I have seen two PMV pigeons this winter.
The first, PP2C ("pee-pee-two-see") for Pigeon with 2 Pale Claws, was the same pigeon I took to Taubenklinik Essen (pigeon clinic in Essen, Germany) for a lump under her right foot on Monday, November 26, 2007. The lady doctor did a crop swab (we could observe the live action of the microbes under the microscope, on the video screen connected to the microscope). No large amounts of bad microbes. She did a blood test, and reported a few days later that the pigeon didn't have paratyphoid/salmonellosis. The lump under the left foot where the toes join, about the size of a peanut, was due to trauma, she figured. PP2C flew out a day or so later.
I had a bit of work coming up with PP2C's name: her main left toe and the inner toe of his left foot have pale toenails or claws. The others are dark. It is about the only way I can identify him.
On the way to the pigeon clinic, at the Duisdorf main train station, I also rescued a squeaker with right leg broken near the hip. He is with the re-habber Christa G., and she thinks he may have to have his leg re-broken and re-set, since he falls over. I have to check back with her to see what happened with him. I named him Deuce von Duisdorf, since he was one of a pair of birds I took that day, and "Deuce" rhymes with "Duis-" of Duisdorf.
On Thursday January 10th I noticed PP2C was having trouble eating seeds. I enticed her inside, fed her for a week, and let her out on January 17th. He is doing fine. Saw him today. I made video clips of him, with his head upside down. I will upload them to Google video sometime and link to them, for reference purposes, or load them into YouTube. So much to do.
The second PMV pigeon: On Saturday January 19th, 2008, I saw a bunch of tail feathers and smaller white insulating feathers on the street below, a bit farther down the street from our window. No blood or carcass. I think a raptor got the pigeon. He had been sick for a while, a month maybe, sitting slightly fluffed up and less active than the other neighboring pigeons. The day before I tried to entice him inside with seeds, but he showed not much interest. He did go to some seeds I set on a hard to reach windowsill, and had trouble pecking. I made two swipes at him with a net with fine mesh, sold to me "for pigeons." The net had about a twelve-inch diameter opening, and wen the pigeon had his wings spread he was able to keep from being scooped into the net. I had to reach and stretch for him, and couldn't be too obvious about it, lest the neighbors see. Missed him, and he flew off. He was a local pigeon who had a wee bit of trust in me, and I simply added to his miseries. I figure a quick death, if such it were, might have been a blessing for him, and a meal for the raptor, and a better choice than a healthier, escaping pigeon who suffered broken bones or injuries from an unsuccessful raptor attack. When I die, don't mind being recycled by animals, small microorganisms or larger predators. I should phrase that, after I die.
Cynthia,
It occurred to me that Britain's pigeons might be better off if they had a milder strain of PMV from the continent to help them ward off a more virulent strain. At the London Wildlife Center, Kittypaws says they routinely euthanize PMV pigeons, since only 2 percent survive, even after extensive care and treatment. Just a thought, maybe eventually even an opinion.
We have had some mild weather with damp and wet conditions, fluctuating or alternating with colder weather the past month or so: great for colds, and for flu. Good for viruses.
Larry
