Sad story - longsih post

[kittypaws]

I saw a sad thing today and I had a good day at work (work in a bank) and felt in high spirits leaving for home. I know not everybody likes to read sad things but if you share it, it makes you feel a bit better sometimes.

On my way to work I pass a small office which, usually has a small congregation of pigeons up on the roof and in the guttering (not sure if it has same name in the US but you know what I mean, the pipes that rain water collects in off the roof and goes down into the ground)

This morning as I passed by there was couple of pigeons up there, but also a crow (carrion crow – very big) and he was eating something in the gutter – I couldn’t see what but I did think perhaps a dead squab or something but dismissed that idea as foolish because when I leave in the evenings there are never any pigeons up there nesting or brooding as such.

Well when I came out of work tonight I saw the awful sight of a pigeon wing hanging over the edge of the guttering and could see part of the body and the head which, was hanging very loosely. My first instinct was that this poor bird must have got trapped somehow and couldn’t get free but I couldn’t understand what part of the guttering a pigeon could get caught up into. I stood and observed it for some 15 minutes and it never moved and by the hang of its head it was most definitely dead.

Also my trapped theory seemed a little weak because when I have seen pigeons caught up in netting, I have known them to still be alive 2 –3 days later and sometimes caught in an awkward position so the fact that this one had died during the day whilst being upright (I have heard that if they are upside down they can die much quicker) seemed a little odd.

Then I remembered the crow – he had been eating something!! I think that maybe this poor pigeon had been in the guttering (definitely out of sight or I would have seen him) and obviously died – perhaps a sick one and that this beastly crow had been eating him when I passed by this morning. As for his new position on the guttering I am wondering if the crow tried to pull him free and the pigeon had become snagged on the edge of the guttering.

I shall never know what happened to him but I know it is too late for him. It makes me sad because I am always looking out for sick and vulnerable pigeons.

Why only yesterday a colleague said that he thought of me walking over Kingston Bridge because he saw a one legged pigeon. I then said “ was it Ok, was it depressed, fluffed up, eyes closing?” to which Terry said “No Tania, it looked absolutely fine and it said that it didn’t want to get on the train with you off to the Wildlife Hospital”

Well I hope I haven’t depressed everyone but when you see a dead baby that you think “ If only I had seen him earlier” it makes you feel wretched for a while.

Tania

[Pigeonpal2002]

Hi Tania,

You have to remember that all species have their own niche in this world. Crows are the "garbage disposals" of the planet, scavengers. It's sad but that is the way things work. Without birds like crows, ravens, vultures etc, soon the planet would be over-run with dead animals rotting and putrifying. Crows are magnifcant birds really, just as pigeons are. They generally kill the sick, weak and infirm and thus, ensuring that the strongest of the other species will survive

It's sad to hear about this story you've shared, but it's nature and it's just too complicated for us to understand at times.

[kittypaws]

Hi Brad,

I didn't really mean the crow was beastly - I guess I just realised what he was eating.

Oh I am all for recycling etc. I found a dead pigeon not so long ago under a railway bridge and instead of leaving him there, I picked it up and placed it in a grassed, overgrown area where I knew that foxes lived.

That pigeon had gone the next day and although it was sad for him, his loss was an easy meal for a fox, who also could have been not well.

No it was just the fact that the crow was probably feasting but yes he too has to survive and if it was he, the crow lying on the side of the road injured or sick, I would have no hesitation in picking him up to find him help.

Tania

[Pigeonpal2002]

That's OK, Tania

I'm just trying to make others realize that crows do serve a purpose here on the planet....just as pigeons do Crows are such unique birds, perhaps you are unaware but there are HIGHLY intelligent birds. They can learn to talk like parrots can, they are the pinacle of "problem solvers" in the bird world and they are very enchanting when raised as a pet....that's all

[Reti]

Originally Posted by Pigeonpal2002

That's OK, Tania

I'm just trying to make others realize that crows do serve a purpose here on the planet....just as pigeons do Crows are such unique birds, perhaps you are unaware but there are HIGHLY intelligent birds. They can learn to talk like parrots can, they are the pinacle of "problem solvers" in the bird world and they are very enchanting when raised as a pet....that's all

I am sure if you get to know them they quite lovely.

Reti

[naturegirl]

Well I am sorry to hear about the Pigeon and that you have the heart to lookout for the birds, sometimes when I see things like this I have to tell myself that that bird was already dead and that the other bird was eatting the remains to stay alive. Sounds kind of silly but it helps out so that you don't feel so badly. Keep your eyes open for more Pijjys that may need your help and put this death aside, as there is nothing you can do about this anyways.

[Trees Gray]

I'm so sorry you are feeling down, I would be too.

I know how you feel, I'm always on the alert to watch pigeons and am afraid of what I might see. But that is the risk we take if we want to help our feathered friends. Sometimes we can help, and sometimes it is almost too late, or too late.

My son told me there was a pigeon trying to get into the room at his school, it was hanging from the windows yesterday.

"Well" I said, "tell me was he banded, was he fluffed up or stressed looking...did you try to catch him, and didn't anybody bother to think this bird might need help?" He said, "No, mom he seemed okay, and yes he was banded and I didn't see him anymore later in the day, so he took off."

So he got the whole lecture about this pigeon needed to be caught, and fed and watered, not to mention that it belonged to someone, and next time you call me immediately, or have a teacher call me to come pick it up. Then I instructed him to make sure to call me tomorrow if the bird comes back again, immediately.

He wasn't thinking...or embarrassed to have a pigeon mom, but he got the instructions down pat now!

We have the giant vultures here that eat the carcasas of dead animals from the street. It used to upset me, but I realize they have a very important job to do. If it weren't for them it would smell awful bad, they do have a place in the food chain.

[kittypaws]

Hi,

Well I feel a bit better this morning and I know there was nothing I could do but you always think that if only you had seen something earlier, but I know that I look to that roof and gutter every day and I can honestly say I have never seen any pigeon in distress but it may answer the question as to why this little gang have been there recently at this particular spot. I guess this poor thing was sick and maybe was dying in the gutter ( but I most certainly didn't see him/her) and they were watching over it.

Oh I talk to the crows on my cycle into work as I ride through a large park where there are deer, crows, squirrels, geese, woodpeckers, seagulls, ducks, rabbits, parakeets - oh loads more birds and as I am cycling past I often wish them a good morning ( the deer look at you as though you are quite mad - well I guess I am a bit) - the crows and jackdaws, dear old black things are looking for their food on a frosty morning. Its a great start to a work day seeing all of these lovely creatures.

In hindsight and rational thinking the morning after, seeing the crow in the gutter made me realise that the pidgie must have been dead that morning so I guess in a way he ( the crow) is like a heralder in his actions by silently saying " Too late for this one Tania, now let me do what I need to do".

Ho hum - lets hope I find the next one with a bit of a chance.

Thanks for your kind words though everybody, I appreciate it.

Tania

[kittypaws]

This morning with trepidation, I cycled past the roof where the pigeon was sort of dangling. He had gone which I was glad about because I didn't like to think that I would be passing him day after day seeing his little body slowly decompose.

What happed I don't know - I would guess someone removed him and in a way I was quite surprised that someone else saw him because most people I see think pigeons are invisible!!

I hate it when you see people walking directly into a pigeons path causing the poor thing(s) to fly out of the way sometimes into the road - I try and skirt round them and I just think that people just don't see them!! Makes me mad

We should be honoured that pigeons want to share their world with ours ....

Tania

[Trees Gray]

Originally Posted by kittypaws

We should be honoured that pigeons want to share their world with ours ....

Tania

I agree....and wouldn't it be a near perfect world, if everyone felt that way. But ,gosh. our jobs would be so much easier then.

[Avalona Birdy]

I am sorry that you missed the poor thing....I only ever find skeletons around here, and sometimes remains of a slow dove that a cat got, but I have never walked by only to find that I could have saved something.

[kittypaws]

Originally Posted by Avalona Birdy

I am sorry that you missed the poor thing....I only ever find skeletons around here, and sometimes remains of a slow dove that a cat got, but I have never walked by only to find that I could have saved something.

I too Avalona. If I had known there was an injured or sick bird in the guttering, I would have done something. It's too high up to see into --- but I do know its a favourite place for pigeons to nest, because there is a few around the guttering at the moment and I can hear peeping - babies... so I think the one I saw too late was just an unlucky one.

Tania x

[cyro51]

Hi Tania,

I understand just how you feel, I have seen a pigeon wing sticking out of the guttering and often find them dead below their roosts on the church. Inevitably I wonder if I would have been able to save them had I passed at the right time and looked in the right direction.

There are times when these questions have worried me so much that I do a "patrol" around my pigeon spots before going home, just to see if one has remained on the ground, or fallen from its roost. I have never found any needy pigeon during those patrols.

Strangely I usually find injured pigeons when I feel compelled to go somewhere that I hadn't planned to go, or take a turning when I didn't mean to.


I am certain therefore that we will find the pigeons that we are meant to find.

Cynthia

[Larry_Cologne]

I rescued our eight-month-old male pigeon Wieteke when he was approximately eighteen days old, but I don't think he remembers much about that anymore.

He has a mate and two eggs in an indoor nest. When he looks at me his expression says "I'm sure you must have your niche in the world, but I sure can't figure out of what use you are. I'll grant that you provide food, but that is a miniscule part of the equation that you don't always get right.

[kittypaws]

Originally Posted by cyro51

There are times when these questions have worried me so much that I do a "patrol" around my pigeon spots before going home, just to see if one has remained on the ground, or fallen from its roost. I have never found any needy pigeon during those patrols.

Strangely I usually find injured pigeons when I feel compelled to go somewhere that I hadn't planned to go, or take a turning when I didn't mean to.


I am certain therefore that we will find the pigeons that we are meant to find.

Cynthia

I'm glad I'm not the only one too ( never thought I was) that checked out the same pigeon spots and as you say they are usually OK.

The recent two that I picked up, on both occassions, they were out of my way, not on my usual route, but as you say something unseen drives you to find these poorly creatures. Fate....

Tania