releasing youngster: timing query

[ninagi]

Wow, what a helpful site to have come across. Thanks everyone for all the insight. I've looked around and already found some helpful info (e.g., that I should be feeding my youngster some more typical urban food in addition to wild bird seed) but could sure use some specific input on my situation.

I've had my squeaker (Birdie) for about 2.5 weeks, picked her up initially because I thought she had been abandoned (she was sitting by the subway entrance at night), next day upon rehabber advice, put her back, scattered some seed and waited for her parents to return, but don't think they ever showed. (it's a busy spot-- I think she must have tumbled from the awning above, and the parents were wary of landing in this area subsequently) Next day I took her to the rehabber for a visit: She was an older squeaker at that time (a few yellow baby feathers remaining on her head, now they're gone), was found to be relatively healthy, and I was advised to keep her until she could fly (supposedly about 2 weeks), then bring her back for social integration with some other pigeons.

I just found out though there is no one at the rehabber's right now, for another week or so, so the earliest I could get her there is 3.5 - 4 weeks from capture.

I'm wondering if I should just keep her until then (and then either have her go to the rehabber, which would be best, or at least get some more hands-on advice from them before releasing her). But my concern is that she is getting very friendly with me, and I'm wondering if I'm doing her a disservice by having her so long. (She will fly on my shoulder and peck at my ear, and doesn't freak out at being handled--she does attack me when I reach into her carrier, though, and after being served seeds, presumably to ward me off so I won't eat them.)

First of all, I don't know if I can handle the soft release on my own (she definitely can't go back to the intersection where she came from, too dangerous, though the day I observed her there she kept trying to run across the street to join some other pigeons on a traffic isle--she definitely seemed drawn to them).

And then, I'm not even sure she's technically ready--she flies, but not too well--can't stay in the air too long, but I see a little progress each day. She has all her feathers, except for a tiny bald spot under each wing (where our armpits would be--maybe that stays bald forever in pigeons?). She likes to fly to the bathroom window (just started doing this) and look out, though unfortunately there aren't many other pigeons around--she saw one fly by yesterday and called to it, I think. She started eating seeds on her own a few days after I got her, so she hasn't been hand-fed in a while. She seems to be eating heartily (but is picky about which seeds she'll eat, prefers millet) and drinks a lot too. She had an internal yeast infection, but I treated her for a week and assume it's gone --also an internal parasite, but the doc treated that when I took her in and said it should disappear with no problem--at any rate, she certainly seems lively, healthy, and curious. And she hates being in the carrier, poor thing. her eyes are starting to look lighter than when I got her, her beak still looks kind of babyish. Oh, and she still squeaks, a lot!

So the bottom line is... I am tempted to simply keep her another week and will hopefully be able to reach someone at the rehabber's then. But is this a bad idea? Maybe I should stop interacting with her--? (but she requires some supervision in the bathroom, or else she'll start eating paint chips and such)

Whew--sorry to be so long-winded, but I wanted to be sure I gave the full story. Thanks for any input!!

[Charis]

I think it will be just fine to keep her another week.
At the time of release, you want the bird to be confident and eating well on her own.
The method of soft release, will assure the best chance of survival in the long run and could be the rehabber will have other young pigeons to release her with, which would be best.

[ninagi]

thanks for the reply!! got a message today from the wild bird / rehab folks that there is indeed a chance Birdie can go to an aviary with other pigeons next week--so i am hanging on until then, keeping my fingers crossed! (she flew to the shower curtain rod for the first time today, guess she's about ready to leave... but will have to wait a little longer and practice flying in the bathroom)

[little bird]

Birdie will have her best chance for a good release by the wild bird people as she will be released most likely with a group after she has become a member

[Charis]

That's great news!

[Jaye]

That's good..although I bet you could have pulled off a good soft release yourself (!)

Thanks for saving Birdie's life....she would have likely died without your intervention.

Keep us posted !