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September 30, 2015
by Elizabeth
Comments Off on How to Choose a Cage for Pigeons or Doves

How to Choose a Cage for Pigeons or Doves

If I had my way, there would be no pet pigeons or doves. They would all be wild and free. I don’t believe that birds should be domesticated, bred and used by people for any reason. But, because people do breed, use and lose unreleasable pigeons and doves, there are a great many in need of rescue and homes. I’m writing this for those birds and the compassionate people who save their lives through rescue and adoption.

Adopter Kelly found a beautiful and spacious cage for her four doves

This article is focused just on cages. You can learn more about pigeons as pets here, more about doves here and more about how to create an aviary here.

Pigeons and doves do great indoors as family pets. They can also live outside in a predator & rodent-proof aviary but I would never make a single bird live outside alone. Pigeons and doves are flock birds and to be outside alone is stressful and lonesome. A single pigeon or dove living indoors adopts the people as flock members. Please note, if your bird is going to be outside (even temporarily), she must be in a predator-proof cage. Most bird cages are designed only to keep birds confined indoors and they are not predator-proof outside. (To be predator-proof, the cage must be sturdily built, have very narrow spacing between bars & raccoon-proof latches. If in doubt, get expert guidance. Your birds’ lives depend on it.)

A large dog crate is a good indoor cage for 1-2 pigeons but because of the wide bar spacing is NOT SAFE OUTSIDE!

Rescued or adopted indoor pet pigeons and doves need an appropriate cage as their home base and safe place if they are living in the house. They also need safe, daily out-of-cage time in the house to exercise and socialize. Learn about pigeon pants here. (It’s unsafe to free fly domestic pigeons and doves outside in a wild environment. They are easy prey for predators including hawks, ravens, gulls, cats, dogs, raccoons, etc.)

Rescued pet pigeon Pete takes flight

Molly with foster pigeons Ajax & Theo (wearing pigeon pants)

The bigger the cage the better and length or width are more important than height (pigeons and doves don’t climb like parrots). We recommend a minimum cage size of 42″ wide, 27″ deep, 30″ high for one or two (mated) pigeons and 32″ wide, 32″ high and 21″ deep for one or two doves.

To be pigeon and dove friendly, the bottom should be covered with something easy to clean and flat such as wood, linoleum, plastic or a yoga mat cut to size. (Pigeons and doves should never have to stand on a wire cage bottom. It is uncomfortable and unhealthy for their feet!) The cage should include some shelves to offer destinations to fly to and hang out on. (Perches are less useful for pigeons and doves- all you can do on a perch is stand or sit. Shelves offer more options including strutting, courting, lounging, napping, etc.) Include a nice big mirror and a basket (weighted so as not to tip) or nest box. Use heavy, ceramic flat bottom, straight-sided crocks for food and water (I get them at thrift stores). Provide a casserole dish or big plant saucer for a bath tub. Locate their cage in a well-lit area (they have poor vision in low light and even bright homes are dim compared to the outside). They’ll also need safe access sunshine unfiltered by glass or avian-safe full spectrum lighting. Locate them where they can be near the family (for companionship and entertainment). Don’t worry about drafts- that’s a non-issue, the more fresh air, the better. Do study up though on true household hazards for pet birds such as using Teflon-coated pans, smoke, scented and aerosole products, open windows or doors, hot stoves, ceiling fans, etc. (See Top Ten Household Dangers to Pet Birds and Bird Proof Your Home, though they recommend clipping wings and we don’t. Please note: CLIPPED WINGS ONLY PREVENT BIRDS FLYING INDOORS. CLIPPED-WING BIRDS CAN AND DO GET AIRBORNE AND LOST OUTSIDE ALL OF THE TIME!)

The cage needs to be up to the task of protecting them from the predators that have access to the cage. If you don’t have cats or dogs in the home wanting to reach in through the bars, wide spacing like that of dog crates is fine for pigeons (though not for doves who can fit right through).

Extra large dog crate as indoor pigeon cage

Shelves are easy to install and provide destinations & hangouts. Pigeons need daily safe out-of-cage time to exercise & socialize. (NOT SAFE OUTSIDE)

An enclosure with wide spaced bars is not safe outside though- not even for short periods of time. (Predators are hungry, alert and strike fast!)

Predators such as cats, hawks, ravens, raccoons, rats, gulls, etc. kill pigeons kept outside in crates or cages with widely-spaced bars. (NOT SAFE OUTSIDE)

If you do have dogs and cats in the home, you’ll need more-closely spaced cage bars to keep pets’ paws and snouts out. (Note that while indoor cages like this are usually adequate to keep pet birds safe from well fed household pets, they are too lightly constructed to protect against hungry, wild predators!)

A double-flight cage (64” l X 21″ w X 36″h) is a great indoor cage for 1-2 pigeons or 2-4 doves. This one needs shelves installed. (NOT SAFE OUTSIDE)

This large flight cage has narrow bar spacing to keep cats & dogs’ out, small doors are zip-tied to guard against clever cat paws and includes shelves as destinations. (NOT SAFE OUTSIDE)

This cage is OK indoors (good height and length, not wide enough for a big pigeon like this King) but not set up well for a pigeon. Pigeons prefer shelves to perches and should never have to stand on bare wire. (NOT SAFE OUTSIDE)

A double-decker bunny condo can be a good indoor cage for 1-2 pigeons or 2-4 doves (NOT SAFE OUTSIDE)

A large double-decker small animal cage can be a good indoor cage for 1-2 pigeons. Note the good pigeon furnishings including a shelf, mirror, ramp, basket & bath tub. (NOT SAFE OUTSIDE)

This flight cage makes a great indoor cage for 1-2 doves provided they get daily, safe out of cage time to exercise and socialize. (NOT SAFE OUTSIDE)

A parrot cage can make a nice home for 1-2 doves but this is NOT SAFE OUTSIDE because of the too-wide bar spacing. Also doves shouldn’t have to stand on bare wire. Cover their cage floor with wood, linoleum, a yoga mat trimmed to fit, etc. (Something easy to clean and comfortable for their feet.)

This cage was reinforced with carefully attached hardware mesh to be safer. Is it safe?

Rabbit Guinea Pig Chicken Coop House Pet Cage Hutch

Don’t assume enclosures sold for outside use are safe! Without the addition of a predator & rodent-proof bottom and raccoon-proof latches on all the doors, this could be a death trap for any animal housed inside. (BUYER BEWARE)

Take care to ensure that all latches are raccoon-proofed! They are clever, motivated, dexterous and deadly.

Unsafe small animal hutch sold for outside use

This lost survior of pigeon racing was rescued and his finder purchased this small animal hutch as emergency housing, trusting that since it was designed for outside use, it would be safe. It’s NOT OUTSIDE SAFE. They immediately modified it to make it safe and then set to work building an aviary.

Aviary built to be pigeon-friendly and predator & rodent-proof for rescued racing pigeon & friends. (SAFE OUTSIDE)

This dove avairy was built to be predator & rodent-proof and is so long as the latches are always closed with raccoon-proof locks or carabiners. SAFE OUTSIDE

Though sold for use outside, the too-wide bar spacing makes it unsafe (unless modified) for outside use. It would be a good size for 4 doves and it is sturdy. (NOT SAFE OUTSIDE)

This flight cage, designed to be used outside, is predator & rodent-proof and a good size for 2 pigeons or 4 doves. SAFE OUTSIDE

While this cage is safe outside (sturdily built, narrow bar-spacing, raccoon-proofed latch) it is not big enough to live in without being brought indoors for safe out-of-cage time. SAFE OUTSIDE

This flight cage is built for outside use (sturdy with strong bars, narrow bar spacing, an attached floor, no gap larger than .5″ and a raccoon-proof latch) and is approved as SAFE OUTSIDE

Please see How to Create an Aviary for Rescued Pigeons or Doves for more info about keeping pigeons & doves as pets outside.

And please, if you’re not sure about the safety or appropriateness of a cage or aviary, share photos with an expert and get guidance. Your birds’ lives depend on it! Here’s a map of just a few of the pigeon and dove-friendly rescues in the US. (There are more out there, we’re just starting to populate this map). There are also pigeon rescue groups on Facebook such as Pigeon & Dove Rescue International and ours- Palomacy Pigeon & Dove Adoptions. Post photos of the cage and your questions and you’ll get help.

Our pets depend on us for their everything- their safety, their happiness, their lives. Take good care of them. They are the angels among us.

September 22, 2015
by Elizabeth
Comments Off on The Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary

The Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary

We are always on the lookout for kindred spirits with which to work and so we are thrilled to be connecting with the wonderful folks of the The Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary. Their motto of “Teaching Responsible Behavior Towards All Animals” is one that we fully support.

I first had the pleasure of visiting the Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary in April when I met with Animal Care Director (and a pigeon rescuer from way back) Jill Lute-Faust. I brought along diplomats Dylan & Indy.

Jill with pigeon-racing survivor Indy & Dylan (a rescued King)

The Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary “differs from traditional zoos and is more like a sanctuary in the way the animals are acquired and the care they receive. Though the facility allows visitors like a traditional zoo, the animals are not bred, sold, or traded.” Quoting from their website, they “provide for animals that are not able to be released back into the wild. Some have been “pets” that proved to be too wild or were confiscated as illegal. Many have suffered injuries that would make life in the wild impossible. Some were captured as “problem animals”. All are treated as individuals and offered the best environments for their needs. None of the animals are bred, sold or traded. Once here, these creatures will be given the best care possible. The animals always come first and they will be loved and supported their entire lives.” Kindred spirits for sure…

All kinds of lucky, rescued animals call the Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary Home including tigers, cougars, bobcats, feral cats, bears, coyotes, wolves and wolf-hybrids, donkeys, pigs, monkeys, snakes, ravens, parrots, eagles, owls and more.

My next visit was on September 14th and I had the honor of presenting our slideshow All About Pigeons to an awesome team of Docents. I brought Dylan again and Mr. Vivian- a survivor (just barely) of pigeon racing who is new to outreach but who even so proved himself to be a talented diplomat (as pigeons so often do). You can read his rescue story here: Feather & Bone)

The Docents loved learning about pigeons & Palomacy

And we had fun meeting with staff as well!

I also had a very exciting opportunity to see an aviary in which we hope to soon foster Palomacy pigeons! Pigeons are so common that people think they know them but most of what people know about pigeons is wrong and often leads to harm for these smart, gentle, innocent birds. Having a mixed flock of adoptable unreleasable wild Rock Pigeons and rescued domestic pigeons such as Kings and racers would be such an incredible educational opportunity. As a home and backyard-aviary based rescue, we have very limited opportunities for the public to meet our birds but the Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary has more than 100,000 visitors annually! Can you imagine?

Manager Jocelyn Smeltzer in front of a potential foster aviary for Palomacy pigeons!

Manager Jocelyn Smeltzer & the potential foster aviary for pigeons!

Needless to say, we are thrilled about this opportunity and we are very much looking forward to partnering with the Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary so that they may include pigeons amongst the many lucky animals they are helping. Please stay tuned!

A dream team- Docent, Staff, Palomacy Volunteer & pigeons!

Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary dream team- Docent, Staff, Palomacy Volunteer & pigeons!

September 16, 2015
by Elizabeth
Comments Off on The Story of Elma, Sole Survivor

The Story of Elma, Sole Survivor

Guest Post by Xavier Heydt

Xavier warms & comforts rescued baby pigeon Elma

On Monday, September 7th I received a message from Palomacy’s founder, Elizabeth Young. She was asking for help to find and rescue six baby King Pigeons that had been abandoned at Stow Lake in Golden Gate Park and I happened to be just minutes away. It was around 8:30 pm and pitch black. We had limited information on the vulnerable birds’ location sent in an email from a pigeon-loving 7th grader named Elma who had seen the baby birds huddled under a certain bench an hour earlier. All we knew was, “There were two pure white ones, one white with light gray, one white with dark gray, one gray and brown, and one white with brown. They were standing under a Stow Lake park bench dedicated to John P. Swenson.” Elizabeth and I somehow managed to run into each other while searching and then split up again in order to cover more ground.

Golden Gate Park is full of raccoons and we had already seen them out and about. After walking by many benches and checking each, I finally found the bench that had been mentioned in the email.

As I approached, I saw a raccoon scurry off into the darkness. No birds were immediately visible near the bench that the six baby King Pigeons had taken refuge under, nor in the bushes directly next to them. However, as I looked around with my phone’s flashlight, I noticed some movement behind a rock that was half-submerged in the water of Stow Lake. Approaching the rock, I saw the head of a pigeon pop up and then disappear. I was very glad of my previous experience with rescuing pigeons (having rescued over 35 pigeons, the majority with my bare hands) as I crept up to the rock. I memorized the location of the pigeon, shut off my flashlight to ensure that the baby pigeon would be unable to flee my attempted rescue and made the grab. The baby was easy to catch and I soon had her in both hands, pressed against my shirt. The baby was drenched in foul-smelling water and I noticed some blood smeared on her beak and some superficial claw wounds underneath her left wing. I called Elizabeth immediately, and she began making her way to my location. Although I’d already surveyed the immediate area prior to finding the soaked baby bird, it was only at this moment that I spotted a rock covered with the blood and feathers of a less fortunate pigeon.

My heart dropped as I looked to the right of the rock and discovered the partially-consumed body of another baby King Pigeon laying motionless in a crevice. I realized that when I had approached the bench, I had interrupted the raccoon’s meal. Though both Elizabeth and I had known that the six babies were extremely vulnerable and unlikely to survive a night alone in Golden Gate Park, it was at this point that the threat to the baby pigeons became painfully clear. Elizabeth arrived with a carrier and we secured the found baby to continue searching for the other four.

We searched in ever widening circles around the bench, pushing aside reeds, walking through vegetation, trying to find the pigeons based on a few feathers (one brown and white pigeon in particular provided unmistakable feathers), and bringing Elizabeth’s car up to the site to illuminate the area with her headlights.

Because it had been clear that the surviving pigeon had flown into the lake to escape a raccoon attack, we were worried that one or more survivors could be hiding along the lake on the other side of the reeds, invisible from land. Elizabeth, being the dedicated and brave individual that she is, entrusted me with her phone and keys and waded into the filthy waters of Stow Lake, walking and slipping along up and down the shore multiple times.

I’m sad to say that after nearly an hour and a half of additional searching we found only traces of evidence suggesting the fate of the other birds. I held some small hope that when animal control officers searched the area in the morning they might find a miraculous survivor, but they didn’t.

What strikes me about the situation was how it could have been avoided. Whoever abandoned these baby King Pigeons had bought them live at a meat-market with the dangerous intention of “setting them free”. Palomacy is the very first result for google searches of “pigeon rescue san francisco” and that simple search (or even a related search regarding whether or not these pigeons could survive in the wild), would have almost definitely resulted in a different outcome. Someone saw these helpless, adorable birds being sold live for food, decided to help them without putting any actual effort into educating themselves on how best to accomplish that goal and ended up trading one slaughter for another. I’m happy to say that the surviving pigeon, Elma (named after the girl who made saving her life possible), is now happy, healthy and safe. She managed to survive against all odds while her companions were killed and this incrediblylucky baby King Pigeon will now be able to live a safe, happy life that most pigeons never get the chance to.

Still, I have a hard time forgetting the suffering that Elma had to endure as the result of human carelessness. I’d like to say that I’ve forgiven whoever was responsible for the events described above but the truth is that I would like nothing more than to inform them of the very real consequences of their actions, which they were able to remain blissfully ignorant of by walking away and imagining that everything would work out for the helpless baby pigeons they left in a dangerous environment. I would like to show them the pictures of the bloody rock, the scattered feathers, the body of Elma’s unlucky companion and the great lengths to which we go to in order to save the lives of birds like Elma the pigeon on a daily basis.

Xavier is fostering baby pigeon Elma

September 4, 2015
by Elizabeth
Comments Off on Life-saving, Game-changing Partnership for King Pigeons

Life-saving, Game-changing Partnership for King Pigeons

The King Pigeon aviary Palomacy built at Animal Place

The King Pigeon aviary Palomacy built for Animal Place

Look at the amazing aviary you helped to create! Remember the crowdfunding campaign that we organized to help Animal Place begin helping King Pigeons?

Successful crowdfunding campaign to build King Pigeon aviary

Thank You for helping make this dream come true!

Thanks to your support, our efforts have finally succeeded! Animal Place, one of the oldest and largest animal sanctuaries in the nation, now has a beautiful, life-saving, game-changing King Pigeon aviary on site at their Rescue Ranch in Vacaville and they are engaging their expertise and resources to generate adoptions for rescued King Pigeons- survivors of the squab industry, abadonment and overfull shelters.

On Saturday August 22nd, our builders Josette & Luis and volunteers, Ellie, Helen, Diana, Joe & myself, gathered at Animal Place’s Rescue Ranch in Vacaville to assemble the pre-built aviary panels into a gorgeous, safe and very comfortable foster home for rescued King Pigeons.

Pickup truck bed full up with pre-built avairy panels

The pre-built panels are easy to transport

The 16′ x 8′ x 7′ aviary consists of 20 4′ x 7′ panels

Built from 2x4s & 16 gauge, .5″ hardware mesh

It was an amazing day. The weather was mild and the panels, so beautifully built, went together with ease. (Luis & Josette had done the hardest part the day before when they dug out and installed the base.)

Predator & rodent-proof panels attached to treated lumber base

Treated lumber base on store-bought cement piers.

Volunteers Ellie & Helen attach the smooth aviary floor (marine grade plywood) to the predator & rodent-proof base

Ellie & Joe installing the side and roof panels

Throughout the day, the construction was carefully overseen by the patiently waiting pigeons. The aviary is 16′ long by 8′ wide and 7′ feet tall. It is designed to comfortably house 24 rescued King pigeons but for now, Animal Place is starting with four to get the feel for this new effort.

Pigeons Boo & Maya and Pat & Snowberry watching over our work

Rescued pigeons Maya & Boo waiting patiently in their crate

Maya & Boo say, Hurry up!

Diana donated to the project, spent the day building it & snuggled Pat

Woman lovingly holding a rescued King Pigeon

Nancy came to adopt chickens but spent some time learning about pigeons too

Blake, an animal care provider at Animal Place, loving on Snowberry

After the enclosure was up, a half roof & siding was added to half of the back & one side for shelter from weather, shade & security

After the enclosure was up, a half roof & siding to half of the back & one side was added for shelter from weather, shade & security

Finished avairy is half sheltered, half open

Finished aviary offers shelter as well as exposure to sun, wind, rain, sky- life!

Shelves & nest boxes were added for pigeon comfort

Ellie & Helen added two ‘swing’ style perches

It was really very exciting to introduce the first lucky pigeons, Boo & Maya and Pat & Snowberry, to their beautiful new (foster) home! They were more than ready to move in and, being pigeons, they of course made themselves comfortable straight away.

Yay! Welcoming Boo & Maya into the new aviary!

The foursome immediately shared supper

Maya & Boo checking out the nest box area (one pox per couple)

King Pigeon Pat courting his mate Snowberry

Pat & Snowberry waited in the lobby cage at the SF animal shelter for an adopter from March through August

The romance began immediately: Snowberry kissing Pat

Boo & Maya trying out a nest box

The pigeons' neighbors are lucky hens liberated from battery cages

The pigeons’ neighbors are hens rescued from battery cages

Jan, Animal Place’s Rescue Ranch Manager, says “The gang is doing great – and seem very happy in their new home” and Jacinda, Animal Place’s Adoption Coordinator, is already working to develop adopters for these beautiful birds.

A beautiful, safe, pigeon-friendly aviary

Making this dream come true was a long process. I sat for awhile just enjoying it.

YAY!!!! Look at this amazing, life-saving & game-changing aviary YOU helped to create! THANK YOU!!! Thank you to Animal Place for partnering with us to help raise awareness about the plight and potential of these beautiful pigeons! Thank you to our donors for investing in this life-saving aviary! Thank you to our builders and volunteers for creating such an important new aviary. I have a feeling there will be many more. Thank you all! Your support for this very special effort means more than I can say.

October 12, 2015 UPDATE:

I am thrilled to announce that, thanks to the efforts of Animal Place, Boo & Maya and Pat & Snowberry are now adopted and HOME!

Boo Maya Pat Snowberry Adopted Animal Place 20151010_122420

This is the beautiful new home of Boo & Maya & Pat & Snowberry!

Congratulations to Boo & Maya & Pat & Snowberry! You are HOME!

Read about our partnership with Animal Place

Read about our aviary panels kit project

Our guidelines for building an aviary

Contact Palomacy about partnering

Donate in support of pigeon rescue

September 2, 2015
by Elizabeth
Comments Off on Blossom’s Ordeal

Blossom’s Ordeal

Blossom- tape holding her scalp to her head

On August 12th, I was contacted by WildCare regarding a scalped racing pigeon that had been brought in. (A predator had caught and begun to eat her before she miraculously escaped.) Because she was a banded racing pigeon, she was not eligible for vet care and needed transfer and help ASAP. Thanks to the help of WildCare staff and a Palomacy volunteer, we were able to get her from San Rafael to Medical Center for Birds in Oakley for treatment. She arrived with her skull partially exposed and her scalp taped onto her head.

Blossom upon arrival at MCFB

Part of Blossom’s skull was exposed

The extent of Blossom’s injury required that she be sedated so that her wound could be surgically cleaned and repaired. When she was anesthetized and intubated, it was discovered that she had a ruptured air sac as well (revealed by the way her body inflated abnormally with breathing support). She recuperated in the hospital for a couple of days, receiving supportive care. She had come in emaciated and, even though her scalp was back in place and she could see again, she wasn’t eating. But she was super thirsty and had polyuria (excessively watery poop). Blood tests came back normal and didn’t reveal any answers. In a couple of days, she began eating and they were able to discontinue the tube feeding. The thirst and polyuria continued.

Blossom looking a lot better after her surgery 8/14

Dr. Fitgerald checks Blossom’s progress 8/15

I went out to Oakley on August 18th to pick up Blossom and as soon as I met her, I realized that the name I had originally given her- prior to meeting her and when I needed something quick for our and the vets’ records- Rex- was so wrong as to need changing (something I hate to do because it creates extra work and potential confusion). She’s a delicate, petite, shy little flower of a pigeon. I renamed her Blossom.

Dr. Fitzgerald and Blossom

Once home and fostered with me, Blossom, on antibiotics and pain meds, was stable and her wound seemed to be healing but something else was going on. Her thirst and polyuria continued.

Blossom 8/21, note her too-watery poop

On 8/25, I did a routine weight check expecting to see that Blossom was gaining weight (she seemed to be eating well) but I was surprised to find that she had actually lost weight. I took her back in to see the vets the following day. She surprised me by eating almost non-stop the whole 54 miles. (She doesn’t seem like the adventuresome type so I hadn’t expected that a roadtrip would spark her appetite but it did.)

On the road, Blossom ate & tossed seeds enthusiastically

Once at Medical Center for Birds, Dr. Speer looked through her matted feathers to reveal what was really happening with her scalp. While a portion of the reattachment was healing well, there were places that had reopened. When I had looked at her scalp, I hadn’t really looked.

Note to self: Look more closely at wounds

Dr. Speer examines Blossom

Close examination reveals only partial healing

Dr. Speer checked the wound for necrotic tissue and infection but found none.

The blood is a good sign & means living tissue

Dr. Speer added a few new sutures to help close the wound and speed healing. She received topical Lidocaine to numb her scalp and was an incredibly cooperative patient throughout the procedure.

Blossom was very calm and brave

Dr. Speer sutures while I hold

Blossom’s new stitches

The vets didn’t see any obvious explanation for Blossom’s weight loss, thirst and polyuria and recommended I discontinue the anitbiotics and Meloxicam in case they were contributing.

Today is September 2nd and Blossom is doing OK. Her weight is back up to where it was (though she is still too thin) but her thirst is, if anything, is increasing. She will drink this entire huge bowl of water in 24 hours. We’ll be going back out to Oakley next week for more follow up. Through all the years and so many pets and so many pigeons and doves rescued, I’ve worked with a lot of vets, many of them truly wonderful, but none more supportive, responsive, helpful, generous and dedicated than those at Medical Center for Birds. They work tirelessly to help us (and so many others) and that’s why we go to such lengths to get our birds all the way out to Oakley to see them whenever we can. They also do everything possible to help us stretch our dollars as far as they will go but even so, medical care is expensive and Blossom’s bill, despite the discounts, is over $1200 already.

Blossom & her extra large water bowl

Blossom, this brave young survivor of pigeon racing, barely six months old, was lost and starving to death before she was attacked and nearly killed by the predator that scalped her and ruptured an air sac. Pigeon racers say, “let the (training) basket and races cull for you“. To them, birds like Blossom, who get lost, hurt or killed while being flown, are worthless. As if Blossom’s life means any less to her than theirs does to them. It breaks my heart to think of all that birds like Blossom endure. They suffer a lot. Blossom is one of the lucky ones.

Please help us help Blossom and the others. If you can, please make a donation to support our work. Blossom and all of us thank you for your compassion.

Blossom

September 1, 2015
by Elizabeth
Comments Off on Baby Lucy: The Joy & the Sorrow

Baby Lucy: The Joy & the Sorrow

Baby Lucy lonesome & hungry at the shelter

On Saturday August 8th, I was contacted by a radio producer doing a story about the project to bring Passenger Pigeons back from extinction. She wanted to record sounds of pigeons and interview me and was on deadline to do it that day. I changed my plans and arranged to meet her in the lobby of San Francisco Animal Care & Control. When I arrived, I first checked on the birds and found that a King Pigeon baby had been brought in the day before. She was too immature and sad to self-feed. I brought her downstairs to handfeed while I did the interview.

Found "stray" at Washington & Webster in SF, CA

Found “stray” Washington & Webster SF, CA

I learned early in my pigeon rescue work that it’s pointless to talk to people about pigeons unless you have a pigeon for them to meet. Pigeons are so common that everybody thinks they know them and yet, most everything that people think they know about pigeons is wrong. (For example: Pigeons aren’t dirty though they may be trapped in a dirty environment. Pigeons don’t pose health risks to humans: Petting a dog or cat or eating a hamburger are riskier. Pigeons aren’t stupid, they are highly intelligent.) Radio producer Lucy Kang had never really met a pigeon before she met this one. She was very touched by this vulnerable pigeon child and how eager she was to be comforted. At the end of the interview, Lucy’s feelings about pigeons were different.

Radio producer Lucy Kang meets her first pigeon

We spoke at length about pigeons like this baby (who I named Lucy in her honor) and how they wind up in shelters, about wild-living Rock Pigeons and about the Passenger Pigeon de-extinction project. Lucy was surprised that I’m not a supporter of it. I think that when we hunt a species to extinction, even if we could bring them back, we have forfeited the right. We shot Passenger Pigeons by the billions. We killed them all. And we are still killing their relatives at every opportunity. Cruelly. For no reason other than the joy of killing. Pigeon hunting is legal everywhere in the US and every day of the year (“no season, no limits, no rules”). Pigeon hunters set out decoys in fields to lure pigeons in and then blast as many pigeons to death as they can, bragging at the numbers killed and especially prizing killing banded racing pigeons.

More Mourning Doves are killed in the US by hunters than any other animal (estimates range from 20-70 million are killed annually). They’re so small that few bother with eating them. They are shot in the many millions just for the fun of killing. They’re considered “cheap skeet”.

US Hunters kill more Mourning Doves than any other animal

You can hear the program Lucy produced here. And I’ll be writing more about pigeon hunters in a future post.

This story is about baby pigeon Lucy. After feeding her and comforting her as best I could, I left her there at the shelter. I of course didn’t want to but I’m full up. We’re all full up. I had nowhere for her to go.

Fed & left with a rolled towel for company

But I couldn’t stop thinking of her and I woke up in the morning determined to somehow figure out a placement for her. My day was already booked solid but Lucy had become my new priority.

One of the challenges of bird rescue is fitting each bird, according to his and her needs, into the right situation. I call it Pigeon Tetris (doves are involved as well). We have 23 different foster homes caring for nearly 100 birds ranging from big, strong adults through to the old, frail and special-needs birds. A not-yet-self-feeding baby like Lucy can’t just be put in an aviary. Then I had an inspiration. I had a new foster family that was going to be taking in a single young adult pigeon, Swift, that had been waiting too long at the shelter but perhaps I could persuade them instead to foster two birds- blind youngster Henry and delicate baby Lucy. Both were lonesome. Both were young and frail and each needed a gentle, safe companion. It was a hell of a lot to ask of new foster volunteers- to take two birds instead of one, to take on a blind bird and especially, to take on a baby King Pigeon who might not survive after the ordeal she had been through. (These youngsters, bred to be butchered at only 4 weeks old, come in sick, traumatized and without the robust immune system an adult pigeon has. Many don’t make it, despite everything we do to save them.) Incredibly, Cris & Kelly said yes. And so, on Sunday, August 9th, I packed up Henry and headed back to the shelter to get baby Lucy and Swift, the young adult pigeon who had waited so long (and who I could fit into my aviary).

Henry, a blind Rock Pigeon youngster

Animal Care Manager Orlando says goodbye to Lucy

SFACC staffer Naomi snuggling Lucy

Rescued pigeon peeking out of transport box

Swift- finally on her freedom ride!

I cannot tell you how happy I was to take young Henry and baby Lucy to foster with Cris & Kelly!

Cris with Henry & Kelly with Lucy

As I had hoped, the two pigeon kids made instant friends. Henry, though a couple of weeks older, was still young enough to be gentle with a baby and, isolated by his blindness, grateful for a friend. And Lucy, not even quite old enough to be out of the nest and yet already a survivor of both the squab industry and an inhumane “release”/abandonment, was thrilled to have a new birdy buddy! (Pigeons grow up as twins and are all about having a special, significant other.)

: Making new friends

: Lucy & Henry

: BFFs

: Happy to be together

: Cris & Henry

: Lucy

The next morning, I awoke to one of the happiest sights I’ve ever seen since becoming a rescuer: A video text of Henry preening Lucy while she squeaked her pleasure. They were so happy together! I was truly overjoyed.

And the good news kept coming. Just as I had hoped, Henry was teaching baby Lucy how to self-feed!

It’s hard for me to overstate how happy this rescue made me. I was so thrilled for baby Lucy and for Henry and for their foster volunteers and everybody involved. This rescue made me feel like the past eight years were all worth it. (And of course they were.) It was a week of adorable, happy snapshots.

Henry & Lucy snuggling

Baby King Pigeon Lucy snuggling with her foster volunteer

Lucy loving the loving

Lucy & Henry- BFFs

Except that on Friday, August 14th, baby Lucy didn’t feel well. I was able to get over to see her that night, start her on meds and a heating pad, and we started working on a transport plan to get her either to our vets or our volunteer bird health care coordinator for care. Baby pigeons are frail and when they are sick, things go wrong fast.

Sick baby Lucy on her heating pad, Henry nearby

Lucy 7/7/15 – 8/15/15

Tragically, despite the best efforts of many, Lucy died the next day. She went very quickly. She died peacefully. She’ll never be forgotten.

Henry and his foster family are soldiering on. Henry is, I’m sure, heartbroken. We all are. Cris and Kelly have surrounded Henry with love and comfort. We’re working to find the right new friend for Henry.

Henry & Cris, grieving together

Henry on his shelf

Henry chilling

Henry after a shower

I’ll always be so grateful to Cris and Kelly for taking the chance and saying yes to two foster pigeons instead of one, for opening their hearts to a blind pigeon and an at-risk baby, for giving these two angels such a wonderful and happy week. I don’t know how we ever would have rescued Lucy without them and even though she didn’t make it, she was safe, loved, comfortable, happy. She was adored.

August 5, 2015
by Elizabeth
Comments Off on Our Aviary Panels Kit Project!

Our Aviary Panels Kit Project!

Jeff & Roxanne with their pet pigeons Baby & Matilda

While our adopters love their pigeons and doves, it is not easy getting the birds adopted. Many people would be thrilled to have a backyard aviary but most don’t know how to go about creating one and buying pre-made enclosures can be tricky. They can be expensive, too small, unsafe, ill-designed (see our recommendations here). So, after years of grappling with this barrier, we are exploring a brand new way of overcoming it.

Last month, with the help of our friend Nancy Powell, an expert in both building and bird rescue, our aviary panel kit #1 was created. It is designed specifically for the needs of Palomacy’s fosters and adopters and it’s wonderful!

Nancy & Nieve

Sketch of the front view

We had the pleasure of putting the aviary panel kit together Saturday on the backyard deck of adopters Roxanne & Jeff. It is built from sixteen 3′ x 6′ panels that are easy to transport, easy to assemble and easy to finish with aviary furnishings (such as bird feet-friendly flooring, partial siding & roof, shelves, nest boxes, etc.). Using all the panels, it creates a safe, secure, pigeon or dove-friendly enclosure that is 9′ x 6′ x 6′ ( a good size for up to 8 pigeons or 16 doves). Thanks to the modular panel design, it can easily be reconfigured into a smaller size (or expanded) or disassembled and relocated if needed. The cost to buy it: $950.

Happy people starting their aviary assembly

Roxanne & Jeff admiring the bottom panels

Jeff (with Baby), Roxanne, Steph (with Matilda) & Paul in the assembled (but not yet complete) aviary

We are so excited about this potentially game-changing strategy to increase adoptions. (And adoptions do need to be increased! There are a lot of beautiful, innocent, easy-to-love birds in need of homes. More than we are able to keep up with at our current rate.)

Aviary panel kit #2 is going to be built to help farmed animal sanctuary Animal Place begin to help rescued King Pigeons (survivors of the squab industry and inhumane “releases”) to be adopted. This partnership, bringing together little Palomacy’s unique expertise in caring for and placing King Pigeons with Animal Place’s far greater depth of experience and range of resources, is a huge step forward on the road to saving more lives of these overlooked and under-served birds. (Read more: Palomacy & Animal Place Working Together to Help King Pigeons)

Rescue Ranch Manager Jan & Dylan visiting chickens

Founded in 1989, Animal Place’s California animal shelters fills a much-needed niche of farm animal rescue, sanctuary, education and adoption. Animal Place is one of the largest and oldest animal sanctuaries in the nation. We operate a 600-acre sanctuary in Grass Valley, California, and a 60-acre animal shelter in Vacaville, California. Animal Place extends compassion to all life with a special emphasis on farmed animals. This is executed by providing permanent sanctuary, education, legislation and appropriate placement of needy animals.

Jan and Dylan standing where the aviary will be

Site of Animal Place’s Rescue Ranch King Pigeon Aviary to be!

Screen shot of our crowdfunding campaign

We’re crowdfunding an aviary to help Animal Place save the lives of King Pigeons!

So far, we’re 24% of the way towards our fundraising goal. Please click here to help us reach it.

Our hope is that not only can we make this aviary dream come true but that we can then start fundraising to build aviary panel kit #3. We already have a place for it!

Woman in a clearing with pigeons in a stroller

Debbie marks our intended site for aviary panel kit #3!

And, if we are able to raise the needed funds, we plan to create loaner aviary panel kits for qualifying foster volunteers too. Also, as we get the plans written out, we will make the information- the materials lists and how-tos and videos- available for free online so that everybody can repliciate this life-saving solution for birds in need.

If you’re a Bay Area builder or a funder who’d be interested in helping with this life-saving project, please contact Elizabeth.

And stay tuned for lots more news about this super exciting leap forward in helping pigeons get home!

Thank you for all of your support.

Rescued King Pigeons perched on a branch

Nieve & Duke, survivors of the squab industry, inhumane release and an overfull shelter thank you for saving them!

August 5, 2015
by Elizabeth
Comments Off on Remembering Gurumina

Remembering Gurumina

Gurumina

Hatched ?
Rescued 9/7/07
Adopted 10/21/07
Died 7/23/15

Gurumina is the bird that started all this.

My first memory of Gurumina is that she was hopping up and down in a stainless steel cage at the San Francisco Animal Care & Control shelter (SFACC) where I was a newbie volunteer in the “Smalls Room”. She sounded like a bowling ball in a dryer.

The Smalls Room at SFACC

I had seen a couple of these big white birds at the shelter and they always just stood stock still, clearly trying to be invisible. And for the most part, they were. Shelter staff & volunteers didn’t really know what to do with them. Unlike all the other animals, they weren’t taken out of their cages, socialized, given names, photographed, posted on websites…

And so I really wasn’t sure why Gurumina was hopping up and down nor what would happen if I opened her cage. I had finished up my volunteer shift- having socialized with all the other animals- and was about to go home. I remember feeling very unsure about opening her cage. I didn’t want her flying around the room, banging into the window, hurting herself, embarrassing me.

When I did open her cage and offered her my hand, she stepped out onto it in the most lady-like way. The hopping had been her way of asking for attention. Once given it, she was sublimely calm. And big! And heavy for a bird, I remember thinking. I didn’t really know what to do but I walked around with her standing on my hand and introduced her to all the bunnies. She seemed to enjoy meeting them. And they her. She was incredibly charming.

Gurumina

Gurumina was different from the other King Pigeons who routinely arrived at SFACC. She wasn’t a young, terrified, traumatized squab. She had been someone’s pet who had been surrendered. That’s why she had a name. She was a King Pigeon who had been socialized. She was clearly an awesome pet. Smart, loving, quiet. So elegant.

Gurumina inspired me to start learning about King Pigeons. Despite all my years of studying animals, I’d never before heard of King Pigeons. Most people haven’t.

King Pigeons are bred for meat (squab) and the vast majority go straight from their nest* to the processing plant and from there to a fancy plate. (*They are slaughtered at 4 weeks of age, before they fledge, for maximum tenderness.) But some King Pigeons are sold live at poultry markets where people sometimes buy and “release” them in a ceremony or in a misguided effort to liberate them (release equals death for these domestic birds). A lucky few survive long enough to get taken to an animal shelter where, if they’re not adopted or have no rescue to help them, they’re killed.

When Gurumina needed to be rescued, I took her into my home and fostered her. I knew I could get her adopted and, with help from Mickaboo Companion Bird Rescue, I was able to find her a wonderful forever home. She was adopted on 10/21/07.

I hadn’t meant to start a rescue. In fact, the prospect of doing something like that was one of my biggest fears. I had, for all of my life, been more interested in and drawn to animals than anything else. From the time I was very young, people would always say, “Oh, you’re going to be a vet someday” but I always knew that I could never be a vet. Even in grade school, I knew that I never wanted to be in any kind of business with animals. They are too vulnerable to us. We are too unkind. I couldn’t bear what animals endure. And so I had adopted and rescued privately, but avoided any other involvement. But, in 2007, I was wondering, since I was still so drawn to animals, if maybe I had made a mistake. And so I had very cautiously dipped my toe in by signing up as a shelter volunteer. All I was going to do was socialize the Smalls for an hour or two a week. I was not going to let myself go over the animal cliff…

Because of Gurumina, I recognized who the next King Pigeon was when she arrived at the shelter. Though she was dirty, sick, and terrified, I knew her amazing pet potential. I named her Rocky because when she punched out with her wing to warn me away (something we call wing fu), she always used her left. She wing-fu’d southpaw.

Rocky, 4 weeks old at SFACC

Because of what Gurumina taught me, I, despite trepidation about the cliff I was stepping off, rescued Rocky. And then Sugar. And Stretch. And Jesse… And within a couple of months, MickaCoo Pigeon & Dove Rescue was hatched and it has since grown into Palomacy Pigeon & Dove Adoptions. To date, we have saved more than 600 lives and helped countless others. We provide coaching and referrals to people all over the country and beyond. We are helping pigeons and doves and the people that love them today because of Gurumina. We are creating awareness and inspiring compassion. We may be the world’s first (and only?) adoption agency devoted to pigeon and doves.

On July 23rd, 2015, Gurumina died peacefully at home. She was a cherished pet. She is mourned. She will never be forgotten.

Gurumina

Gurumina’s My Mutt Poster

Gurumina & her adopter Shaf visit my brand new aviary 2008

Shaf & Gurumina volunteering at Filoli outreach 2010

Gurumina & I 2010

By Elizabeth Young, founder & executive director Palomacy Pigeon & Dove Adoptions

Further Reading

Ms. Mina: A Rememberance of Gurumina by Her Adopter

Gurumina: The First King I Really Met

Why Do King Pigeons End Up In Shelters?

Sign Our Pledge to Not Eat Squab

Rocky

What Is Palomacy?

July 31, 2015
by Elizabeth
Comments Off on Seeing the Beauty

Seeing the Beauty

Natalia & Snezhok photographed by Elisabeth Millay

Please vote for us in GlobalGiving’s 2015 Photo Contest!

When Natalia saw the nervous, hungry white pigeon looking so lost on a busy San Francisco sidewalk, she knew that the bird needed help. It wasn’t until after the fact that she learned the King Pigeon she rescued and named Snezhok (snowball in Russian), was only four weeks old, a survivor of both the squab industry and an inhumane “release” and completely unable to survive in the wild.

Domestic and defenseless, Snezhok was incredibly lucky to be rescued into a loving family and given a home. Natalia writes, “Snezhok has the most loyal but at the same time independent spirit. Surprisingly for a bird, who has no means of defense and does not fly very well, she is not afraid of anything and faces challenges fearlessly: from the streets of San Francisco, where we found her abandoned and starved but her spirit still unbroken – to living with humans and adjusting to other pets.”

We created Palomacy to help birds like Snezhok and people like Natalia. There was a deadly gap in the animal welfare community so, while domestic (unreleasable) pigeons were going in to animal shelters, they weren’t getting out.

The shelters didn’t know who these birds were, they didn’t post them to their websites nor include them in events. People didn’t know they existed and they didn’t get adopted. Yet all the other animals had at least some hope of getting adopted or rescued. Just not the pigeons. Strange.

Pigeons are among the most commonplace of animals in our lives. Our cities have flocks of wild Rock Pigeons. There are countless pigeon breeders, hobbyists, fanciers and squab producers hatching millions of domestic pigeons in the US alone every year. Plenty of people are seeing pigeons but somehow they aren’t really seeing pigeons.

But those of us who have seen the beauty, the intelligence, the soulfulness of these earthbound angels, we know they deserve compassion.

And so, we are super excited to have not only Natalia & Snezhok’s photo by Elisabeth Millay Young selected as a semi-finalist in GlobalGiving’s 2015 Photo Contest, but also a portrait of pigeon-racing survivor Indy as well! This is an extraordinary opportunity for us to show who pigeons really are.

Pigeon-racing survivor Indy, photographed by Kira Stackhouse, is an incredibly gentle, sweet bird. As a racing pigeon, he was bred to be a “champion”, taken hundreds of miles from his home and “tossed” with thousands of other pigeons to begin the desperate “race” to find his way back home. Despite flying their hearts out, most never do. Indy was lucky in that, when he was grounded with both a broken wing and broken leg, he was found by a well-meaning person rather than a hungry predator, but he wasn’t out of danger. He was kept unprotected in a backyard, given no vet care and he likely would have died there if he hadn’t been rescued by Palomacy. Now he has a happy life ahead of him.

Rescued Pigeon Racing Survivor Indy photographed by Kira Stackhouse

Please vote for your favorite photo (shot pro bono by professional photographers who support our work) and invite all your friends to vote for us in the GlobalGiving Photo Contest! First prize is $1000 for the rescue! Voting starts Monday, August 3rd at 9 AM PT and the photo with the most votes this Friday at 9 AM PT will win $1000. (Only your first vote will count and email confirmation is required.)

Please help people to see who pigeons really are. Pigeons are worthy of our compassion.

Thank you for all of your support!

July 21, 2015
by Elizabeth
Comments Off on Why “Dove Releases” Are Cruel

Why “Dove Releases” Are Cruel

Warning: Includes graphic photos showing what happens to “released doves”.

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. (For some reason, they don’t call them “wedding pigeons”. They exploit the homing abilities of pigeons while calling them doves for PR purposes.)

Most will survive the flight home.

White Homing Pigeons released at a wedding

Homing pigeons released as “wedding doves.” Photo by Jim Kennedy

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 Pigeons to release. Nearly all of them will die.

“Wedding dove” lucky to be rescued & taken to a shelter

Please help counteract this fantasy with the reality. We have to speak up for the birds because no one is listening to them. We strongly recommend against using these gentle, loyal birds in this uncaring way.

A nice employee at Evergreen Cemetery called to tell me that managed he to save six of a flock of white doves “released” at a funeral. The mourners had to pull them out of the cage and throw them in the air but even so, only a few flew anywhere (they knew they weren’t safe). One was hawk-struck, another run over… others flew away (but they won’t survive). We all know people who will be having weddings, funerals, graduations and other ceremonies and rituals. Please help educate people to how cruel and unfair this is to the birds.

Photo by Carol Fletcher taken at Heart & Soul Animal Sanctuary

Never buy and release birds for weddings, funerals, prayers, blessings, or other ceremonies — or as a “kind act.” White doves and other birds (like King Pigeons) sold to you have no survival skills and will suffer and die, bringing neither joy nor honor to any occasion. Releasing store-bought birds is both cruel and illegal.

Four-week old King Pigeons rescued after their “release” at a funeral

And even when done “properly,” by hiring a professional to release trained white Homing Pigeons, casualties are common. Note: We recommend against all releases of domestic birds. We have rescued plenty of lost and/or injured white Homing Pigeons too.

See the heartbreaking story of Pope Francis’ 2014 “release” in the Ukraine here.

This custom needs to end

Predators recognize what we do not

Domestic Homing Pigeons are easy prey

Domestic birds should never be “released”

This happens to a lot of the “doves” (Homing Pigeons) released by Popes and others. Here’s a “symbolic appeal for peace” by Pope Benedict XVI in 2013.

Pope Benedict XVI

Wild vs. Domestic is not “nature”

The odds of survival for true doves (white Ringneck Doves) & King Pigeons are much worse. Whether they are being used for a ceremony or misguidedly “set free”, most of them don’t survive long enough to be rescued. When unprotected, their life span, whether in the city, a park or the wild, is hours to days. These King Pigeons youngsters (sold as squab at a live poultry market and “set free” in Golden Gate Park) beat the terrible odds and were rescued.

Baby King Pigeons “released”

Domestic King Pigeons have no survival skills

Rescuer and Good Samaritan with rescued baby King Pigoen

These were very lucky to be rescued

And even if they lucky enough to be rescued, they are still at risk. Many are weak, sick, traumatized, injured as well as at risk of being killed in overfull shelters. After watching yet another one of these innocent victims die, I posted this on Craigslist:

It says, To the well-intended but misguided people who buy baby King Pigeons (squab) from live poultry markets and “set them free”- don’t! You are just killing them in another (and not very merciful) way. These baby birds have no survival skills and, even if they were to live to adulthood, they still won’t. They are DOMESTIC. They are preyed upon by hawks, gulls, ravens, dogs, cats, raccoons, mean people and hit by cars if they don’t starve or die from disease. (If you eat squab- beware. The majority of the baby king pigeons- squab- that live long enough to make it to an animal shelter are sick- from Trichomoniasis, PMV, chlamydophilia and more.)

I was contacted by the shelter again today to try and save one of these poor, sweet creatures but she died within the hour. She was 5 weeks old. If you want to help King Pigeons, do something meaningful. Volunteer at the shelter. Protest live animal sales. Donate. Adopt some and provide them with the decent life they deserve. But please please please don’t buy them and “set them free” in the parks thinking you have helped them. You haven’t. You have put them in an even worse predicament than they already were (as bad as that was).

Here’s a picture of today’s victim (found in MacLaren Park a week ago and kept until her inability to breathe got her finder to take her to the animal shelter). Despite our best efforts, she was too sick to be saved. And here are pictures of what happens to many of the others “set free”.

Please- RELEASING BABY KING PIGEONS (AND ANY OTHER DOMESTIC ANIMAL) IS MURDER. Don’t do it.

“Released” domestic birds have no survival skills. They are killed by hawks, ravens, gulls, dogs, cats, raccoons, mean people and cars.

King Pigeons “released” at Our lady of Peace Church

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King Pigeon we spent hours trying but failed to rescue

Despite all the many birds we rescue, this is the fate of many that get “released”.

Domestic birds are killed by all kinds of predators

Common fate for a “released” King Pigeon

The story of a Woman Who Waded into the Jordan River to Save a Dove Discarded by Clergy

Dying in Dozens: Fancy Pigeons “Released” Dying in Park 8/22/14

Never “set free” domestic birds!

From Never Buy & Release Birds, originally published May 23, 2012 at RescueReport.org

Please share with your friends, family and colleagues. This happens a lot!

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