Is there a member in the Chicago area that can help this woman?

[littlecakes]

A woman ten miles from Chicago posted to the NYCPRC list about a baby pigeon she found. Although our members can help her on the phone or by email, it might be best if someone were able to see (physically) what she is talking about. Or even have references for her in terms of local pigeon rehabbers etc.

If you can help call her directly as she is not on this forum. Or you can post or PM me your info and I can post your email info to her. I can't get her direct email off yahoo groups as it won't let me unless I post an email to her, then get one back from her. Her name is Nancy.

Sorry for the post that is going to be so long.
Hanna

Here are two of her posts

Post #1
please help me to keep this baby pigeon alive and return it to its
flock. i live in a three story walk-up courtyard building next to a
public park. there is a flock of pigeons that roost on the parapet
of the roof (flat roof) and flock down to the park where they are
fed commercial bird food. on tuesday, aug 12 i found a baby pigeon
on the walkway below (bushes surround walkway) and it can walk and
flutters its wings and makes squeeking noises but couldn't fly yet.
its about 3 inches around and still has yellow fuzz some places.
with the help of a neighbor we put it in a cloth soft-side carrier
case (mesh ventilation on all 4 sides and top) with same commercial
bird food in a bowl and a separate water bowl on the open top
landing of the back stairs right below parapet area where the
pigeons roost. it eats well and i think it is drinking the water. it
does not seem to be injured in any way - it just can't fly yet. i
don't want to set it back on the ground to set it free because there
are opposums, racoons and stray/feral cats that come around at
night. i would like to return it back to the flock and hopefully its
mother but don't know what to do or where to put it. it has now been
5 days in the carrier case alone ( i change the water and food
daily) and i hope i haven't hurt its chance of survival. please
offer any advise. i thank you so much - i'm worried sick about the
little one.

found baby pigeon post #2

hi al, denise, dan and all others who have written in response to the little pigeon i found. thank you all so much for caring and helping. i have unfortunately been playing phone tag with dan so i thought i would update everyone and ask further advise. i live in oak park, il., which is about ten miles west of chicago. my home phone number is 708-386-1652 and my cell is 708-833-3911. i have been feeding the area birds and pigeons for about six years in bird feeders by my back porch stairs (where i found this little one). i live in an apartment building and unfortunately not everyone is as much of a bird lover as i am and in february of this year one of the other tenants went to the village of oak park to complain and they came out and removed my feeders. i immediately started to feed the birds in the park right next to the building under an evergreen tree ( about 10 feet away but unfortunately separated by a chain link fence from the bushes and walkway by my back porch). the pigeons still roost on the parapet above my back stairs (three flights up) and flock down to the evergreen tree in the morning to feed. i still have the baby pigeon in the carrying case on the top landing. it is eating bird seed and drinking water. i was really excited to learn that when it makes the kee-kee sound and flutters its wings that it is excited about eating. i thought it was afraid of me. (i unfortunately have a lot to learn about pigeons). my biggest concern at this point is that i am hurting the little one more than i am helping it at this point. i think it may be more of a toddler as opposed to being a baby. before another tenant here helped me to get it in the case it was walking around on its own and eating seed that i put by it initially. by keeping it in the carrying case, its mother may have heard it but was not able to get to it. i feel just terrible and wish i would have found this group on the first day. it is now a week in the carrying case. most people who i have talked to think i should set it out so the mother and the rest of the flock can find it and attend to it. my concern would be where to place him (her)? i can think of four places and each have positives and negatives. the first- the roof of the building where it would not fall off because of the parapet and would be near the flock, however there is no shelter and it is stifling hot up there. second - let him out of the case on the landing where i have him now (which is right below the parapet where they roost), however, the spaces between the railings are wide enough that if he can't fly yet he could fall. third- put him in the bushes by my staircase where i found him, however, that is where the opposums and stray/feral cats come to feed. fourth - put him under the evergreen tree in the park where they flock and probably his mom come to feed every morning, however it is a public park and people who walk their dogs allow them to go off their leashes and chase the birds which would be disasterous if he can't fly. the other option would be to find a pigeon rehabber in the chicago area but then i would be removing him from his flock. i have no problem with leaving him in the carrying case and continuing to feed him but i feel like i am stunting his growth and ability to be independent. plus he seems very lonesome. i can't take him in to raise because i have cats (all previous strays who would most likely go after him). if anyone can offer any advise or help i would really appreciate it. i want to do whatever i can to help this little guy-by now i am very attached to him and have told him he is precious. thank you all and please feel free to e-mail or call direct. if i'm not available, please feel free to leave a message. once again thank you for caring.
nancy

[TAWhatley]

Hi Hanna,

Try PM'ing/e-mailing our member here, Grimaldy. Also put this lady in touch with the Chicago Bird Collision Monitors (easy to find on the web) .. they can/will put her in touch with an area wildlife rehab group.

I just got incoming and probably can't get this done tonight so am posting the info for you.

Thank you so much for caring and helping!

Terry

[littlecakes]

Thanks Terry I will go that now.

[littlecakes]

Also this is her email address if anyone can help her. I did forward the Bird Collision Monitors info to her.
nancynemetz@sbcglobal.net

[Grimaldy]

Hi littlecakes,

I have called the person and have sent an e-mail to make contact and try to recover the birds.

I will let you know.

[Grimaldy]

Hi littlecakes,

I talked with your contact person Nancy, she is doing just fine with the baby. It is eating seeds and is losing the yellow head covering and seems to be healthy. I suggested that she take it out the next time the two adult pigeons are there and see if the bird wants to go. If not, or if there are problems, we can step back and try something else.

Apparently she has managed to enlist the support of the other tenants in her building in her rescue project and has lots of support.

[littlecakes]

Thanks so much Grimaldy!