Found an isolated pigeon on a rainy day;

[scarletthorns]

So it's a nasty, cold, windy day today, and the rain's coming down every now and then... We just found a baby pigeon near the side of our house. It's possibly smaller than the size of my cupped hands. At least, I think it's a pigeon... I really don't know anything about birds, so I took a picture with my cellphone camera:

It was shaking, wet, and it's eyes were wide open. It was right up against the side of the house, and when we tried to transfer it to the cage, it hopped a little, but didn't try to fly. My mother thinks it's a baby, but I don't know enough to back her on that.

I filled up two hot water bottles and padded the cage (a small cat carrier) with paper towels. I then put the cage with the bird in it in the garage, and covered it with a blanket to keep light out. I tried to do everything I could find in the sites of basic bird emergencies, but I'm not sure.

I'd like a little bit of advice.

By the way, does anybody know of anybody I could contact in Central New Jersey, that could possibly take care of the bird? I've gone through a similar situation with a baby squirrel once before, but birds? I have a headache already. ^^;

Thanks in advance!

[kittypaws]

Scarlett

Can you take another picture - perhaps a profile and a face-on one - it looks kinda like a pigeon but I can't be sure.

Tania xx

[scarletthorns]

I've spent a bit of time on the computer, and I'm positive that it's a pigeon, after looking at bunches of pictures of them.

I'd try, but at the moment it's hidden under a sheet of the paper towels, and every time I try to shine a bit of soft light on it, it kind of freaks out. I don't want to scare it too much.

[Victor]

Hi Scarletthorns~

Welcome to pigeon talk and thank you for your concern in taking in this little one.It does seems shaken and probably does not understand your intentions but in time they learn to be trusting and very loyal.

Keep him quiet and warm as you have been doing. Please give him some unlfavored pedialyte if you can, or at least some water with a pinch of salt and a pinch of sugar to get electroytes in his system...very important.

A heating pad set on low would be nice as well.

Looks like he is old enough to eat pigeon food. Do you have any wild bird seed, as that will do fine for now.

[Pigeonpal2002]

Hi Scarletthorns,

How close are you to Morris County, NJ? There are a few listings for bird rehabbers in NJ, just not centralized.

This looks like a young mourning dove to me, going by the picture, but it is very unclear and blurry. If the feathers are a sandy brown and if it's got spots on the side of the wings, it's a mourning dove.

Feeding and care would be similar anyway, regardless if it's a dove or a pigeon.

[Trees Gray]

Originally Posted by scarletthorns

By the way, does anybody know of anybody I could contact in Central New Jersey, that could possibly take care of the bird? I've gone through a similar situation with a baby squirrel once before, but birds? I have a headache already. ^^;

Thank you for helping this bird.

Here is the link to stabilizing a bird:

http://www.pigeons.biz/forums/showthread.php?t=8822

Please check these resources for wildlife care/ and or rehabber in central N.J..

http://www.tc.umn.edu/~devo0028/contactN.htm#nj

http://www.pigeon-life.net/prd.htm

[pdpbison]

Hi scarletthorns,


Appears to be either a rather young Pigeon or more likely a young Dove...


Please get an electric Heating Pad, and set it to where when it has a towell layed on it, the surface of the towell will be about "wrist" temperature.


This little Dove ( or Pigeon ) will almost certainly need to be fed, and is not old enough to have acquired the knack of eating on it's own yet.

Please let us know how things are going so far?


You could try putting some Canary Seed or finch Seed on the towell for him, and note if he seems to be eating.

Poops are the best indicator of their food intake...


If there are any rehabbers in your Area or anyone into Doves, please seek their help a.s.a.p.

If you need info for feeding, let us know...


Phil
Las Vegas

[scarletthorns]

So far, the bird's weathered the night. He's mostly dry now, and he's tried to spread out his wings and flap around quite a few times. I don't know if this means he's feeling better, or if it's a sign of stress... My dad suggested jokingly that we let him back out, but I feel safer until I hear from people who actually know their stuff.

I've fed it a few times, via eyedropper, using the salt, sugar, water mix that you guys offered. He seems to be doing so-so. Even though we've given him no solid food intake yet, he's been relieving himself quite a lot (moist, mostly dark with a little bit of white), which calmed me down a little bit.

We'll be getting some birdseed this morning, and hopefully, he'll approve.

Unluckily for us, we have no heating pad in the house. I've been changing the water bottles as frequently as I could, without disturbing the bird too much. Maybe we'll be able to borrow/buy one today?

We'll be calling rehabilitator today, or as soon as we can reach them.

By they way; if the bird doesn't eat the bird seed on his own, what do you suggest I should do?

((I've tried to get a few clearer photos of him, but I don't know when I'll be able to put those up.))

Thank you SO much for all your help! I really do appreciate it, and I'm sure he does too. ^^

[TAWhatley]

It looks like a young Mourning Dove to me also. You might try contacting Gretchen who is listed at the http://www.pigeon-life.net/prd.htm link that was already posted. If Gretchen can't help, she can probably refer you to someone who can.

Thanks so much for assisting this little one!

Terry