October 4, 2022
by Elizabeth
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Palomacy Thanks Craig Newmark Philanthropies

Palomacy Pigeon & Dove Adoptions here to share our wonderful news from & profound gratitude to Craig Newmark Philanthropies for generously supporting our work once again with a $20K grant!

Thank you, Craig!

HERO!

Rock doves from Craig Newmark’s List of Backyard Wildlife (photo by Craig Newmark)

Why you ask? Here’s an expert from a Mollie Leavitt interview with Craig.

And Palomacy, as have so many other organizations, has been profoundly helped by Craig ever since we met in 2013.

Hatched in 2007, Palomacy was created to close a deadly gap in animal care. We are saving the lives of the otherwise unserved: domestic, unreleasable pigeons and doves that are injured, lost, displaced, and abandoned in their use for sports, businesses, and hobbies.

What initially began in 2007 as one person stepping in to help birds that no one else was, has, with Craig’s generous support since 2013, grown into a model rescue powered by two full time staff and 150ish volunteers (locally, nationally & internationally). Back then, the only information about pigeons was either from breeders detailing how to exploit them or “pest management” businesses advertising to kill them as vectors of disease (which they are not). Even wildlife experts were often unaware that releasing domestic pigeons and doves was a death sentence. Shelters and rescues never even thought of them as adoptable (despite their being amazing pets).

When we started this work, we had to create a word for it because it wasn’t being done: Palomacy. It means pigeon diplomacy. The domestic pigeons and doves, inevitably lost and hurt, just quietly suffered, and died, ignored by passersby for (unnecessary) fear of disease, turned away by wildlife rehabbers as unreleasable and by shelters who considered them unadoptable.

We chose the name Palomacy because we knew the birds needed not just a rescue but a movement, they needed pigeon diplomacy. Thanks to the incredibly generous support of our favorite bird nerd Craig & thousands of other good souls, we are rescuing & rehoming thousands of birds that were used as if disposable. (They are not.)

September 15, 2022
by Elizabeth
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Razzle’s Story

Guest Post with Michelle Norman

Injured racing pigeon Razzle grounded & helpless in Tara’s backyard

Another wonderful rescue story. On July 9th, Razzle was discovered by my neighbor Tara. Razzle self-rescued herself to Tara who noticed her sitting all day in the same place in her backyard. Concerned, we posted to Palomacy’s Help Group on Facebook. We got quick advice and brought her indoors to safety.

Razzle was very hungry!

Rescued Razzle safe and comfortable in a rolled towel donut

Palomacy Care Coordinator Jill made a vet appointment for her and asked me to take Razzle to Medical Center for Birds (MCFB). Razzle had crash-landed with two broken legs (presumably from a violent collision) and, unable to stand, had only been able to sit and await her fate- rescue or death.

Razzle’s radiograph

At MCFB, Dr. Crystal Schoellmann initially set her broken legs and stabilized them in casts made from tape.

Razzle’s tape casts

After further consideration, Dr. Schoellmann decided for the best outcome, Razzle would need surgery to insert pins and fixators.

Waking up after surgery

We went back to the hospital one to two times a week so they could make adjustments as she healed. MCFB was and is amazingly talented and so compassionate. It would not have happened without them, so thank you so much MCFB.

Razzle was a very patient patient

Razzle was determined to get better and thrive. It blows my mind if you look at her X-ray with two broken legs to her standing now. Razzle has been fostered at my house while rehabbing.

Razzle standing tall on her healed legs!

Tooney, a King pigeon, also fostering in my bird room, took a liking to Razzle.

Handsome Tooney bathing

They have been courting through the cage bars while she healed completely. Then I saw them preening and I think feeding each other (kissing).

Flirting

Falling in love through the recovery cage bars

Once I let them out together, Razzle welcomed Tooney who is twice her size. So they are married and here’s another wonderful rescue story with a very happy ending.

Razzle & Tooney fell in love & married

Congratulations Razzle & Tooney

Editor’s Note: Thank you so very much to good Samaritan Tara who recognized a pigeon in need, to the Palomacy Help Group mods and members who helped guide Razzle’s rescue, to good neighbor and foster (and adopter and monthly donor) Michelle for taking on a very challenging case that required lots of follow up (and crazy gas money!), to our Care Coordinator Jill who holds all of us together throughout the whole process, to Dr. Schoellmann and everyone at Medical Center for Birds for their always amazing care and to you- our readers and donors and fellow rescuers who are helping to advance compassionate care for pigeons. They are not disposable!

Learn more about the cruelty of “pigeon racing” here.

Learn what to do if you see a pigeon or dove in need of help here.

This beautiful couple is available for adoption in the Northern California area. Please apply online to learn more.

September 14, 2022
by Elizabeth
Comments Off on Two Really Special Foster Pigeons…

Two Really Special Foster Pigeons…

Guest Post by Nicole Smith

I have two really special foster pigeons who need homes: Baby Dion and Reggie. Both are recovering from broken wings.

Pigeons make incredibly good companions. They love being inside and with their people, and they also love living in a group in an outdoor aviary. They don’t need much to be happy. I worry 24/7 about my horse, dog, and partner and whether they are happy and their needs are met, but I never worry for a second that these guys aren’t living just fantastic lives. Pigeons give so so much more than they ask for. And then they give a little more.

Rescued domestic pigeon youngster resting comfortably with wrapped wing

Baby Dion

Baby Dion is a bundle of cute. He is outgoing, curious, joyful, and excessively charming. When he wants to get in his little bed, he does so with a BIG hop (even though it’s ground level and he could just step in) and snuggles in with the maximum amount of peace and serenity. When he wants to be let out of his cage, he demands it from me with lots of bell ringing and tapping around. When he is out of his cage, he explores all of the surroundings, quickly learning different routes to get around despite his temporarily limited mobility. He is fearless and adventurous, and he always looks like he’s on an urgent mission, even if that mission is to be as comfortable and cozy as possible. He loves attacking his bell toy and throwing his food everywhere. He likes to sit close to me. And have you seen his darling feet? Baby Dion could not be more precious.

Lovely brown & white & iridescent purple pigeon at rest

Reggie aka Regasaurus

Reggie is a very sweet roller pigeon full of personality that shines through despite a wing injury and poor body condition. Little Reggie is cute as a button and a good snuggler. Once healed up, Reggie will make a fantastic addition to a safe and loving home.

Chris and I never expected to become pigeon people, but I can’t tell you how much better our lives are now that we are. Just yesterday, after a sh***y day at work, Chris came into our place (16 hours after his shift started) and went urgently and immediately into the aviary. Within minutes he said everything felt much better. They’re feel-good creatures. And it’s not because they’re dumb – they are actually incredibly intelligent (look it up). I think they just *want* to be happy. And they find a way to do it. They are super social. They are “masters of the leisure arts.” They are playful and curious. They have deeply loving relationships with their lifelong partners. They just do things right. If you are a little curious about what life with a pigeon is like, let me know. I would be more than happy to coach and help any friend who might want to adopt a pigeon. And I can tell you that Baby Dion and Reggie are fantastic pigeons to adopt. They have very different personalities (all pigeons do), so please ask me any questions you would like to about these guys (or about pigeon companionship in general). Email Nicole

September 14, 2022
by Elizabeth
Comments Off on Pigeon Racing in Southern Oregon is a Cruel Sport

Pigeon Racing in Southern Oregon is a Cruel Sport

Guest Post by Sindy Harris

Frightened, injured rescued racing pigeon huddled in back of pet carrier

Cary, an injured racing pigeon, found grounded & helpless

This past week, I was handed a racing pigeon at my Northwest Bird Club meeting in Medford. I have a sanctuary for rescued, domesticated pigeons in Jacksonville and belong to the Northwest Bird Club. A woman walked into our Bird Club meeting with a large plastic box. It contained a bloodied racing pigeon, who would not leave her backyard. She thought maybe one of the Club’s members had pigeons and could help this injured (and banded) bird.

Since moving to Southern Oregon a year ago, I have rescued many racing pigeons. A racing pigeon is a breed of pigeon; it is considered to be the “thoroughbred” of pigeons. The breed is one of the oldest types of domesticated animal, with recorded evidence of the breed dating back to 220 A.D. It is thought to be a blend of two impressive homing pigeon strains – one from England and the other from Belgium. The sport of racing pigeons is popular worldwide, even here in Southern Oregon.

In terms of appearance, racing pigeons look little different than feral pigeons to the untrained eye. However, racing pigeons’ physique is slightly larger, particularly in the chest area. But there is a major difference between wild and free pigeons and racing pigeons. Racing pigeons are domesticated, that is, they are bred in captivity, sheltered in a loft and provided food and water by a human being. They have no survival skills.

The sport of racing pigeons is a multi-million-dollar gambling enterprise in the United States. The sport involves driving or shipping pigeons hundreds of miles away to an unfamiliar place and letting them go (at the same time) to fly back to their respective lofts. Each racing pigeon is banded with an American Racing Pigeon Union band (“AU”), which also includes the date the bird was banded, the Club Code and the pigeon’s serial number. In today’s electronic world, the bands are often microchipped, so if the pigeon returns home, the owner can record its return instantly by reading the chip. People place bets on the pigeons’ ability to survive the journey home and make it there the fastest. Pigeons are incredible athletes. Even the average feral pigeon can fly at speeds of up to 77.6 mph. Racing pigeons have been recorded flying at 92.5 mph. Pigeons can also fly between 600 and 700 miles in a single day.

However, there is a sad reason why pigeons can be raced. All pigeons, including racing pigeons, mate for life, and they have a “big love” for mate, family and flock. All pigeons co-parent 50/50, sitting on the couple’s two eggs for an equal amount of time and feeding and raising their young (squab) until the fledglings can live on their own. With some basic training, pigeons can find their way home from unfamiliar places hundreds of miles away by relying on the earth’s magnetic field. So, when pigeons are “racing,” they aren’t doing it to win; they aren’t enjoying it! They are flying, terrified, back to their mate, young and flock as fast as they possibly can.

Unfortunately, only about 40% of pigeons that start a race make it home. As pigeon racing takes place over great distances in the sky (instead of on a racetrack), there are many hazards that befall pigeons during racing: fires, smoke, electricity pylons and TV aerials, to name a few. The main hazard is predation by birds of prey, specifically, hawks and falcons.

A hawk-strike is exactly what had happened to the poor racer that arrived at the Bird Club. Of course, I took the pigeon. She was badly injured; her crop (where food is stored) was sliced open by a hawk. Her injuries required a debridement and crop repair surgery and 14 days of antibiotics and painkillers, all of which I paid for and am administering. For anyone who might believe that the owner of this racer wants his or her bird back, I can assure you that isn’t true. No one racing pigeons wants a losing bird, one that failed the race. Even late-returning birds are often killed or sold to be used as hunting dog-training or in live, canned pigeon shoots, with extra points for killing a banded bird.

Rescued racing pigeon recuperating after surgery in roomy, comfy cage

Pigeon racing survivor Cary recovering post surgery

Racing pigeons is simply cruel sport. As more people become aware of the heartlessness associated with racing pigeons for money, it is my hope that this sport will go the way of greyhound racing. After decades of work by animal rights advocates (and simply kind people who care about other beings), the sport of greyhound racing was finally banned in the United States.

Originally published in the Mail Tribune Medford September 9, 2022

Photo of article in Mail Tribune newspaper

Cynthia A. Harris (“Sindy”)
In a former life, Sindy was a lawyer in California. For the majority of her career, Sindy worked as a staff attorney for five civil judges in Contra Costa County Superior Court. She fell in love with domesticated pigeons after her husband, Steve, found a white homing pigeon on the freeway and brought it home because it would not fly away. Both Steve and Sindy were Adopt-A-Highway volunteers for litter pick up in California. With the help of Palomacy, the couple realized that this pigeon (who they named, Glory) was self-rescuing. Glory has inspired so much! Sindy and Steve had their first aviary built in Benicia, California for Glory and adopted 25 or so, more rescues to fill it. Since that time, Sindy and Steve have rescued, fostered, adopted, or rehomed at least 200 domesticated pigeons in need of help. Sindy has designed and had built six other aviaries for domesticated pigeons in need. In January 2022, the couple opened an online store (Sindyspigeonservice.com) to sell food and supplies to the rescue and rehab communities. Proceeds from the sales go to build aviaries for domesticated pigeons in need.

August 27, 2022
by Elizabeth
Comments Off on Palomacy Treasurer Wanted

Palomacy Treasurer Wanted

Palomacy is seeking to fill the volunteer Board seat of Treasurer starting January 1, 2023. This is an opportunity to save birds, advance the pigeon and dove rescue movement and help Palomacy’s sustainability.

What is Palomacy? Learn more about us here and the work we do here.

Duties of the Treasurer currently include:

Liaise with current fiscal sponsor Community Initiatives (CI) regarding financial transactions (~$250K/y).
Review and summarize the monthly general ledger.
Monitor revenue and ensure it is ledgered timely and accurately.
Monitor balance sheet monthly and confer with Executive Director on short-term obligations and challenges.
Arrange monthly veterinary invoice payments and record expense/bird.
Plan annual budget with Executive Director.
Provide financial data and performance insights to the Board.
Assist with grant applications and fundraising research.
Lead Palomacy’s transition from fiscally sponsored project to nonprofit status; employ an outside accounting firm; and help set up new revenue streams.

Palomacy seeks someone with:

A passion for bird rescue
A financial background, proficient in analyzing statements of revenue and expense and balance sheets.
Ability to plan an annual budget and to project future revenue/expense.
Availability to respond to needs on a weekly basis.
Interest in helping to grow the organization financially and operationally.
A flexible team player, with ability to serve the needs of a fast growing volunteer-driven, donation-funded rescue.
Must have reliable internet and Excel SW (or equivalent).
Requires approximately 8 hours per month.
Preferably available for a multi-year term.

Your own ideas about the role of the Treasurer are welcome. Members of the Palomacy flock are invited to submit a letter of interest outlining their qualifications and vision for the future. Please send via email to the Board, care of current Treasurer Aileen Paterson at ellie@pigeonrescue.org. Palomacy is home-based in the San Francisco Bay Area. This is a remote opportunity.

August 18, 2022
by Elizabeth
Comments Off on Volunteer Here for Summer of Dove!

Volunteer Here for Summer of Dove!

Guest Post by Ellie Paterson

Are you looking for a fun, short-term commitment to show off your pigeon and dove love? We are seeking leaders and helpers for our party on October 22.

Palomacy’s annual party gathers us all together into a bustling, high energy flock. Our volunteers are the ones who keep the flock happy – they are the wings that help us all soar. The more the merrier!

Please join our party volunteer team! Email party co-coordinator Ellie@pigeonrescue.org and/or volunteer when you RSVP to the party here: Summer of Dove!

Vegan Food and Bev Team – A big part of a fun party is food! We are fortunate to provide delicious vegan food at all our parties. Most of the food is handmade – Are you local and like to cook? Please bring a dish! Can you help keep the food stocked during the event? Do you know a vegan restaurant that might donate catering? We want to know!

Auction and Raffle Team – Every year we are on a treasure hunt for beautiful items for the raffle and auction. Some ideas we have are: original and custom art, museum tickets, vegan restaurant gift certificate, fine wine, weekend getaway, adventure experience, spa treatment, pigeon-related books, flypers and other pigeon supplies, fine jewelry, personal services, and gift baskets. Do you have something you would like to donate? Do you have an idea for a raffle or auction item? If you like art and organizing, we need a curator to run our site in Auctria. Please let us know!

Virtual Party Hosts – This year we will again host the party in person AND online! Are you a schmoozer? – Do you want to schmooze for a good cause? Help determine how we do that? FaceBook Live? Other ideas?

Set Up and/or Take Down Team – On the grand day itself, we always appreciate – with many, many hugs – as many hands as want to help. We have only a few hours beforehand to beautify the event space with this year’s theme; and a few hours afterward to clean up after our flock.

Other opportunities include AV help and music support – The party wouldn’t be boppin’ without music for pigeons to bop to. This year we will be graced with a live band and background playlist from Spotify. Would you like to help run the AV equipment like a talented stealth pigeon?

Do you have an idea or skill we haven’t mentioned here? We would love to hear it! Email party co-coordinator Ellie@pigeonrescue.org

SUMMER OF DOVE DIY DECORATIONS

Bring your own handcrafted decorations to the Party!

Giant paper flowers: – Tutorial and free templates here! If possible, attach 12 inches or more of wire or ribbon onto back of flower for putting up at venue. Hot glue works best for this.

Pigeon/dove parody music/movie posters or record album covers: – e.g., “All You Need Is Dove,” “Crystal Coo Persuasion,” “Give Beaks A Chance,” “Pigeon Karma” – Cardboard or paper, any medium to paint/draw the decoration – If possible, attach 12 inches or more of ribbon or wire to each top corner on back, for putting up at venue.

Hippie slogan signs: – e.g. “Stay trippy, little hippie” “Make dove, not war” “Turn on, Tune in, pigeon out” “Pigeon power”. “Peace, love, feathers” – Cardboard preferred, paper also good, any medium to paint/draw the decoration – If possible, attach 12 inches or more of ribbon or wire to each top corner on back, for putting up at venue.

Email party co-coordinator Christianadove13@yahoo.com for more info!

Palomacy Party Princess Christiana!

Celebrate Summer of Dove! all summer long wearing Palomacy gear!

Our Party Coordinators Ellie & Christiana

Check out some past Palomacy parties

Palomacy’s Worldwide Online Pijama Party 10/24/20

Palomacy’s Mascoorade 10/23/19

Palomacy’s COO-CHELLA 9/22/18

August 18, 2022
by Elizabeth
Comments Off on Autism Spectrum Disorder & Pigeons

Autism Spectrum Disorder & Pigeons

Angel

Hello, I’m Jennifer Lynn and, a seamstress for Cirque du Soleil and mother to a child on the autism spectrum.

My daughter has O.D.D. and ADHD.

As such, she has since an early age had uncontrollable rage fits and tantrums thar would terrify all care takers. Her fists punched; her feet kicked. There was no medication that seemed to help.

One day during lock down we saw a hawk diving after a white pigeon. It was like watching a car accident. There was nothing we could do. We couldn’t help and it looked very horrible.

Therefore, it seemed like a miracle when the next day we saw the pigeon or one exactly like it hidden behind the wheels of our car. We coaxed him out and realized he was injured.

I owned quail, so I knew how to help, and I had supplies on hand to help. It was a frightening process as the pigeon seemed shocked, had starvation symptoms, and was terrified of us.

I told all of this to my daughter. She genuinely for the 1st time in her life seemed to understand something about the birds’ fear. She spoke softly and sat quietly with him.

A child who had at least one major tantrum a day, who punched holes in walls, and dug her nails into her own skin, was sitting quietly and soothing a small white bird.

For weeks we looked for the birds owner. Them my daughter said “His wings look the same as an angel’s”. So, Angel he became.

That was almost three years ago. We traced down (what we assumed) his previous owners.
A photo studio that rented him out to weddings, funerals, and later put him in a cage at a pigeon hunting range. When the pandemic hit, the business closed and the owners just released their birds.

We were heartbroken for Angel. How could anyone ever do this? It was horrible.

However, that said. My daughter was different. No longer did she rage. No, yelling scared Angel. She would sit with him. Talk to him. She read him stories and told him about video games.

Guardian Angel

This child who had issues explaining her emotions sat still as stone and told her feelings to a bird that still to this day is terrified of humans.

Yet, he flies to her.
He sits next to her.
He is content to perch on the top of her upturned foot as she sits splay legged and plays her video games.
It’s an unspoken bond. I sit here with you and you don’t do anything that makes me afraid.

We’ve joked that perhaps he really is an angel. Maybe he loves her because he knows she loves him? I don’t know what it is. I only know that the doctors have all agreed that animals, especially birds, can help ground children with autism.

Pigeons especially are calm and sensitive to children that have ASD. They are the oldest animal that has been tamed by man. As such, deep inside every single pigeon is an ability to accept us as friends. To this day Angel flies away from us. But, he always returns to her and she never yells or has a tantrum around him. Not ever.

That is a miracle.

Angel & Jennifer

July 14, 2022
by Elizabeth
Comments Off on Willy Wonky

Willy Wonky

In April, a nice family stopped traffic to rescue a big, white pigeon standing in the middle of their busy street. They fell in love with the young King pigeon who had been bred for meat (squab) & inhumanely “released”. They named him Willy. All was well for a couple of weeks but then something went wrong, Willy started showing neurological problems. His neck twisted, a symptom called “star gazing” or torticollis, he lost motor control & lost the ability to feed himself.

Aiyanna comforts Willy

Willy’s people took care of him as best they could & then on 5/17 brought him to Peninsula Humane Society in the hope he could get medical care. Their Exotics Department, managed by Mariela Navarrete, is amazing & we work together to help as many pigeons as possible. Palomacy was full but Mariela’s team provided supportive care including gavage feeding for a week. Willy kept losing weight. His torticollis had mostly resolved but he was getting worse rather than better. When Mariela sent this photo of him in an incubator on 5/23, I could see he was losing his fight. I went to pick him up in the hope that home care might save him.

Despite shelter vet care, Willy was getting worse

We know that pigeons are deeply emotional. They become depressed in isolation. We always strive to get birds discharged from hospital care to supportive home care as soon as possible because we so often see improvement. It was truly remarkable to witness Willy’s immediate transformation as he was brought outside into fresh air, sunshine & company. He perked up instantly. He looked like a different bird!

Willy’s profound improvement started immediately

And when I got him home, he started (clumsily) eating! He wasn’t cured, still very wonky, but he had, I believe, regained his will to live.

Willy, who hadn’t self-fed for two weeks, immediately started eating!

When a pigeon presents with torticollis, we always suspect paramyxovirus (PMV) & we did with Willy but his illness has been very peculiar. The torticollis is resolved but he’s still a little neuro. His crop is inexplicably & persistently big & saggy.

Willy’s crop is always big & saggy

His GI system is slow but effective, he’s been eating & maintaining his weight. He’s been treated for parasites, coccidia & yeast. His blood tests have been normal, no metal toxicity. His fluorscopy didn’t provide any clues.

Willy’s fluoroscopy shows the big crop but not why

He is still wonky. He naps a lot, is still a little wobbly, sometimes circling. He’s recently started fly-launching down but he can’t yet fly up successfully. He likes taking wonky baths, hanging out with gentle birds & sitting in the sun spot which he follows all day. He’s finished a long course of antibiotics (Trimethoprim Sulfamethoxazole) & is halfway through four weeks of Robenacoxib injections (anti-inflammatory). He’s still fostering with me & he likes to be close.

Snuggling napping Willy

He doesn’t like hands or being picked up but he likes laps & appreciates having a BFF. His forehead feathers are often floofed in contentment & sometimes he coos at us. He LOVES peanuts. He is making very gradual progress. Only time will tell us how far he’ll go.

Willy is wonky, happy & safe & we’re committed to making sure that he has his best life, whatever that may be. Willy is precious. Thank you for helping save him. With your generous support, Palomacy rescues, fosters & rehomes hundreds of pigeons & doves like Willy. Each is an individual. Each has their own story.

Please continue supporting Palomacy with a special bonus match donation this Wednesday 7/20 at 6 AM PST. GlobalGiving’s Bonus Match goes until the bonus fund of $400,000 runs out, usually within a couple of hours. The bigger the donation, the higher the match rate. Please mark your calendar & set your alarm. We’ll send a reminder with the link a few minutes before it starts.

Willy is helping me to thank you for helping him

July 12, 2022
by Elizabeth
Comments Off on Palomacy 2023 Calendar Contest & Fundraiser Results

Palomacy 2023 Calendar Contest & Fundraiser Results

Wow!!!! So many amazing images of such wonderful birds! It is truly extraordinary to be part of such a loyal community. Treat yourself to seeing everybirdy here.

We love our rescued and adopted pigeons and doves every day, 365 days a year. And we love honoring your birds in our Palomacy calendars, shared all over the world! And your support for this special fundraiser helps birds every day.

It’s your support that makes it possible for us to rescue so many injured & ill birds: torn up & broke-wing Kenny, shattered wing Gumball, predator-attacked Blossom (RIP), Speckle with a raging infection, Razzle with two broken legs, shattered wing youngster Stardust, broke-wing Sardine, wonky Willy – just to name a few recent rescues. It’s your support that enables us to help so many birds & people on so many levels: responding to more than 1,000 online coaching & referral requests every month; providing foster homes to 170 birds; screening & assisting adopters for hundreds of placements; producing our unique rescue-centric website for more than 2,000 visitors daily… & so much more.

Thank you to our 247 participants- entrants & voters- who raised $7,602 & blew us away with nearly 400 incredible images!

Extra special thanks to our Top Ten fundraisers! (Click their photos to see stories.)

#10 Big Bubba & Sandy by Sindy, Jacksonville OR $154

#9 Aldora by Crystal, Danville IN $160

#8 Olaf by Olga, Monroe NC $160

#7 Paz & Filo by Michelle, Antioch CA $175

#6 Willow by Tammy, Owen Sound Ontario $240

#5 Jake by Sindy, Jacksonville OR $256

#4 Sochi by Patti, Sacramento CA $265

#3 Chase by Melanie, Palantine IL $395

#2 First Officer Feathers by Holly, Seattle WA $500

#1 Basil & Olive by Erica, Pacifica CA $515

Congratulations to the selected winners to be featured in the 2023 Palomacy Wall Calendar! We wanted to take a moment to share why your photo was chosen.

While we want the calendar to brighten walls with beautiful and striking photos, we also look for entries that tell a story.

These images showcase a diverse representation of birds the Palomacy community helps and interacts with: from the feral pigeons we inhabit a shared space with to the abandoned, injured, and lost pigeons and doves that have found a home with us.

Winning entries weave thoughtful, interesting stories that add depth and personality to who the bird or birds featured are. Whether it’s through the photo or the accompanying story, they communicate something about pigeons and doves emotionally. This may be their quirks as individuals, the hardships they’ve overcome, or their relationships with others, both bird and human.

Thank you for sharing this piece of your lives with us, and we look forward to amplifying your voice to Palomacy supporters across the globe.

January: Jeffrey by Leah, Pasadena CA

February: Perry & Little Brown by Dion, San Francisco CA

March: Domino by Jen, Sydney Australia

April: Pomme de Terre by Lisa, Haddon Township NJ

May: Feral Flock by Pigeon Lover, San Francisco CA

June: Prince Leia by Bree, Selah WA

July: Huntington Beach Pigeon Love by Ingrid, San Francisco CA

August: Spy Pigeon by Sue, Patchogue NY

September: Pidge by J, Berkeley CA

October: Wild Pigeons by Claurisa, Bozeman MT

November: Andrew by Laura, Mansfield MA

December: Doug Love & Emmy Swope by Liese, Sunnyvale CA

And special congratulations to our 2023 Wall cover photo winners!

Willy by Elizabeth, San Francisco CA
Petal by Cynthia, San Francisco CA
Ringo by Mali, Washington DC
Rocky Road by Adrienne, San Jose CA

Thank you to each & every one of you- rescuers, adopters, fosters, volunteers, photographers, artists, voters, donors & advocates! Together we are changing the course of the future for these amazing birds, from abuse to appreciation, from exploitation to adoption.

Thank You!

2023 Palomacy Calendars can be pre-ordered here & will begin shipping 12/1/22.

And special thanks to our calendar producers- super volunteers, Heather Hohlowski & Julian Zhang for so generously sharing their time & talents.

June 29, 2022
by Elizabeth
Comments Off on On Volunteering… and Working

On Volunteering… and Working

Epic, inspiring bird rescue hero Michelle posted this to Mickaboo‘s list serve & I love it so much that I want to share it with you. Thank you, Michelle!

Guest Post by Michelle Yesney

CEO Retired, Mickaboo Companion Bird Rescue (See Changing of the Guard)

This point in time – as Mickaboo is going through a cycle of too many birds and not enough homes for them – seems like a good time to share a realization I reached while I was still working full time. No matter how demanding your job is, you need something else in your life. If you work with your brain, caring for a living animal with your hands becomes a great and wonderful gift.

When I discovered Mickaboo and first adopted, and then fostered, birds, “working full time” meant routine 60+ hour work weeks, constant stress, competing demands between work/life and home/life. You know – your “ideal” Silicon Valley lifestyle.

My first fosters were three splay-legged baby budgies whose treatment included confinement in paper cups that required 24-hour supervision. I took off from work for the first week (at that point I literally had months of unused accumulated vacation and sick time). After the first week, I took the baby birds to work with me for a few days. Fortunately, at that point I had a private office — a “real” office with walls and a door I could close.

Please believe me, I did NOT stop working and did not reduce my workload. I worked at a company with a high regard for humane values, and everyone accepted the presence of crippled baby birds in my office. I worked for eight more years, including work on some of the most complex and difficult projects of my career. It was rare for me to bring birds into the office (that first example was unique), but I did a lot of volunteer work during that time, including fostering what I estimate to have been approximately 150-200 birds.

The reason I’m providing all this detail is to make a very salient point – I realized almost immediately that rescuing birds (caring for them, rehabilitating damaged and injured birds, finding them homes) was a healthy counterpoint to my high stress, physically demanding “real” job. Cleaning those 3 baby budgies 2 or 3 times a day, bandaging their legs, making sure they were eating, used a different set of “muscles” and a different part of my brain and heart.

For 8-12 hours a day I sat in front of a computer, sat in contentious or demanding meetings, stressed over deadlines and public controversies, negotiated with government agencies and technical experts, read and reread lengthy documents, and worried about multiple deliverables. To be able to go home and care for three damaged budgies, and watch them grow into sweet companion birds, was a gift. It wasn’t “time off”, it was time spent in a different dimension.

My message to all of you is this: don’t wait until you “have time” to foster and rescue (more) birds. Don’t put it off until you have retired or your life slows down. Give yourself the gift of being a whole person; use the kindness, the compassion, the generosity you already possess in your “spare time”. Fit it in around the busy life you already lead. Up until I discovered Mickaboo, I had no idea how much more life my days could hold.

Michelle

Be like the bird who, pausing in her flight
awhile on boughs too slight,
feels them give way beneath her, and yet sings,
knowing she hath wings.

-Victor Hugo

Read about Palomacy’s beginning as MickaCoo Pigeon & Dove Rescue