dollar store we went to buy several pairs of reader glasses! Woo hoo! Worked great! Thanks mom for the tip! He loves them & leaves mine alone! He also has a lot of bird toys too but my glasses seem to be his favorites! We go on different adventure walks & on short car rides (he is safely secured & buckled in) he loves the walks & all of the different sights & sounds of the outdoors & he enjoys visiting with my parents & other members of the family.
Zsa Zsa on one of our walks (Amazon pet bubble backpack). Awesome backpack!
Everything he does is so cute, funny, smart, interesting & totally amazing! He is priceless! I never knew a bird can bring such happiness & change your life in a most incredible, spectacular way. He is the coolest bird I know! He loves to fly on my shoulder & take naps while I work on my laptop. I am certainly blessed to have his amazing, special being in my life! My family & I love & adore him with all our hearts! One of the most cutest things EVER that he does is to snuggle up under your chin & have you pet him, when you stop petting him because your hand is seriously cramping! He will peck your hand continuously until he gets more petting! Such an impressive character! He is a joy to have around.
Our hearts are full & like the beautiful wings of a Dove our love shall soar higher & higher & sweet Zsa Zsa will be in our hearts forever more.
Me & Savannah Tana with Zsa Zsa
My mother, Susan James with Zsa Zsa.
My father, Stan James with Zsa Zsa.
Tami TanaI have always loved animals! One of my many passions in life is to help, care for & love all of God’s beautiful, amazing creatures! I used to work for “Best Friends Animal Society” in Kanab, UT. It was an incredible experience & is a most wondrous, extraordinary place! I am a single mother to a beautiful, talented 18 year old daughter who also has a great love for all animals.
Editor’s Note: Zsa Zsa Gabirdie won 206 votes & 7th place in Palomacy’s 2022 Calendar Photo Contest & was supposed to be included in our 365 page BirdADay Desk Calendar but was accidentally left out. We are so sorry, Zsa Zsa!
7th Place Winner of Palomacy’s 2022 Calendar Photo Contest
Margaret Brooker lives in Marina del Rey and works from home in software development, with her feathered co-workers, Emma and Ezra. Birds have always held a special place in her heart. She has previously worked as a volunteer with aquatic birds at International Bird Rescue in San Pedro. Emma and Ezra have taught her how rescue pigeons can make such loving, quirky and intelligent companions. You can see Emma and Ezra in action at Twitter: 
