Bird Magnet vs. Bird Awareness

[TAWhatley]

There was a comment made in the Missing Digits thread about some people seeming to attract needy birds (ie. Bird Magnets). I think this is an interesting topic/concept and would enjoy hearing more thoughts about this.

I now count myself in the Bird Magnet category but believe that this has come about through Bird Awareness. Of course, having people find out that I will take in needy birds has certainly enhanced the magnet aspect of what I do.

There was a time up until about 5 years ago when I never noticed birds of any kind. Then, due to an Embden goose in need, I somehow gained Bird Awareness. I started noticing birds of all kinds in places where I would have previously sworn there were no birds at all and certainly no birds that were sick or injured.

Not knowing anything about waterfowl or birds of any type, I started doing a lot of research and reading. Within a few months, I had somehow developed the ability to know just by looking at a duck, goose, or other bird that there was something wrong even if I couldn't really see what the problem was.

I think that once people become aware of the birds and animals around them and see that first one that needs help, it is then "all over" for that person especially if s/he decides to get involved and try to help the creature. From that point on, said person will start noticing all kinds of needy critters.

Terry Whatley

[aloft]

Originally posted by TAWhatley:
I think that once people become aware of the birds and animals around them and see that first one that needs help, it is then "all over" for that person especially if s/he decides to get involved and try to help the creature. From that point on, said person will start noticing all kinds of needy critters.

Terry Whatley

How true!

[bigbird]

Terry,
You have a special gift.
I think it had to do with having a special appreciation for life. All life.
Regards,
Carl

[WhiteWingsCa]

Our whole family appears to have some special "magnatism"....be it wild animals, pets, lost birds, whatever.

Anytime there is a stray dog in the neighbourhood, it ends up in our yard. Doesn't matter where we've lived, how many houses are around us, whatever. It's always OUR yard they come to.

We've had our share of injured wild critters show up too.

And on race day, it seems that it's always our loft that confused birds come to (maybe our birds tell them how nice we are, so "come on home with us"? lol)

We sometimes wonder if there is some sort of sign over our house that only animals can see, that reads "Nice people here...warmth, comfort and food. Everyone welcome" :-)

[Poulette]

How true! I am that kind of girl too! At work, when a pigeon or a mouse is traped and needs help, I'm the Doo Little in charge!
Maybe animals sense an aura around us that means Animal Lover here!

[John_D]

Terry,

You're so right about the awareness aspect. I knew nothing until a hungry
and thirsty homer walked into my apartment for a rest just about seven
years back. I guessed he needed water, but had no idea what he'd eat - I
put some crumbled-up corn flakes down as a stopgap until I got to the
store for some wild bird seed

If these little events do spark an interest then, quite agree, we get to be
observant and know when something "ain't quite right".

I was driving down a country lane one time after that, and I vaguely noticed
something fluttery at the side of the road like a piece of cloth or plastic
bag, but it just didn't look right. When I backed up, I found a Blackbird on
the grille of a drain cover. His legs were dangling into it astride one of the
bars and he was flapping like crazy. I gently lifted him clear and took him
to the edge of a field out of harms way. He just slipped, I guess, and
couldn't figure how to get himself out - but once he was out he was just
fine. It was really something, holding this little bird and seeing him calm
down, just looking up at me as I spoke softly to him while carrying him.
Like you said - we see birds where we'd never have noticed them before!

Guess there's two kinds of 'magnets' - people who take wildlife in will
eventually attract people who find it. For pigeons, pretty often, it is more
like Nooti's 'beak telegraph' - a place is a magnet for pigeons if they get fed
or, simply, don't get chased off by people. The unfortunates I get on my
balcony will either have fed here, or will have seen other pigeons here, and
come to 'isolate' as they often seem to when they're sick.

John

[Nooti]

John, I was interested in your story of the homer who walked into your apartment that day. I had the same sort of experience, with the first pigeon I ever owned going back about 20 years ago.
Myself and my daughters were camping at quite a busy campsite located on a cliff top on the LLeyn Peninsula in Wales. We hadn't been there more than a day or two and were moving on the following day, so my theory of the beak telegraph could not possibly apply here. But one afternoon as we were in our tent tidying things up, in through the open flap walked this pigeon. He came through the entrance, then stopped and just looked at me. He was a homer, he had two rings on. But it was obvious he was looking for food, so I gave him some porage oats, digestive biscuit and a dish of water. When he had finished his meal he seemed reluctant to go and I picked him up. That's when I realised how thin he was. He was unable to fly. We couldn't leave him, and we had no means of finding out who his owner was, so he travelled with us for the next two weeks as we camped and explored North Wales. Then he came home with us. We managed to trace his owner who told us we could keep him.
The big question is , HOW did he know to choose our tent out of the 30 odd which were pitched in the field? The guy in the tent next door to us said... "A pigeon? wring its neck!" when we told him. Did that bird know.... or was it just lucky coincidence that he came to us instead of the tent next door?
Helen

[TAWhatley]

What a lovely story, Helen. I think birds and animals are able to tell who will help them and who will not. There have been many touching accounts here on Pigeon Talk of pigeons approaching a member with a look of "please help me" in their eyes. If you have a chance, read Ray's wonderful story of how Bernie came into their life.

Terry Whatley

[John_D]

Hey, Ray....

See Helen's post above? Your boy got it right - 'mystic pigeons'

Who knows what birds and animals sense that we are not aware of? Maybe a hard-nose scientist wouldn't accept that a pigeon can 'know' things beyond my understanding - but that don't mean it may not be true!

Extrasensory pigeons forever

John

[John_D]

Hi Helen,

Leaving aside pigeons having 'the knowledge' or 'the sight' I find so endearing about these birds that they just walk into someone's home (or tent!). Do they equate any human habitation with an open door as a loft, I wonder? The one I met stayed 2 nights then, I guess, regained his strength - but from the first he poked his beak into my closed hand, like he was used to doing it with his owner and finding a treat. So, of course, I had to give him one (I don't know why I guessed peanuts - but he sure loved them)

John

[Nooti]

I am certain that animals and birds have a sense which we humans do not. Or we may have that sense but it is underdeveloped.
Otherwise, why would that 5 week old abandoned kitten (who is now a strapping 6 year old neutered tom cat), come crying at MY door, or the injured magpie come into the garden and choose to rest under MY bush, or the baby crow, lost and forlorn, who chose to shelter on MY doorstep- I could go on with many stories, but especially the tired pigeon who chose to walk into MY tent! He started it all!!
Helen