1/17/22 Update: WE DID IT!!! Thank you all so very much for making our year end fund appeal successful, for helping us to raise $10,290 AND to earn Aileen’s $10,000 match for a total of $20,290! THANK YOU!
12/21/21 Update: Thank you very much to our generous year end appeal donors who have contributed $5,218 so far! Please donate now & Aileen will double your gift to Palomacy up to $10,000.
Dear Fellow Pigeon and Dove Lovers,
Thank you for your compassionate support of Palomacy this year. Together, we are helping more and more birds. In 2019, we placed 163 rescued pigeons and doves into wonderful forever homes. In 2020, we placed 257 (a 58% increase!) and we are on track to place more than 300 birds this year. We simply could not do it without you.
My name is Aileen and I have been volunteering with Palomacy since 2015. When my day job gets stressful, I seek comfort from my pigeons Charlie Girl and Boomer. I go say hi, have a snuggle and a little chat. Maybe Charlie Girl wants to come indoors for some play-flying (she’s blind). Maybe Boomer will let me hold him. In exchange, I tidy up their house a little, maybe leave a few safflower seeds. Charlie and Boomer are full of love, but pigeons, I think, value dignity just as much as love.
Charlie was an orphaned feral fledgling rescued in 2016, blind due to head trauma and unreleasable. Even though she is blind, Charlie is calm and trusting. She loves kisses and will sit on anything that is perchable. She also loves to fly (safely indoors): she will launch off my fingertips, get an updraft, and then land on my fingers on the way down. However, she does NOT like to be held or scritched!
Boomer, on the other hand, is nervous. He is a rescued racer with a bum wing and only one good eye. I can’t imagine how weird and scary the world must look for a pigeon with one eye. It also must frustrate him to have a wife who can’t admire his magnificence. Yet he is 200 percent devoted to his home. He will let me hold him for scritches and snuggles, but my hands are very scary. So mostly I gaze at him lovingly from afar and tell him I love him, until he sort of starts to believe me. Then we do it again the next day.
Even with these challenges, Charlie and Boomer are a happy pigeon couple, living fully and giving joy. All they needed was a chance at life and they figured out the rest. But for the good Samaritans who rescued them and found Palomacy, Charlie and Boomer would have most likely died painful deaths. Instead, Palomacy has made a huge difference to them, and they have made a huge difference to me.
This year I am offering $10,000 as a matching grant to help boost our end of the year donations. Whatever amount you donate, I will match (up to $10,000) and together, we will double the support Palomacy receives! The demand for Palomacy’s work has grown much faster than funding and Palomacy really needs our generous support. I love Charlie and Boomer dearly and can’t imagine my life without them. I want to help Palomacy rescue many more pigeons and doves. We need to keep Palomacy going.
Will you please join me and make an end-of-year tax-deductible donation to help us keep Palomacy funded? Your support allows us to continue saving lives, like Charlie’s and Boomer’s. Please donate here.
Thank you!
November 20, 2021
by Elizabeth Comments Off on pHarmony: Match Making for Pigeons (& Doves)
Nesting Homer pigeons Luna & Meadow were rescued as youngsters- lost, starving “dove release” survivors. They’ve always been inseparable & married when they grew up. (Photo by Toni Storms)
(If you’re new to pet pigeons or doves, please read this first.)
Pigeons have an amazing capacity for love. When one of these big-hearted birds finds a mate, the bond between them is usually lifelong. Pigeon couples are so intensely devoted to each other that we refer to pigeon mates as being married. They stay bonded through years of nest-sitting non-hatching (fake) eggs and a healthy partner will stay with their sick mate until they recover or pass. If widowed, they will remarry. Some quickly, some will grieve alone for months. (This article, Shimmy & Dallas: A Pigeon Love Story, is highly recommended.)
If you have only one pigeon (or dove), finding a compatible mate could be a huge benefit to their life. Social isolation can make them depressed and prone to illness. However, bringing home a second bird is not a decision to be made lightly. These guidelines focus on matchmaking for pigeons with some dHarmony for the doves at the end. (What’s the Difference Between Pigeons & Doves?)
Pros and Cons of pHarmony
Zephyr: Does he or doesn’t he want a mate? (Photo by Monika Birch)
Does My Bird Want A Mate?
Pigeons are naturally social creatures, and they don’t discriminate when it comes to who they view as part of their circle. Even though you are a human, your bird sees you as part of his flock. This means that sometimes, especially if there are no fellow pigeons around, your bird might choose you as a mate! If your bird is ‘married’ to you, he will preen you, bow coo to court you, and if female, lay eggs. Your bird will demand a lot of your attention, wanting to be around you as much as possible. If your pigeon has already married you, he might reject your attempts to matchmake him with another bird. (It is sometimes possible to ‘divorce’ your bird by withholding interaction but some people pigeons never accept a pigeon mate.)
On the other hand, if your single bird doesn’t have a strong bond with you, or if your bird spends most of his day home alone, is depressed or restleass, he might benefit from a pigeon companion.
People Pigeon?
First – is your pigeon lonesome? Does he want a mate? Or are you your bird’s mate? If your pigeon was raised and lived only with people since a young age, they likely consider themselves a people bird and don’t not want another bird around. It is possible for your bird to get all the social interaction he needs from you with lots of your time and attention. If you spend much of your day away from home, or if you’re too busy to interact with your bird a lot, consider that your bird may be lonely. Getting a second bird could provide that important socialization when you can’t do so yourself. If your pigeon is strongly bonded with you, they will more than likely consider a new bird as a rival and be hostile rather than welcoming. If your people pigeon is bonded to you and gets lots of your time and attention, they probably don’t want another pigeon in their home. If you can’t meet your people pigeon’s social needs and want to adopt another, be prepared for their relationship to take months to develop (if it ever does). You’ll likely need to ‘divorce’ your pet pigeon, ignoring them so completely that they feel divorced and justified in cheating on you and falling in love with the new bird. (Eventually, after they marry and have a couple of months of honeymooning together, your relationship will return and your pigeon will be able to love both their bird mate and you.)
For months, Ethan fostered people pigeon Dodo as a possible mate for his single ladybird Byxbee but Dodo isn’t interested in birds.
Bear in mind having a second bird means twice the cleanup, twice the food and supplies to buy, and twice the potential vet bills! Also consider that there is a chance your matchmaking efforts will fail, in which case the two birds will never be able to share a cage. They don’t have to be married to be good company for one another, just compatible. Unless your birds are confirmed to be the same sex, you need to be prepared to practice hatch prevention, removing and destroying every egg laid – about 20 per year. (If you have a male or possibly male pigeon, you have to assume that the eggs laid are fertile. Never assume they aren’t. Pigeons will sometimes mate with a bird they aren’t married to.) You can order fake pigeon eggs online (these are our favorite) or make your own with hardening craft or modeling clay.
Old man Felix & his wife Myrna taking care of their (fake) egg
Finding a mate for your bird
If you decide to bring a second bird into your life, adopt, do not shop! There are so many beautiful pigeons and doves in need of homes all over. Sometimes rescued, adoptable pigeons and doves can be hard to find but they are out there! Check with local shelters, wildlife rehabbers, bird rescues, online adoption websites and social media bird groups. Palomacy has a list of pigeon and dove-friendly rescues that you can contact. Members of our Palomacy Help Group can also help you find your bird a friend! Sometimes members can even help arrange transport of a rescue bird to you.
Never pair pigeons and doves. There are significant differences not only in size, but in their behaviors and temperaments. What’s normal for doves is rude for pigeons. Squabbles are a natural part of bird life and just one disagreement can be catastrophic or fatal for the frailer dove. Palomacy has a saying, Doves start the fight but pigeons finish it. Stick to birds of the same species. (Different colored pigeons and various breeds like Kings, Fantails, Racers, Homers, Ferals, etc, can pair up, no problem.)
People are sometimes concerned that exposing their bird to a new bird will risk contagion. Palomacy’s experience says no. Healthy, unstressed, noncrowded pigeons have robust immune systems that protect them. Palomacy doesn’t quarantine but you may wish to. Researching on the Internet makes it seem like there are all kinds of diseases that you need to fear but that is because you’re reading about breeders’ and hobbyists’ pigeons who are typically crowded, stressed, and immune suppressed. Their birds are very vulnerable and they have flocks wiped out despite all their precautions (they vaccinate and medicate their birds in “closed loft” systems) because of overcrowding. (Note: If a bird is sick, weak or special needs, they need expert care and to be segregated for safety.)
Blanco (Flying Flight pigeon) & Bean (unreleasable feral pigeon) fell in love at first sight.
Homer pigeon Pipsy (full grown) & her big, gentle King pigeon husbird Milkshake Mike
Sexing Pigeons & Doves
There is no reliable way to tell the sex of a pigeon or a dove just by looking at or feeling them. (Your odds of accuracy are 50/50.) Sometimes people think they have a male bird until they are surprised with an unexpected egg (which means she’s married to you, only married pigeons and doves lay eggs). Males tend to be more active with lots of strutting and cooing and are more reactive to their reflection when they have access to a big mirror. Females coo & strut too (especially if they are single & no one is courting them) but less than males and they tend to just sit and keep company with their mirror reflection rather than showing off like males do. Inexpensive DNA testing is available (through the mail) to sex birds.
Same-sex marriages do happen amongst pigeons, so you don’t necessarily need to be certain of both birds’ sex to be a successful matchmaker. If at least one of the birds is female, a marriage is likely. Two female birds will often marry each other, especially if no males are present. Each bird will lay infertile eggs and happily sit on them.
Same sex male pairs are less common because male birds view each other as competitors first. That said, sometimes male birds marry each other and they are extremely devoted when they do (though they will squabble even after marriage, especially if you don’t give them fake eggs). Other times, though, they remain persistent rivals, so if you only have the capacity for two birds, it may be prudent to ensure at least one of the birds is female before you attempt to matchmake. DNA testing is available if you want to know your bird’s sex for certain, and of course, only female birds lay eggs. (Male birds still love to nest-sit, though, so giving them fake eggs to sit will bring them a lot of joy!)
Ray and Fraser, both male, are a very happy, loving gay couple. (They are Norwich Croppers. Their oversized crops are an unfortunate breed-trait.)
Rhett & Tommy say, Remember, if you have a male & female pigeon, you need to remove every real egg and replace with fakes!
Why Do I Have to Remove Their Real Eggs & Replace with Fakes?
Removing and destroying their real eggs is for hatch prevention (birth control). Birds can’t be spayed or neutered like dogs & cats but they do suffer from the same overpopulation crisis so we must remove & destroy real eggs to prevent pet pigeons or doves hatching more. It is irresponsible, taxing to their health & they won’t want anything to do with the youngsters after they fledge (about 4-6 weeks of age) and will fight. If you have room for more birds, please- adopt!
Replacing their real eggs with fakes doesn’t stop the birds from laying. It just gives them eggs to sit. Pigeons & doves, both male & female, love to egg-sit. It is a very satisfying & important part of their lives. Providing fake eggs allows them that pleasure & also reduces the pressure on the female to lay more. Fake eggs don’t prevent egg-laying. They are just a substitute for their real eggs & you must stay nosy & always know what your birds are sitting on because they sometimes lay a third or even a fourth real egg which will hatch if not caught.
Fake eggs come in different sizes for different size birds
How to Matchmake
You need to know who the birds are. Pigeons or doves? Youngsters or grown ups? Young birds can be friends at first but sometimes grow into rivals as they mature. Pigeons (and doves) don’t reach sexual maturity until they are about four to six months old. Healthy or sick? (Sick, weak or injured birds aren’t much interested in courtship.) Palomacy will sometimes host a single pigeon in an aviary flock to mingle and spark a flirtation with somebirdy and then send both home to continue the courtship. More often, we’ll send a single opposite sex pigeon to foster temporarily in the adopter’s home for pHarmony and that works great. A lonesome pigeon is very practical and often quick to fall in love with the first pigeon suitor they meet. If your bird lives in a room or an aviary (safe, predator and rodent-proof, please), a new bird can be introduced and safely share that big space (with likely some harmless hazing and scuffles). It is important to understand that pigeons (and doves) are territorial and defensive of what they see as theirs (including space, especially their cage and nest areas, and people, and will fight to defend what is theirs). You can’t add a bird to another’s cage or crate until they marry and want to move in together. The new bird needs their own cage next door to the resident bird’s.
Single pigeons Lilith (male) & Amelia starting their pHarmony in small temporary next door get acquainted crates (they eventually married).
They can safely spend out-of-cage time in the house together as long as there isn’t any serious bullying happening. Twin everything to smooth the way for them- two food bowls, two bathtubs, two bricks to stand on, whatever. Parallel, ambient hanging out together is great for birds getting to know each other. If one of the birds is too aggressive, you can alternate their out time, leaving one locked up while the other is out and visa-versa. (We call it time-sharing.) It allows both birds to explore and express themselves safely and helps an over-eager suitor to be less obnoxious. Watch them interact. Their body language will clue you in to how their relationship is developing. Males are usually the more enthusiastic suitor. Sometimes they come on too strong too fast and the female will evade his advances for awhile (or even need your protection). Males will dance, strut and coo to court a mate. Both will make eyes at each other, hang out in the same general area, lounge around contentedly. As things heat up, they’ll both preen themselves, mirroring. When they start preening each other, dancing and kissing, they are engaged! (Remember – even if they never get married, they can be good company for one another as long as they’re compatible.)
Starbuck lovingly preening his beloved wife Maude
Pigeons Moose and Nike celebrating their marriage
Married couple Moose and Nike kissing (in slow motion!)
Depending on your individual birds’ personalities, it is possible they will show interest in each other right away, but most likely it will take time. Patience is key! Some couples pair up quickly, but shyer birds may take months to decide they like each other. Just because it isn’t love at first sight doesn’t mean a happy marriage won’t happen eventually. When your birds mate, they are married and ready to move in together, sharing a nest for as long as they both shall live.
Cautionary Note: Pigeons are naturally flock birds and males especially burn lots of social energy flirting with all the females and challenging all the males in their flock but in a home setting or small flock with only one or a couple other birds, they can become overbearing and even abusive with so much excess energy. We call it “underemployed male syndrome” and if it happens with your birds, you’ll need to create extra opportunities for him to express that natural energy such as food foraging, daily play fighting with you (use a sock puppet or stuffy), going on errands or adventures with you (safely contained or harnessed) or other enrichments to defuse his frustration.
Dove Love (dHarmony)
Married Ringneck doves (white coloration) Pierre & Piper (#RelationshipGoals)
Doves are beautiful, gregarious, friendly birds. Their mostly easy-going ways make them good company. Single doves can become quite affectionate and attached to their owners; however, they are social and so if you’re not available to be their significant other, they’ll be happiest with a companion. If you have a male-female pair, you will need to replace their real eggs with fakes. Because they breed so readily in captivity, there are many domestic doves in need of homes so it’s not advisable to raise more doves. All too often Palomacy is contacted by someone who has suffered a change of circumstance and must suddenly attempt to find homes for a whole aviary full of doves. It is not a happy situation for the doves nor their people. Palomacy and all rescues who serve doves or pigeons are already full of birds needing homes.
Ringneck doves Shiloh, Honk & Larry Bird are a happy throuple
Ironically, Ringneck doves, considered to be so peaceful and devoted, are more combative and promiscuous than pigeons. And noisier too. (Male doves coo a lot, single or married!) Doves are higher energy and more active. We call doves swingers! Their relationships (in a flock) are much more fluid and flexible than pigeons and we sometimes see dove threesomes.
Ringneck dove Melvin coo coo cooing
Doves are very emotional and dramatic. (Palomacy calls them dramatical.) Ringneck doves love hard and when one is in love with you, you’ll know it. If you are around a lot and have the time and ability to be your dove’s significant other, you might want to keep things as they are. Sometimes, a dove married to a person is too jealous and possessive to tolerate another dove.
Deedo the dove loves his human wife Nancy very much
If you do bring a new dove into the home, follow the same steps spelled out above for the pigeons. A single pet Ringneck Dove may be housed indoors in a cage at least 24” x 30” (though larger is always better) and needs daily supervised time out of the cage for exercise and interaction with his people. A flight cage 62” high, 32” wide and 21” deep makes a good indoor-safe home for a pair of Ringneck Doves. (See How to Choose a Cage for a Pigeon or Dove.)
A flight cage makes a great indoor-safe home for one or two doves
Married Ringneck doves Argyle & Skye in a public display of affection
Ringneck dove husbird Melvin preening his wife Lily
Arthur Millet, a Diamond dove, demonstrates his lovely bow coo dance
Diamond doves are really small, not even half the size of Ringneck doves and they should always be kept with another Diamond dove. They are stressed and unhappy living alone. (More about Diamond doves to come in another article.)
Arthur Millet & Tippi Hendren took six months to marry. Now they’re inseparable.
Have more questions? Need additional information & support? Palomacy’s Help Group is an awesome free resource available 24/7/365 at www.Facebook.com/groups/Palomacy
Miriam Hoyt is a writer and bird enthusiast from Columbia, South Carolina. She discovered Palomacy on Facebook while seeking advice for her delightful diamond dove, Arthur Millet. Since then she’s become a real pigeon proselytizer, talking endlessly about the joy of pet pigeons to anyone who will listen.
November 3, 2021
by Elizabeth Comments Off on Get Your 2022 Palomacy Calendars!
Palomacy’s gorgeous desk & wall calendars are must-haves for pigeon & dove lovers!
Time flies and once again, Palomacy has captured literally hundreds of amazing moments to share with you, with the curious and with the skeptics too in two incredible calendars! Truly, everybody needs both- the glorious 12 month Wall Calendar and the incredible 365-page, Bird-A-Day Desk Calendar!
These full-color calendars, showcasing original photos and artwork by volunteers and rescuers from all over the world, will inspire you every day with amazing stories, heart-warming tributes, and beautiful images.
Order Palomacy’s 12-month Wall Calendar or our incredible 365 page Bird-A-Day Desk Calendar for $25 each or just $40 for both (plus shipping) for everybirdy in your flock!
Everybirdy LOVES this one of a kind calendar/coffee table book!
It just wouldn’t be a new year without a new Palomacy wall calendar!
Best deal is both for $40 & you’re going to defintiely want both!
Calendar proceeds support Palomacy’s rescuing and rehoming of domestic pigeons and doves.
Dennis & Janece Barwick of The Backstretch Rescue’s aviary
Their big, beautiful, safe rescue aviary is amazing! It is 25′ long, 16′ wide, 14′ high and brilliantly split down the center to house Ringneck doves on one side and unreleasable pigeons on the other. Everybirdy is safe while having the bonus fun of exciting neighbors.
The 39 rescued Gilroy doves in their temporary kennel aviary. (Click this photo for kennel aviary info.)
Every few months, I’d check in with Dennis for updates about the doves (they were much loved and doing great) and for a status check on the combo pigeon and dove aviary project (no real progress). Palomacy supporter Heather had created a sketch I could use to help visualize the possibility.
Over this same period, Palomacy adopter and volunteer Sindy and I were talking a lot about ways to develop more adopters. Sindy had funded aviaries for a couple of new adopters and by, eliminating that financial barrier, she saved the lives of 30 pigeons. It got me to thinking.
Dennis and Janece were perfect adopters who had the space, skills and desire to create a big aviary. Palomacy has so many birds needing a home… maybe if I could find a donor to pay for the materials, Dennis could build it and we’d all get the aviary we needed! My thoughts turned to Marian, an incredibly compassionate lifelong rescuer who, when she could no longer care for her 36 unreleasable pigeons, had funded a big beautiful aviary for them in partnership with adopter Angela.
Marian made it possible for her flock of pigeons to go to an amazing new home
In April 2021, I went to Backstretch to check in on the doves and talk to Dennis about my idea. I brought pigeon racing survivor Miles to assist me.
Dennis & Miles had a meeting of the minds
Dennis had the perfect spot picked out!
We talked through design ideas, expectations and worked out a mutual agreement. On May 24th, amazing angel funder Marian provided $5,400 for materials and Dennis started aviary building! He worked out the specs, calculated the quantities, ordered all the stuff- mesh, lumber, roofing, hardware. He cleared the ground, set the posts, poured the concrete foundation and built an incredible palace for rescued pigeons and doves!
I kept checking in. These things always take longer than expected and then on July, 23rd, Dennis sent me this photo!
I said, See you tomorrow and the very next day, Jill and Nath and I had the great pleasure of delivering 12 incredibly lucky pigeons and transferring 39 doves into their aviary/palace!
Jill & Nath & I were rendered speechless with wonder for the first few minutes…
Seeing their new home through the slatted sides of the crates, the pigeons were as wide-eyed as we were. (Clark & Merton)
Jill congratulates Hanks
Arrow & Truffles supervise as Dennis & Nath install their perches
We broke for lunch & donkey Reba love before starting on the dove side
We caught, crated & transferred their 39 rescued doves from their temporary aviary to their forever palace
The doves said, Yes, thank you! We’ll take it!
It’s so good to be loved
Our heroes- Janece & Dennis!
Of course, the birds needing rescue never stop coming.
Just a week later, Palomacy was asked to rescue ten doves (had started out as two) that were living outside in an unsafe-outdoors cage and who had to rehomed because of “remodeling”.
These doves were unsafe & unwanted
We never want to crowd birds nor do we want to overload our adopters. We considered our options and asked Janece and Dennis if they’d add another ten doves to their very lucky flock of 39 and they said, Yes. On July 31, Jill and our dove whisperer Liese transported these luckiest of lucky doves to their new home at Backstretch.
Liese & Janece welcome the new doves
HOME!
Palomacy’s team of 40 foster volunteers are always caring for about 200 adoptable birds (in their homes and backyard aviaries). We are always full, never having the luxury of extra space so losing even one foster aviary has a big impact. We had known since the spring that one of our fosters, Robin, was selling her home and that we would have to transfer her 12 foster pigeons. Even so, despite our best efforts, when the time came in September, we hadn’t yet found placements for them.
Spunks is people-curious, especially if you have safflower seeds
King pigeon Angelo is one of 26 rescued from Golden Gate Park in February 2020
Shy Vesta was also one of the 26 rescued King pigeons
And yes, you know where I am heading: We asked Dennis and Janece if they would take in 12 more pigeons to join their original 12 and they said, Yes. On September 8, Robin transported her 12 foster pigeons from Sacramento to Sunol and from there, Jill and Nath transported them home to Backstretch!
The car was so full that Nath rode with a carrier on her lap
Reba & Jill continue their love affair
Hello, Baby
Everybirdy Welcome
Janece & Dennis love their work; good thing because there is lots of it!
Backstretch’s big, amazing aviary is now full. They are giving 49 doves and 24 pigeons their best possible life. In addition to all the rescued horses and donkeys and goats and cats and chickens they’re caring for. You can learn more about Backstretch and how to support them at www.Backstretchrescue.org. You can help Palomacy continue rescuing birds by fostering or adopting and/or by donating towards an aviary.
Thank you, thank you, thank you to all who are helping.
October 3, 2021
by Elizabeth Comments Off on How to DIY Make an Easy, Safe Pigeon or Dove Aviary
An aviary is a walk-in sized, predator & rodent-proof enclosure for birds living outside.
How Do I Get an Aviary?
So many beautiful, unreleasable pigeons and doves need homes! Rescues like Palomacy develop homes for hundreds each year and, if the birds are to live outside, they need a big, predator and rodent-proof aviary. Getting one can be challenging.
Adopters can:
Build their own: Great option if you have the basic building skills and tools required. See How to Create an Aviary.
Hire a builder: Aviaries can be simple or fancy and if you have the budget, you can hire a builder. Make sure their design meets the required basics below.
Buy something pre-made: Unfortunately most of the pre-made aviaries for sale are neither safe nor big enough and, those that are, are very expensive (with the exception of www.Wingzstore.com walk-in aviaries, details below.)
DIY modify a big outdoor dog kennel to be predator & rodent-proof!
When building an aviary for pigeons or doves, these basics are essential:
The aviary must be built sturdy to protect against predators & rodents (no matter where you live nor what deterrents you have).
The entire enclosure- the bottom, sides & top – must be .5″ or .25″ hardware cloth that is connected to ‘seal the envelope’ with no gaps more than .5″.
Flooring, siding, roofing goes on OVER the mesh.
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.
Make sure all doors & latches are raccoon-proof.
NOTE: PARROTS’ (ALL HOOKBILLS’) REQUIREMENTS ARE DIFFERENT FROM PIGEONS & DOVES (SOFTBILLS)!
Here’s how to DIY make the easiest, most affordable safe pigeon or dove aviary by modifying a large outdoor dog kennel just like Palomacy and shelter volunteers did at the Oakland Animal Services.
Step 1: Get a Large Outdoor Dog Kennel (NOT SAFE UNTIL HARDWARE CLOTH ATTACHED!)
I love this one: welded wire (which is good looking & easy for attaching the hardware cloth), great size (10 x 5 x 6 is inexplicably better than 8 x 4 x 6), smallish door (safer) but get one with a top or you’ll need to make your own to support the hardware cloth & roof. See more examples below.
I really like a 10′ long by 5′ wide by 6′ high black welded wire* dog kennel. This is a great size for up to 14 pigeons or about 24 doves (never crowd your birds). Save money and the planet by shopping for a used one (they’re sturdy and easy to clean). Get one with a wire roof (if available) and choose a small-door model like the one above (the bigger the door, the greater the risk of fly out). I highly recommend the 5′ wide (rather than a 4′) because that extra foot of width makes a really big difference for birds and people both. If you’ve got the space and budget, the 10′ by 10′ size is even better! (*There are also dog kennels made of chain link that can be used. It’s a little more challenging to attach the hardware cloth but they are less expensive.) Definitely shop around for the best price and buy used if possible.
Step 2: Get Enough Hardware Cloth to Cover ALL Sides, Top & Bottom
Buy enough hardware cloth (not chicken wire) with mesh openings of either .5″ or .25″ to cover every inch of the kennel with enough to overlap at seams and around edges. It’s sold in big box stores, hardware stores, feed stores and my favorite for selection and price – at builders’ supply stores like Howard Wire Cloth Company (Google “wire cloth” to find one near you). We used about 160 feet (most of two 100′ rolls) of 48″ wide hardware cloth to cover this 10 x 5 x 6 kennel. Prices vary but a 100′ roll of 48″ wide .5″ 19 gauge hardware cloth costs around $200.
Here’s what half inch & quarter inch hardware cloth look like
Great deal! 100’ x 72” roll of 19 g .5″ hardware cloth sold at Aromas Feed & Ranch Supply. (Get the widest roll you can to reduce the number of panels you’ll need to cut.)
Step 3: Measure, Cut and Attach Hardware Cloth with Zip Ties
Volunteers first cut sections off the 100′ roll of hardware cloth to fit the kennel. Here we used 6′ lengths of the 48″ wide for all the sides. We overlapped a little so that there would be no gaps We cut a smaller piece to precisely fit the door and extend around the gaps.
The hardware cloth is easily cut with tin snips, pruning shears, wire cutters, etc.
We cut 6′ pieces of the 48″ wide mesh for the sides. Here, volunteers start zip tying the pre-cut-to-fit sheets of .5″ 19 gauge hardware cloth to the outside of the 10 x 5 x 6 kennel.
Use zip ties approximately every 6″ to snugly attach the cloth to the frame along both edges & down the middle too.
The zip ties secure the hardware cloth panels to each other & to the sturdy frame of the kennel. Getting the zip ties through, turned around & secured goes a LOT faster with two people!
It’s easy & fun to convert a kennel into a safe, comfortable home for rescued pigeons or doves, especially with a couple of friends to help.
Here we are about halfway done. We took a short lunch break, met & snuggled a new pigeon, took a team photo & got back to work. (Note vinyl remnant for floor in the foreground).
This close-up shows how the hardware cloth covering the bottom extends up & is secured to the frame & hardware cloth on the sides. No gaps! It is much easier to “seal the envelope” correctly in the beginning than to chase down & patch gaps after the fact.
The entire bottom must be enclosed by carefully secured hardware cloth. Doesn’t matter what’s below- cement, rocks, patio, etc. nor what will go over – vinyl, pavers, plywood, Trex, etc. This no-gaps design is what makes an aviary predator & rodent-proof. Otherwise, it’s just a foraging toy for predators.
Here’s an upper corner showing the same no-gaps coverage of sides to ceiling. The sturdy kennel provides the structural strength that enables the hardware cloth to exclude predators & rodents. (Note- the .25″ is even better at keeping mice & talon-tips out.)
In the center, you can see the 1.5″ overlap we used where the hardware cloth panels meet & how liberal we were with the zip ties. Building the aviary tight from the start discourages predators. (If they find weak spots, gaps or places they can wiggle, predators will keep working at it.)
The door is always the most dangerous element for an aviary. (Pigeons & doves don’t really need a double-door feature like fast-zipping songbirds, finches, budgies, but they do need a secure single door!) Important door features: small is good, opening inwards is best, all gaps around the opening & hinges must be covered & latch must be raccoon-proof.
Take your time figuring out how to secure the gaps around the door while still allowing for it to open & close smoothly. We chose to orient this door to open inwards & so attached the gap-covering-sized piece of hardware cloth on the inside.
Here’s the zoomed in view to show the hardware cloth cut & attached so as to overlap the gap while still allowing the door to move.
This view shows the other side of the door & how the cut to gap-cover sized hardware cloth extends over this gap as well. This is also a good view of how the floor mesh was cut & installed wide enough to bend up & over the bottom gap & attach to the kennel frame & side mesh.
We love vinyl remnants for aviary floors. It is pigeon-feet friendly, easy to clean & inexpensive. Buy a single piece big enough to cover the floor without seams. This piece is 11′ long by 6′ wide & we trimmed to fit the 10′ x 5′ aviary. (Other recommended options: cement pavers, marine grade plywood or Trex. Palomacy advises against gravel, sand, or shavings.)
Step 4: Furnish
Pigeons (or doves) need thick tree branches for perches (no dowels), shelves (to maximize the horizontal surface area), multiple big, tubs of water (for drinking and bathing), multiple dishes (ceramic, flat-bottomed) or feeders for food, nest boxes or baskets, a nice big mirror for showing off in and they need half of the aviary to be roofed and sided to provide shade, shelter from the weather, privacy and security. Raccoon-proof the door latch with a lock or carabiner. Don’t clutter the aviary. The more you put in, the more risks you introduce, the more poopy things you’ll need to clean and the less flying and flapping space for the birds.
Almost ready for the birds- all mesh is secured, a temporary shade cover added until a waterproof half roof of corrugated roofing panels is added, & perches, feeders & water dishes in place.
Bringing Oakland Animal Services’ rescued & adoptable pigeons in to their wonderful new enclosure…
Never underestimate your power to make the world better. When Claire was 12, she met rescued pigeons at Animal Camp & they touched her heart. She convinced her family to build an aviary in their yard & they have been fostering, rescuing & volunteering to help pigeons ever since. Together, in partnership with Palomacy & Oakland Animal Services, Claire & her family have helped hundreds of pigeons.
Wow! This is for us?! Oakland Animal Services’ rescued pigeons move into their new aviary!
These smart, beautiful, easy going King pigeons make wonderful companions outside in a predator & rodent-proof aviary like this one or indoors with the family. These domestic pigeons were lucky to be rescued alive when they were inhumanely “released”.
Their first night- not yet fully furnished but very comfy even so!
The next day, Kay installed shelves & nest baskets. Pigeons LOVE shelves & nest baskets!
Palomacy recommends upcycling some nice big baskets from the thrift store for nests!
Our nest is best
Just hangin’ around…
THANK YOU FOR HELPING US
Extra thanks to Claire, her dad Ken & especially her mom Kay for helping SO many birds in so many ways!
Palomacy is deeply grateful to Oakland Animal Services for all they do to serve & adopt out rescued pigeons. THANK YOU!
I really like this one too. It includes the top braces you’ll need for attaching the hardware cloth & the half roof (corrugated roofing panels, plywood, etc.) but the door is bigger than I like. (Good size for up to 14 pigeons or 24 doves.)
DO
This is a great price (includes free shipping) & a big kennel – 15 x 5 x 6! Needs crossbars added over the top to provide support for the hardware cloth & half roof. (Good size for up to 20 pigeons or 30 doves.)
DO
Chain link is less expensive & just as safe when hardware cloth is attached. (NOT SAFE WITHOUT HARDWARE CLOTH!)
Need help? Not sure if the enclosure you’re considering is appropriate? We can assist! Please join & post in our Palomacy Help Group for fast, trustworthy support.
What Wisdom Can You Find that is Greater Than Kindness? -Jean Jacques Rousseau
Last November, Palomacy was asked to take in a then 20 year old pigeon. He was the only one left of his original flock of 60. He was part of a 4H pigeon racing project started in 1993. In the beginning, the family flew the pigeons but seeing them injured and killed by hawks was too upsetting so they stopped. Since then, all of the kids grew up and lost interest. Pigeons can live for more than 20 years but alone in a coop is no life for a pigeon. He’d never been named until Jill picked him up. He’d been #2931, hatched in 2000. He was thin, arthritic and had a badly overgrown, crossed beak which Jill immediately corrected (not even waiting until she got home).
That’s better!
She named him Wisdom and settled him into supportive, VIP care with a special open-door suite, food and water included for easy snacking, soft bedding, access to a heating pad, and the company of gentle friends. We intend to ensure that the rest of his life is spent knowing that he is cherished and safe.
Wisdom 8/10/21
On August 10th, having worked my foster numbers way down, I was able to bring Wisdom home to live with me. He’s getting frailer, his legs are weaker. He needs extra support and attention. He’s sitting beside me as I type this. I call him WyWy sometimes. Wisdom floats for 20 minutes each morning in a luke warm sink full of epsom salt water (hydrotherapy to ease his legs). He naps in the sun a lot, hangs out watching the other birds, let’s me snuggle him a little, gets good pain meds. I feel him slowing down even more than he was and I know that we won’t have the privilege of his presence forever.
Floating for pain relief (hydrotherapy)
Wisdom’s VIP Lounge
Wisdom is just one bird. Last year, Palomacy rescued nearly 400, placing 257 with adopters, an increase of 58% over 2019. We’re helping even more birds this year and assisting thousands all over the country through our Palomacy Help Group and website. Every single one of these birds is an individual. Each one wants to live, to be safe, to love and be loved.
Some of Palomacy’s birds adopted over the past 12 months
September 11, 2021 Update
Chipotle is a beautiful, soulful 10 year old pigeon racing survivor who was injured, grounded & helpless in May when she was lucky enough to be rescued alive & taken to Peninsula Humane Society. They healed her up & have been seeking an adopter for her ever since. Yesterday I picked her up to be a special friend for old, old man Wisdom. He’s very wobbly on his legs & spends a lot of time napping. I’m not sure if he’s got the strength to really bond but I want to give him the chance. Amazing Chipotle, right from the start, though plunked into a strange new environment, read the room & gently took up next to him like an old friend. She’s such a sweet, gentle bird. Wisdom is quietly observing his new companion. I wonder if he thinks he’s dreaming. She’s so perfect & gentle & generous, sweetly giving him her company, no questions asked. She was named Chipotle after the take out bag she arrived in but she’s pretty much the opposite of a Chipotle. Maybe Grace? Or Dulce? I’ll add updates here as they unfold. Here are photos from their first evening & morning together.
Wisdom napping on left & Chipotle chillin’ upon arrival
Good morning. Just hanging out…
Chipotle & Wisdom sharing a new day
Together we are saving birds’ lives, one by one.
We can’t save birds without you. Your support makes all of this possible.
GlobalGiving’s autumn Little by Little Fundraising campaign has begun. Every donor’s (single) gift up to $50 will earn a bonus match of 50% this week. (New monthly match donors earn double bonus!) We need your help. Please donate during bonus match and share with your friends. (Watch our progress on the leaderboard.)
A loving heart is the truest wisdom. -Charles Dickens
Thank you
September 6, 2021
by Elizabeth Comments Off on What’s the Difference Between Pigeons & Doves?
L-R: Diamond dove, Ringneck dove, Homing pigeon, King pigeon, feral Rock pigeon
Pigeon and Dove – the terms are sometimes used interchangeably, and often incorrectly. Both comprise the order Columbiformes, with over 300 species.
Rather than delve into the technical and scientific names, let’s focus on the domestic species that Palomacy primarily serves, why it’s important to distinguish them, and how they differ as pets. Depending on your location, you may see other members of the Columbidae family in your backyard – we’ll save these species for another post.
Who Do You Think of When You Hear “Pigeon”?
Affectionate married pair of feral Rock pigeons photographed by Ingrid Taylar
Columba Livia – The most common variety of this bird, the ‘feral pigeon’ is grey and black with an iridescent head, either a darker gray ‘bar’ or checkered pattern on its wings, and is commonly seen in parks and urban spaces where people congregate. In the US, this bird is known as a ‘Rock Pigeon’ but depending on what part of the world you live in (especially prior to British orthinologists changing it in 2004) you may refer to this well known bird as a ‘Rock Dove’ as well. They are the feral descendants of domesticated pigeons bred, over thousands of years, from the wild Columba livia native to Eurasia. They are among the earliest animals to be domesticated. There are numerous varieties and colors of domestic pigeons: All human-created breeds come from the species Columba livia, with a huge variety of traits that have been bred to the extreme (much to the birds’ detriment). Pigeons have been bred for sport, show, meat, messengers and laboratory testing and different traits are prized according to their use. Racing pigeons are bred to be exceptionally strong, fast homers. King pigeons, bred for meat, are big for maximum meat yield and white because white feathers ensure the pink skin meat consumers prefer. Many fancy breeds are trapped within bodies which nature perfected but humans have deformed- some breeds have beaks too short to feed their own young, others have feathering so extreme they can barely see or even walk, Parlor Rollers have been bred so that just opening their wings triggers somersaulting seizures.
Domestic Pigeon Breeds
These are only some of more than 300 domestic breeds of pigeons (all are the same species- Columba livia domestica)
Are White Pigeons Doves?
Homer pigeon Nova is a survivor of the “dove release” business rescued & photographed by Lisa Caccioppoli
No, white pigeons are domestic pigeons that the “dove release” business calls “doves” to capitalize on the positive image people have for doves while simultaneously exploiting the homing abilities of pigeons. (Domestic doves have no ability to home.) When you hear about a “dove release” or “wedding doves”, it usually means that Homing Pigeons, selectively bred to be all white, small and dove-like, were rented so as to be ceremoniously released. (They don’t call them “wedding pigeons” for some reason…)
Most will survive the flight home.
But the reality is very different from the fantasy.
The “dove release” business perpetuates the idea that white birds can be “set free” and they will just fly away and live happily ever after. Even under the best of circumstances, trained “wedding doves” are hurt, lost and killed trying to get home. It’s even worse when do-it-yourselfers mistakenly buy white Ringneck doves and King kigeons to release. Nearly all of them will die. (Read Why “Dove Releases” Are Cruel)
Doves
Ringneck doves (front to back) Emma, Doug, Scoop, Pekoe & Jackson fostered & photographed by Liese Hunter
Streptopelia Risoria – Ringneck doves are the most common species of dove kept as pets. The domestic Ringneck dove originated from the rose-gray (Rosegrisea) species of the African Collared Dove, found in north east Africa. There are several different sub-species of this bird that can be found in Eurasia, along the Arabian Peninsula and in North Africa as well. Sixteen different color varieties have been bred into Ringneck doves including all white (often mistakenly called albino). These birds were domesticated several thousand years ago and kept as pets. They are territorial and tend to form not-always-monogamous pairs. Doves are also intelligent and take excellent care of their young.
Diamond dove Ziti rescued by Nina Bohn
Pigeons & Doves
King pigeon youngster Neo in hand & Ringneck dove youngster Lily on the camera
Pigeons and doves have much in common and share many physical and behavioral similarities while also having important differences that make correct identification really important for appropriate care.
Pigeons and doves have a similar body shape with a round head, short neck, short legs, thin short beak and a stout compact body.
They both lay a clutch of two eggs with both parents taking turns spending time on the nest incubating the eggs, about 18 days on average for pigeons and 14 days for doves.
Both can produce a thick, nutritious, fatty liquid substance known as crop milk with which to feed their young in the first few days of life.
Both pigeons and doves can be territorial and possessive of their ‘space.’
Both generally maintain a monogamous relationship with one chosen mate during their lifetime, however pigeons seem to practice this moreso than doves do.
Both pigeons and doves ‘coo.’
Pigeons and Doves have similar diets consisting of seeds, grains, and fruits.
Courtship rituals are similar between the two species. Bowing, cooing, calling to the nest, wing twitching, allopreening and the deep open beak kisses are behaviors common to both pigeons and doves, with slight differences between the two.
There are some visible and some ‘not so visible’ differences between the species, however.
The most obvious difference is size. Pigeons, even the petite Roller Pigeon (weighing in at an average of 275 grams) are bigger in size than Ringneck doves (average weight around 170 grams while Diamond doves weigh only 40 grams) although there is much variance in weight and size amongst individuals. In fact, some varieties of pigeons can weigh in excess of 800 grams! Since both species are territorial, should a turf war break out, the larger pigeon can do serious damage to the smaller dove. The two species should not be housed together or left unsupervised.
Another fairly visible difference is the beak. While both species have short thin beaks, the part of the beak known as the ‘cere’, located at the base of the beak, will appear as a white powdery ‘growth’ on a pigeon whereas it appears non-existent on the dove.
There are audible differences in their vocalizations. While pigeons ‘coos’ will vary from bird to bird, one specific ‘coo’ that is universal to the feral and domestic pigeons we are familiar with is the territorial and/or mating dance ‘coo’ that sounds something like ‘rooo roooo’, a Ringneck dove’s ‘coo’ will sound more like ‘coooo ka roooo.’
There are some differences in the ‘courtship dance’ as well. A Ringneck dove will ‘bow and coo’ to his potential mate while a pigeon will sort of prance around her, often dragging his tail and cooing at her to try and get her attention.
Ringneck doves laugh, pigeons do not. That’s not to say that pigeons don’t have a sense of humor.
Pigeons have homing instincts where Ringneck doves do not.
Nina, shown here with Ringneck dove Steve, moved to the Pacific NW in the late 90’s to attend the UW, where she dual majored in Biochemistry and Ecology. While looking at options for grad school, she took a job as a software tester, and has been working in software development ever since. Nina has worked with animals her whole life in one capacity or another but her path diverged into pigeon and dove rescue in 2014 when her son brought home a 5 day old squeaker, named Sam. Currently Nina cares for many pigeons, and various Ringneck, Eurasian Collared, and Diamond doves. In addition to bird rescue, Nina is an avid bird watcher, amateur naturalist, and nature photographer. She also enjoys reading.
Bonus Content
by Pam Thompson, Palomacy Help Group Member
Domesticated “Rock pigeons” are classified as Columba livia domestica. Domesticated “Ringneck doves” are currently classified as Streptopelia risoria. Rock pigeons and Ringneck doves are two separate species classified into two separate genera. In the context of this group, “pigeon” almost always refers to the domestic Rock pigeon (Columba livia domestica), and “dove” almost always refers to the domesticated Ringneck dove (Streptopelia risoria). As noted in the original post by Nina, these are different species with different behaviors and different care requirements!
Rock pigeons that are pure white are often called doves, and they may be mistaken for white Ringneck doves. Many breeders purposefully refer to white Rock pigeons as “doves”. White Rock pigeons are not the same as white Ringneck doves! Nina has some really great info in the original post about how to tell the two apart.
When it comes to how birds in the family Columbidae receive their common names, I don’t think there is any pattern determining what gets called a pigeon and what gets called a dove. For example, why are birds in the genus Leucosarcia given the common name “Wonga pigeon”? Why are birds in the genus Macropygia given the common name “Cuccoo dove”?
If anyone wants to go down the rabbit hole and explore the many MANY species and subspecies of birds in the Columbidae family, here is a good place to start:
The Rock pigeon species contains several subspecies (not just the domesticated subspecies we are familiar with) depending on where the birds live. There are no subspecies of Rock pigeon that are native to North America. As far as I can tell, the feral pigeons living in North America are still classified as Columba livia domestica, the domesticated Rock pigeon. Despite this classification, feral Columba livia domestica are not always reliant on human cities for survival. Last year I was privileged to observe a feral Rock pigeon colony living among cliff formations in eastern Oregon, far from any large cities or towns. They were wild birds, for all intents and purposes.
The common name “Rock pigeon” was previously “Rock dove”, because all of this wasn’t confusing enough. Around 2004, British ornithologists decided to change the name to Rock pigeon, and America soon followed. There is a movement to change the name back to Rock dove, but it has not been successful so far.
It is difficult to write about Earl. The words on paper never seem to do justice to the wonder that he is.
Earl became part of our family in November 2019. My husband and I adopted our feather baby Earl about a week after we married. After following Palomacy on social media for about a year, and then attending the Mascoorade where I spent the evening cuddling recently rescued squab survivor Courageous, I reached out to Elizabeth and Jill letting them know that I was interested in fostering to adopt. I let them know I wanted a pigeon with special needs. Not long after, Earl joined the family.
Waqar, Courageous & I at Mascoorade
Earl was about two at that time. He had been injured as a fledgling which left him with nerve damage- unable to stand, walk or fly. The exact nature of the injury is unknown though we suspect he was hit by a car or a hawk. However, his feet and legs are mobile and he’s able to flap his wings. For the first year and a half of his life, Earl lived with the family who found him grounded in the parking lot. The family loved Earl and was well intentioned but they didn’t know how to care for a pet pigeon (and, unable to walk, Earl had special needs). He didn’t get any expert help until they found Palomacy. My understanding is that most of his time was spent in a crate under a table. After two months of care coaching, he was surrendered to Palomacy and became a foster bird.
En route to Palomacy
Getting to know Earl has been wonderful. At first, I thought he was perpetually angry. He made noises I didn’t understand, and he bit me when I got close. My thought was to give him space. And I gave him space. Over time, I learned that Earl was not angry. And also with time, Earl learned that he can trust me. I cared for him, I never harmed him or gave him any reason to fear me. And then, we found ourselves in a relationship built on trust. Earl taught me, possibly for the first time in my life, what building trust in a relationship looks like. After that trust became our foundation, the love began to grow. I love Earl to my core and I say with confidence the feeling is mutual.
Earl
Earl is a great adventure buddy
While Earl doesn’t walk or fly, he sure does scoot! When he wants affection, he scoots himself to me wherever I am in our studio apartment. Because of Earl’s handicap, he usually lays on the same side of his body. When I have him, I hold him perched on my thumb and he preens the wing he usually cannot reach. It is my service to Earl, and it is my honor. I have OCD and watching him meticulously clean his wing is very therapeutic for me. The nights when Earl’s feeling frisky, my finger gets all the love. It’s beyond precious.
Earl has another lady in his life, and that is our daughter Peach we adopted so that Earl could also have a pigeon companion.
The day we met Peach
Peach is a sassy independent Fantail Mindian and also the queen of the castle. She loves Earl dearly. Peach lays eggs about every 6 weeks. The eggs are not fertilized*, yet she and Earl hopelessly and endearingly take care of those eggs. Earl won’t let me near them and protects Peach when she is sitting on them. Earl scoots around picking up grass and twigs to help build the nest. He scoots his way to the eggs and when he’s next to them, uses his beak to position them under his body as best he can.
Earl & Peach & I
Peach & Earl
Peach preening Earl
Earl is a pigeon, a pigeon who cannot fly. Some may not understand the value of this being. The inherent value of this creature – this loving, caring, loyal, assertive, genuine animal. But I know the miracle that is Earl, and I know that my life and this world is better because of his existence.
Never underestimate the inherent value of life.
Heather, Earl’s mom, lives in San Francisco with her husband, Waqar, and their two pigeon children, Earl and Peach. Heather has been in San Francisco for many years, earning her BA in environmental studies & urban agriculture from USF and her JD from Hastings College of the Law. Heather now practices plaintiff’s side employment law at a small firm in Oakland. Heather says her life has forever been changed, for the best, by Palomacy and the unexpected bonds she has created with her pigeon children.
Editor’s Notes:
*Always check for and replace fertile eggs with fakes to prevent hatching. There are far too many unreleasable pigeons literally dying for homes to breed more. And never assume eggs laid with a male pigeon around (even special needs) are infertile. Make sure you know how to tell the difference and swap with fakes if there is any doubt. Learn more about Hatch Prevention.
Palomacy has a saying, “We don’t have to start with euthanasia.” While Earl’s injury has left him unable to stand, walk or fly, he is still very capable of living a happy, healthy and dignified life. He loves his family, avian and human; he’s full of ideas and inspiringly good at scooting in fulfillment of them; he’s a master of the leisure arts including sun and water bathing, zenning out in nest-sitting bliss and a great traveler. Earl does not feel sorry for himself. He loves life and with good care, is making the best of every opportunity. There is another saying, “Pigeons bloom where planted” and Earl is just one of myriad examples we have seen. Not every pigeon can survive their injuries and recover enough to live happily but please, never start with euthanasia. Get help from a pigeon-friendly expert so that you provide the best care possible. Our Palomacy Help Group is an incredible resource available to coach 24/7. Learn more about caring for rescued pigeons.
Bird Nerd? Avianthropist? Columbiformephile? Who is this hero of Palomacy? Craig Newmark, a self-described old-school nerd doing what he can “to support the people who fight to protect the values that America aspires to: fairness, opportunity and respect” extends his compassion even to the birds.
His foundation, Craig Newmark Philanthropies’ mission “to support and connect people and drive broad civic engagement, working to advance grassroots organizations that are effective and getting stuff done”, coupled with his appreciation for pigeons, perfectly dovetails with Palomacy’s work and ever since we connected in 2013, Craig’s support has helped keep Palomacy aloft.
Palomacy (which means pigeon diplomacy) was hatched to correct a strange and deadly gap in animal welfare. Humans have been breeding, using and endangering pigeons – as meat and messengers, for sport, hobby, and ceremony – for thousands of years and still do- in the many millions. And yet, when lost, hurt or displaced as so many inevitably are, they have been traditionally refused help, turned away as a “pest species”, both for being non-native and for being domestic, by the vast majority of shelters and rescues. Palomacy has been working, since 2007, to help fix this. We save the lives of those otherwise unserved: domestic, unreleasable pigeons and doves that are injured, lost, displaced and abandoned and in doing so, we are creating understanding, appreciation and supporters for these amazing birds.
This is what a lost, exhausted, dehydrated, starving-to-death racing pigeon looks like begging for help. (Click photo to see her story.)
Domestic King pigeons bred for meat (squab), purchased from a live poultry market & inhumanely “released”. (Click photo to see their rescue home.)
The denial of care is especially egregious considering how closely connected humans and pigeons have been throughout history. And how numerous they are. Palomacy is called upon, at an ever-increasing rate, to rescue, foster, vet treat and place hundreds of helpless, hurt birds in Northern California that would otherwise be killed. We also provide 24/7/365 care coaching, referrals, advocacy and education worldwide via our 12K member online Help Group and website resources, helping others to save the lives of thousands more. In 2020, our placements increased 58%. Our website visits doubled. We, 1.5 staff and 150 incredibly dedicated volunteers, are responding to more than 1,200 requests for help every month.
We could not sustain this effort without the amazing generosity of our supporters and Craig is our most generous!
Palomacy shares Craig Newmark Philanthropies’ commitment to making “sure everyone is included and treated fairly and respectfully”. We believe that everyone deserves compassion, everyone deserves a chance. Learning the truth about pigeons, who are so routinely mistreated, is a gateway to compassion that Palomacy leverages every day, to everyone’s benefit. Our position is: compassion for all, including the pigeons and doves living their gentle lives in our hard world.
Thank you, Craig and team, for all that you do to help so many!
Pigeon Lovers by Ingrid Taylar (www.IngridTaylar.com)
July 12, 2021
by Elizabeth Comments Off on Fantails Saved by Heroes
On June 27th, someone abandoned at least 26 domestic pigeons at the Mission San Jose Park in Fremont, CA. Pigeon rescuer Hussain Mkhan cares for feral pigeon flocks at several locations in the area including this one and he spotted these birds. The Fantail-Homer crosses can’t outfly the hawks but they can outfly humans and despite his best efforts, Hussain wasn’t able to catch any during the day. He went back that night when their low light vision would give him an advantage and caught 17 of them. As is the case with so many of us who rescue pigeons, Hussain’s home was already full up with birds in his care. It was nearly midnight, he was exhausted and upset about those he couldn’t catch and with no place to take them when, responding to his online call for help, Palomacy volunteer Cynthia offered to house the pigeons overnight in her bathroom. At midnight, Hussain drove the rescued pigeons to Cynthia’s place in San Francisco.
Cynthia sheltered (and photographed) the 17 rescued pigeons the first 24 hours
Domestic pigeons like these have no ability to survive in the wild. They are handicapped at the genetic level. Unlike the survival of the fittest feral pigeons whose bodies and skills are perfected by wild living, domestics are deformed by humans. When domestic pigeons are “set free” in a park like this, people tell themselves they’ll be okay because feral pigeons live there but they won’t. Hussain, as a protector of the feral pigeon flocks, knows this only too well as even the feral pigeons, with their perfect DNA and expertise, survive on a razor’s edge. Predators and starvation are a constant threat.
Cynthia got the birds comfortably set up with food and water and checked them over for injuries. Except for their filthy, poop-crusted feet and ragged feathers (evidence of being kept in poor conditions), the rescued birds weren’t hurt. Cynthia spent hours soaking their feet clean and falling in love with them.
Dirty feet indicate poor care
Bathed and frightened
The rescued Fantails were very reassured by resident pet pigeon Miu’s presence
Cynthia recorded this video for us.
That afternoon, I shifted some of my special needs pigeons to make short term aviary room for the Fantails and picked them up from Cynthia (all except for Mocha who went to fosterer Emi). Behind the scenes we were scrambling to figure out how we were going to foster all these new birds when we’re already overfull.
Mocha went to foster with Emi
Cythnia saying goodbye to the bathtub pigeons
Short term sheltering the Fantails
This rescue story required a lot of heroes and one of them is Tri City Shelter director Kelly Miott! Though new to pigeons, she immediately said yes to helping us and together we started figuring out how to make it work. Kelly offered the use of an outside kennel but because it wasn’t predator and rodent-proof, it wouldn’t work for the pigeons. We needed more heroics.
Our Care Coordinator Jill and her husband Fred spent that evening picking up, transporting and off loading a big, heavy Wingzstore aviary. The next morning Jill and Faye and I met Kelly and her team at the shelter to assemble the aviary and get the Fantails moved in.
Welcoming their new fosters
Assembling the Wingzstore aviary
Jill moves pigeons into the aviary with one hand while clutching her popsicle with the other
Settling into their new foster aviary
Teamwork! Jill, Elizabeth, Faye & Kelly
These sweet beautiful birds arrived shy and spooky. They are starting to relax now that they are safe and comfortable. Two couples have revealed themselves, Hercules and Tsunami at Tri City and Fifi and Phillipe- fostered in Christa’s Half Moon Bay aviary. They are all available for adoption through Palomacy. They need homes. They need you! You can apply here.
Hercules & Tsunami
Fifi & Phillipe are fostered in Christa’s aviary
Hussain has gone back many times to try and rescue the others. On June 28th, he was devastated to find the remains of one that he had not been able to save.
All that’s left of a predator-killed Fantail
Hussain spots another Fantail while caring for the ferals
On 7/9, Hussain caught his 18th Fantail and the incredibly lucky-to-be-alive pigeon is now with the flock fostered at Tri City Shelter.
Number 18 caught & now safe
These sensitive, gentle, smart pigeons are relieved to be getting help and grateful for the food and security and care their rescue heroes are providing. Thank you for helping Palomacy to save them!
Nina, shown here with Ringneck dove Steve, moved to the Pacific NW in the late 90’s to attend the UW, where she dual majored in Biochemistry and Ecology. While looking at options for grad school, she took a job as a software tester, and has been working in software development ever since. Nina has worked with animals her whole life in one capacity or another but her path diverged into pigeon and dove rescue in 2014 when her son brought home a 5 day old squeaker, named Sam. Currently Nina cares for many pigeons, and various Ringneck, Eurasian Collared, and Diamond doves. In addition to bird rescue, Nina is an avid bird watcher, amateur naturalist, and nature photographer. She also enjoys reading.
Heather, Earl’s mom, lives in San Francisco with her husband, Waqar, and their two pigeon children, Earl and Peach. Heather has been in San Francisco for many years, earning her BA in environmental studies & urban agriculture from USF and her JD from Hastings College of the Law. Heather now practices plaintiff’s side employment law at a small firm in Oakland. Heather says her life has forever been changed, for the best, by Palomacy and the unexpected bonds she has created with her pigeon children.
