The day the Feral Pigeon entered my life.

[arty]

Hi, My name is Arty Tovar, my wife Rose Ann and I are Avian Rescue and Rehabilitators from the Twin Cities metro area.
We have brought many exotic bird's into our home for care, protection and to provide unconditional love.
Over the years we have learned from trial and error, joining avian clubs to learn all that we can to help these little ones.
I am a Roofer by trade and one day we set up to remove a roof and replace it on a very large apartment complex.
When setting up on one building I noticed a flock of about 30 or more feral pigeons.
After setting up the ladder and climbing up I saw many many pigeons of different colors and found all of them to be trully beautiful.
There was a very large air conditioning unit scheduled to be removed and go to the land fill. Squinting my eyes, I knew what I would find under that unit, I said to myself, Oh dear lord, Please let me find nothing!
Bending over to have a peek I found many nests, each with 2 eggs in them, amd then I almost began crying when I saw little eyes looking back at me.
This was a very large roof, broken down into seperate bays and I knew we were to start at the other end of the building and work our way back to this air unit, so I prayed they would grow and be gone before we got there. I prayed for rain to set us back to allow more time for the little ones to grow up.
I prayed for windy days to set us back, to tell the truth I prayed for alot of things to happen to allow more time for them to grow up and fly away.
My prayers went un-answered and we ended up ahead of schedule.
I came home and explained what was happening to my wife, I stated that I could not let them perish and that tommorow we would be on that part of the roof and that I would have to bring them home and feed them by hand to assure there survival.
The next morning with bird carrier in hand I crawled up under the air unit and began removing little baby pigeons, I counted 4 of them, I decided to look further up into the unit and found 1 more for a total of five.
I literally cried for the eggs that hadn't hatched yet as I watched the air unit being lifted off the roof.
I brought the little one's home, they were so small, nothing but skin and afew pin feathers. My wife and I took turns feeding them by hand, getting up every 2 hours to take care of them, I joined Pigeons.com and asked for help knowing very little about these wonderful birds. I met some of the most wonderful people, all of whom were dedicated to the well being of these birds.
I recieved much advice and applied their words to the care of the pigeons.
As time passed, 2 began to fly and eat seed. My wife said, "Arty you have to set them free".
I took them where I knew there were other pigeons and set them free. praying for there safety, and yes I cried all the way home.
We had 3 hatchlings left, we continued to hand feed them until one day they told me they wanted seed, then I became frightened because I knew what was to happen next. Then I found myself asking the lord to stop the prossess, to not let them grow any further.
Afew days went by, I came home from work to find them in different areas of my shop and knew they now could fly.
I said NO, I am going to keep these 3, against my wifes wishes. I turned the wood shed into a loft and stocked up on seed.
Again I asked the members of Pigeons.com what to do to the loft to assure they were protected from the elements and recieved many replies.
I applied the members ideas to the loft and battened down for what would be a very bitter winter.
Spring time came and so did nest building, then eggs, then hatchlings. Then my wife reminded me that these birds belonged to mother nature and should be set free.
Then one day I came up missing an adult bird, so I asked the members on Pigeons.com if ferals just up and leave. I was told yes they will leave in search for a mate.
I watched the hatchlings grow and then one day one of them came up missing, I searched every where thinking maybe the little one attempted to fly.
I found nothing. The parents were acting strange as was the other hatchling.
I found out to late that there was a cat invading the loft.
Now both of the babies were gone...just gone. The loft was just to close to the fence and to low to the ground.
My wife insisted that I set them free and now she had more reasons to convince me.
One day against all my feelings, I put both Momma and Pappa back into the same carrier that I brought them home in to save there lives, now I was attempting to save there lives again.
I drove about 25 miles to a grain mill where I knew there was other pigeons and plenty of seed and set them free.
Again I cried but this time much worse. I had to pull over and stop because I just could not see the road I was crying so hard, so much hurt running through me.
I must have sat there a half hour trying to control myself along the roadside.
I finally was able to collect myself, I kept saying "they will be alright".
I can not begin to tell you the excitement and joy that rushed through me when turning into the driveway and seeing my ferals were home, they both were ontop of the garage.
I logged onto Pigeons.com and desperately asked for help, Members told me to cage them, lock them down for safety.
But I couldn't bring myself to do this, even though I had decided to keep them I assured these birds they would be free flight, they could come and go as they pleased. Although I was keeping them, I promised them they would be free.
My wife called her sister who lived on a farm 150 miles away in Wisconsin. Her sister said there were many pigeons there that called the farm home.
Away we went, I was fasinated by the amount of pigeons that I saw when arriving at the farm.
I released them, and stood watching them fly circles trying to get there bearings, soon they both landed next to me as if to say, "whats going on"?.
I sat crying, trying to explain to them that this is where they are to live now and that this was the best for them. How sorry I was for not being able to keep them and protect them.
That was the longest drive in my life.
My sister inlaw called saying the birds had built a nest in an old silo and that there were doing fine. She went on by saying that the birds won't go near the main flock and keep to themselfs and that now there are 4 new little ones.
I am very pleased that they are doing well, I miss them dearly...very very dearly.
We have gone to visit them a few times, now I love them from afar.
Writing this story has been hard on me.
Peace to all of you!
Arty & Rose Ann Tovar.
Coon Rapids, Mn.

[phyll]

Thank you for sharing your story, Arty.
May God bless you & your wife for caring for His creatures.

Phyll

[PigeonLover1029]

Thats very nice story, you did the right thing.