Release in Doubt.

[Camrron]

Hi Karen,

Thank you so much for the information you passed on to me. You are the second person I discovered who was from Saskatoon today and only the second of all time. We might not really be at the center of the universe but what a great city this is we live in, eh!

Tell me about the bird you have found though. How is his condition. Have you started a thread looking for information yet? If I can help at all I will. I do know of a pigeon rehabber on the East side not far from the university so if you are feeling uncomfortable caring for the bird just E-mail me and I will get you all the info you need. Good luck with your new friend.

Cameron

[mr squeaks]

While I mentioned keeping Windy as a possible companion for Buddy on the thread that Karen started, now I'm wondering if you have found a home for Buddy?

Such a shame that you will be leaving and giving up Buddy! We have also enjoyed your postings too! Hope you can keep in touch...

[TAWhatley]

Originally Posted by mr squeaks

Such a shame that you will be leaving and giving up Buddy! We have also enjoyed your postings too! Hope you can keep in touch...

Yikes! I didn't get this from anything I've read .. did I miss something? Even if I did, that's too bad .. Cameron is the resident Saskatoon pigeon person and cannot escape the reach of Pigeon-Talk

Terry

[Camrron]

Hi Terry,

No I won't be going anywhere quite yet. My original plans were to travel by spring but the nice people at the Tax Department are slowing me down by demanding money. Guess I'll have to put off my plans till September now.

I may not have a home for Buddy afterall I just found out. There is still a lot of time to find someone though and now that there are others in Saskatoon who love pigeons I may be in luck.

I won't be keeping Windy as Buddy's companion in any case. Karen has asked that once she recovers, and if she is not disabled that I return her to the neighborhood she was found. I think that Karen is incredibly thoughtfull and considerate about this birds welfare. Of course I agreed. This would be in Windy's best interest too. She may indeed have a mate out there waiting for her to return. I have some hurdles to get past first though. I have not been able to diagnose the problem yet so have no way of knowing the outcome. We will be making a trip to the vet shortly though for a professional opinion and blood work if that is the right thing to do.

All the best.

PS: And I really thought you were going to needle me about saying that Saskatoon was the center of the Universe Mr Squeaks! You must be slipping!

Cameron

[mr squeaks]

Nope, I NEVER attack our neighbors to the North! Tease a lot, YES... Glad to hear you'll be around longer! However, you better find a home for Buddy soon...you know what happens the longer he stays with you... Besides, now that you have found such great friends on PT, how could you stand to leave us? (sob! whimper!)

I hope Windy will be OK if released back where she was found. Karen mentioned some nasty kids in that area!

[kgmartens]

Yes, I've been thinking about that too. On the way to work this morning, I noticed a lone pigeon sitting on the neighbor's roof. I felt kind of sad for it... I will keep a watch on the kids. Maybe they will move away sooner rather than later.

[Camrron]

Thanks for the kind words Mr Squeaks,

I can take the teasing, I am getting older too so I am a little thick skinned (or is thick skulled). Never did get that straight. You are sure right about me getting attached to Buddy though. Loveable little guy he is. Lots of personality too. He really tells me off if I am gone too long. And tries to undo my bootlaces when I am getting ready to leave the house. Pretty smart huh.

Cameron

[Esftumbler]

Originally Posted by Cameron

Hi all,

Buddy (previously "Listless Bird") has made a great recovery thanks to all the advice I received from so many of you. Many Thanks. My worry though is that Buddy has turned into a pet and I did not want or expect that because I had hoped to release him come spring.

Buddy follows me around the apartment, sits at my feet or on the computer when i'm online and generally seems to be happy to see me when I come home. I have just read two excellent threads on release, one from Trees Gray and the other from TAWhatley that are causing me to rethink release.

My concerns are that I can't provide Buddy an opportunity to learn to forage for food naturally and for that matter am not exactly sure what pigeons eat in the wild. It is -25 in Saskatoon tonight with wind chill so taking him outdoors is completely out of the question. My other worries are that he has become too trusting of people, too young (about 7-8 weeks) to have been predator proofed by his parents and is not currently being socialized with other birds. Buddy is my only pigeon. Last, I cannot keep him beyond the end of March because I will be travelling.

I am sorry to bother you all but I need help. Are there any rehabbers in my area who can prepare him for a release down the road or someone who can provide a good loving home come March. I want him to be socialized with other pigeons so he can be as normal as possible. I can already see what is happening here though. This bird sees me as a bird. I am his only company. He has started to communicate with me in his own way, pecks at my boots sits on my chair whenever I move from it and watches me like a hawk. He seems very bright and has turned into quite a strong flier. I am still trying to get a picture of him organized but I am a little low tech. Buddy is all black though on his back and sides except for one white feather. His chest is grey.

Thanks again

Cameron

Believe it or not..Buddy is valuable. Feral pigeons are the best mom and dads around. They have the instinct to really take care of their young. Several years ago, I went under a local bridge and picked out a few babies in the nest. Brought them home and hand raised them all. They now are a part of my loft as "Pumpers". Pumper is a term used to identify a bird that takes care of anothers young. I have English Short Faced Tumblers, which have very small beaks. They have trouble feeding their young, so Pumpers are needed. My pumpers are invaluable.
If some one in the area is using pumpers, then he/she would be a good addition to the loft. Granted many frown upon Feral pigeons...I don't...They are the backbone of this loft.
I would take the bird, but live in Florida.
Common Pigeon Bill'
In the Plywood State Florida

[Trees Gray]

Originally Posted by Esftumbler

Feral pigeons are the best mom and dads around. They have the instinct to really take care of their young. Several years ago, I went under a local bridge and picked out a few babies in the nest. Brought them home and hand raised them all. They now are a part of my loft as "Pumpers".
In the Plywood State Florida

Hello Esftumbler,

While I agree with you about feral pigeons, as well as domestic, being the best mom and dads around, I do not condone taking feral babies out of the nest for the sole purpose of using them for "Pumpers". Taking these youngsters away from their mom and dad, and out of their natural environment is cruel, and should not be done, not to mention it leaves alot of emotional issues for parents and babies. The babies should be raised and fed by mom and dad until they are weaned and fledged.

I'm sure they now have a good home and plenty to eat, but we only remove sick and injured birds, and babies without parents, that need rehabbing, with the intentions of releasing them back upon them regaining full health.

Please do not do this again, and don't promote it. This kind of action will not be condoned here.

[Lady Tarheel]

I second everything Treesa said. A few years ago, a stranger stopped by our home because he had seen our aviaries. He left us a note that said he would like to get some of our wild birds for his son who was interested in raising pigeons. I called him and he came back and after further conversation found out he really wanted the ferals to be used to raise the babies of his fancy pigeons whose beaks were not large enough to feed their own babies.

I told him I couldn't agree to do that. Most of our pigeons are just temporary until they are able to be released and I didn't want them used for that purpose. He said he had tried very hard to raise some of the babies but they all died within a few days and asked if we would try raising one for him. He brought us a baby just a few hours old and we raised him successfully (and in the process fell totally in love with the little bugger).

We taught him and his wife how to raise the little ones and his problem is solved without causing distress to the ferals. He became, and remains, a friend.

So, if you want to raise the babies, just feed them yourself.

Maggie

[mr squeaks]

Originally Posted by Lady Tarheel

I second everything Treesa said. A few years ago, a stranger stopped by our home because he had seen our aviaries. He left us a note that said he would like to get some of our wild birds for his son who was interested in raising pigeons. I called him and he came back and after further conversation found out he really wanted the ferals to be used to raise the babies of his fancy pigeons whose beaks were not large enough to feed their own babies.

I told him I couldn't agree to do that. Most of our pigeons are just temporary until they are able to be released and I didn't want them used for that purpose. He said he had tried very hard to raise some of the babies but they all died within a few days and asked if we would try raising one for him. He brought us a baby just a few hours old and we raised him successfully (and in the process fell totally in love with the little bugger).

We taught him and his wife how to raise the little ones and his problem is solved without causing distress to the ferals. He became, and remains, a friend.

So, if you want to raise the babies, just feed them yourself.

Maggie

WoW! What a great story, Maggie! Lucky man to have you as a friend, not to mention his pigeons! WELL DONE !