Your "handle" and how you got started

[mr squeaks]

Originally Posted by Pisciottano

Nobody else to tell his/her story?

Depending on the number of new members or those who haven't already posted, there can be MANY new additions or a few trickling in here and there...

I'm sure more will add as time goes on...

[Hillybean]

I'm located in Southern Indiana, where I've lived my whole live, so far . My real name is Hilary, but I go a by hil, hilly, my middle name and Hillybean. I have a pretty big family, sporting 9 living children, we're all pretty close. About eight years ago one of my older brothers (who I'm really close to)started calling me hillybean and it stuck . What made him come up with the name had to do alot with my height, yep that's right, I'm short (4 ft-8inches) . I use Hillybean as the user name on several forums and chat groups.

I've always loved animals. I've grown up mainly with dogs, fish, hamsters, G-pigs and a cat. When, little I always tried to help hurt animals. When, I was 12yrs old I started volenteering my time at a pet shop (handling the animals). Since then, I've learn how to hand raise several different animals. I'm also a companion to many.

About two years ago, while googling up on different pets I came across a posting about a pet pigeon. I started learning about them then. About a year ago I joined this forum and I was looking into getting a pet pigeon. Unfortunately, my health put getting a pigeon a hold. This summer I saved a baby house sparrow from dieing (hand raised it). It was able to be set released (not in the best way) back into the environment. I had kinda gotten use to handling it/caring for it . Then, started thinking about getting another bird, I then found all the information on pigeons that I had collected.

After reading up on them some more. I became active in the forum again and actually got my Pet Pigeon rescently !

I'll be starting college this Spring. I plan on taking two years of general studies, getting a Degree in animal science and the rest on becoming a vet. I've wanted to be a vet my whole life and that's never changed...
Just like my love for ALL animals.
Thanks-Hilly

[littlestar]

Sorry, I never saw this thread.

Here's my story.
I chose the name littlestar because of my starlings having stars on them. On one site I'm known as Littlefeathers the name of my first starling who was naked when I got her and when her feathers started coming out I would say to her look at your little feathers coming out and from that point on she was know as Littlefeathers. I'm asked all the time if it's an Indian name, I guess you could say it is. I do have a brother that was named Running Bear by Indians, and when he was a baby it fit him well .

From a baby I always had a love for birds and animals both. When I was little I used to find kittens all alone and I would bring them home and my mom would get so mad at me. Then as time went on if there was an animal hurt along the side of the road I would make my mom stop so I could help it. Well as I got older my love for helping somethings only got stronger. I helped bats, and even a opossum. Opossums believe it or not make wonderful pets, but the only thing with at is they when they are not is they seem to trust only the person who feeds them. As a kid I always wanted a pigeon, I guess it was because I spent a lot time around them. Where I lived before moving to NC I had many wild pigeons by my house and every morning I would go by them and talk to them, I didn't miss one day. I also had a sparrow and squirrels that come over to me if I was outside eating, and I would share my food with them. My mom who passed away in 2001 always said to me, you will never change, you are one that will always help anything in need. You know she was right because I'm still helping little ones in need. My first bird I saved was a starling, then a pigeon that was caught by a cat, and then more pigeons, starlings, and other birds.

I joined this forum because I had something in common with y'all, pigeons and a love for them. I'm glad to be here with such wonderful people.
Mary Ann

[flitsnowzoom]

We need more stories here

[LSG3240]

The LSG part of the name is My and my wifes initials combined. The 3240 part is an antique firearms cartridge from the I800's. I dont know why I use the number part except I can always remember it. I dont own one or really have any desire to, it just got stuck up in my head one day and has been fluttering around there ever since.
I saw my first pigeon when I was seven. They were not common in our part of Texas then. A man came to my parents place, set a cage on the ground, and turned them loose. I remember standing there watching them fly out of sight. My mother never would allow me to have any so I had to wait another 40 years or so. I went to "The Big City" a few years ago and saw two boys riding a bicycle with a pen full of birds on it. It triggered a long lost memory. I aquired some white homers( it was all I could find at the time) Built a small loft with a large flight pen, and I can sit outside and watch them to my hearts content. I dont race,show or use them for release's. I do cart them off and turn them loose about once a week. I then race home to see who gets there first, me or them. Life is good.

[Maggie-NC]

Hi LSG, welcome to the forum. I enjoyed your story.

[Maggie-NC]

Thought I would bump this up because we have many new members.

Now......don't be bashful, folks!

[TheSnipes]

"TheSnipes"...because, when I went out with my sister to rescue my first pidgies, we both said we felt like we were on a snipe hunt (you older folks will recall the classic frat. hazing legend..c'mon, you do remember..!) We'd been asked to remove a pair of nesting "white doves" from a horse arena, because they were spooking the horses. Since I kept parrots the people assumed I'd know what to do about them! (WRONG!) A friend with pigeons told us we could easily catch the birds in the dark, so over we went with ladder, pet carrier, flashlight, and a strong sense that we were being laughed at behind our backs. As it happened we did catch those birds, who of course turned out to be white pigeons (no doubt lost from a ceremonial release) as well as ambassadors into the new and wonderful realm of pigeondom. I have their grandkids, now.

[TAWhatley]

Originally Posted by TheSnipes

"TheSnipes"...because, when I went out with my sister to rescue my first pidgies, we both said we felt like we were on a snipe hunt (you older folks will recall the classic frat. hazing legend..c'mon, you do remember..!)

Ahhh yes .. I remember snipe hunting well .. that's from the era of watching submarine races ..

Terry

[Pidgey]

By George... I think you've found the secret to long life!!!

Pidgey

[flitsnowzoom]

Uh, I don't think Pidgie was referring to those wax worms

[evermorebg]

I jokingly call the homestead Evermore Ranch or Farm (because the are ever more animals). My name is Brandi and my soon to be hubby is Greg.

I cannot remember ever not having several animals around. My mother worked at a Vet's office that saw all kinds of animals. Both of my parents are licensed wildlife rehabbers, and after they could not do it any more the state grandfathered me into my license due to my many years of working with them.

I was always rescuing animals of all kinds and eventually got a shelter up and running. unfortunately after 3 years we had to close the doors due to lack of funding in our area (but successfully adopted out over 700 animals of all species) i call still recall each one's name when looking through photos!

I am a navy brat and when my father retired we moved to land he inherited in north west Alabama. I got to buy my first horse. . . Rowdy who is now 26 years old and still loves to ride! A local farrier brought me Sunny last year a 25 year old horse who was starving ( little over a year later and he is doing great and a joy to ride). We bought Mojo ( my 2 year old baby) and Dakota since the other guys need to retire to just being a horse.

I have 5 dogs 4 of them rescues. . . Able (a momma's boy) was a great Dane that the breeder's brought to me at 10 weeks old because he was so scared of people that he was going to be dangerous. well we ended up taking him to schools to do animal education (along with many of my other critters). Doobie is another dane that they gave me for helping them. Suzy, a border collie mix was abandoned by our neighbors as a pup and my son fell in love. She is a special needs due to a birth deformity. Bruiser was found with his litter in a box shoved between the tires of a logging trailer, and the guy that owned the trailer knew me. he was the pup that would not stay in the box on the way home, and had to sit in my lap. now he is just getting over having a leg amputated (1-8-08) and a 65 pound lap baby!

The 3 cats are all rescues. goofy 13 years old now, I rescued as a 5 week old kitten where the kids had burned his pads and cut him with scissors. it was several months before he could even walk, but he is STILL the boss of the whole farm! Bay Bay was the 1st drop off at the shelter before we even had the power on and she was pregnant hence. . . Boo Boo.

We also have 6 snakes 4 that were rescues and many chickens (too many to count) One day Greg was at a Flea Market where a guy had a few frizzled pigeons (and knowing that i had always wanted a pidgy). He was trying to get rid of one because all her feathers would break off. When he told Greg that all they needed to eat was whole corn he bought them feelig as though they were really rescues. They are doing much better now with a good diet and some TLC.

Well in my research on pigeons I happened across this forum. I love the informative and polite people so much that i am here to stay! Thanks

[Snowbird Sue]

Hello, and such a nice thread too! I am "new" to pigeons, and how I got started is pretty neat. I had 10 Shelties for 31+ years, and my last one passed away at the ripe old age of 18, of liver cancer. They all lived long lives, and most passed away of old age..... I missed her, and after about a couple months, my husband was out in our detached garage, with the door open, and in flew a pigeon. He came in to the house, and told me I should come and see the bird in the garage. Well, I did, and it had bands on both legs. It was eating some corn that had been spilled, and I walked right up to it and picked it up! WOW! I was so surprised, and I had a pencil & paper and wrote down all the info from the bands. Well, to make a LONG story short, I contacted the club secretary, and she told me to pen it up with feed and water for 48 hours, and then release it. That the racing pigeon only stops if it is injured, tired or hungry. It was not hurt, it flew fine, it was just tired and hungry. I did, and even wrote a letter to the owner, who lives in Ontario Canada, but never got an answer back. I released the bird, and never saw it again, but then, I also never heard from the owner either. It was fascinating having it even if it was only 48 hours. it kind of left a "mark" on me.....
I started researching them, and bought 2 pair, and since I live in "snow country", and I have "white homers", I chose "Snowbird Sue"...... Seemed to fit quite well! I also have a cat, she is 1/4 bobcat and 3/4 domestic cat, but she is an inside cat, and is 10+ years old now. She wouldn't know what to do if she ever came in contact with a bird She has never been outside.
Thanks for giving me the opportunity to share my story along with the rest of you! I feel so lucky to be able to ask any question and there is always someone there to answer me. Thanks again, Snowbird Sue!

[ZeldaCA]

I use the name Zelda because it is a long-time, family nickname for me. My great-aunt was Zelda (Sayre) Fitzgerald, who was F. Scott Fitzgerald's nutty (but brilliant) wife. And in my teen years I took on many of those infamous crazy, zany characteristics, my family started calling me the "new Zelda" in the family. Not exactly a compliment, lol! Luckily, unlike my great-aunt, I was not seriously insane, just mildly eccentric and quite rebellious. Still am, in my own way, although all in all, I'd say I'm a pretty responsible citizen. And of course the CA part comes from the fact that I live in the Golden State of California.

I have felt a deep and abiding kinship for animals for as long as I can remember. I truly feel I have a calling and a gift for helping both animals and children, which is why I've spent much of my life in puiblic education. I was, like many of you, the child who always brought home stray or wounded animals to care for, much to my family's consternation. In that regard, not much has changed, except now no one tells me I can't do it! I've been rehabbing birds for many years, but truly love ALL animals.

I really believe that there are some of us who are placed here as guardians of the creatures God created, and that it's an honor to serve in that capacity, for as long as He lets me. And I have no doubt that when I get to Heaven, I'll be working with animals there as well (otherwise it would simply not be heaven for me!).

Isn't it a blessing to know exactly what you were put here to do? I can tell, by reading all your stories, that many of you are the exact same way. It is very nice to be among friends here, that's for sure!

[amyable]

Snowbird Sue, Just had to pop a picture up of our two Shelties when I saw your post. It must have been difficult living without all your Shelties after having so many for so long. Ours came from a house that has fifteen shelties all living together as pets! It's fun when we go to visit and add my two, we get smothered in dog hair!!
These two are Sheltie rejects, Blake, the large one being too large, and Cameron the other, is not 'entire' as they say, a bit of a runt, but we love them.

I too have got into pigeons by accident, but my dogs unfortunately don't feel the same way about them, would rather chase them so I can't keep any permanently. In these pictures they are 'keeping an eye' on a juvenile Wood Pigeon I had hand reared before release. If you look hard you might see it in the cage soaking up the sun. They stuck like glue watching it's every move whenever I had it outside in it's cage.

(sorry the pictures are so big I haven't learnt how to reduce them yet)!!

Janet