Southern California Members - Please Read - Regarding Orkin

[TAWhatley]

Hi All,

I had an interesting call from an Orkin representative last week regarding setting up a release program for the pigeons that they trap. Apparently this type of program has been in place in Northern California and is working well. Basically the idea is that when Orkin removes pigeons as part of their extermination/pest control activities that they will house them and provide food and water until arrangements can be made with local rescuers to relocate the pigeons.

I think this is a terrific idea, and it sure beats the alternative (Orkin euthanizes the pigeons unless this type of program is in place).

Anyway, I'm willing to work with them on this, but I doubt I can safely/reasonably release all the Orkin pigeons at my local duck pond park. Thus, I need for our So Cal members to be thinking about good release locations for these birds.

If you know of a great spot, please let me know.

Terry

[Maggie-NC]

Oh Terry, this does my heart good. I know the news made your day.

[sasha008]

Wow that's wonderful!!! I hope they gets lots of support. I emailed the company and commended them on this great program

[Margarret]

Terry,

This is one of the most optimistic things I have read in the whole field of pigeon control. I hope like the dickens that some good release places can be identified. It will have to be somewhere that doesn't impinge on neighborhoods, for the moment some people get wind of pigeons being released, bam, the NIMBYs will be up in arms. Would the company be willing to do it clandestinely without saying where they are being released? Or do they want the good publicity of this project?

Margaret

[TAWhatley]

Thanks, everyone for having a look. Let's really, really, really be looking for good release sites for these birds. I think it will be about a month before I am asked to take the first pigeons, and I know that those can safely go to the duck pond park. I just have no idea how many pigeons we might be talking about for the long term and want to be prepared with as many release sites as possible.

There are no detailed plans in place at this point, but based on my first conversation about this project, it would appear that Orkin would hand off the birds to me and that it would be up to me to take it from there. I suspect that they don't/won't care where the birds go. As to good publicity for them, I also don't know about that. I'm sure they would like any good publicity that they can get and believe that they deserve some for this. I just don't want a bunch of reporters hounding me about what I'm doing with the birds or where they end up. Margarret is right .. the NIMBY's would have a hissy fit if they thought the pigeons might end up near them ..

I'll be talking to the Orkin fellow again in about a week and will try to get some better information about this whole operation.

Terry

[kippermom]

There is a large equestrian area near Griffith Park park that has a few feral pigeons in residence, but not a huge feral population that I have ever seen. There are only a few full time residents. Griffith Park is nearby, the zoo, and lots of open space, the LA River, two large cemeteries...just a thought. I am not sure what other characteristics you would look for?

[TAWhatley]

Thanks for the replies everyone! If anyone else has any suggestions for release sites, please post them here. I will be calling the Orkin representative next week to see how close they are to actually getting this process started.

Terry

[bluecheck]

Terry,
I would be MOST interested also checking the birds if possible before release to just get an idea of number in colors, etc., and any potential new mutations.

Frank Mosca

[TAWhatley]

Originally Posted by bluecheck

Terry,
I would be MOST interested also checking the birds if possible before release to just get an idea of number in colors, etc., and any potential new mutations.

Frank Mosca

Hi Frank,

We can probably figure out a way to do this. I believe the birds will be initially housed in San Dimas at an Orkin facility before being transported to me. Perhaps you could get a look at them there before they come all the way down to me in South Orange County. My thought was to set up some quarantine cages for these Orkin birds, check them thoroughly for any injuries or illnesses, treat any that needed treatment, get pictures, and after a couple of weeks, release them at whatever site seems to make sense. I'm also quite sure that there will be some number of banded pigeons that get trapped with the ferals, and I would be tracing those bands to see if the owners want the birds back .. if so .. fine .. if not, then I would post those here in the Adoption forum.

Since we haven't actually gotten started on this project, I really have no clue how it's all going to work out or what the volume of birds is going to be.

Terry

[bluecheck]

San Dimas works for me. It's only about 10 miles from the office. I'm e-mailing you my cell number in case you no longer have it. Maybe we can figure out something.

[TAWhatley]

Originally Posted by bluecheck

San Dimas works for me. It's only about 10 miles from the office. I'm e-mailing you my cell number in case you no longer have it. Maybe we can figure out something.

Thanks, Frank. I'll let you know when this is ready to get underway. Also will be looking for your cell phone e-mail. I may have you somewhere .. but might not

Terry

[Margarret]

Terry,

I have been trying to think of where a flock of ferals might do well around here. There is plenty of water just about anywhere you look in this area. I would think there is pretty abundant food as quail seem to thrive except where construction has run them off. We seem to have every kind of bird except feral pigeons. There are numerous hawks, but I think that may be a problem just about anywhere in So. Calif. I think I said that there was a small flock of ferals in town, but they have disappeared. I don't know if humans had a hand in that. So lets consider this area for a future potential release space.

Margaret

[TAWhatley]

Hi All,

The first group of pigeons from Orkin arrived today. I had been contacted about 4-6 weeks ago about another group, but they apparently placed those pigeons with someone else.

I got a call this morning that they had birds they wanted to drop off to me within the next couple of hours. Since I was at work, they were good enough to leave the pigeons in their cages and placed them in a safe and shady area as I had asked them to do. They will pick up their cages in the next few days so they are ready for the next group.

The birds had seed and water and all appear to be in pretty good health/condition. I will be carefully checking each one tomorrow. There are 60+ pigeons.

There are none banded with traceable bands that I spotted today, but there are several with tie wrap bands, so somebody had them at some point. There is one mostly white bird that's a bit rough looking and a couple of others with interesting colors, markings, or slightly muffed feet. I'll try to get some pictures tomorrow.

I suspect some number of these pigeons will need to stay with me for at least a short time for some TLC but most appear to be releasable, and most of them appear to be quite wild.

All in all, it worked out pretty well for the first time. I will be talking to the gentleman at Orkin in the morning to get a bit more information about the birds such as where they came from and also to ask him to make some more cages as the birds were a bit too crowded today. Another cage of the same size would have been just about perfect for very short term quarters.

If the groups of pigeons continue to be this size, then I'm really going to need to come up with some release sites other than the duck pond park, so put your thinking caps on.

Terry

[Dezirrae]

Wow Terry! 60 is a huge group! I wish I was there or at least familiar with So. Cal. so I could help. Just wanted to thank you (as ALWAYS) for all you do - and I'm just so happy that a company is kind hearted enough to put the time, effort & expense into such a program.

Wonder if they have similiar programs here in the east?

Anyway - good luck with this initial 60 Terry and do keep us posted Also, let us know if you want/need any donations to help defer your costs.

[TAWhatley]

Hi Dez!

As far as I know there is another "save the pigeons" project with Orkin in Northern California. I don't know if there are others in various parts of the U.S. .. sure would be great if there were! I'll try to find out and will let everybody know. The key part of this whole thing is that Orkin has to have someone or several someones to take the pigeons that they get. Without that, they really have don't have any good options for what to do with the birds.

Thank you for asking about donations. For right now, we are OK. If it turns out that I find a bunch of these pigeons needing meds or just needing to stay here for a good while to put on weight or get feathers into good condition, then it may be a different story. At first glance when I got home tonight, most of the birds are in very good shape.

Terry