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November 14, 2017
by Elizabeth
Comments Off on Six Pigeons & a MinnieWinnie

Six Pigeons & a MinnieWinnie

Guest Post by Stefaney Mathews

Dee finds Andrew & help

It was November 22nd 2016 and a pigeon had flown into the shop where my husband, Andrew, works.  He called to tell me and I thought, If you can pick up a pigeon and put him back outside, he must not be feeling well.  My husband called me a little while later to tell me that the pigeon had now hopped onto a moving forklift and ridden back into the shop.  He continued to hang out with all the men, despite loud machinery and a lot of commotion.  I asked Andrew to please not put him back outside.  It was cold!  He was put in an office with water and crackers.  We didn’t know anything about pigeons!  I got online, lickety split, and started to do my research. Luckily for us and that little pigeon, I found the Palomacy website.  I emailed the adoptkings gmail account, not thinking I would hear much back, rescuers are busy and can’t help every individual. Boy, was I wrong!!  Not only did Elizabeth get right back to me, she called me, on my phone,  and talked to me for over an hour and walked me through all my fears and worries!!  I’ve never experienced anyone like her.  She was so kind.  So patient.  So encouraging and positive. I’m a pain in the butt and Elizabeth has only ever treated me sweetly, telling me we were on the right track, to follow our instincts and what a good job we were doing.  So, Andrew built him a house, to go in our living room, we brought him home that weekend and our lives have never been the same.  Who knew one could love a little grey bird so much you have to be careful not to snap his neck squeezing him too tightly and kissing the top of his hot head??

 

Feeling better!

Dee & Stefaney

Dee’s place

Sexy Taffy rescued from the shelter settles in to her new life

Married couple Taffy & Dee

I could go on and on about Deandra (Sweet Dee, named after a character on It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.  We guessed the gender, wrongly.) but I’m supposed to be recounting my Flocktober Fest road trip.  First of all, whatever possessed me?  I was just gonna drive down and party.  I wanted to meet Elizabeth and bad!  What the heck, we’ll adopt two birds and I’ll drive back, easy.  See, Andrew started building Dee and Taffy, Dee’s wife, an aviary and the kids needed some same species interactions.  We thought a flock would be good for them.  A chance to make new friends, socialize and get pigeon enrichment.  I’m anthropomorphizing and I’m not ashamed of it.  Honestly, I have been hell bent on doing the right thing for Dee, wanting his life to be everything it could be, limited to the fact that he is trapped with us.  As the plan progressed it got a little bit bigger.  Elizabeth pretty much told me to bring Dee and Taffy along.  My head kinda exploded.  Andrew had built a good size aviary and Elizabeth and I discussed maybe two pairs.  Although Palomacy prefers local adoptions, as do Andrew and I, they were willing to part with some much loved birds to make room for others in need.

Andrew aviary building

The home self-rescuing pigeon Dee inspired

Taffy & Dee

So now, I was driving down to San Francisco, a two day trip, with my two birds, staying two nights, adopting four more birds, another two days to get home, by myself!!  Where do I stay?  How do I get the birds from my car to the room, safely?  It seemed like a lot and then Andrew had the brilliant idea of renting an RV.  I wouldn’t have to rent a hotel room, the birds would be safe, problems solved.  I could kill him.

Dee helped with trip-planning

Stefaney drove “the beast” MinnieWinnie

Everything was cool till I realized I had to drive that thing, the beast, a 22 foot RV, the smallest one available, into San Francisco.  I drive a 1998 VW GTI.  It’s the size of a clown car.  I was nervous.  I asked (begged) my good friend, Allison, to go on this adventure with me, mostly for moral support, but I knew she wouldn’t hassle me about driving across a few states to adopt pigeons.  Unfortunately, she could only do the last leg.  That’s okay.  I reserved my KOA campsites, spent a lot of time online and kept psyching myself up.  I also had my husband and Elizabeth and some super special friends cheering me on.  Andrew took apart the RV and made sure the birds, in their cages, would be safe when I slammed on the brakes.  Of course I was worried about disrupting my birds, they were sitting on some eggs.  They were troopers!  They barely batted a nictitating eyelid.  Pigeons are amazing animals.

Special RV pigeon cabin

I took off Thursday morning, after a quick cry (baby) and made it to Medford with no problems.  It rained the entire time, but it was surprisingly easy in the beast.  Getting into Alameda was a little more challenging.  I was so excited to get to Ploughshares.  Poor Elizabeth, who had an awful lot going on in her life, both good and bad, met me at the aviary.  It was a lovely day, Ploughshares was a beautiful nursery and the people there were immediately friendly.  Andrew and I had been on Petfinder looking at who was available, so I had an idea who was who.  We wanted birds who were aviary ready.  We wanted them all!  Batman and Max!  Tux and Whimsy!  Blaze and Mocha!  I fell in love with a little, grey fiesty, March, I think, and mate Grace?  Elizabeth and I brought in my two little rapscallions, and they are little compared to those Kings, and let ‘em loose.  So cute!  I was terribly proud of both of them.  It was really neat to see them with other birds.  After some buzzing around, Elizabeth decided to torture Dee and crammed his adorable bum into pigeon pants.  It went well until he had a freak out and tried to fly.   Oh, my heart hurt.  He’s sturdy though.  Taffy escaped, unscathed, almost, Dee beat the snot out of her in the carrier on the way back to the beast.

Taffy & Dee hang out with the flock

The flock

Home away from home

Dee in pigeon pants

Pants & kisses both at the same time

Meeting new friends

Back on the road…

I now had to get from Alameda to Pacifica.  Friday night, 5:30.  What in the world??  I will never complain about traffic in my neck of the woods, AGAIN!!  It was like nothing I’ve ever seen before.  I’ve driven through Boston and navigated Logan airport.  I’ve driven through Manhattan, New Jersey and I’ve even driven through Chicago, numerous times, but holy smokes, that Bay Bridge was astounding.  I did make friends waiting for the toll booth…  It was dark when I finally got to Pacifica around 7:30 and I couldn’t find the RV park.  I had a quick panic, Andrew helped me and the kids and I had a fine night.

Typical Bay Bridge traffic

I enjoyed Pacifica.  I could walk to get coffee and snacks and it was close to the event.  I took my very first Uber to get to Flocktober Fest, decided to make it a share even.  Those people didn’t know what they were in for!  My girlfriend had missed her flight, so she was meeting me at the event.  The event… Flocktoberfest!

Andrew made this for us!

Welcome to our Pigeon Party

(First-time pigeon partiers)

I was super nervous.  Overwhelmed and overstimulated.  Dee is a brat who is allowed to do whatever he wants and I baby him like he’s the bubble boy.  Taffy is wild and wants nothing to do with us, so we leave her alone.  We don’t press her or try to make her love us.  We give her all the space she wants.  Now I had them at a party!!  Also, Dee is a jerk, domestic abuser, who takes his frustrations out on his poor, little wife.  When Dee is unable to process his emotions he takes it out on Taff.  They were in their new carrier and Taffy was getting the beat down from her husband.  Well, Liese gave Dee a schooling.  It was terrific to watch.  He was in pigeon pants and on his side getting manhandled.  I loved it.  Liese had other birds to love on, so she gave me back my PoopyBear and he proceeded to put the smack down on me!  I lack the bird handling skills of my fellow pigeon rescuers and I’ve got scars to prove it!  I shoved him back in their carrier and tried to keep calm.  I needed to get out there and meet my heroes.

Liese & Dee

Cynthia & Kumi

Jill with Fern & Stefaney & super BFF Allison who flew in from Tennessee!

Pigeon whisperer Cheryl is in!

While back at home…

You can see all the Flocktoberfest fun here.)

Elizabeth had put me in touch with friends and fellow Palomacy wonderworkers when Dee first came home and I needed extra encouragement with his care.  Jill was there for me and I recognized her immediately, it was terrific to finally meet her in person.  I had my eye on Spike and Apina and I recognized their mother, Cheryl, who was working her magic and had both kids with her.  I didn’t know it when I got there, but I would be bringing them home with me that night.  I’m an Instagram stalker, I don’t post much, but I love to follow people and their pigeons.  I got to meet Miu and her mother, Cynthia and her friends, Kumi and Kai.  Ashley Dietrich is a wonderful artist and has an amazing rescue aviary and Andrew and I are the proud owners of two of her pieces of artwork, Hester and Jacob.  I loved Sophia and her dad, Nathan.  I spotted Captain Cardamom, that cutie, now Charming, and got a pic!  I love Stephanie’s aviary and hope all is going well with Fleetwood and Hootie.  I set up shop next to Faye, who could not be sweeter, and her two fosters, Cookie and Delilah.  I did not know I would be bringing them home by the end of the night too, along with Spike and Apina.  And, to top it off, Maryam!  What a kid!  So great to talk with her and meet Pearl!  So many wonderful people, I wish I’d had more time.

The spread was amazing!  The prizes were fantastic.  The music was bumpin!  The MC was rockin’ it.  The people who make up Palomacy are an amazing bunch of people who give rescue a good name.  I’m always so impressed with their constant devotion and dedication.  The outreach, the fundraising and the endless education they offer is astounding.  Their compassion and the sincerity they treat all they encounter is an inspiration.  I was scared to embark on my adventure, but I’m so glad I did.  Not only did I get to meet people I truly admire I brought home four beautiful birds to complete our family.

Cookie & Delilah – home!

Apina & Spike- home!

Apina wants apeanuts!

Brewing bromance- Andrew, Dee & Apina

Home sweet home

 

Stefaney writes, I live outside of Seattle, Washington with my husband, Andrew, two cats, two dogs and two pigeons.  Hold on, six pigeons!  And, I blame Elizabeth.  In truth, if anyone is to blame, it’s Deandra.  A sweet little bird found us and changed our lives.  I thought I knew a lot about rescue and a lot about those animals in rescue, but a whole new world has opened up to me.  Of course, when one gets involved in rescue efforts it can be so rewarding and fulfilling and also, so heartbreaking.  I feel very lucky to have found a group of people who are optimistic, positive and working their tail feathers off to make a difference in the lives of not just pigeons and doves, but all animals and everyone they meet.  Now, all I need to be complete is a pony…

Editor’s Note: Based on Dee’s self-rescuing, human-seeking behavior & his weak, emaciated condition, he was most likely found as a nestling, raised up in a human home (becoming totally imprinted on people) & then was either “released” with the (misguided) expectation he could survive on his own (or because he was no longer wanted) or he might have been a cherished pet who was allowed to be outdoors unsecured (or free- fly) & got lost that way. Palomacy knows of a great many self-rescuing, tame Rock pigeons like Dee who, when they were unable to survive on their own, were lucky to find a kind person to help them. Unfortunately, not all do. (Learn about how to care for a rescued pigeon here.)
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November 3, 2017
by Elizabeth
Comments Off on Flocktoberfest! Celebrating 10 Years of Palomacy

Flocktoberfest! Celebrating 10 Years of Palomacy

On Saturday, October 21st, thanks to the amazing generosity of a whole lot of Palomacy friends and supporters, we came together at Flocktoberfest to celebrate ten years of life-saving, culture-changing, pigeon and dove rescuing! It was a wonderful party and I’m going to try my best to recreate it here for everybody to enjoy!

Thank you to the Peninsual Humane Society for so generously donating the use of their gorgeous Community Room!

We had special guests show up from all over- Sonora, Sacramento, Santa Rosa, Sunnyvale, Pacifica, Alameda… even Washington, Tennessee and Oklahoma!

Stefaney rented “the beast” & drove from WA with rescued pet pigeons Dee & Taffy!

Volunteers worked feverishly to get all the decorations, treats, treasures and accomodations set up before the party…

 

Ashley & Chris welcomed our guests with big smiles & winning tickets

Christiana- our party mistress extraordinaire!

Christiana played a huge role including preliminary scouting of the site, organizing the party lay out, creating all the lovely decorations, beautiful signs and fun features like our photo wall and the Pigeon Whisperer Is In booth as well as hostessing with the mostessing throughout the event (including her beautiful toasts). Christiana, as always, went above and beyond to help Palomacy have an amazing celebration!

Our rescue partners & party hosts, Daniela & Mariela of Peninsula Humane Society!

Barna treated us all to lots of his delicious, home-brewed beers!

All proceeds help the birds!

Ellie led the food team & did an AMAZING job of providing an incredibly delicious vegan feast (including quite a bit of yummy catered food that she donated as well). Best party food ever!

Heartfelt thanks to our many very generous volunteers and donors who contributed so deliciously to our (cruelty-free) celebration! Thank you Ellie, Barna, Josette, Cheryl, Jill, Ranjini, Angela, Steve, Clare, Mariah, Cinnaholic, Miyoko’s Kitchen, Two Mammas’ Vegan Kitchen and Drake’s Brewing!

Mariah & her family donated & served delicious smoothies

Josette & Luis donated & served all of our wine & champagne

 

And we had amazing support from special contributors who donated their art in support of Palomacy. Laurie Stern of Velvet & Sweet Pea’s Purrfumery brought her scrumptious, hand-crafted, award-winning, cruelty-free perfumes and treasures and Canvas Dove artist and rescuer Ashley Dietrich flew in from Oklahoma to share her must-have portraits.

  

  

Palomacy adopter, supporter and artist Leda Chung helped all the way from London by designing our beautiful graphic to show off our Flocktoberfest spirit! It is available on shirts and stuff in our online store!

And we kept bird whisperers Cheryl and Jill busy all night sharing their pigeon-charming secrets, weighing and worming birds, helping to size and suit up birds for Avian Fashions’ FlightSuits and teaching the fine arts of snorgeling!

Cheryl & Jill brought also delicious dishes & helped all through the party from set-up through breakdown too!

Maria & Peggy representing for Mickaboo & the parrots!

Theresa & Oscar (& Doug) came all the way from Sacramento (& brought more donated treasures)!

We had an abundance of treasures donated and won by many happy winners!

Just a few of the must-have treasures donated by Josette & Zoe

Palomacy supporter Margie Gear donated a weekend at her Mendocino beach house to help the birds! (Available for $800!)

Aria showing off Julie’s hand knit Christmas stockings for pigeons!

Lara ready to win!

Treasures to help the birds!

Thank you SO much to our generous supporters including Pet Food Express, Drake’s Brewing, The Oakland Zoo, Exploratorium, Ingrid Taylar Studio, Avian Fashions FlightSuits, Creative Bird Toys, Ashley Casteneda Art, Medical Center for Birds, Michelle Wozniak, Margie Gear, Kelly Hensley,  Zoe Martell, Cheryl Dickinson, Josette Maury, Cynthia Large, Theresa Tomka and more.

  

    

And we had many happy winners!

Steve- winner!

Barna- winning!

Soren- winner!

Michelle- winner!

Winner Mariela with artist Zoe Martell

Artist Ashley Dietrich & winner Nathan with Sophia

Ashley’s winners!

And we all had a whole bunch of fun being together, sharing our stories and loving our birds.

 

           

Special thanks to our photographers- Ryan C. Reed, Cynthia Zhou & Aria Jalali!

Ryan’s flock selfie!

Would you believe we FORGOT to use our custom made Lederhosen pigeon pants?!

Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone for supporting us in so many ways. We raised $1830 to help the birds and we wowed ourselves with the beauty and strength of the community we are creating to help these most lovely and now better served birds. THANK YOU!!!

Watch the video (courtesy of Ryan C. Reed) & slide show below & don’t miss the inside scoop from Stefaney in Six Pigeons & a MinnieWinnie!

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October 18, 2017
by Elizabeth
Comments Off on Violet, To Go!

Violet, To Go!

This is Violet’s adoption story. Her rescue story is here.

Violet, on the go, in her basket (Photo by Chrissy Liu)

Guest Post by Chrissy Liu

I met Violet and Elizabeth on August 6th at an adoption fair in Japan Town, SF.  I was there visiting my sisters for their birthday when we happened upon the Palomacy booth on our way to lunch.

Palomacy volunteers making new friends & for pigeons at the Nihonmachi Fair

My youngest sister, Camille, has always had a soft spot for pigeons in particular and we were hoping to stop by and see the birds after lunch and lucky for us, Palomacy was still there.  Elizabeth immediately drew me in and started telling me Violet’s story, and when she said “Here! You should be holding her!” I knew I was hooked.

Chrissy & Violet meet

From the very beginning, Violet was good natured with me. During that first meeting, while I held her, she started trying to preen her pigeon pants off and I was instantly intrigued by her.  I’ve had birds before but there was just something about Violet that I couldn’t stop thinking about even after I had gotten home.  After a few days and having gotten the ok from my family, I decided to send in an adoption application for Violet. Elizabeth suggested fostering to adopt since Violet is a special needs bird and soon enough she came to live with us.

Chrissy & her children welcoming Violet

Violet makes herself at home

My kids still remember sitting and listening to “the pigeon lady” talk about Violet and how to care for her.  I think having Violet in our home has actually taught them that every animal is special and deserves respect and compassion.

After about a month of fostering, Elizabeth asked if I’d consider adopting Violet and I said “of course!”  Violet has adjusted to the chaos of our busy home like a champ!  Her cage is in our main living room and she watches the kids and dog run laps through the house all day from the safety of her nest. At this point, with so many young children in the house, she just can’t have free roam for her own safety. But she does get plenty of supervised time outside of her cage!  If I’m home she is usually out in her little dog bed box or to-go basket.

Portable Pigeon Lounger

In the afternoon, after the kids get home from school, we put Violet in her basket where she will sit on the kitchen table and supervise homework time, or whatever activity the kids are doing.

Nanny Violet

She suffers their affections and often gives in to head scratches with big neck stretches and yawns. Sometimes she can be stubborn and territorial, especially about her nest, which makes perfect sense, but we love on her anyway. A quick scoop of her fluffy butt out of her nest and she’s back to being the easy-going cuddly pigeon that we know and love.

Kai & Vi

Her cooing and fluffing reassures me that she is happy here. We hope to build an aviary outside one day, in the hopes that she might regain her ability to walk and perhaps be willing to find a partner. But even if that never happens we love our Violet to-go, and we’d be perfectly happy to have her as our table centerpiece forever.

Important meeting

Monogrammed Pigeon Pants!

Violet in repose

I can help my bird

Thanks again for bringing Violet and I together!  It amazes me how many lives Palomacy has saved or improved even if they couldn’t be saved. Palomacy is a great reminder that there are good people and there is good to be found in this chaotic and often scary world.

Chrissy & Family
….and Violet too.

Chrissy & Violet

Chrissy Liu writes, I am from San Jose, and after graduating college moved to Alameda with my firefighter husband.  Now I’m a stay-at-home mom of three children, a small flock of budgies, finches, and now Violet, a pugfaced pup, and sweet cat.  I’ve always had an affinity for animals, birds in particular…probably a trait I inherited from my grandmother. 

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October 5, 2017
by Elizabeth
Comments Off on Olive’s Place sanctuary / Canvas Dove art studio

Olive’s Place sanctuary / Canvas Dove art studio

Guest Post by Ashley Dietrich

Cecily

A typical day at the Olive’s Place sanctuary / Canvas Dove art studio begins with checking on all birds, some light cleaning, and of course breakfast and treats.  Rescued pigeons live in the outside aviaries year-round (visiting the house regularly), and doves rule my art studio.  My paintings provide the means to work from home and care for the birds.

We just completed the construction of a third aviary for Olive’s Place residents, which allowed me to separate my flock by temperament.  This also provides more space for future birds, emergency intakes, and rehabbing injured and orphaned wild pigeons and doves.

Indoors, I am busy creating more bird portraits for fall art shows – but I am most excited about Flocktoberfest!  I am thrilled to be planning a trip to San Francisco to meet my Palomacy friends (the human ones too) who I have known online for years!  I will be bringing original artwork to sell – and I will also be painting live.

Helpful George

So what is it like to share space with doves while working from home?  Never boring.  The doves are exploring, cooing, bathing, preening, flicking seeds, and sometimes napping on my desk.  More than once, I have made color choices based on the simple fact that a bird was perched on a paint tube and I didn’t want to disturb him.  They occasionally help “teach” an orphan baby bird how to eat. (I place the baby’s cage near the dove feeding area, and the young ones watch and learn.)  Eating at my desk is impossible for me though – they will all hover hungrily, and George *will* hop into my cereal bowl for his coveted Rice Crispies.  Doves indoors (until a recent adoption, I had 6) do require more cleaning that the average art studio.  I vacuum each day, and do a thorough cleaning weekly.

Evangeline

Having studio doves has changed the way I organize my space.  The studio was remodeled from the master suite of the original house.  We added windows, and I use the walk-in closet as a packaging area and storage.  I also had to change my light fixture when it became a popular nesting spot.  I cannot leave artwork sitting out to dry, so I transfer pieces to another room to varnish.  This has the added benefit of keeping my work station clear.  I do not use any solvents around the birds, and my studio is only for acrylic painting (water based).

Sometimes the doves take interest in what I’m doing, and sit with me while I work.  But mostly, they are busy with their usual activities – as are the pigeons, who I can see in the aviary from my windows.  They are all good company, and keep life interesting.  Follow me on Instagram: @canvasdove for sneak peeks new bird paintings and behind the scenes in my studio & @olives_place to see more pigeon and dove antics.

Four Kings

 

About the Artist Ashley Dietrich
I hold BFAs in Studio Art and Art History, and painting is my passion as well as my livelihood. Birds are each unique individuals with their own personalities, and I am honored to be part of so many little lives. Capturing their gestures and the complexity of feathers is a fulfilling technical challenge, but I especially enjoy creating portraits and getting to know who I’m painting. I also work as a volunteer wild bird rehabilitator, specializing in doves and pigeons. Painting allows me to work with wild birds as well as spend time with my own little flock.  www.CanvasDove.com

 

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October 4, 2017
by Elizabeth
Comments Off on Curpigeon (Behind the Scenes)

Curpigeon (Behind the Scenes)

In 2013, I received this E-mail:

Hi, I am a graduate student at the Academy of Art University and the director of a large 3 D animated short collaborative called Curpigeon (play on Curmudgeon).

The story is about a community of old widowed men and their faithful park pigeons that come together to help one of their own to get through a great loss.

The project is about to start test animation in one of the academy’s classes, helmed by ILM animator JD Haas.

In the class, the animators will be studying the movements of pigeons in order to animate our 6 pigeon characters. I would love to set up an opportunity for a volunteer from your organization to bring some of your magnificent birds and perhaps give a demonstration to our crew.

I invite you to please look at our film’s website and, if you connect with the material, please contact me to chat more about your organization being involved with our wonderful story.

www.Curpigeon.com

All the best,
Dmitry Milkin

So over the years, Palomacy people and pigeons would periodically visit Dmitry and his crew. We answered lots of questions and made sure that everybody got lots of close up pigeon experience!

 

Dmitry Milkin, writer & director Curpigeon

The audio team even came out to visit and record in my aviary.

Recording & learning about pigeon sounds

And now the award-winning short film is finished and can be seen by all on Amazon (free if you have Prime)!

Dmitry writes, Elizabeth and Palomacy played such essential roles in the animation phase of Curpigeon’s production. Along with volunteers, she was able to bring several feathered pals along for our animators to study, engage with, and get to know.

Curpigeon is a heartwarming story about the power of community support during a time of grief, this action-oriented CG-animated short film centers around a group of park pigeons and their old men pals who come together to help one of their own get through a great loss.

Curpigeon has become an award winning film, featured in 30 film festivals across the globe, including the 2017 Tribeca Film Festival. Now, for the first time ever, it is available to the public on Amazon. Watch now!

Curpigeon animators helped by Palomacy experts

Congratulations, Dmitry and crew! Thank you for creating this beautiful film!

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October 4, 2017
by Elizabeth
Comments Off on Saving Beatrice

Saving Beatrice

Beatrice

In early June, a domestic pigeon, bred for the “sport” of pigeon racing, was taken far from home and released (along with thousands of others) to try and fly back. Instead she was injured and grounded. She was incredibly lucky to be found by a kind person before being killed by a hungry predator. She was taken to a shelter that doesn’t really serve birds (few do) and while they waited to hear back from her owner (they didn’t), she also waited… They didn’t understand how compromised she was and she didn’t get a lot of care.

When I picked her up on June 30th to bring her into Palomacy’s foster care, I was shocked to find her so emaciated and weak. She was completely unable to use her legs and down on her keel (breastbone). Usually shelters alert us to the 911 cases and we prioritize those birds, bumping them up ahead of the less-urgently-in-need birds on our waiting list, but that hadn’t happened for Beatrice. I was very worried that help might have come too late for her.

Beatrice on intake

Though very quiet and gentle, Beatrice has a strong will and she was not ready to give up. She had suffered spinal trauma and while she couldn’t move her legs, they still had feeling. With enough time and support, we’ve seen a lot of pigeons make amazing recoveries and Beatrice is one of them. It took a few weeks of supportive care, pain and anti-inflammation meds, cage rest and hydrotherapy (floating in my kitchen sink an hour a day to relieve pain and pressure and improve circulation) and very gradually, Beatrice regained weight, strength and the use of her legs!

Hydrotherapy

Floating with snack service

She can now stand, walk and fly. On October 1st, she attended her first outreach and adoption event and though I still treat her like she’s glass, she’s strong and did great. Beatrice has made her remarkable recovery because Palomacy was able to give her the opportunity to heal. Beatrice is one of more than 800 pigeons and doves whose lives we have directly saved since we began this work in 2007. And, thanks to the power of the Internet, we are helping countless others through coaching, education and referrals. You are helping Palomacy save a lot of lives. Thank you!

Beatrice standing tall

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October 3, 2017
by Elizabeth
Comments Off on 2018 Calendar Photo Contest!

2018 Calendar Photo Contest!

11/10/17 UPDATE: Thank you SO much to our 49 amazing entrants & all those who shared & voted & helped Palomacy to raise $4,023 to help the birds! We’ll all have a happier new year thanks to the beautiful images & inspiring stories of Francesco, Sweet Dee, Plumeria, Charming Captain Cardamom, Finn, Olaf, Cantaloupe & Watermelon, Brick House Pearl, Pearl (& Storm Pooper), Loa, Tango & Foxtrot & Pepe & Snow!

I wish there were more months in the year to include all of our wonderful birds!

You can order your Palomacy 2018 Wall Calendar here. Supplies are limited & time flies! Order yours today!

 

10/16/17

We are very excited to announce the upcoming Palomacy’s 2018 calendar photo contest and fundraiser starting Monday October 16th & ending Friday, November 10th.

Your photo entries and votes support Palomacy and count you among an amazingly caring network of people committed to our culture-changing work. Thank you for helping celebrate these incredible, under-appreciated birds every day of the year! We know how special pigeons and doves are and we are showing the world!

Submit your very best photos ($5/entry) as competition will be intense! Share for family and friends to vote! ($1/vote). All proceeds will help Palomacy to help more birds. You are literally shaping Palomacy’s future with your support.

Winning photos will both be featured in the 2018 calendar as well as receive two full color 2018 Palomacy calendars!

screen-shot-2016-11-07-at-1-56-10-pm

Built in buttons make it easy to share your entries with your friends and family and invite their votes in support of your beloved birds and Palomacy! It’s easy and fun!

You can delight your loved ones- birds or people- by reserving a day in the calendar especially for them.

And you’ll be able to pre-order Palomacy 2018 Calendars as great gifts for those special bird-lovers in your life ($24 including shipping within the US, $29 for international shipping).

Together, we are making the world a kinder place- for pigeons and doves and everyone else. Thank you for being ambassadors for compassion. Thank you for supporting Palomacy.

Your help inspires ever-growing appreciation for pigeons and doves and raises life-saving funds for the birds! Please join us in making 2018 a truly wonderful year for these very special birds!

Here are some of the winning photos from our 2017 contest:

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Thank you! You are making every day a better one with your compassion.

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September 14, 2017
by Elizabeth
Comments Off on A New Home For A “Homer”

A New Home For A “Homer”

Domestic Pigeons: The Hidden Avian Welfare Issue

Reprinted from The Official NEEWSLetter of Foster Parrots & The New England Exotic Wildlife Sanctuary

By Michele Nash

Kahuna

Sometimes animals enter our lives quite unplanned, and most often after they have already endured their own inauspicious and circuitous path before coming under our care. If someone had told me I’d be spending three solid days and two hundred dollars renovating a shed to build a large aviary for a pigeon I’d have said they were crazy. But when Kahuna arrived at the New England Exotic Wildlife Sanctuary, he, as they say, had me at “Coo”. Apparently still quite young, he had been found on a street in Providence. Under the care of the NEEWS he was vetted and de-loused. Within just a few weeks he had increased impressively in size and was utterly handsome! But without other pigeons of his variety at the sanctuary he was without community. After months of making excuses why I should not take in the lone bird with no friends and a feisty attitude, I brought him home from the sanctuary.

Kahuna is a homing pigeon, or a ‘Homer’ in pigeon racing parlance. His band could be traced to a pigeon club in Massachusetts, but we have found that breeders generally do not welcome the return of pigeons who fail to fly home. Not willing to invest resources or support the genetics of pigeons regarded as “damaged goods”, some pigeon breeders will euthanize these undesirable birds.

Homing pigeons bond strongly and mate for life. So strong is their reproductive drive and their desire to get back to their mates that they are, in fact, seen as a symbol of fidelity, love and home. This propensity for bonding has been exploited to the point of creating a sport that is global in scope and can be extremely lucrative for breeders of some of the world’s most acclaimed racing birds. One very successful method for training homing pigeons for lives as racers is referred to as “widowhood”. Once a homing pigeon has been mated and produced offspring, these birds are allowed access to their mates and their babies only upon returning from their race. This creates the sense of urgency needed to cultivate a winner. Some racing pigeons are simply shown their mates in the presence of another bird within their nest box before being taken away to race and the lasting image of that drives them to fly faster to deal with the interloper when they get back home. While methods like these create “money-makers” for hobbiests, it’s yet another example of human use of animals for utilitarian purposes without consideration for the impact on the animal. Pigeons bond for life and sometimes do form lifelong bonds even with same-sex partners, suggesting that bonding is rooted in emotional attachment, not just reproduction. And of course, we cannot ignore the risks to the lives and safety of the birds. Predation is a constant threat, and factors like weather systems, accidents, hunger, dehydration and exhaustion result in the untold numbers of injured and lost pigeons that fill humane shelters from coast to coast every year.

Pigeons are not widely regarded as “companion animals”, but the fact is that these birds can make wonderful pets. They are intelligent, affectionate and interactive. Their soft coos are infinitely more pleasant to listen to then the calls of the average parrot! Most of all, the need for homes for these birds is enormous. Pigeons bred for racing or for dramatic releases at events like weddings do not have the ability to survive in the wild without assistance from people to provide food, shelter and protection from predators. They are not “wild animals”.

Happy new pigeon home

Kahuna happily came home with me and together (with maybe a teeny bit of help from my husband) we converted our shed into a very impressive pigeon coop. Kahuna was instantly at home, but he was still lonely. This led me to the MSPCA in Boston where “Pudge” had been waiting almost 3 months for adoption. Upon first seeing her in her cage at the shelter I was dumbstruck. The picture online did not properly convey her size at all. She was enormous, at least twice the size of Kahuna. And she was beautiful! Pure white and sleek as a sea otter with a cranium shaped like a beluga whale, she sat there placidly and royally, as if waiting for her prince to arrive.

Pudge is a King Pigeon, I soon learned, and according to veteran pigeon rescuer Elizabeth Young from Palomacy Pigeon & Dove Rescue in San Francisco, CA., these impressive birds are the “masters of the leisure arts”, a large docile breed known to produce the young squab seen on many restaurant menus. Like Kahuna, Pudge had no ability to survive in the wild. Had she not been found and brought to the MSPCA she would have perished.

I arrived home with Pudge, and since it was approaching dusk, I thought I would allow just a brief introduction through the bars of her carrier and take her inside with me for the night. This was not to be. From first sight, Kahuna stopped doing his perpetual figure 8’s and constant cooing and stared, and stared, with what looked like awe. I let Pudge out of her carrier and she lifted off, albeit like a Flying Fortress heavy bomber, whereby she alighted immediately on a roost in the outdoor aviary- Kahuna following fast like a nimble and quick F-18 in comparison. A few chortles later by Kahuna, and they were enjoying seed on the ground together. Within just a couple days they were inseparable, happily lazing about, engaging in friendly beak wrestling and canoodling in the basket that Kahuna had claimed as their nest. The rescue of one lucky pigeon had resulted in the rescue of two, and also the beginning of my advocacy for these remarkably intelligent and social birds.

Pudge & Kahuna

 

 

Michele Nash: After exiting stage left from the workaday world over a year ago, I have suddenly found myself with that very precious commodity…TIME. I am now happily able to devote myself to the causes that had tugged at my heart strings for years.  The more involved I’ve become caring for different species, as well as our own, the more I’ve realized that loneliness, and thus neglect, is a pervasive condition shared amongst all.  It is this condition which inspires me every day to get out the door and spend as much time as I can to alleviate it for as many as I can come in contact with.  I’ve never been happier, the rewards have never been greater, and the people and animals I’ve met  never more inspirational..

Editor’s Note: Kahuna is actually a type of pigeon called a Roller, not a Homer.  (Learn more at Violet (Or What’s Wrong with Roller Pigeons?)

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August 29, 2017
by Elizabeth
Comments Off on “What Kind of Bird Is This?”

“What Kind of Bird Is This?”

Guest Post by Lori Knuth

Domestic pigeon seeking help

“What kind of bird is this?”

“What kind of bird is this?”  That simple text message, along with the photograph that accompanied it, marked the beginning of my role as a pigeon-mom.  It also led me to Palomacy, a pigeon and dove rescue organization comprised of the most extraordinary individuals whom one could ever hope to meet.

The text was from my co-worker, Kathryn.  The bird featured in the photograph was Francesco, an amazing pigeon who has touched my life in a most profound way.

One summer afternoon two months ago, Francesco flew over the fence into Kathryn’s yard, where she and her family were enjoying their day poolside.  Francesco was clearly a tame bird, readily approaching them and even hopping up onto the lawn furniture to sit next to them.  Though tame, he had no band, nothing by which to identify the person to whom he might belong.

The family decided to let the bird stay while they continued to swim and talk – and stay the bird did.  Hours passed, and Francesco stayed.  The family went indoors, and Francesco stayed.  Actually, no, he did not stay when they went indoors.  He tried to follow them into the house.

Evening approached, and Francesco made it clear that he did not plan to go anywhere.  Kathryn decided that she had to act.  Naturally, she reached out to me, not because I had any knowledge of pigeons, but because I am that crazy bird lady and lover of all animals, one of those people who is easily suckered into permanently housing any creature in need.

“Kathryn, can’t you take the bird?”  I already knew the answer to my question. Kathryn could not take him.  What else could I do but drive the forty minutes to her house with one of my parrot’s travel cages in tow?

What did I know about pigeons?  Absolutely nothing.  I had not the foggiest idea what to do with this pigeon whom I had just welcomed into our home.  Moreover, as it happened, my knowledge of parrots did not transfer to pigeons – at all.  I was clueless as to this pigeon’s needs and began to panic. Why is he making such weird noises and running around in circles?  Why is his neck so puffed up that it resembles a lion’s mane?  Why on earth is he twitching his wings – is he having a seizure?  Knowing that you are responsible for a living creature about which you are completely ignorant is an excruciatingly humbling and terrifying experience.

Clever, self-rescuing domestic pigeon Francesco

Clever, self-rescuing domestic pigeon Francesco

To my dismay, I quickly discovered that I was not alone in my ignorance.  For about five days, I did the best that I could to take care of this bird.  I received a lot of advice from folks who meant well but who also did not have the knowledge to help me, including an avian veterinarian who treated Francesco for a respiratory infection and parasites but also told me that he may be a wild pigeon and that I should consider releasing him into the wild once he was strong and healthy again.

That last bit of advice just did not sit well with me, and it was the last straw.  I absolutely had to find someone who knew enough about pigeons and who could help me.  I had exhausted all local resources, but during an internet search days earlier, I had come across a California pigeon and dove rescue organization called Palomacy.  I decided to send a message to the rescue’s Facebook page, hoping against hope that someone at this organization would take the time to read my plea for help in Connecticut and agree to call me.

I don’t think an hour passed before I received a response from the founder and director of Palomacy, Elizabeth Young, whose passion for and devotion to these birds is rivaled only by her energy and tireless efforts to provide a sanctuary and educate the public about how special they are.  In her response, Elizabeth thanked me for rescuing Francesco.  She also gave me her phone number.  “I am super busy, but if I can’t answer when you call, leave a message, and I will call you back.”

That very same day, Elizabeth spent the better part of an hour on the phone with me, telling me all about pigeons, offering her invaluable insight and advice, and answering my countless questions with the patience of a saint.  I will never be able to express to Elizabeth how grateful I felt for her support that day and how grateful I remain for her continuing support.

At Elizabeth’s invitation, I also joined the Palomacy Facebook Group.  When I first joined the group, it was just a resource for me, a group of people with much more knowledge than I had about pigeons, a group of people who could answer questions and help me take proper care of Francesco.  Within minutes, sometimes seconds, after posting a question, answers and suggestions appeared.

Armed with the help, support, and encouragement of the group, I finally began to relax and was able to enjoy Francesco.  And so, what kind of bird is this?  My answer to Kathryn’s question on that fateful day was simply that the bird featured in that photograph was someone’s pigeon.

Today, my answer to that same question is vastly different.  Francesco is not just somebody’s pigeon.  Francesco is my pigeon, and I am his person.  Francesco is a soulful bird, quiet and peaceful but always communicative and full of emotion.  He is gentle and intelligent.  He brims with personality and life.

Francesco & friends

Francesco has many “hobbies.”  He loves to listen to music at night before bed, and he loves to follow me all around the room.  He “helps” me with whatever task I am trying to accomplish.  His favorite pastime, though, is to sit next to me, nod his head, and twitch his wings.  We have to have several of these sessions each day.  And though he is most content when I am home with him, he also seems to enjoy the good company of his little stuffed Snoopy toy, pink owl, and miniature Eyore.  I often find him cuddled up in his nest with this “flock” when I come home to him after work – which brings me to his nest – Francesco loves his nest, a beautiful woven basket that I bought especially for him at Whole Foods.  How do I know that Francesco loves this overpriced nest?  Well, why else would he so lovingly and carefully furnish it with about fifteen to twenty pieces of Timothy hay?  After all, pigeons who don’t just adore their nest would never take the time and energy to carry fifteen pieces of hay to said nest!

Lipstick-stained Francesco loves his nest

Francesco’s house

I could talk about Francesco and who he is all day long, but I will save some of that for another story.  Suffice it to say that from Francesco, Elizabeth Young, and the Palomacy Group, I learned that pigeons are absolutely amazing creatures.  Pigeons are homebodies.  They mate for life.  They have “pigeon marriages” and will stay with their “pigeon spouse” even as the beloved mate is dying.  Pigeons are fiercely loyal, devoted, emotional, romantic, and intelligent beings.  Indeed, they possess all of the same traits that people value in other people.

I learned all of this and then some about pigeons from Elizabeth and from the Palomacy Group, but I also learned more.  Palomacy has enriched my life in a way that I never expected.  Every time I log onto my Facebook page, my feed is overflowing with stories about people rescuing precious life.  These days, my Facebook feed is literally flooded with human kindness, kindness toward the lives rescued as well as toward the people doing the rescuing.

Palomacy is an exceptional organization, and Elizabeth Young is an exceptional individual.  I just cannot sing her praises enough.  Elizabeth and those who support her rescue embody the qualities that we value most in life – compassion, empathy, integrity, industriousness, devotion, honesty, and loving-kindness.  Quite frankly, Palomacy embodies the traits of the very birds that it rescues.  Who wouldn’t want to be part of an organization like that, who wouldn’t want to donate to an organization like that, and who wouldn’t want to learn about and love the birds that Palomacy works so tirelessly to save?

Palomacy – it’s for the birds, and it’s for the people too.  It’s for all of us who want to make this world a better place, one act of kindness at a time.

Lori & Francesco

Lori lives in Connecticut with her girlfriend and life-partner.  They are owned by Francesco as well as by their two dogs, four parrots, three cats, and two guinea pigs.  To feed all of these mouths, Lori spends her days as an attorney, advocating for employee rights.

 

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Liberty the Blind Dove | The Palomacy Blog

July 7, 2017
by Shae
Comments Off on Three Days With Liberty

Three Days With Liberty

Guest Post by Shae Irving

Liberty the Blind Dove | The Palomacy Blog

On a clear morning in May, Elizabeth sent an email to a group of Palomacy volunteers in the North Bay: A woman had unexpectedly passed away leaving a flock of doves with no one to care for them. Palomacy was too full to bring them into foster care, so could somebody please help the family transport the doves to the Marin Humane Society?

My afternoon was open so I raised my hand to help out. When I arrived at the woman’s home, I met two concerned cousins, each doing everything they could to handle a sad and challenging situation, including making a responsible plan for the nine ringneck doves who had been, in the words of one cousin, the woman’s whole life up to the time of her death.

The doves seemed healthy and well-cared for but I was shocked to discover that one of them was blind! Before heading out that day, I had asked Elizabeth if I should let her know about any special needs and she said no—that I should secure them and transport them and alert MHS to anything unusual.

“We just can’t rescue them all,” she said.

I understood this. Palomacy is over full with 140 birds in our foster care and already caring for a great number with special needs, and resources are limited. To keep this work going and to help more birds like these sweet doves, the organization needs more adopters, fosterers, volunteers, and donors. Knowing this, I took a deep breath and reinforced my determination to simply do what I was asked: Pack up the birds and get them safely to the shelter.

I loaded nine doves (in six carriers!) and one cousin into my Subaru wagon, the little blind dove riding in a cage on the cousin’s lap. This dove—no one knew her name or the names of any of the other doves but one, an aggressive male named “Muffin”—was missing one eye and blind in the other and she had a big bald spot on top of her head. My guess was that she had been injured early in her life in a fight with another member of the flock and then housed by herself, with the woman as her primary companion. She was very quiet on the ride, gathered completely into herself and moving very little.

The truth is, at first I could hardly look at her for fear of heartbreak. I knew almost nothing about her previous life but it was enough to understand that she had just lost her world and that she wasn’t likely to survive at the shelter. It was highly unlikely that a maimed, blind bird would be deemed adoptable. I imagined she might be euthanized before the day was done and I was trying (not very successfully) to avoid becoming attached.

Three Days With Liberty | The Palomacy Blog

Nine doves!

At MHS, we placed all the birds in their carriers and cages in a holding room. On my way out the door, when I thought I was turning my back on the blind dove forever, I heard an insistent coo. Muffin, the alpha male, was getting all worked up in his cage. None of the other doves responded to his outburst except the blind one: She suddenly stood up straight and let out a series of enthusiastic coos and a “laugh” that I wouldn’t have thought she had in her. Then she started to preen. Tears sprang to my eyes.

I sent Elizabeth a text and a photo:

“Oh, Elizabeth, all these doves look great except this old sweetie who is blind and nearly immobile – but still laughing and preening. Hard to leave her here (hard to leave ANY of them here) but is there any other choice?”

Three Days With Liberty | The Palomacy Blog

Our first photo of the dove soon to be known as Liberty

Elizabeth never got that text, nor did I get a message saying it failed to go through. While I thought I was waiting to hear back from her, we went ahead with the surrender paperwork at the front counter. I had to keep looking away from the desk because I didn’t want the kind cousin to see me crying. I was trying to get it together. She had just lost a family member and was working so hard to help. I was supposed to be the strong one here!

Finally, I sent another text to Elizabeth. In this one, I sound resigned, but really I wasn’t at all:

“Okay, they’re all checked in . . . the little old blind one will be assessed and hopefully deemed adoptable. I’m all teary.”

Then came the text I expected:

“I didn’t know one was old & blind! We’ll take that one. Can you reach out to MHS & let them know ASAP?”

I flew into action:

“I’ll bring her home and we can figure out where she’ll go from there. Honestly, I didn’t think you’d want me to leave an old single blind bird here.”

Said Elizabeth:

“You were right. Sometimes the only thing we can do is help one more.”

That’s why Palomacy is so special! And that’s how Palomacy and I met the dove I soon named Liberty — or Libby for short.

Here is Libby’s blind but otherwise uninjured eye . . .

Three Days With Liberty | The Palomacy Blog

And here is the side that got so badly hurt . . .

Liberty's Left Side | The Palomacy Blog

When I brought Liberty home, I had four pigeons of my own in outdoor aviaries, plus I was bird-sitting a charming indoor ringneck dove named Lucky (also a Palomacy rescue). I have a fair amount of experience with these coo-birds, but being with a blind bird was brand new to me. For guidance, I turned to Elizabeth (of course!) but also to the mysterious, tiny being beside me. She might not be able to see or use human-speak, but I knew she could tell me a lot about herself and what she needed.

Knowing she was used to a woman’s voice, I talked to her in soothing tones. I hoped that hearing my voice would help her relax and begin to get oriented. Indeed, her hearing was very sensitive and she quickly clued into wherever I was in the room. When I was nearby, I would be sure to speak to her and let her know what I was doing: “Hi Libby, it’s just me, sweetie. I’m going to open your cage door now, okay?”

When I reached my hand into her cage to gently stroke her neck, I was amazed by her response. She leaned into my hand as soon as she sensed it, perking up and clicking her wings. Again, it became obvious that there was a lot more life in this little girl than I could see with my two good eyes. I could feel that she wanted to step right up onto my hand. Lifting her up while protecting her with my other hand, I drew her close to my chest. From there, all she wanted to do was snuggle or, at other times, walk up the front of me and nestle into my neck or hunker down on my shoulder. (I would let her do the shoulder balance only with something behind us, like the back of the couch, to avoid unpleasant surprises. I had no idea if she could fly; for her safety I had to assume that she could fall.)

When Libby felt social and safe, she would begin to coo — and then she would coo and coo and coo and coo. I said to Elizabeth, watch out, this bird will knock the love socks right off you. She is absolutely irresistible and I wished I could have kept her with me forever. Right now, she’s soaking up the wonderful foster care of sisters Paloma and Vivia and their mom, Dale. They didn’t have her long before they fully understood why I cried (again!) when I left her with them. Everyone falls hard in love with Libby!

Liberty With Vivia | The Palomacy Blog

Vivia and Liberty meeting for the first time

Just a few more things I learned from Libby:

1. A stuffed chicken feels kind of like someone’s shoulder, but standing on it doesn’t work too well! (This gave me the idea to make a more stable, shoulder-like bolster for her cage by stuffing a sock with beans.)

Three Days With Liberty | The Palomacy Blog
2. A log may seem secure at first but it might roll if not supported, giving both bird and foster-care-person quite a surprise. (Necessity being the mother of invention, I fashioned a brace for the log from two small dowels and some masking tape.)

Three Days With Liberty | The Palomacy Blog

3. Setting a blind bird right in the middle of a big dish of seeds will encourage them to eat because there’s food wherever they turn. (Elizabeth taught me this. It’s good to know!)

4. A glass pie plate filled with about an inch of water and set on the floor makes an acceptable bathtub. (Libby took one big bath in the time she was with me, raising one wing at a time and leaning into the water, then ducking in breast first like any other bird would, shaking water all over the room.)

5. Some time spent in natural sunlight is important for good health and might even stimulate regrowth of lost feathers. (Another excellent tip from Elizabeth.)

Three Days With Liberty | The Palomacy Blog

Libby was also great at letting me know when she did and didn’t want to be held. Sometimes she was clearly excited to be picked up and sometimes she ignored my hand when I offered it to her, letting me know she preferred to rest. But I know she always listened to me when I came in and out of the room and that she truly seemed to like and rely on the sound of my voice. After she was gone, I missed her so much that for a little while I kept right on talking to her.

Hey, Libby, I hope you’re doing well at your new foster home. I know they’re going to love you and take good care of you.

Hi, Sweet Liberty, thank you for letting me get to know you.

Okay, Libby, I’m going out now, I won’t forget about you!

Three Days With Liberty | The Palomacy Blog

Liberty and me

Most of Liberty’s friends are still at the Marin Humane Society and AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION. Please visit this link and enter “Bird” in the search box to view all the doves and pigeons at MHS.

Shae Irving has loved pigeons and doves since she was rescued by a king pigeon way back in 1993. She’s been a Palomacy adopter and volunteer since 2011 (she helped Elizabeth set up this very website) and she currently belongs to three adopted pigeons: Gem, Haiku, and recent widower Yuzu. Shae works as a writer, editor, and social media manager and she lives in Fairfax with her husband, Stewart. You can follow her (and her bird friends) on Instagram @shaeirving.

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