Abandoned Pigeon

[icyhotnyc]

Hello, I live in Queens, NYC and found a young pigeon on the sidewalk in front of my apartment building. According to the pictures on this site it is approximately 23 days old. The bird did not seem hurt, just looked as though it fell out of it's nest due to the high winds. I spotted a nest over a storefront and brought it up there, and left a slice of bread about 2 feet from it on the same ledge. I also left some bread on the sidewalk to hopefully attract the parents. Well it's been over 24 hours, it's dark out and the pigeon is alone. I don't know if other birds have been on the covered ledge during the day for I was not home. The bread on the sidewalk disappeared, but I can not get high enough to see if the bread on the ledge is still there ( I had to throw it up there B4). Is it normal for a bird of this age to be alone at night? Store owner complained to me that he didn't want it in his awning, but the bird had to have come from there, it looks like a nest, awning is covered in droppings in just that spot. Where are the parents? Should I do something? What? Tomorrow morning it will be 48 hours.

[SueC]

Hi,

Suggest you bring the baby in first. Don't think it's safe for it to be out there.

Keep it warm first.

Others, who are more experienced, will be coming in soon to give you advices.

Good luck to the little one!

Suzanna

[Trees Gray]

Originally Posted by icyhotnyc

Hello, I live in Queens, NYC and found a young pigeon on the sidewalk in front of my apartment building. According to the pictures on this site it is approximately 23 days old. The bird did not seem hurt, just looked as though it fell out of it's nest due to the high winds. Where are the parents? Should I do something? What? Tomorrow morning it will be 48 hours.

Hello and welcome to pigeons.com

Thank you for your concern over this youngster.

I would suggest you bring the bird inside if you haven't done so already.

Put the youngster in cage or good size box. Keep in a quiet warm, draft free area, in subdued light. Allow the bird to warm up on a heating pad set on low for 20 minutes at least, put a towel between the bird and the heating pad.

After this time, give the bird either clear pedyalite or a mixture of water and pinch of salt and sugar mixed well. Give it to the bird with a dropper to the back of the throat. You might even try and see if t will try to drink the water from a spill proof bowl. Gently tip its head down so the beak is submerged in water, not the nostrils. If he drinks that is good, if not use the dropper.

You can open beak with thumb and forefinger, gently. He may resist but will get used to it, once he kows you will be feeding him. You can feed the youngster thawed and drained peas or corn. Open beak and place a pea or corn on back of tongue. Allow the bird to swallow and repeat. You can also used soaked and drained puppy chow that has been broken into small pieces for now.

You can also allow the bird access to wild bird seed, if he drinks on his own he will soon be eating on his own. If he doesn't drink he will need to be fed as stated above until he learns the fine art of picking up and swallowing seeds.

[icyhotnyc]

update:
I phoned the nearest vet which I found on a list somewhere on this site, they will feed and raise the bird and phone me when it's time to release it, can I release it in a park or does it have to be where I found it? (urban setting, will get hurt very easily.)

[Victor]

When you are ready to release the young bird, a park with other pigeons would be recommeded. Pigeons do rely on each other to survive.

[Lin Hansen]

Hi IcyHotNYC,

Thank you for helping this bird. Here is a link to a previous thread that discusses finding suitable locations for release...it may help give you some ideas. Just click on it:

http://www.pigeons.biz/forums/showthread.php?t=6094

Good luck and thanks again,

Linda