Distressing problem with new addition to feral flock

[dodo]

Hi Linda (sorry for previously misspelling your name ),

No problem at all about Dimity. It wasn't so much that it was hurtful to me as the reason I did not post the news. It was simply that this place has a wonderful, positive and optimistic ambience to it - it's about helping pigeons and about success stories. I read here alot, even if I don't post much, and there is always at least one good story a day that makes me feel better. So I only feel that I can post bad news if there is a specific issue at hand that needs resolving (as is the case with young Lizzy here).

Back to poor Lizzy, and I swear this young lady has 360 degree vision. Again, Lizzy ate out of my hand for breakfast, but when I started to move my other hand around from behind she simply followed it and made sure it wasn't going to touch her. I tried this about 5 times this morning, all with the same result. Honestly, there is ziltch wrong with her situational awareness. It's far better than that of nearly all the other feral regulars.

Perhas what is so frustrating about this is that I could have captured just about any other pigeon in my yard by now. I've lost count of the number of birds that have walked under my "Mary" trap and I've lost count of the number of birds who walk right into my house for breakfast.

It's so sad now I'm starting to have to see the funny side of it, or otherwise I'm going to go demented. So does anyone have an English to Pigeon translation guide so I can explain precisely to young Lizzy exactly what I plan to do with her?

[ZigZagMarquis]

Maybe you could put your hand with the food under the "Mary Trap" and get Lizzy to eat out of your hand under the trap and have someone else pull the string to trip the trap???

[dodo]

Thanks for the suggestion, but unfortuntely Lizzy won't even venture anywhere near the trap, food or not. I think she would rather starve The other problem is that I live on my own and can't really get any help. And I don't think my neighbours would be either keen or have the patience to help out.

[badger]

Cyro, you took the words right out of my mouth.
Dodo, you just have to grab her really fast. Don't worry about hurting her feet. As you are pinning her wings to her body, bring your left hand to her breast so you've got her clamped between your two hands. She can't hurt you, with her feet or her beak. You won't have to squeeze her, I promise. You just have to contain her. I wouldn't hang around patting her; act quickly.
Have a place prepared where you can put her right away; a deep box is good, one that she can't immediately fly out of. Put in a little seed and water, she'll settle down. Talk to her quietly and then after awhile bring her out into your lap, always with your hand over her wings.
I think you have to practise this in your mind, like an athlete, imagining yourself doing it.

[maryco]

Hello dodo,

Sorry to hear about the trouble you're having
I know how hard it can be catching some pigeons, especially the really stubborn ones.
My trap may not work for you but I know you will figure out a way to get Lizzy, it may seem tricky but don't give up. Also be as calm as possible around her and don't even try catching her for a little while... One thing I noticed with pigeons is that they feel and sense how the person is feeling, when I'm all tense especially when the pigeon is near by I can never catch him but once I really calm down and breath slowly I feel calmer and I think the pigeons feels it too and comes near me. That's just something I found to be very helpful when I catch birds, might help you too.

If you get a chance, grab her really quickly because sometimes it only works like that with certain pigeons like the experience I had last week.

Less than a week ago I caught a pij that I've been after for about 2 days, a youngster that only came to roost on the balcony in the evenings.
It was so hard for me and I thought from that start that he was one of those that is just impossible to catch because he was so alert, he would get ready to fly away the minute I just opened the window and if he saw the feeding container that was it, he was gone

Wednesday night I attempted to catch him as he was sleeping right under the window, I waited for it to get dark but at that point he decided to sleep on the railing to avoid the bullying from other pigeons since he couldn't stand up with his injured leg.
I left the screen out of one window and just shut it so I could maybe try again the next day, and anyway that night I couldn't put it back in because it would make too much noise.

The next day at dawn when the sun was coming out the pigeons were getting active, cooing a bit, moving around, this pij who slept up on the railing went down once he spotted some left over seed under the window from the night before that I put out. At that point I quickly grabbed a chair and slowly opened the window then once he was eating the seeds I stood on the chair, hung out of the window and grabbed him!
Seriously I never thought I'd be able to get this pij. Thanks to God I was able to and he is now at the wildlife centre being treated for that bad break below the ankle. Hopefully he is doing well

Dodo, I really hope you can catch Lizzy.
Let us know how things go and I pray that you will have success.

[dodo]

OK. Thanks everyone. I think I'll have to leave it for a couple of days, as it looks like my attempts this morning have put our "relationship" a week behind. I'll try the faster approach if and when I can get to hand feeding her again.

[pigeon george]

i used to catch pigeons near a duck pond as a kid " my father got to know there owner rather well" i would bring some seed from dads bin and sit on the ground with a large fish net the ones for fluke and the like toss some seed in the middel of the net and whene the right color bird was standing in the middel i would twist the handel rather than lift the net and boy it worked well just find a neighbor who goes fishing to see if he has such a net good luck

[dodo]

To everyone,

Thank you so much for advice.

I HAVE CAUGHT HER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I really didn't expect to - but it was just like Mary said. The "moment" came and I took the chance. No nets, no traps - I just carefully grabbed her!!!

She is now in my bathroom stuffing herself with food (maybe not a good thing but she can fast at the vet for a day if neccessary).

I have a 10.30 AM appointment this morning (90 minutes from now) with the local Avian. It's about a half hour drive from here. I hope she doesn't mind the trip too much.

Although I am so overjoyed I have caught her, I feel I have to prepare myself that the news may not be good. So it's quite mixed emotions at the moment.

[TAWhatley]

Wonderful news and very well done! Let's hope the trip to the vet has an optimistic outcome. Please keep us posted.

Terry

[dodo]

OK, just got back from the Avian Doctor. It looks like she is going to need a left leg amputation. The doctor is going to see how she responds to anti-biotics, but at this stage she may be able to keep the right leg, although at the very least it appears a toe will need to be amputated on that leg.

[maryco]

Dodo

First let me congratulate you on catching her!! I -knew- you could do it!
It's an amazing feeling once you can FINALLY catch that bird you've been after for SO long .......but then comes the even harder part, trying to figure out what exactly the problem is or what is to be done

I'm glad you had her looked at by the vet as well, sorry to hear about the toe and leg needing amputations but it could be for the best.

Please keep us updated on Lizzy's condition..

[dodo]

Hi Mary,

You are right. It is an amazing feeling when you have spent so many days trying to get a bird, especially when I could have gotten any of the others 3 or 4 times over.

But I think you are right. I don't think it's best in these particular situations to actually plan the capture. I think it is just better to seize the moment. And by capturing her on impulse, I never got the chance to get all worked up and nervous about it. When I first tried grabbing her about a week ago I was so nervous that my heart was pounding out of my chest, my hand was slippery and I was simply far too hesitant. But this morning, the perfect opportunity just came along - out of the blue - and I made a split second decision to simply grab her.

When I actually realised she could not escape from my hands I had to do a double take. I simply could not believe at all that I had the bird in my hand! I could trap a lot of others and not think anything of it, but this one was really, really hard work.

What really annoyed me though is that half an hour after being captured, she realised I wasn't such a bad bloke after all. She let me go up to her and pat her without running away or giving the alarm signal. I wish the bird had known this 4 weeks ago, at which point both legs and all toes could have been saved.

Anyway, I did have to ask the vet about costs, because I'm not rich and have to pay for my own food and pay my own water and electricity bills. She though it might cost about $200, which means I can just manage it without starving myself.

It was quite sad with her at the vet. I'm there holding Lizzy and the vet is cutting away all the string. Lizzy had her head turned around to look at me the whole time. I'm not sure if she was saying "thank you", "what the flipping heck are you doing to me?".

[maryco]

Hi Dodo,

Wow!! Amazing and I feel excatly the way you feel when about to catch a bird. Sometimes my heart beats so hard and I can't help holding my breath just as not to make slight moves (even just breathing which can cause the pij to escape)
And usually once I catch the bird I can't believe it either, it's really a great moment!

After having caught so many birds over the 2 years since I started I figured out that being more relaxed is the best way and clearing my mind just when I'm about to catch the bird, praying helps me a lot in those moments as well.

And that's so true about the pij's behaviour after being caught.. it can be very frustrating for us trying to catch them and if only they knew that we were just trying to help!

I'm sure Lizzy understands and appreciated the care she is getting by you and the vet.. I hope she has a speedy recovery and things go well with her feet.

[cyro51]

Hi Dodo,

Very well done!

If she needs an amputation try to persuade them to do that at the ankle joint so that she still has a stump to walk on. It makes life that much more easy for them because otherwise they have to use a wing as a crutch and that causes damage to the wing. I have one that had a leg amputated at the thigh so she has to hop around and she simply could not survive outside the aviary. Another lost both feet to string and even though he is significantly shorter than the other pigeons he can hold his own. He would be releasable but is devoted to his hen who needs additional care, so they both stayed.

Cynthia

[dodo]

Thanks for that tip Cynthia. I'm not exactly sure when I'm going to hear from them. I think they want to see how much effect the antibiotics are going to have. Certainly now that you have mentioned this, I will ask if it is optional to amputate at the ankle. I think a major problem at the moment is that there is so much massive swelling - including the entire legs - it's hard to make a decision at present as to what needs doing. When I left her with them, I asked would she be able to survive outside so long as I fed her each day. They said yes. One would think (hope) they would only take off the minimum required.

Jonathan