Found Baby Pigeon in NYC

[ittybitty]

I live in Queens, NYC and I found a baby pigeon which fell out of its nest (up in the subway tracks .) I have been giving it a little water with a syringe and trying to give it some baby food, but I really don't know anything about how to take care of this little guy. If anyone can help me get in contact with someone who I can give this baby to, please let me know! It has feathers on its wings, but not so many on its back, and weighs about 400g (a guess.)

I am going to call the Audubon society during business hours on Monday, and hopefully they can help me, but in lieu of that working out, I hope this list can lead to a rehabilitator for this little pigeon!

Thank you!

[critterlover2]

Glad you found us!! Hang in there, ittybitty, there are some wonderful people here that can give you some great advice.

Constantin, don't you live in NY??

Don't go away, there will be any number of people that will help. In the meantime, keep him/her warm and comfy. It's late now, but I'm sure by morning there will be messages for you so be sure to check in

Best to you and your new friend,(pigeons are incredible little creatures, any chance he/she could have a permanent home w/you?)

Terri & Dinky

[bigbird]

You can continue to feed it with a syrenge, a baby bird formula from the pet shop is best, but mix it very thin. If you do not have any, you can make a mixture of corn meal and yogert, but not for to many days.
Call the humane society about your options with this bird. If you decide to keep it for a pet, let us know, we can give you long term care options.
Good luck,
Regards,
Carl

[raynjudy]

Check your email...

[ittybitty]

I am so sorry I haven't checked in! I still have the little guy (just a gender guess) and I am not really any closer to finding someone to take him. I went to the petstore on day three and got the baby bird feed, which he seems to really like. I am still having difficulty figuring out what the crop is, so I am feeding him about 5/6 ccs at a time, every four hours and he seems to be ok with that. He is pooping less than the first day, so I am going to try to get more in at a time, but I worry about overfeeding.

I do have a potential lead to call tomorrow, so hopefully that will pan out.

My main concern is that the baby gets the best possible care. I'd be open to keeping him, but my roommate is absolutly disgusted at the idea. He is barely tolerating the fact that I picked up a pigeon off the street and brought it home, so keeping it is not really an option. Plus, I am going out of town in 10 days for 3 weeks, so I'd have to foster it out somewhere.

I am surprised how difficult it has been to try to track down someone who rescues pigeons. There are tens of thousands of them in this city, so you'd think.... oh, well. I guess I am just not looking in the right place. There is a place two hours away from me, but I just don't have the time and the car at the moment to take four hours out of my day and get there.

So for now, I've been taking him to work with me and feeding him during the day. I will do better with keeping you posted!

Thank you!

[bigbird]

It sounds like you can increase the feeding to 10-15 cc, the spacing seems fine. Be sure the mixtrue you are feeding a thin mix to prevent constipation. At the end of the feeding, give it about 3to5 cc water.
Have you called the humane society to inquire about your little pigeon. They are a good source in most states.
Good luck,
Carl

[ittybitty]

So I still have the baby pigeon! I thought that I had found someone, but that didn't pan out. I went into the city to the upper west side to the vet office where she would be on Saturday afternoon, but she was on her way out the door and said that I had to bring it back on Sunday. I took off from work to bring him in, so I was not pleased.

When I got home and checked my email, someone had sent me two numbers of places who might adopt him. One was the number of the woman who I gave the last baby I found! There is also someone in my neighborhood who does rescue, but she won't be back to her office until tuesday. So it looks like I will have him for a bit longer.

I have increased the feedings to 12-20cc's. He is eating a lot, and I swear he's bigger than he was a week ago. He's more active. I put him in the bathtub today so he could walk around and flap his wings. I was keeping him in a laundry hamper, but he kept hitting the sides when he'd flap, so I thought he could use the extra room. He is also standing and walking around more, as opposed to just sitting on his "nest." He also has a lot more feathers, and is now almost completely covered. He has just a few tufts of baby feathers still on his head, inbetween the dark feathers. He's really cute. I kinda wish I had the accomodations to keep him, but that is not possible, so I am going to make sure he goes to a good rehabilitator.

[ittybitty]

Ok, so I am getting really attached to Mr. Peepers. Yes, I named him, after what he does best. I really want to keep him, but I can't. I postponed my vacation plans for a week because of work, but he's got to go by the time I leave.

He is eating a lot, and has learned to climb out of his hamper. He flaps and climbs up the sides with his feet. My roommate found him walking around the kitchen this morning, and woke me up to come fetch him. Roommate was not pleased, to say the least. I was quite proud of Peepers - like his first steps moment.

I started mixing a little bit of sweet potato baby food with his baby-bird feed, and he really likes it. He is eating like crazy, up to 18-26cc's per feeding, every 3/4 hours. I need to start to try to wean him, I think, because he is so big, and starting to peck at things when he's hungry.

As a side note, I looked him over last night, to see how his feathers were coming in, and to make sure there was nothing wrong anywhere. I had never looked so closely at a bird's wing before, and I was really amazed just at the structure. So fascinating.

[raynjudy]

Forgive me, I've been swamped lately. Did you get the emails I sent you?

--Ray

[ittybitty]

Ray,

I did get your emails, and I thought I sent you one back. All the numbers that people have been sending me are not panning out, so I am still looking. I have one lady at a vet center in NY who might take him, but I have to call her tomorrow around noon and talk to her about it before I can bring him in.

I've only got one more week before I go on vacation, so I better find someone soon! He is getting really big, eating a ton, and is starting to try to fly. He can get up on things that are not very high, maybe a foot or so, and his landing is improving greatly. I just hold him about a foot off the ground and he braces himself, then flaps his wings and sort of flys, but it is more of a good gliding to a landing. He is also running around my kitchen pooping everywhere!

[raynjudy]

You wrote:

"He is also running around my kitchen pooping everywhere!"

Yup, they do that!

Would you like me to cross post your request for foster parents on another site? If so, email me and I'll get that done for you.

--Ray

[ittybitty]

Just wanted to let you know that I was able to get Mr.Peepers to a rescue in New Rochelle, NY before I left for vacation. His new home is so nice, and he'll be able to fly free when he is old enough with a flock that the rescue guy feeds in his backyard.

Thank you to everyone who helped me with names and numbers!

[amygoossens]

Hi-
I recently found a baby pigeon in NYC as well and he sounds about as old as Mr. Peepers was when you were able to find him a home. I live on the Upper East Side and don't know what to do with my little guy.
See my entry "Adolescent pigeon found NYC".
I am quite attached-have had him for 2 weeks but don't think I am going to be able to keep him as a pet. I know how you must have felt! Is there any way you could hook me up with the guy who took Mr. Peepers or with any of the other people you tried-that you think might be able to take care of my little one? Would be most grateful! Was so happy your story worked out well-very encouraging!! Thanks, Amy