EEEEK -- building owner vs. pigeons!

[minimonkey]

Yikes -- I just got a call from our building manager -- the one who was destroying nests, and spared ours at my begging-- the building owner is freaking out and insisting that all the nests be destroyed and the rafters netted -- his job is on the line if this doesn't occur. Tenants have been complaining, I guess, about the droppings, etc. There are a couple of other nests out there -- one is too far for me to see, but I know roughly when the eggs were laid -- they are either just about to hatch, or have done so already.


I understand that this has to happen, and there is nothing I can do about the destruction. I have agreed to foster-parent any living squabs out there, including (but maybe not limited to) the two cuties my husband posted. I've been fretting about this happening -- and now it is. I'm not going to attempt to hatch any eggs -- that is just too risky, I think.

Wish me luck!!!

[feralpigeon]

How high up is the nest w/eggs about to hatch or already hatched? Is ladder
access the only way to the nest?

fp

[upcd]

And blessings to you. I hope you are able to rescue those little birds. I'll be praying for you.

[minimonkey]

Thanks for the well wishes. The nest that I can't see is awkwardly placed -- it is actually a few feet below the window of one of my neighbors -- I have a message out to her to see if I can use her window for access to it. The other way would be to get up on a ladder and then climb over some very ineffective pigeon spikes to get to the nest.

I have "my" squabs in a little basket nest with me now -- I attempted a feeding, but they were still pretty freaked out from me nabbing them. The parents were terribly distraught to find the young missing, and I just feel terrible about the whole thing. The babies are calming down now -- I've already been pooped on twice, which I guess means I have been initiated. I'll try feeding again in an hour or so.

[minimonkey]

Just an update -- the babies seem to have adjusted fairly well to the move. They've calmed down a lot. They're still not eating much, but I did get them to drink some water. They are beginning to recognise me as a benign, care-taking presence, it seems. The larger one even pipped a bit when I went to put him back in the basket after an attempt at feeding, so I held him some more, which he seemed to enjoy.

I haven't been up close and personal with a bird in a long time -- I'd forgotten how nice they smell! They have this downy, soft smell about them -- very lovely! We're going to get them a home tomorrow (I hate the term "cage" and I doubt they will ever spend much time in confinement.) My husband is away until tomorrow, so I am on my own with them until then. I'll do the formula thing again in a bit (I'm getting nothing done today that i had planned to do -- oh well --- ) and then hopefully I can get some work done, and they can get some sleep.

[Reti]

Hi minimonkey, you are doing great.
Good luck with those little ones. I hope the other babies will be brought to you and not be destroyed.

Reti