Why do we bother to rehabilitate non-native wildlife species like pigeons?
The rock dove, or “rodo” as we call it here, or pigeon to most people, is a common patient at the Philadelphia Metro Wildlife Center. Although they’re a highly adaptable and incredibly tough species, they are still brought to us when they’re poisoned, shot, abused, hit by cars, caught by cats, and stuck on glue traps. They’re not native to North America; they were brought here by Europeans and have since proliferated in urban areas throughout the United States.
This pigeon had surgery to fix a broken wing. The blue object is an external wing fixator that was removed after a few weeks.
But you can read about the natural history of pigeons elsewhere…we do not need to reiterate it here. What we are here to talk about is why we love them, why they matter, and why we treat them at our wildlife center.
Wildlife rehabbers do not make a difference in wildlife populations, nor do we try to, any more than a paramedic saving a human life matters to the population of 7.5 billion people on planet Earth, it is infinitesimally negligible. However, to the person whom that paramedic saved, it makes all the difference in the world. You save a life because it needs saving, and because life matters, and because compassion matters. When a person has the compassion to step out of our narcissistic, dehumanized world to help a suffering life form, be it an endangered piping plover or a common rock dove, we are here to affirm and validate that behavior, and hope they teach it and pass it on to their children. As with anything else, including humans, if you look at them in terms of populations and statistics, you get a skewed, partial picture. When you hold a hurt individual in your hands and see in its eyes, you see more into the truth of things.
This pigeon had a fractured wing, seen here in a stabilizing “figure 8” wing wrap
Oh yes, and we really dig pigeons. They’re here in North America because of humans, it’s not their fault. We can’t un-ring that bell now, we can only learn from our mistakes and try not to repeat them. We caused the extinction of the passenger pigeon a century ago–that’s on us. Then we caused the proliferation of the rock dove–that’s on us too. But when you get to know these birds, and their unique personalities, the endless variation in their individual colors, and most of all their gritty toughness, you cannot help but love and respect them. They remind me most of all of our home town of Philadelphia: scrappy, tough survivors, but with an unexpected beauty, and depth, and complexity. Can you dig it?
Beautiful checkered pigeon
Editor’s Note: Palomacy Pigeon & Dove Adoptions is deeply grateful to everyone at the Philadelphia Metro Wildlife Center for all they do to help so many.
January 26, 2022
by Elizabeth Comments Off on Palomacy Connecting with Monthly Zoom Parlor
As a far-flung, decentralized community, we are able to serve so many birds! It comes at a cost, though, because opportunities to connect with & support one another are few.
In December, Palomacy had our Board meeting via Zoom & it was SUCH A BIG TONIC to see & connect with each other.
It reminded me how important it is to come together for mutual support! And it reminded me of Aileen’s monthly Palomacy Parlor gatherings that she hosted at her home throughout 2019. We came together (optional, not mandatory) to work on projects, brainstorm ideas, learn from guest speakers & each other & it was really good for Palomacy & for us as individuals.
Aileen’s Palomacy Parlor 2019
And so Palomacy volunteers, adopters & rescue partners are invited to join us as your interest/availability permits for our monthly Palomacy Zoom Parlor.
Our first was held Monday January 24th 7 – 8:30 PM PT & was a lot of fun!
Palomacy’s first Zoom Parlor
Per survey respondents’ input, our priority goals will be to gain: encouragement, reassurance, mutual support & care; rescue community camaraderie; & rescue, rehab & care expertise.
Our next Palomacy Zoom Parlor will be at 6 PM PT on Monday, February 28th. It will be hosted by Aileen & include a presentation by Tiffany on self-care, stress management & burnout. We’ll also be pre-planning for Palomacy’s 2022 party! First thing we will need is our theme! What will it be?
You’ll always be able to see info for upcoming Palomacy Zoom Parlors on our Events page.
January 17, 2022
by Elizabeth Comments Off on Sweet Pigeon Haku
Haku was rescued from San Jose Animal Control by Palomacy (then MickaCoo) on January 29, 2011. He was lovingly fostered, then adopted by Cheryl Dickinson when he married her rescued lab pigeon, Gracie.
On July 27th, 2012, Palomacy rescued a young King pigeon, Penelope Peanut, who also went to foster with Cheryl.
Haku, in a rare pigeon divorce, left Gracie for Peanut. Haku & Peanut became an item.
Meeting Haku at HSSV 5/27/15
On May 27, 2015, as part of the former partnership between Palomacy and the Humane Society of Silicon Valley, I greeted Haku & Peanut as they arrived at the HSSV to be our new lobby ambassabirds. The Lobby Pigeon program was a short but exciting program showcasing a rotating pigeon couple in the lobby of the Humane Society to raise awareness of the plight and the need for homes for domestic pigeons. During weekdays, volunteers would take the pigeons to a “meet and greet” room to socialize and have some flight time, and during the weekends, volunteers would take pigeons around to meet and educate visitors at the HSSV facility.
Meeting Haku & Peanut at HSSV 5/27/15
Meeting Haku & Peanut
Haku & Beth Ward-Haddan
Haku relaxing at HSSV
Haku & I, education day
In August, Elizabeth Young, founder of Palomacy, told me that someone was interested in adopting H&P, and I couldn’t bear it. After three months spending time with these amazing birds, I couldn’t imagine not having them in my life. September 12th, I brought them home on a foster to adopt basis and on October 10, 2015, I formally adopted them.
Adoption day! 9/12/15
Peanut, Haku, & millet
Haku & Lily
Haku was an amazing ambassabird. He was a working bird, and met dozens, maybe hundreds of people, at outreach events. I will include photos of Haku working his magic. Everyone who met him absolutely loved him. He was perfect in every way.
Leda Chung Hosier & Haku.
Peanut & Haku educating new pigeon people
Peanut & Haku at For Other Living Things
Haku & Faye
Haku with Naomi Cissna
Haku snooze
In 2018, the shadow of Virulent Newcastle Disease settled over California and I opted to keep my birds at home and forego any outreach. In Southern California, entire flocks of chickens, pigeons, doves, parrots – basically any domestic birds – were being killed by officials in an attempt to eradicate the disease. I was less afraid that we would catch the disease than that we would be reported and potentially face some sort of formal visit and possible slaughter, a fear which increased when a case of VND was reported in the Bay Area. I had no way of knowing that Haku’s semi-retirement would be permanent, but of course, the coronavirus pandemic eliminated the outreach gatherings that we previously attended. I think it’s possible that the pigeons missed outreach as much as the humans did, but I also believe that Haku and Peanut were so firmly connected that they didn’t really need any human connection at all to be happy and fulfilled.
Peanut & Haku
Sweet gift from Cheryl
Haku & Peanut lived together in my bird room with my doves Doug & Emmy Love, and an ever-changing flock of foster doves (and a couple of quail). They love “Dove TV” and share rotated out-of-cage time (doves & pigeons are very different in size, and it’s not safe to let them hang out together unsupervised) and dayviary time. (A daviary is a tiny predator-proof aviary that I have in my patio that the birds can enjoy in the daytime and get some essential vitamin D and some fresh air. Unfortunately it’s too small for the birds to get a lot of flight time so they get their flight time in the house.)
Blissed out Haku at home
The happy couple.
True love.
Haku.
Haku by Ashley Castaneda
Haku, Lily, & Fizzy
Last Thursday was a gorgeous day, and I carried Haku & Peanut out to the dayviary in the morning. I checked on them before I went hiking with friend and fellow volunteer Faye, around 2:15 p.m., and first thing when I got back home at 5 p.m. to bring them in before dark. I could see from the sliding glass door that something was wrong. Peanut greeted me but Haku wasn’t moving, having died from natural causes while I was away. I followed the recommendation of Palomacy leadership and carried Haku up to his cage where Peanut stood vigil over him on her terms. On Sunday, she had finally stopped trying to waken him, and we buried him together. My eternal gratitude to my Sabby Jill McMurchy who helped me get through the deep grief of this unexpected loss.
Haku was not sick a single day in his life. He was a healthy weight and had no signs of any illness. I hope that his death was as quick and painless as possible, and it is a comfort to know that he was enjoying the outdoors with his wife of nearly 10 years at his side.
I’ve written about Haku before. Haku was a “homing” pigeon, casually bred by people and exploited for weddings and other events. Because Haku was not pure white, he was likely discarded or dumped by his breeder and was lucky enough to end up at the shelter instead of lunch. Wedding and event release dove events are cruel and unnecessary. To celebrate an event by putting another life in danger makes no sense. A white bird is incredibly visible and becomes a vulnerable target for all sorts of predators. Pigeons have many skills, but they cannot see well at night which makes them even more vulnerable if they are left out after a release. I’m also not a supporter of birds as pets. Birds should be birds, flying free, not indoors in tiny cages. Unfortunately, Haku and Peanut and millions of other pigeons are domesticated, and bred and overbred for certain characteristics that subsequently make it impossible for them to survive in the wild. Birds like Haku and Peanut need good, non-exploitative loving homes with humans. Nine years ago I met my first pigeon, Santino, and I will never stop loving and advocating for these incredible birds.
Our happy nest.
Haku had a very important life. He loved his wife, he loved people. He was busy all day. I believe this is true of all beings and I hope, if you have read this far, that you take the time to learn more about pigeons or maybe some other critter that you encounter that you haven’t always had a good feeling about.
Fly free, my beloved Haku. Always loved. Never forgotten.
Reprinted with permission from Liese’s original Facebook post.
January 12, 2022
by Elizabeth Comments Off on Zsa Zsa Gabirdie
I named my bird Zsa Zsa Gabirdie after the famous actress from the 1930’s, Zsa Zsa Gabor. She is a beautiful, sweet, smart, amazing Eurasian collared dove. However, I recently found out that she is a HE!
On 9/20/2020 I was outside on my back patio relaxing, my backyard neighbors were playing their jazz music quite loudly so my two cats that would normally be spending time with me outside were nowhere to be found, thank goodness for the birds’ sake & thank goodness I was there for what was to happen next! As I continued to enjoy the splendor of my day, I suddenly noticed a bluejay flying above. It dropped what looked like a brown, yellowish leaf on my lawn. As I kept looking at the leaf, it seemed to be moving slightly but there was no breeze in the air. As I moved closer to see what I thought was a leaf, I suddenly couldn’t believe my eyes & wished I hadn’t left my glasses inside! Surprisingly & most shocking I realized it was no leaf but instead a tiny newborn baby bird! What were the chances? It was crazy! I panicked! I had no idea what to do! One of his wings looked damaged. I called the wildlife rescue in my area hoping they could care for him but to my dismay they informed me they don’t take any type of song birds including doves. I was heartbroken & had absolutely no idea how to care for a baby bird.
Baby Zsa Zsa at rescue
In my desperation I turned to the internet, I looked on YouTube & found some great videos of what & how to feed him (different baby birds eat different ways, who knew!). I also put him in a box with a towel & placed him on top of my dryer to keep warm. I kept looking for help & found your website & was grateful for Palomacy’s existence & for all the information, advice & help!
Eventually, over time he grew bigger & stronger, we stopped giving him baby bird formula (which he was always VERY excited to eat!) & started giving him bird seeds, fresh veggies, fruit & vitamins. His wing that looked damaged is fine & healed on its own, he has a great aviarian vet & pretty much has free reign of the house. He has grown into such a handsome, strong birdie!
He certainly has a BIG personality! He lets you know what he wants, he pecks on my bedroom door when he wants in, he makes pterodactyl sounds (one time my manager heard him on the phone as Zsa Zsa flew by screeching his pterodactyl sounds (he gets jealous when I’m on the phone), my manager thought I had an elephant in the house! Haha). When Zsa Zsa isn’t happy about something he sure lets you know, he is very vocal about it! He also makes these cute “Woo hoos” sounds at me & especially my feet, my FEET & others are his most favorites! He loves to take showers, he jumps on the shower head & raises his wing letting me know he’s ready for his shower too! He LOVES to play with my glasses! Little stinker! Not good, I needed to find a way for him to stop playing & dropping my glasses, so off to the dollar store we went to buy several pairs of reader glasses! Woo hoo! Worked great! Thanks mom for the tip! He loves them & leaves mine alone! He also has a lot of bird toys too but my glasses seem to be his favorites! We go on different adventure walks & on short car rides (he is safely secured & buckled in) he loves the walks & all of the different sights & sounds of the outdoors & he enjoys visiting with my parents & other members of the family.
Zsa Zsa on one of our walks (Amazon pet bubble backpack). Awesome backpack!
Everything he does is so cute, funny, smart, interesting & totally amazing! He is priceless! I never knew a bird can bring such happiness & change your life in a most incredible, spectacular way. He is the coolest bird I know! He loves to fly on my shoulder & take naps while I work on my laptop. I am certainly blessed to have his amazing, special being in my life! My family & I love & adore him with all our hearts! One of the most cutest things EVER that he does is to snuggle up under your chin & have you pet him, when you stop petting him because your hand is seriously cramping! He will peck your hand continuously until he gets more petting! Such an impressive character! He is a joy to have around.
Our hearts are full & like the beautiful wings of a Dove our love shall soar higher & higher & sweet Zsa Zsa will be in our hearts forever more.
Me & Savannah Tana with Zsa Zsa
My mother, Susan James with Zsa Zsa.
My father, Stan James with Zsa Zsa.
Tami TanaI have always loved animals! One of my many passions in life is to help, care for & love all of God’s beautiful, amazing creatures! I used to work for “Best Friends Animal Society” in Kanab, UT. It was an incredible experience & is a most wondrous, extraordinary place! I am a single mother to a beautiful, talented 18 year old daughter who also has a great love for all animals.
Editor’s Note: Zsa Zsa Gabirdie won 206 votes & 7th place in Palomacy’s 2022 Calendar Photo Contest & was supposed to be included in our 365 page BirdADay Desk Calendar but was accidentally left out. We are so sorry, Zsa Zsa!
7th Place Winner of Palomacy’s 2022 Calendar Photo Contest
December 10, 2021
by Elizabeth Comments Off on Aileen’s Doubling Your Donation with a $10,000 Match!
1/17/22 Update: WE DID IT!!! Thank you all so very much for making our year end fund appeal successful, for helping us to raise $10,290 AND to earn Aileen’s $10,000 match for a total of $20,290! THANK YOU!
12/21/21 Update: Thank you very much to our generous year end appeal donors who have contributed $5,218 so far! Please donate now & Aileen will double your gift to Palomacy up to $10,000.
Dear Fellow Pigeon and Dove Lovers,
Thank you for your compassionate support of Palomacy this year. Together, we are helping more and more birds. In 2019, we placed 163 rescued pigeons and doves into wonderful forever homes. In 2020, we placed 257 (a 58% increase!) and we are on track to place more than 300 birds this year. We simply could not do it without you.
My name is Aileen and I have been volunteering with Palomacy since 2015. When my day job gets stressful, I seek comfort from my pigeons Charlie Girl and Boomer. I go say hi, have a snuggle and a little chat. Maybe Charlie Girl wants to come indoors for some play-flying (she’s blind). Maybe Boomer will let me hold him. In exchange, I tidy up their house a little, maybe leave a few safflower seeds. Charlie and Boomer are full of love, but pigeons, I think, value dignity just as much as love.
Charlie was an orphaned feral fledgling rescued in 2016, blind due to head trauma and unreleasable. Even though she is blind, Charlie is calm and trusting. She loves kisses and will sit on anything that is perchable. She also loves to fly (safely indoors): she will launch off my fingertips, get an updraft, and then land on my fingers on the way down. However, she does NOT like to be held or scritched!
Boomer, on the other hand, is nervous. He is a rescued racer with a bum wing and only one good eye. I can’t imagine how weird and scary the world must look for a pigeon with one eye. It also must frustrate him to have a wife who can’t admire his magnificence. Yet he is 200 percent devoted to his home. He will let me hold him for scritches and snuggles, but my hands are very scary. So mostly I gaze at him lovingly from afar and tell him I love him, until he sort of starts to believe me. Then we do it again the next day.
Even with these challenges, Charlie and Boomer are a happy pigeon couple, living fully and giving joy. All they needed was a chance at life and they figured out the rest. But for the good Samaritans who rescued them and found Palomacy, Charlie and Boomer would have most likely died painful deaths. Instead, Palomacy has made a huge difference to them, and they have made a huge difference to me.
This year I am offering $10,000 as a matching grant to help boost our end of the year donations. Whatever amount you donate, I will match (up to $10,000) and together, we will double the support Palomacy receives! The demand for Palomacy’s work has grown much faster than funding and Palomacy really needs our generous support. I love Charlie and Boomer dearly and can’t imagine my life without them. I want to help Palomacy rescue many more pigeons and doves. We need to keep Palomacy going.
Will you please join me and make an end-of-year tax-deductible donation to help us keep Palomacy funded? Your support allows us to continue saving lives, like Charlie’s and Boomer’s. Please donate here.
Thank you!
November 20, 2021
by Elizabeth Comments Off on pHarmony: Match Making for Pigeons (& Doves)
Nesting Homer pigeons Luna & Meadow were rescued as youngsters- lost, starving “dove release” survivors. They’ve always been inseparable & married when they grew up. (Photo by Toni Storms)
(If you’re new to pet pigeons or doves, please read this first.)
Pigeons have an amazing capacity for love. When one of these big-hearted birds finds a mate, the bond between them is usually lifelong. Pigeon couples are so intensely devoted to each other that we refer to pigeon mates as being married. They stay bonded through years of nest-sitting non-hatching (fake) eggs and a healthy partner will stay with their sick mate until they recover or pass. If widowed, they will remarry. Some quickly, some will grieve alone for months. (This article, Shimmy & Dallas: A Pigeon Love Story, is highly recommended.)
If you have only one pigeon (or dove), finding a compatible mate could be a huge benefit to their life. Social isolation can make them depressed and prone to illness. However, bringing home a second bird is not a decision to be made lightly. These guidelines focus on matchmaking for pigeons with some dHarmony for the doves at the end. (What’s the Difference Between Pigeons & Doves?)
Pros and Cons of pHarmony
Zephyr: Does he or doesn’t he want a mate? (Photo by Monika Birch)
Does My Bird Want A Mate?
Pigeons are naturally social creatures, and they don’t discriminate when it comes to who they view as part of their circle. Even though you are a human, your bird sees you as part of his flock. This means that sometimes, especially if there are no fellow pigeons around, your bird might choose you as a mate! If your bird is ‘married’ to you, he will preen you, bow coo to court you, and if female, lay eggs. Your bird will demand a lot of your attention, wanting to be around you as much as possible. If your pigeon has already married you, he might reject your attempts to matchmake him with another bird. (It is sometimes possible to ‘divorce’ your bird by withholding interaction but some people pigeons never accept a pigeon mate.)
On the other hand, if your single bird doesn’t have a strong bond with you, or if your bird spends most of his day home alone, is depressed or restleass, he might benefit from a pigeon companion.
People Pigeon?
First – is your pigeon lonesome? Does he want a mate? Or are you your bird’s mate? If your pigeon was raised and lived only with people since a young age, they likely consider themselves a people bird and don’t not want another bird around. It is possible for your bird to get all the social interaction he needs from you with lots of your time and attention. If you spend much of your day away from home, or if you’re too busy to interact with your bird a lot, consider that your bird may be lonely. Getting a second bird could provide that important socialization when you can’t do so yourself. If your pigeon is strongly bonded with you, they will more than likely consider a new bird as a rival and be hostile rather than welcoming. If your people pigeon is bonded to you and gets lots of your time and attention, they probably don’t want another pigeon in their home. If you can’t meet your people pigeon’s social needs and want to adopt another, be prepared for their relationship to take months to develop (if it ever does). You’ll likely need to ‘divorce’ your pet pigeon, ignoring them so completely that they feel divorced and justified in cheating on you and falling in love with the new bird. (Eventually, after they marry and have a couple of months of honeymooning together, your relationship will return and your pigeon will be able to love both their bird mate and you.)
For months, Ethan fostered people pigeon Dodo as a possible mate for his single ladybird Byxbee but Dodo isn’t interested in birds.
Bear in mind having a second bird means twice the cleanup, twice the food and supplies to buy, and twice the potential vet bills! Also consider that there is a chance your matchmaking efforts will fail, in which case the two birds will never be able to share a cage. They don’t have to be married to be good company for one another, just compatible. Unless your birds are confirmed to be the same sex, you need to be prepared to practice hatch prevention, removing and destroying every egg laid – about 20 per year. (If you have a male or possibly male pigeon, you have to assume that the eggs laid are fertile. Never assume they aren’t. Pigeons will sometimes mate with a bird they aren’t married to.) You can order fake pigeon eggs online (these are our favorite) or make your own with hardening craft or modeling clay.
Old man Felix & his wife Myrna taking care of their (fake) egg
Finding a mate for your bird
If you decide to bring a second bird into your life, adopt, do not shop! There are so many beautiful pigeons and doves in need of homes all over. Sometimes rescued, adoptable pigeons and doves can be hard to find but they are out there! Check with local shelters, wildlife rehabbers, bird rescues, online adoption websites and social media bird groups. Palomacy has a list of pigeon and dove-friendly rescues that you can contact. Members of our Palomacy Help Group can also help you find your bird a friend! Sometimes members can even help arrange transport of a rescue bird to you.
Never pair pigeons and doves. There are significant differences not only in size, but in their behaviors and temperaments. What’s normal for doves is rude for pigeons. Squabbles are a natural part of bird life and just one disagreement can be catastrophic or fatal for the frailer dove. Palomacy has a saying, Doves start the fight but pigeons finish it. Stick to birds of the same species. (Different colored pigeons and various breeds like Kings, Fantails, Racers, Homers, Ferals, etc, can pair up, no problem.)
People are sometimes concerned that exposing their bird to a new bird will risk contagion. Palomacy’s experience says no. Healthy, unstressed, noncrowded pigeons have robust immune systems that protect them. Palomacy doesn’t quarantine but you may wish to. Researching on the Internet makes it seem like there are all kinds of diseases that you need to fear but that is because you’re reading about breeders’ and hobbyists’ pigeons who are typically crowded, stressed, and immune suppressed. Their birds are very vulnerable and they have flocks wiped out despite all their precautions (they vaccinate and medicate their birds in “closed loft” systems) because of overcrowding. (Note: If a bird is sick, weak or special needs, they need expert care and to be segregated for safety.)
Blanco (Flying Flight pigeon) & Bean (unreleasable feral pigeon) fell in love at first sight.
Homer pigeon Pipsy (full grown) & her big, gentle King pigeon husbird Milkshake Mike
Sexing Pigeons & Doves
There is no reliable way to tell the sex of a pigeon or a dove just by looking at or feeling them. (Your odds of accuracy are 50/50.) Sometimes people think they have a male bird until they are surprised with an unexpected egg (which means she’s married to you, only married pigeons and doves lay eggs). Males tend to be more active with lots of strutting and cooing and are more reactive to their reflection when they have access to a big mirror. Females coo & strut too (especially if they are single & no one is courting them) but less than males and they tend to just sit and keep company with their mirror reflection rather than showing off like males do. Inexpensive DNA testing is available (through the mail) to sex birds.
Same-sex marriages do happen amongst pigeons, so you don’t necessarily need to be certain of both birds’ sex to be a successful matchmaker. If at least one of the birds is female, a marriage is likely. Two female birds will often marry each other, especially if no males are present. Each bird will lay infertile eggs and happily sit on them.
Same sex male pairs are less common because male birds view each other as competitors first. That said, sometimes male birds marry each other and they are extremely devoted when they do (though they will squabble even after marriage, especially if you don’t give them fake eggs). Other times, though, they remain persistent rivals, so if you only have the capacity for two birds, it may be prudent to ensure at least one of the birds is female before you attempt to matchmake. DNA testing is available if you want to know your bird’s sex for certain, and of course, only female birds lay eggs. (Male birds still love to nest-sit, though, so giving them fake eggs to sit will bring them a lot of joy!)
Ray and Fraser, both male, are a very happy, loving gay couple. (They are Norwich Croppers. Their oversized crops are an unfortunate breed-trait.)
Rhett & Tommy say, Remember, if you have a male & female pigeon, you need to remove every real egg and replace with fakes!
Why Do I Have to Remove Their Real Eggs & Replace with Fakes?
Removing and destroying their real eggs is for hatch prevention (birth control). Birds can’t be spayed or neutered like dogs & cats but they do suffer from the same overpopulation crisis so we must remove & destroy real eggs to prevent pet pigeons or doves hatching more. It is irresponsible, taxing to their health & they won’t want anything to do with the youngsters after they fledge (about 4-6 weeks of age) and will fight. If you have room for more birds, please- adopt!
Replacing their real eggs with fakes doesn’t stop the birds from laying. It just gives them eggs to sit. Pigeons & doves, both male & female, love to egg-sit. It is a very satisfying & important part of their lives. Providing fake eggs allows them that pleasure & also reduces the pressure on the female to lay more. Fake eggs don’t prevent egg-laying. They are just a substitute for their real eggs & you must stay nosy & always know what your birds are sitting on because they sometimes lay a third or even a fourth real egg which will hatch if not caught.
Fake eggs come in different sizes for different size birds
How to Matchmake
You need to know who the birds are. Pigeons or doves? Youngsters or grown ups? Young birds can be friends at first but sometimes grow into rivals as they mature. Pigeons (and doves) don’t reach sexual maturity until they are about four to six months old. Healthy or sick? (Sick, weak or injured birds aren’t much interested in courtship.) Palomacy will sometimes host a single pigeon in an aviary flock to mingle and spark a flirtation with somebirdy and then send both home to continue the courtship. More often, we’ll send a single opposite sex pigeon to foster temporarily in the adopter’s home for pHarmony and that works great. A lonesome pigeon is very practical and often quick to fall in love with the first pigeon suitor they meet. If your bird lives in a room or an aviary (safe, predator and rodent-proof, please), a new bird can be introduced and safely share that big space (with likely some harmless hazing and scuffles). It is important to understand that pigeons (and doves) are territorial and defensive of what they see as theirs (including space, especially their cage and nest areas, and people, and will fight to defend what is theirs). You can’t add a bird to another’s cage or crate until they marry and want to move in together. The new bird needs their own cage next door to the resident bird’s.
Single pigeons Lilith (male) & Amelia starting their pHarmony in small temporary next door get acquainted crates (they eventually married).
They can safely spend out-of-cage time in the house together as long as there isn’t any serious bullying happening. Twin everything to smooth the way for them- two food bowls, two bathtubs, two bricks to stand on, whatever. Parallel, ambient hanging out together is great for birds getting to know each other. If one of the birds is too aggressive, you can alternate their out time, leaving one locked up while the other is out and visa-versa. (We call it time-sharing.) It allows both birds to explore and express themselves safely and helps an over-eager suitor to be less obnoxious. Watch them interact. Their body language will clue you in to how their relationship is developing. Males are usually the more enthusiastic suitor. Sometimes they come on too strong too fast and the female will evade his advances for awhile (or even need your protection). Males will dance, strut and coo to court a mate. Both will make eyes at each other, hang out in the same general area, lounge around contentedly. As things heat up, they’ll both preen themselves, mirroring. When they start preening each other, dancing and kissing, they are engaged! (Remember – even if they never get married, they can be good company for one another as long as they’re compatible.)
Starbuck lovingly preening his beloved wife Maude
Pigeons Moose and Nike celebrating their marriage
Married couple Moose and Nike kissing (in slow motion!)
Depending on your individual birds’ personalities, it is possible they will show interest in each other right away, but most likely it will take time. Patience is key! Some couples pair up quickly, but shyer birds may take months to decide they like each other. Just because it isn’t love at first sight doesn’t mean a happy marriage won’t happen eventually. When your birds mate, they are married and ready to move in together, sharing a nest for as long as they both shall live.
Cautionary Note: Pigeons are naturally flock birds and males especially burn lots of social energy flirting with all the females and challenging all the males in their flock but in a home setting or small flock with only one or a couple other birds, they can become overbearing and even abusive with so much excess energy. We call it “underemployed male syndrome” and if it happens with your birds, you’ll need to create extra opportunities for him to express that natural energy such as food foraging, daily play fighting with you (use a sock puppet or stuffy), going on errands or adventures with you (safely contained or harnessed) or other enrichments to defuse his frustration.
Dove Love (dHarmony)
Married Ringneck doves (white coloration) Pierre & Piper (#RelationshipGoals)
Doves are beautiful, gregarious, friendly birds. Their mostly easy-going ways make them good company. Single doves can become quite affectionate and attached to their owners; however, they are social and so if you’re not available to be their significant other, they’ll be happiest with a companion. If you have a male-female pair, you will need to replace their real eggs with fakes. Because they breed so readily in captivity, there are many domestic doves in need of homes so it’s not advisable to raise more doves. All too often Palomacy is contacted by someone who has suffered a change of circumstance and must suddenly attempt to find homes for a whole aviary full of doves. It is not a happy situation for the doves nor their people. Palomacy and all rescues who serve doves or pigeons are already full of birds needing homes.
Ringneck doves Shiloh, Honk & Larry Bird are a happy throuple
Ironically, Ringneck doves, considered to be so peaceful and devoted, are more combative and promiscuous than pigeons. And noisier too. (Male doves coo a lot, single or married!) Doves are higher energy and more active. We call doves swingers! Their relationships (in a flock) are much more fluid and flexible than pigeons and we sometimes see dove threesomes.
Ringneck dove Melvin coo coo cooing
Doves are very emotional and dramatic. (Palomacy calls them dramatical.) Ringneck doves love hard and when one is in love with you, you’ll know it. If you are around a lot and have the time and ability to be your dove’s significant other, you might want to keep things as they are. Sometimes, a dove married to a person is too jealous and possessive to tolerate another dove.
Deedo the dove loves his human wife Nancy very much
If you do bring a new dove into the home, follow the same steps spelled out above for the pigeons. A single pet Ringneck Dove may be housed indoors in a cage at least 24” x 30” (though larger is always better) and needs daily supervised time out of the cage for exercise and interaction with his people. A flight cage 62” high, 32” wide and 21” deep makes a good indoor-safe home for a pair of Ringneck Doves. (See How to Choose a Cage for a Pigeon or Dove.)
A flight cage makes a great indoor-safe home for one or two doves
Married Ringneck doves Argyle & Skye in a public display of affection
Ringneck dove husbird Melvin preening his wife Lily
Arthur Millet, a Diamond dove, demonstrates his lovely bow coo dance
Diamond doves are really small, not even half the size of Ringneck doves and they should always be kept with another Diamond dove. They are stressed and unhappy living alone. (More about Diamond doves to come in another article.)
Arthur Millet & Tippi Hendren took six months to marry. Now they’re inseparable.
Have more questions? Need additional information & support? Palomacy’s Help Group is an awesome free resource available 24/7/365 at www.Facebook.com/groups/Palomacy
Miriam Hoyt is a writer and bird enthusiast from Columbia, South Carolina. She discovered Palomacy on Facebook while seeking advice for her delightful diamond dove, Arthur Millet. Since then she’s become a real pigeon proselytizer, talking endlessly about the joy of pet pigeons to anyone who will listen.
November 3, 2021
by Elizabeth Comments Off on Get Your 2022 Palomacy Calendars!
Palomacy’s gorgeous desk & wall calendars are must-haves for pigeon & dove lovers!
Time flies and once again, Palomacy has captured literally hundreds of amazing moments to share with you, with the curious and with the skeptics too in two incredible calendars! Truly, everybody needs both- the glorious 12 month Wall Calendar and the incredible 365-page, Bird-A-Day Desk Calendar!
These full-color calendars, showcasing original photos and artwork by volunteers and rescuers from all over the world, will inspire you every day with amazing stories, heart-warming tributes, and beautiful images.
Order Palomacy’s 12-month Wall Calendar or our incredible 365 page Bird-A-Day Desk Calendar for $25 each or just $40 for both (plus shipping) for everybirdy in your flock!
Everybirdy LOVES this one of a kind calendar/coffee table book!
It just wouldn’t be a new year without a new Palomacy wall calendar!
Best deal is both for $40 & you’re going to defintiely want both!
Calendar proceeds support Palomacy’s rescuing and rehoming of domestic pigeons and doves.
Dennis & Janece Barwick of The Backstretch Rescue’s aviary
Their big, beautiful, safe rescue aviary is amazing! It is 25′ long, 16′ wide, 14′ high and brilliantly split down the center to house Ringneck doves on one side and unreleasable pigeons on the other. Everybirdy is safe while having the bonus fun of exciting neighbors.
The 39 rescued Gilroy doves in their temporary kennel aviary. (Click this photo for kennel aviary info.)
Every few months, I’d check in with Dennis for updates about the doves (they were much loved and doing great) and for a status check on the combo pigeon and dove aviary project (no real progress). Palomacy supporter Heather had created a sketch I could use to help visualize the possibility.
Over this same period, Palomacy adopter and volunteer Sindy and I were talking a lot about ways to develop more adopters. Sindy had funded aviaries for a couple of new adopters and by, eliminating that financial barrier, she saved the lives of 30 pigeons. It got me to thinking.
Dennis and Janece were perfect adopters who had the space, skills and desire to create a big aviary. Palomacy has so many birds needing a home… maybe if I could find a donor to pay for the materials, Dennis could build it and we’d all get the aviary we needed! My thoughts turned to Marian, an incredibly compassionate lifelong rescuer who, when she could no longer care for her 36 unreleasable pigeons, had funded a big beautiful aviary for them in partnership with adopter Angela.
Marian made it possible for her flock of pigeons to go to an amazing new home
In April 2021, I went to Backstretch to check in on the doves and talk to Dennis about my idea. I brought pigeon racing survivor Miles to assist me.
Dennis & Miles had a meeting of the minds
Dennis had the perfect spot picked out!
We talked through design ideas, expectations and worked out a mutual agreement. On May 24th, amazing angel funder Marian provided $5,400 for materials and Dennis started aviary building! He worked out the specs, calculated the quantities, ordered all the stuff- mesh, lumber, roofing, hardware. He cleared the ground, set the posts, poured the concrete foundation and built an incredible palace for rescued pigeons and doves!
I kept checking in. These things always take longer than expected and then on July, 23rd, Dennis sent me this photo!
I said, See you tomorrow and the very next day, Jill and Nath and I had the great pleasure of delivering 12 incredibly lucky pigeons and transferring 39 doves into their aviary/palace!
Jill & Nath & I were rendered speechless with wonder for the first few minutes…
Seeing their new home through the slatted sides of the crates, the pigeons were as wide-eyed as we were. (Clark & Merton)
Jill congratulates Hanks
Arrow & Truffles supervise as Dennis & Nath install their perches
We broke for lunch & donkey Reba love before starting on the dove side
We caught, crated & transferred their 39 rescued doves from their temporary aviary to their forever palace
The doves said, Yes, thank you! We’ll take it!
It’s so good to be loved
Our heroes- Janece & Dennis!
Of course, the birds needing rescue never stop coming.
Just a week later, Palomacy was asked to rescue ten doves (had started out as two) that were living outside in an unsafe-outdoors cage and who had to rehomed because of “remodeling”.
These doves were unsafe & unwanted
We never want to crowd birds nor do we want to overload our adopters. We considered our options and asked Janece and Dennis if they’d add another ten doves to their very lucky flock of 39 and they said, Yes. On July 31, Jill and our dove whisperer Liese transported these luckiest of lucky doves to their new home at Backstretch.
Liese & Janece welcome the new doves
HOME!
Palomacy’s team of 40 foster volunteers are always caring for about 200 adoptable birds (in their homes and backyard aviaries). We are always full, never having the luxury of extra space so losing even one foster aviary has a big impact. We had known since the spring that one of our fosters, Robin, was selling her home and that we would have to transfer her 12 foster pigeons. Even so, despite our best efforts, when the time came in September, we hadn’t yet found placements for them.
Spunks is people-curious, especially if you have safflower seeds
King pigeon Angelo is one of 26 rescued from Golden Gate Park in February 2020
Shy Vesta was also one of the 26 rescued King pigeons
And yes, you know where I am heading: We asked Dennis and Janece if they would take in 12 more pigeons to join their original 12 and they said, Yes. On September 8, Robin transported her 12 foster pigeons from Sacramento to Sunol and from there, Jill and Nath transported them home to Backstretch!
The car was so full that Nath rode with a carrier on her lap
Reba & Jill continue their love affair
Hello, Baby
Everybirdy Welcome
Janece & Dennis love their work; good thing because there is lots of it!
Backstretch’s big, amazing aviary is now full. They are giving 49 doves and 24 pigeons their best possible life. In addition to all the rescued horses and donkeys and goats and cats and chickens they’re caring for. You can learn more about Backstretch and how to support them at www.Backstretchrescue.org. You can help Palomacy continue rescuing birds by fostering or adopting and/or by donating towards an aviary.
Thank you, thank you, thank you to all who are helping.
October 3, 2021
by Elizabeth Comments Off on How to DIY Make an Easy, Safe Pigeon or Dove Aviary
An aviary is a walk-in sized, predator & rodent-proof enclosure for birds living outside.
How Do I Get an Aviary?
So many beautiful, unreleasable pigeons and doves need homes! Rescues like Palomacy develop homes for hundreds each year and, if the birds are to live outside, they need a big, predator and rodent-proof aviary. Getting one can be challenging.
Adopters can:
Build their own: Great option if you have the basic building skills and tools required. See How to Create an Aviary.
Hire a builder: Aviaries can be simple or fancy and if you have the budget, you can hire a builder. Make sure their design meets the required basics below.
Buy something pre-made: Unfortunately most of the pre-made aviaries for sale are neither safe nor big enough and, those that are, are very expensive (with the exception of www.Wingzstore.com walk-in aviaries, details below.)
DIY modify a big outdoor dog kennel to be predator & rodent-proof!
When building an aviary for pigeons or doves, these basics are essential:
The aviary must be built sturdy to protect against predators & rodents (no matter where you live nor what deterrents you have).
The entire enclosure- the bottom, sides & top – must be .5″ or .25″ hardware cloth that is connected to ‘seal the envelope’ with no gaps more than .5″.
Flooring, siding, roofing goes on OVER the mesh.
Never use chicken wire (nor bird netting) as it is a death trap for the birds confined within it.
Build it as big as you can.
Half should be sheltered (with roofing & siding) & half open for light & air.
Locate it in a sunny spot (shade is easy to create) where you can see & enjoy the birds.
Make sure all doors & latches are raccoon-proof.
NOTE: PARROTS’ (ALL HOOKBILLS’) REQUIREMENTS ARE DIFFERENT FROM PIGEONS & DOVES (SOFTBILLS)!
Here’s how to DIY make the easiest, most affordable safe pigeon or dove aviary by modifying a large outdoor dog kennel just like Palomacy and shelter volunteers did at the Oakland Animal Services.
Step 1: Get a Large Outdoor Dog Kennel (NOT SAFE UNTIL HARDWARE CLOTH ATTACHED!)
I love this one: welded wire (which is good looking & easy for attaching the hardware cloth), great size (10 x 5 x 6 is inexplicably better than 8 x 4 x 6), smallish door (safer) but get one with a top or you’ll need to make your own to support the hardware cloth & roof. See more examples below.
I really like a 10′ long by 5′ wide by 6′ high black welded wire* dog kennel. This is a great size for up to 14 pigeons or about 24 doves (never crowd your birds). Save money and the planet by shopping for a used one (they’re sturdy and easy to clean). Get one with a wire roof (if available) and choose a small-door model like the one above (the bigger the door, the greater the risk of fly out). I highly recommend the 5′ wide (rather than a 4′) because that extra foot of width makes a really big difference for birds and people both. If you’ve got the space and budget, the 10′ by 10′ size is even better! (*There are also dog kennels made of chain link that can be used. It’s a little more challenging to attach the hardware cloth but they are less expensive.) Definitely shop around for the best price and buy used if possible.
Step 2: Get Enough Hardware Cloth to Cover ALL Sides, Top & Bottom
Buy enough hardware cloth (not chicken wire) with mesh openings of either .5″ or .25″ to cover every inch of the kennel with enough to overlap at seams and around edges. It’s sold in big box stores, hardware stores, feed stores and my favorite for selection and price – at builders’ supply stores like Howard Wire Cloth Company (Google “wire cloth” to find one near you). We used about 160 feet (most of two 100′ rolls) of 48″ wide hardware cloth to cover this 10 x 5 x 6 kennel. Prices vary but a 100′ roll of 48″ wide .5″ 19 gauge hardware cloth costs around $200.
Here’s what half inch & quarter inch hardware cloth look like
Great deal! 100’ x 72” roll of 19 g .5″ hardware cloth sold at Aromas Feed & Ranch Supply. (Get the widest roll you can to reduce the number of panels you’ll need to cut.)
Step 3: Measure, Cut and Attach Hardware Cloth with Zip Ties
Volunteers first cut sections off the 100′ roll of hardware cloth to fit the kennel. Here we used 6′ lengths of the 48″ wide for all the sides. We overlapped a little so that there would be no gaps We cut a smaller piece to precisely fit the door and extend around the gaps.
The hardware cloth is easily cut with tin snips, pruning shears, wire cutters, etc.
We cut 6′ pieces of the 48″ wide mesh for the sides. Here, volunteers start zip tying the pre-cut-to-fit sheets of .5″ 19 gauge hardware cloth to the outside of the 10 x 5 x 6 kennel.
Use zip ties approximately every 6″ to snugly attach the cloth to the frame along both edges & down the middle too.
The zip ties secure the hardware cloth panels to each other & to the sturdy frame of the kennel. Getting the zip ties through, turned around & secured goes a LOT faster with two people!
It’s easy & fun to convert a kennel into a safe, comfortable home for rescued pigeons or doves, especially with a couple of friends to help.
Here we are about halfway done. We took a short lunch break, met & snuggled a new pigeon, took a team photo & got back to work. (Note vinyl remnant for floor in the foreground).
This close-up shows how the hardware cloth covering the bottom extends up & is secured to the frame & hardware cloth on the sides. No gaps! It is much easier to “seal the envelope” correctly in the beginning than to chase down & patch gaps after the fact.
The entire bottom must be enclosed by carefully secured hardware cloth. Doesn’t matter what’s below- cement, rocks, patio, etc. nor what will go over – vinyl, pavers, plywood, Trex, etc. This no-gaps design is what makes an aviary predator & rodent-proof. Otherwise, it’s just a foraging toy for predators.
Here’s an upper corner showing the same no-gaps coverage of sides to ceiling. The sturdy kennel provides the structural strength that enables the hardware cloth to exclude predators & rodents. (Note- the .25″ is even better at keeping mice & talon-tips out.)
In the center, you can see the 1.5″ overlap we used where the hardware cloth panels meet & how liberal we were with the zip ties. Building the aviary tight from the start discourages predators. (If they find weak spots, gaps or places they can wiggle, predators will keep working at it.)
The door is always the most dangerous element for an aviary. (Pigeons & doves don’t really need a double-door feature like fast-zipping songbirds, finches, budgies, but they do need a secure single door!) Important door features: small is good, opening inwards is best, all gaps around the opening & hinges must be covered & latch must be raccoon-proof.
Take your time figuring out how to secure the gaps around the door while still allowing for it to open & close smoothly. We chose to orient this door to open inwards & so attached the gap-covering-sized piece of hardware cloth on the inside.
Here’s the zoomed in view to show the hardware cloth cut & attached so as to overlap the gap while still allowing the door to move.
This view shows the other side of the door & how the cut to gap-cover sized hardware cloth extends over this gap as well. This is also a good view of how the floor mesh was cut & installed wide enough to bend up & over the bottom gap & attach to the kennel frame & side mesh.
We love vinyl remnants for aviary floors. It is pigeon-feet friendly, easy to clean & inexpensive. Buy a single piece big enough to cover the floor without seams. This piece is 11′ long by 6′ wide & we trimmed to fit the 10′ x 5′ aviary. (Other recommended options: cement pavers, marine grade plywood or Trex. Palomacy advises against gravel, sand, or shavings.)
Step 4: Furnish
Pigeons (or doves) need thick tree branches for perches (no dowels), shelves (to maximize the horizontal surface area), multiple big, tubs of water (for drinking and bathing), multiple dishes (ceramic, flat-bottomed) or feeders for food, nest boxes or baskets, a nice big mirror for showing off in and they need half of the aviary to be roofed and sided to provide shade, shelter from the weather, privacy and security. Raccoon-proof the door latch with a lock or carabiner. Don’t clutter the aviary. The more you put in, the more risks you introduce, the more poopy things you’ll need to clean and the less flying and flapping space for the birds.
Almost ready for the birds- all mesh is secured, a temporary shade cover added until a waterproof half roof of corrugated roofing panels is added, & perches, feeders & water dishes in place.
Bringing Oakland Animal Services’ rescued & adoptable pigeons in to their wonderful new enclosure…
Never underestimate your power to make the world better. When Claire was 12, she met rescued pigeons at Animal Camp & they touched her heart. She convinced her family to build an aviary in their yard & they have been fostering, rescuing & volunteering to help pigeons ever since. Together, in partnership with Palomacy & Oakland Animal Services, Claire & her family have helped hundreds of pigeons.
Wow! This is for us?! Oakland Animal Services’ rescued pigeons move into their new aviary!
These smart, beautiful, easy going King pigeons make wonderful companions outside in a predator & rodent-proof aviary like this one or indoors with the family. These domestic pigeons were lucky to be rescued alive when they were inhumanely “released”.
Their first night- not yet fully furnished but very comfy even so!
The next day, Kay installed shelves & nest baskets. Pigeons LOVE shelves & nest baskets!
Palomacy recommends upcycling some nice big baskets from the thrift store for nests!
Our nest is best
Just hangin’ around…
THANK YOU FOR HELPING US
Extra thanks to Claire, her dad Ken & especially her mom Kay for helping SO many birds in so many ways!
Palomacy is deeply grateful to Oakland Animal Services for all they do to serve & adopt out rescued pigeons. THANK YOU!
I really like this one too. It includes the top braces you’ll need for attaching the hardware cloth & the half roof (corrugated roofing panels, plywood, etc.) but the door is bigger than I like. (Good size for up to 14 pigeons or 24 doves.)
DO
This is a great price (includes free shipping) & a big kennel – 15 x 5 x 6! Needs crossbars added over the top to provide support for the hardware cloth & half roof. (Good size for up to 20 pigeons or 30 doves.)
DO
Chain link is less expensive & just as safe when hardware cloth is attached. (NOT SAFE WITHOUT HARDWARE CLOTH!)
Need help? Not sure if the enclosure you’re considering is appropriate? We can assist! Please join & post in our Palomacy Help Group for fast, trustworthy support.
What Wisdom Can You Find that is Greater Than Kindness? -Jean Jacques Rousseau
Last November, Palomacy was asked to take in a then 20 year old pigeon. He was the only one left of his original flock of 60. He was part of a 4H pigeon racing project started in 1993. In the beginning, the family flew the pigeons but seeing them injured and killed by hawks was too upsetting so they stopped. Since then, all of the kids grew up and lost interest. Pigeons can live for more than 20 years but alone in a coop is no life for a pigeon. He’d never been named until Jill picked him up. He’d been #2931, hatched in 2000. He was thin, arthritic and had a badly overgrown, crossed beak which Jill immediately corrected (not even waiting until she got home).
That’s better!
She named him Wisdom and settled him into supportive, VIP care with a special open-door suite, food and water included for easy snacking, soft bedding, access to a heating pad, and the company of gentle friends. We intend to ensure that the rest of his life is spent knowing that he is cherished and safe.
Wisdom 8/10/21
On August 10th, having worked my foster numbers way down, I was able to bring Wisdom home to live with me. He’s getting frailer, his legs are weaker. He needs extra support and attention. He’s sitting beside me as I type this. I call him WyWy sometimes. Wisdom floats for 20 minutes each morning in a luke warm sink full of epsom salt water (hydrotherapy to ease his legs). He naps in the sun a lot, hangs out watching the other birds, let’s me snuggle him a little, gets good pain meds. I feel him slowing down even more than he was and I know that we won’t have the privilege of his presence forever.
Floating for pain relief (hydrotherapy)
Wisdom’s VIP Lounge
Wisdom is just one bird. Last year, Palomacy rescued nearly 400, placing 257 with adopters, an increase of 58% over 2019. We’re helping even more birds this year and assisting thousands all over the country through our Palomacy Help Group and website. Every single one of these birds is an individual. Each one wants to live, to be safe, to love and be loved.
Some of Palomacy’s birds adopted over the past 12 months
September 11, 2021 Update
Chipotle is a beautiful, soulful 10 year old pigeon racing survivor who was injured, grounded & helpless in May when she was lucky enough to be rescued alive & taken to Peninsula Humane Society. They healed her up & have been seeking an adopter for her ever since. Yesterday I picked her up to be a special friend for old, old man Wisdom. He’s very wobbly on his legs & spends a lot of time napping. I’m not sure if he’s got the strength to really bond but I want to give him the chance. Amazing Chipotle, right from the start, though plunked into a strange new environment, read the room & gently took up next to him like an old friend. She’s such a sweet, gentle bird. Wisdom is quietly observing his new companion. I wonder if he thinks he’s dreaming. She’s so perfect & gentle & generous, sweetly giving him her company, no questions asked. She was named Chipotle after the take out bag she arrived in but she’s pretty much the opposite of a Chipotle. Maybe Grace? Or Dulce? I’ll add updates here as they unfold. Here are photos from their first evening & morning together.
Wisdom napping on left & Chipotle chillin’ upon arrival
Good morning. Just hanging out…
Chipotle & Wisdom sharing a new day
Together we are saving birds’ lives, one by one.
We can’t save birds without you. Your support makes all of this possible.
GlobalGiving’s autumn Little by Little Fundraising campaign has begun. Every donor’s (single) gift up to $50 will earn a bonus match of 50% this week. (New monthly match donors earn double bonus!) We need your help. Please donate during bonus match and share with your friends. (Watch our progress on the leaderboard.)
A loving heart is the truest wisdom. -Charles Dickens
