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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
Comments Off on Building Aviaries Saves Lives

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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2022 Calendars Photo & ART Contest Is On!

May 14, 2021
by Elizabeth
Comments Off on Just a Few of Our Recent Death Defying Rescues

Just a Few of Our Recent Death Defying Rescues

Warning: article contains images of wounded birds

Maple

On April 2nd, a badly injured little Old German Owl pigeon was found stray and brought in to the Oakland Animal Shelter. Her left wing, tail and back feathers were all pulled out. She had a large wound on her back plus punctures on her abdomen. We don’t know what got ahold of her nor how she got away. She got very lucky again when shelter volunteer Kay, who also volunteers for Palomacy, happened to be there and saw her come in. (Injured pigeons are often more likely to be euthanized than to receive vet care. We have a saying: We don’t have to start with euthanasia.) She needed antibiotics, pain meds, wound treatment and supportive care. Kay got her to Jill and Jill got her healed up via consults with the vets.. Her name is Maple.

Something really chewed her up

Survivor!

What was left of Maple’s wing

Poor Maple’s torn up butt

Despite being so beat up, Maple’s spirit was fierce! You’d have never known, by her attitude or behavior, how hurt she was.

Gorgeous: Maple’s good side on rescue day!

Maple, Splash & Merritt recovering together

Maple thanking Jill with a hard bite!

Maple loving the loving

Splash & Maple chatting in recovery ward

Sassy Jill & fierce Maple

Maple married Patti’s Brad

All of Maple’s feathers grew back perfectly

Congratulations to Maple & Brad: in love, married & adopted

Splash

Chyna, a sharp-eyed home owner, spotted someone hiding in her pool filter inlet- a little domestic Roller pigeon. She fished her out researched pigeon rescue and reached out to Palomacy for help.

See the little pigeon peeking out?

Splash- fished out of the pool, injured & weak

Splash on her rescue ride

Chyna rushed her to Care Coordinator Jill who, seeing a big, deep hole piercing through her back, sent them straight on to Medical Center for Birds. Later that night, the vet called, overcome with emotion, amazed that the little pigeon, only a couple months old, was even alive. The big, deep hole (likely from a dog bite) punctured one lung and pierced a rib. Incredibly, somehow, water hadn’t gotten in. Jill named her Splash.

Splash’s wound cleaned & covered with duoderm

Splash had a chance of recovery, she wanted to live and we committed to saving her. When Splash was ready to leave the hospital, Jill brought her home for intensive medical foster care. She needed daily wound care, nebulization, antibiotics, anti fungal and pain meds. Her deep wound was left open for a few weeks so it could be monitored and carefully cleaned as the dying tissue sloughed out.

Halfway healed

Splash in the nebulizer

Splash had herself a big bath!

On May 7th, Splash went back and her well-healed wound was surgically closed She’s doing good. She’s adorable. She’s somebody. She’s not disposable! (Rollers are bred, flown and lost or killed as if they were.)

Splash says Thank You!

Bean

Injured lost pigeon asking for help

Maya brought him indoors to safety

On May 2nd, good Samaritan Maya rescued a sweet little Roller pigeon who had been hanging around her home. She contacted Palomacy and too full to fit the pigeon in, I counseled taking him to the Oakland Animal Shelter. There, our dual volunteer Kay, became concerned about how weak the bird was and reached out to Jill and I. We had to fit the little one in. We named him Bean.

With Palomacy overfull, Bean goes to the shelter

Once at Jill’s, Bean is carefully looked over and his wound, hidden by feathers, is revealed. (When a rescued pigeon is very sweet and docile, it usually means they are critically ill, injured or both.)

Feathers can hide so much!

Little Bean was too sick to eat & required tube feeding

Bean was very skinny and anorexic. His vet exam found a ton of bacteria in his crop. He needed a course of antibiotics, wound care and supplemental gavage feeding until May 8th when he began eating! He’s getting stronger and even treated himself to a half bath.

Bean’s bath revealed secret long legs!

Rescues Specks & Bean making friends in recovery

And there are so many more!

Merritt

Merritt, a racing survivor (who nearly didn’t), rescued in Oakland. Needed supportive and vet care due to her emaciated state and heavy parasite infestation. She was found to have trichomoniasis, roundworms and capillaria, all of which required medication.Despite all that she’s endured, she is very gentle and affectionate.

Merritt’s body condition was 1 on the 1-5 scale

Merritt’s weight needs to get up to 425 grams.

Echo

Echo, a big, injured King pigeon taken to SJACC who contacted Palomacy. We pulled him due to a massive wound on his neck where the skin had been torn away. He needed surgery to close his wound, antibiotics and ongoing supportive care. He’s making a great recovery with foster volunteer Nath and working hard to woo her lady birds.

Echo was facing shelter euthanasia when Jill pulled him

Beverly

Beverly, a super sweet 2021-hatched pigeon racing survivor, taken to a wildlife hospital with punctures to her body and a broken wing. Getting supportive care, antibiotics, pain meds and wing wrap.

Beverly grateful for help & loving care

And:

Newt

Lunao

Harriet Jane

Apollo

Gemini

and so many more…

Thank you for helping Palomacy to say Yes to saving these birds. They’d all be dead if not for your support.

Foster or adopt

Donate

April 23, 2021
by Elizabeth
Comments Off on Peepers: Brought Back to Life!

Peepers: Brought Back to Life!

Pigeon dad Jacques & newly hatched oops baby

Mama pigeon Amelia

This is an amazing story! On March 15th, Palomacy adopter Garni contacted me asking for guidance about an oops baby (missed egg) hatched by her rescued pigeon pets Amelia & Jacques. She sent me a photo & the tiny baby looked good with a full crop, feet square beneath & attentive dad Jacques on the job. While we do our best to prevent them, once an oops baby hatches, we welcome & love them. I told her the parents know what to do & that all she needed was to monitor that all continues to go well.

A couple of hours later, Garni checked & the baby was dead & abandoned. We have no idea what happened.

Oops baby Peepers dead, abandonded & cold

Shocked, Garni texted me. We were both heartbroken & upset. In desperation, I suggested she try gently squeezing the baby in her warm hand in an effort to CPR her back to life. Garni did & IT WORKED! Baby revived! Garni rushed to further warm her up & we reached out to rescue expert Chava for 911 help & critical care.

Revived, warming up from 88 degree body temp (normal is 106) & barely clinging to life

Chava, despite being totally full & slammed, said Yes & Garni dropped everything to drive baby (warmed by heated rice-filled socks) an hour in heavy traffic to get the extra emergency support required for this critically weak hatchling. Chava’s rescue pigeon Ms. Pidge had been sitting on her fake egg & expertly welcomed the frail hatchling into her loving foster care. Ms. Pidge fed & warmed & comforted the baby now called Peepers. Chava provided one supplemental feed to boost baby’s strength (& monitored her closely in case more help was needed).

Ms. Pidge’s care, with the back up support of Chava, provided the best chance for miracle baby Peepers

Miraculously Peepers survived the night! Chava, Garni & I were all overjoyed the following morning to see the little miracle baby was still with us.

3/16 Foster mom Ms. Pidge admires baby Peepers

3/17 AM Baby Peepers is growing!

3/17 PM Baby Peepers fed & fat

A note about nesting with zip ties: Pigeons seek out long skinny things to build their nests with such as small branches, long grasses, hay stalks, pine needles as well as man-made things like string, wire, thread (which often result in stringfoot entanglement), zip ties, ribbons, coffee stirrers, charger cords (a favorite!), strips of paper, pipe cleaners, Q-tips, straws, scrunchies, pencils, etc. Chava’s pigeons have a variety of nesting materials available & Ms. Pidge has a strong preference for zip ties hence her nest filled with them. (Ms. Pidge built her nest, not Chava.) As rescuers who totally oppose breeding, we’re not allowing eggs to hatch so the nest materials don’t need to be perfect for babies but even in this case when an emergency baby was fostered, the zip ties proved fine.

3/20 Baby Peepers is 5 days old!

So proud!

3/22 Baby Peepers’ eyes are opening

Hello world!

3/24, 9 days old

3/25, 10 days old

3/26 Peepers weighs 220 grams!

3/28

3/30- 15 days old & standing up for the first time

3/31

4/5 Peepers is 21 days old!

Peepers fledged on 4/8 at 3 weeks old

Peepers admiring the thank you gift Garni sent to Chava

Peepers approves

4/15 Peepers is 32 days old & learning the art of pigeon pants

On 4/16 with Ms. Pidge & Chava’s job done, Peepers returned to Garni & her home

Chava writes, Garni, Elizabeth, Ms. Pidge, and myself all working together to save, support, and love baby Peepers is a perfect example of what Palomacy embodies every day – two species, humans and pigeons, collaborating with respect and love. We humans do our best to provide safe sanctuary and advocacy for these often-exploited birds, and in turn they share so generously with us their seemingly boundless capacity for love and their tenacious zest for life.

Making herself at home!

Garni says, I am embarrassed to have let an oops baby get by – but so thankful that we have Peepers! As always, Elizabeth’s knowledge and calm won the day! When I met Chava and she and Ms. Pidge fostered Peepers I could not have been more thankful! It seems Palomacy has created this flock of wonderful pigeons but also this flock of amazing people who share their knowledge, time, resources and joy generously. I’m so thankful to be a part of that little lock and thankful for Elizabeth and Chava. … and next time I’ll call Elizabeth with my questions BEFORE the egg becomes a baby!

Peepers is truly a miracle bird! Even after she was revived, I was terrified that she wouldn’t survive. Adult pigeons are tough but the babies are so frail & newly hatched ones the frailest. I am so grateful to Garni & Chava for so bravely risking the heartbreak that helping little Peepers might have returned. Palomacy opposes breeding (there are way too many unreleasable birds already!) & we replace real eggs with fakes for hatch prevention but when an egg is missed & hatches like little Peepers’ did, we cherish the new life. You can learn more about hatch prevention here & you can support Palomacy’s rescue & rehoming work here. Thank you!

April 20, 2021
by Elizabeth
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In Rocky’s Honor

Guest Post by Pedro Perez

It was just a few days after the 4^th of July that our beautiful white king pigeon Rocky landed on the fence right outside my bedroom. My entire family raced to the side yard to gawk at the newly-arrived visitor. We offered her a small ramekin of uncooked rice and some water, and stood out of her way. Rocky ate some of the rice and drank plenty of water before perching herself back on the fence. She spent the next couple of hours flying between the fence and the roof, and marching up and down the length of the fence like a little soldier.

By late afternoon, Rocky had made her way to the backyard. She settled on the top rung of a ladder that was propped up against the back side of the house. We checked on Rocky several times that night, and she did not move from the place she had chosen to spend the night. The next morning, we found Rocky nestled in the grass enjoying the warmth of the morning sun.

At this point, we were still thinking Rocky was on her way someplace, or that she had gotten disoriented by the 4^th-of-July fireworks. We thought that she needed a bit of rest and food, and that then she would be on her way.

By the weekend, Rocky had settled into a routine. We were all ecstatic that she didn’t seem to want to leave. That’s when we decided to build her a nesting box, which we attached to an overhang of the roof, away from predators. We got her a bag of proper pigeon feed at our local pet shop, and a bag of hay to put in her nest. Rocky did not need any coaxing at all to get into her new home. As soon as I was done attaching it to the wall, she flew right into the nesting box and made herself comfortable.

After about a week of enjoying her new lodgings, Rocky laid two eggs! We were all so excited Rocky was going to be a mom! We were also surprised Rocky turned out to be a she. She was such a large girl with such powerful flapping wings that we were convinced Rocky was a male. Rocky sat on the eggs for a few days but then rejected them because they were not fertilized.

For the next four months, Rocky was a focus and joy of my family. We all took turns checking on her several times a day, making sure she had plenty of food and fresh water, and reporting on what she was up to. Rocky seemed to enjoy our company as much as we enjoyed hers. She was a feature at every family backyard gathering this past summer. And what a joy it was to see her bathe in a plastic tub of cool water in the hot weather!

One morning I discovered Rocky had been killed by an animal. I buried her remains in our garden, under our lemon tree. My sister checked the security cameras in the backyard and saw Rocky fly out of her box at about 3 in the morning. She landed on the shed and that’s when some animal pounced on her. It could have been a cat, perhaps a raccoon. I did not have the heart to see the video myself.

I really thought I was doing the best for Rocky by letting her be free. She always looked so majestic standing on the roof, catching the last rays of the sun at the end of the day. Her passing left us all with a deep sadness and the realization that we could have done more for Rocky, we could have protected her better. She did not have to be taken from us so soon.

It was my sister who found Palomacy online. After a few days of hesitation, we made the decision to do something to honor the memory of Rocky: we would adopt pigeons! This time, though, we would do it the proper way. We would learn as much as possible about these wonderful birds to give them the best care possible. The aviary took a few weeks of planning. The construction of the aviary took a few months, mostly because I could only work on it on weekends.

The aviary built in Rocky’s honor

At last the aviary was done, and our new friend and pigeon expert, Jill, from Palomacy walked us through the pigeon-fostering-and-adoption process. Jill delivered our first couple of pigeons, Bonita and Beau, and how beautiful they are! Within a few days, we hope to welcome another two couples into our family. And yes, some of them will be king pigeons, just like our precious Rocky.

Fostered pigeons…

Special little Ashwa adopted!

Pedro & Padre

Editor’s Note: Rocky’s story is heartbreakingly familiar to pigeon rescuers. Domestic pigeons cannot survive unprotected. Palomacy completely understands the desire to let birds fly free & if domestic pigeons could safely live wild & free, Palomacy would absolutely recommend that. Tragically, domestic pigeons’ freedom was stolen from them at the genetic level many hundreds of generations ago. There is no domestic sky. Please read on for additional information about how to help domestic pigeons.

Why It is Dangerous for Domestic & Pet Pigeons to Fly Free

What to Do If You Find a Pigeon or Dove

How to Care for a Rescued Pigeon

How to Build an Aviary for Rescued Pigeons or Doves

Get assistance at Palomacy’s Help Group

March 7, 2021
by Elizabeth
Comments Off on Thank You for Helping & Please Keep Helping: WE NEED YOU!

Thank You for Helping & Please Keep Helping: WE NEED YOU!

King pigeon kids- survivors of the squab business & an inhumane release – safe!

Together we are helping so many amazing birds! In 2020, in Northern California, thanks to YOU, our incredible adopters, volunteers & donors, Palomacy:

Rescued more than 450 pigeons & doves
Healed & cared for an average of 180 foster birds every day at 40 home/aviary sites
Placed 257 birds with 66 wonderful, screened & supported adopters

Pigeons & doves adopted in 2020!

Palomacy’s current foster birds!

While online, our Palomacy Help Group moderators:

Responded to more than 12,000 posts providing fast, bird-centered, trustworthy support, information & referrals to people (from all over the world) needing help & info about pigeons & doves

Wonderful help for pigeons & doves

Our little rescue has grown into a game-changing engine of life-saving compassion & support for so many pigeons & doves who, without help like ours, suffer & die.

And we need to keep growing! There are more birds in need of our help! With more support- more adopters, volunteers & donors- we can make an even bigger difference for these birds. They have been used & abused, overlooked & underserved for far too long. People are blown away when they learn the truth about pigeons & doves- their plight & their promise.

Married couple posing in the aviary they built for rescued pigeons

Pamela & Jerry rescued a pigeon, built an aviary & adopted more!

Numbers can’t really tell their stories, though. Read about how gentle Barry, crumpled on the ground with a wing shattered during a training race, got healthy, happy & home. Meet sick King pigeon kids Shirin & Kian, survivors of the squab industry & inhumane release; childhood sweethearts rescued, lovingly fostered, expertly treated & when healed, adopted as cherished house pigeons. See how we saved 39 Ringneck doves & a pigeon who were crowded, dirty, unsafe & displaced. Your support writes these success stories (& so many more).

Smiling woman with happy rescued pigeon on her shoulder

Jill helped heal Barry body & spirit

Black pigeon youngster & white pigeon youngster snuggled together in a cat bed

Brave, death-defying kids Kian & Shirin

Domestic ringneck doves ecstatic to have long pieces of grass to nest build with

Neglected Gilroy doves thrilled to get care

GlobalGiving’s weeklong Little by Little Bonus Match Campaign starts Monday March 8th & runs through Friday March 12th. Little by little is how we do this! We need your support to sustain our unprecedented work. Every donation (one per donor) up to $50 will earn a 50% bonus match. For every person who donates $50, the birds will get $75! Your donations save lives. Thank you!

March 7, 2021
by Elizabeth
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Helping Hanks

I circled back to pick up this pigeon stranded next to the freeway

February 16th, I was on my way to adopter Cynthia’s home in Benicia to help her and care coordinator Jill set up an emergency aviary for 15 dumped Roller pigeons Cynthia had rescued. I was late and traveling too fast to pull all the way over when I saw a pigeon standing motionless on the shoulder. I know that posture means help is needed and so I took the next exit and circled back, hoping she’d still be alive when I came back around.

I was relieved to find her and took this quick photo from the driver’s seat before going to grab her. She was standing motionless, hunched, both eyes closed and bloody, passing cars ruffling her feathers. I came up quietly, brought both hands close around on either side of her and then grabbed fast and hung on. Sometimes a pigeon needing rescue is too weak to even try to get away but not always. I knew she might rocket out of my grasp if I didn’t get a good hold and I was right. As soon as my hands closed around her, she exploded into a launch but I held on and got her into the car. I felt terrible grabbing and scaring her but had to to help her. Despite the burst of strength, she was badly hurt and I called Medical Center for Birds to ask if they could please fit another bird into their already booked solid schedule. They said, Yes and when I texted Cynthia and Jill they said, Go!

Safe in the car but badly hurt

Medical Center for Birds needed a name and I dubbed her Hank. (I’ve since refined it to Hanks.) I wasn’t sure she’d survive the 45 minute drive but she did. Dr. Tino Luehman met us in the parking lot and took her in (socially distanced vetting). Later that evening, Dr. Luehman let me know that Hanks had a lacerated crop in addition to the head trauma. That wound was a couple of days old and perhaps is what had weakened Hanks, resulting in her being clipped by a passing car. Despite the injuries, Hank was “overall doing better quicker than expected” (thanks to emergency hospitalization with subcutaneous fluids, injected anitbiotics and pain meds funded by our donors). Dr. Luehman sent me this encouraging photo.

Hanks hospitalized and feeling a little less terrible

We received this update the next day: “There is a necrotic area about the size of a quarter, which has a tail in it that runs up the left side of his neck. That is not perforated, but is necrotic. I was watching his crop contract and was able to get the sucralfate into the thoracic esophagus as planned and dropped some carnidazole in the hole while i was there. We sutured tegaderm on to make a longer term patch, but he is going to be one of the crop kids that we need to let everything declare what lives and what dies before trying to close. At present, we have at least I think facilitated delivery of nutrition. He seems to have relied on people somehow, because he was full of corn and sunflower seeds.
This morning he was standing and more alert. We are going to start gavaging in a little while, but we are volume limited because the biggest part of the hole is in a gravity dependent area so I can’t distend him. Once he is self-feeding on seed it will be less of a concern.”

On February 20th, Dr. Holly Galusha repaired Hanks’ torn crop and sent this update: “Just finished! He did great as predicted with sedation. His skin closure is a little tight, but we know how to let those heal in if they are a little shoddy. His crop closure went swimmingly, but he was starting to popcorn a little with the skin so the goal was function vs. aesthetics.”

Still hospitalized on the 22nd, Hanks was restless and not eating much so she was discharged. I brought back home with me for supportive foster care, expecting that being out of the hospital setting and surrounded by happy pigeons, she’d do better. And it worked. She started eating in the car on the way home.

Pigeons love being discharged from the hospital

In my bird room, Hanks did a great job of eating and pooping but otherwise was extremely subdued. While her eyes looked good, she behaved as if she was blind. Though eating like a champ, Hanks was otherwise shut down for a week. I worried about brain trauma and how much, if at all, she’d recover. I kept her life simple and safe. She had time in the sunshine and fresh air. She spent some time at my side while I worked but all the while stayed very much locked in to herself. She hated being handled and so I refrained.

Hanks spent a couple of days just quietly staring

Sunshine feels good

Staring…

Subdued and unresponsive to the flock of pigeons cooing next to her

Still just eating, pooping & staring 2/27

And then, on 3/1, Hanks started to engage

On 3/3, Hanks spent some time on the window sill watching pigeons outside

3/4, exploring more & managing bird room bird interactions

On 3/5, Hanks was flying to high perches

Bachelor Miles welcomed Hanks on her first aviary visit 3/5

Married man Revali got in on the flirting too

I cleaned in the aviary while supervising Hanks’ outing

That’s Hanks in the center of the penthouse perch!

After a couple of exciting hours in the aviary, I brought her back in the bird room to rest, eat and sleep and she settled in for a quiet night and probably lots of dreams. The next morning, Saturday 3/6, I brought her back outside to the aviary and she neatly landed on a small swinging perch that’s a good place for a bird who wants a little distance from flirty guys.

Hanks’ second aviary outing

Hanks did fine but was quiet

She did fine but seemed subdued and so I brought her in early. It was the right thing to do. She immediately flopped down to relax and nap.

Wore out from all the adventure

Napping

Today, Sunday, she still seemed quiet so I left her to relax in the bird room and she took her first bath since being rescued. I don’t want to rush her and have her overdo it. She’s survived a traumatic brain injury. It’s been amazing to witness Hanks’ recovery. She’s gone from being functionally blind and still as a stone to able to fly and wrangle flirty pigeon guys.

When I pulled over and rescued feral pigeon Hanks, I worried that, if she survived, she might be permanently blind and unreleasable. Today, she can definitely see with her right eye but I’m not sure she can see from her left. If she does fully recover, we’ll return her to her flock to live wild and free. If not, we’ll foster with the accomodations she needs until placing her in the right forever home. Hanks’ life matters to her just as ours matters to us. Our souls are all the same, doing the best we can in the bodies we’re given to live in this big, hard, beautiful world. Hanks thanks you and Palomacy does too. Together we have saved her life.

January 1, 2021
by Elizabeth
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Palomacy Is Here…

Guest Post by Ingrid Taylar

“Palomacy is here. We are here if you need our help, and, as always, we still need yours …. Palomacy loves you. We are each others’ friends and family. And, no social distance can change that.”

Those were the words shared by Palomacy founder Elizabeth Young as coronavirus took hold in our world this year, as normalcy and expectation gave way to uncertainty. Her words of reassurance and resilience — we are here no matter what! — capture the essence of why, after ten years as a Palomacy member and volunteer, I cherish this incredible organization as much today as I did on that one special afternoon a decade ago when I first met Elizabeth.

safe, content rescued racing pigeon relaxing in her home

Chauncey

My husband and I were accidental rescuers of a racing pigeon named Chauncey. Humbled by fatigue and flight, Chauncey crash-landed into our lives, and into the urban apartment we shared with our elderly cat. She was a warrior of spirit so tenacious, she’d outlived the racing club where she was bred for sport and profit. She was banded but traceable only to a phantom loft that long ago folded and left her behind. And although she was born to fly, to fly fast, and fly home, somewhere along the way, she either took a wrong turn or came home to everyone gone.

Now, more than ten years on the wing, navigating the rivers and highways, cathedrals and cityscapes that used to guide her back to her mate, her family, and her familiar, she found herself alone, too tired, too hungry, and too sick to go on.

At this very same time, another warrior came into my life because of Chauncey. I was desperate to find a home for this extraordinary pigeon, and give her a life of serenity after years of forced labor on the racing form. I didn’t realize at the time just how many lost and wounded Chaunceys there were, or how desperate the need was for new pigeon homes. Rehoming Chauncey just wasn’t happening. I felt overwhelmed, wondering how on earth we’d manage our crazy existence without giving up on this sweet, courageous bird.

That’s when I met warrior Elizabeth and her then three-year-old rescue organization. She walked into our living room with a tenacity of spirit that matched our beautiful Chauncey’s. And she brought to us a bounty of encouragement, strength and determination to help us through those early days with a pigeon in our den. Elizabeth’s kindness opened our eyes to the profound gifts of peace and patience that Chauncey would bring to our lives.

One of Palomacy’s rescuers, Sindy, referred to the transformative power of pigeons as a “righting of the soul,” and I couldn’t agree more. It’s a righting that happens as we experience the grace and calm of these ethereal beings. And it’s a righting that happens because of the bridge that Palomacy builds — the bridge from those first, scary moments of “help, I don’t know what to do,” to a vibrant community of others who’ve been there and understand.

When I read Elizabeth’s recent words, “Palomacy is here,” I thought, yes you are. And you always have been … for me and for countless others, we neophytes and initiates into the realm of pigeon.

Palomacy is Pigeon & Dove 9-1-1, an encyclopedia of pigeon riches, a teacher, an advocate, and the friend who holds on tight in the middle of the night when you feel alone with the weight of empathy.

Palomacy is about genuine mercy and endurance during tough and heartbreaking times.

And, true to its mission of pigeon diplomacy, Palomacy is about reaching out in our communities and around the globe to inform, guide, and heal the harms too often directed at these misunderstood birds.

Rescued & bonded racing pigeons snuggling

Chauncey loving Clive

At its core, Palomacy is about love: love for that first pigeon or dove who self-rescues and limps across our threshold; love for our fellow humans who share this journey; and love between birds who find each other, like the love Chauncey finally found with her forever mate Clive, in a dream aviary, perched on grapevines in the Delta breeze.

This past year, when almost everything wobbled and tumbled, Palomacy continued to be, as it has always been, a steady hand of compassion, comfort, and certainty on a changed and shaken landscape. Palomacy is a valiant team of pigeon and dove helpers. It includes you and everyone interconnected here: every volunteer, supporter, and donor who gives in big and small ways to care for the birds most hurting, most in need — and for the humans they bring along on this amazing transformation.

Together in 2020, we have:

Rescued and fostered 450 pigeons and doves in Northern California
Placed 257 of them with adopters
Through the dedication of our expert team of volunteer moderators, assisted thousands of Palomacy Help Group members (14,000 posts this year) How about something like: “Assisted thousands of Palomacy Help Group members and fielded 14,000 posts, through our dedicated, expert team of volunteer moderators”
Brought Jill Shepard McMurchy on as Care Coordinator, with your help and a grant from Craig Newmark Philanthropies
Stayed aloft through this year of crisis, helping more birds and people than ever

None of this would be possible without all of the help you’ve given to us this year, and over the past many years. You’ve been here for us, too. Our efforts spring from our shared compassion, and are made possible only through your generous support.

Please, if you can, donate today to help us continue this unprecedented work. Your contribution of any amount- $50, $100, $500- will save lives.

Thank you for being such an important part of our community! You light up every corner of our world.

November 30, 2020
by Elizabeth
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Self-Rescuing Raced Pigeon Survives Thanks to You

Warning: This post contains graphic photos of injuries common to raced pigeons. Or you can read an abbreviated version without graphic images here.

Injured, exhausted, dehydrated, starving racing pigeon Prissy asks for help

Look at her face. This is what an injured, near death raced pigeon looks like begging for human help. These racing pigeons, bred and used as if they were disposable for the “sport”, are domestic. Totally dependent on people. They suffer terribly in so many ways, whether they win or lose, get home or get lost, get hawk-struck or not. Prissy is one of the super-lotto-winning-luckiest.

Your support of Palomacy is what saved this beautiful, brave, smart and terribly wounded self-rescuing raced pigeon. Not even a year old, possibly on her first race, she survived a devastating hawk strike but was nearly dead from infection by the time she got help. This photo shows her weak, desperately seeking help on a stranger’s porch. The kind homeowner reached out to Palomacy and Prissy, as she was named, was immediately rescued by expert volunteer Chava. Chava was able to get Prissy through that critical night by administering sub cu fluids, starting her on antibiotics and pain meds, gently cleaning and bandaging her deep wound and reassuring the exhausted bird with her loving care. Chava gave Prissy reason to hope.

Feathers & wings hide so much. Rescued birds need expert assessment. This under-the-wing injury was badly infected & nearly fatal.

With emergency treatment provided & her wound bandaged, Prissy is as stabilized as possible to get through the night.

Though much better off than she had been, Prissy was still in grave danger.

And incredibly Prissy made it through the night, wowing us the next morning with her newfound strength. Gone was the defeated, helpless, desperate pigeon. Bright-eyed, hopeful Prissy was standing tall, determined to recover! Chava juggled her schedule to make the 100 miles rountrip as did our incredible vets at Medical Center for Birds juggle theirs to make emergency room for Prissy to be rushed in and hospitalized immediately.

We were thrilled to see tough Prissy standing tall in the morning!

Prissy’s big, deep chest wound required repeated debrieding by Dr. Rachel Baden, who removed multiple layers of necrotic tissue so that she could begin the long process of healing. After three days in the hospital, Prissy was discharged back to Chava who took her home and expertly continued her wound care for over a month.

Prissy’s deep, infected wound required extensive medical care

Post-op Prissy waking up from anesthesia in Dr. Baden’s loving hands

Prissy, shown hospitalized at MCFB, responded brilliantly to vet care. Look at the difference in her posture, her face, her eye…

Prissy’s long recovery continued back home in Chava’s expert medical foster care

Miracle bird! Thank you for enabling Palomacy to save Prissy’s life when no one else would!

Prissy & Chava celebrating the healing!

Fostering is fun for the whole family!

Chava writes, Prissy was a perfect patient and has made a complete recovery. She can even fly again! And now she has moved into a foster-to-adopt home with a family who loves her so much! She follows them into the dining room at dinner time so they give her her own seat at the table and they prep her a little dish of something she can eat each night, like a little cooked brown rice, chopped bell pepper, etc, and she eats dinner with the family every night.

Prissy getting all the love!

Saved! Safe! Loved!

Prissy is just one of the 387 birds you’ve helped Palomacy save so far in 2020. And our volunteer team of Help Group Moderators has assisted thousands of others from all over the country and beyond!

Your support truly makes a critical, unique, life and death difference.

Right now, while GlobalGiving’s biggest ever GivingTuesday bonus match is happening, your donation will help more than ever. Donations up to $2500 made between 9 PM PT tonight and 9 PM PT Tuesday 12/1 will earn a bonus match. (You can see our progress on the leaderboard.)

Thank you for all that you do to help Palomacy help birds and the people who love them.

You make all the difference.