Power Surge and hurt pigeon

[BeanTree]

I had to have the pigeon put down by a local vet. She had gangrene in her wing and was slowly losing the other foot. It was the most horrible experience of my life. I will NEVER forget trying to help that bird. I have a much deeper respect for pigeons and it is bittersweet to watch them in the yard.

I DID find out what was going on. Over time the two wires became lax and one sagged just enough that when the right number of birds sat on the line together, it would sag enough to cause the wires to arc. This would shock the lowest sitting pigeon and kill it. The ones next to it would suffer in some way.

I had the power company come out and tighten the lines and the problem ceased. The power guy said that this is a common occurance (lines sagging over time).

We have since moved to a different property that has many more birds. I have my feeders out and watch the doves and pigeons hang out under the feeders for what the cardinals, wrens and robins leave behind.

Abigail was a very dear bird and my heart breaks when i think about her end but I hope she understands that I really did my best.