There’s something about Mary (the baby wood pigeon)

Yesterday on my lunch break I ran down to M&S at Union Square to get a few things. As I was leaving I noticed three people crowded around something on the ground next to the carpark. It was a very tiny baby pigeon – or so I thought – still with all its fluffy yellow down.

I looked up and could see no signs of a nest or any sign of parents. It’s a very industrial area down there with not a single tree in sight. The bird was on a small patch of dirt beneath the vines growing up the side of the carpark wall. I do love these vines as they provide a soft, green contrast to all the hard concrete and the birds love them. They are always full of starlings who roost there overnight and produce a cacophony of sounds whenever we walk past. I’ve never seen pigeons in it though.

I didn’t hesitate to scoop up the nestling, whom I named Mary, and bring her home. She felt cold but quickly warmed up at home up and developed a huge appetite. All I have for baby birds is defrosted peas but she didn’t mind and scoffed a huge number.

I contacted New Arc by email so I could send photos and they informed me that she’s a wood pigeon rather than an urban pigeon. They also offered to take her in the next day so she was only with us overnight and today she made the journey to the wildlife rescue where she’ll be reared with other orphaned wood pigeons.

We all grew very fond of Mary in the short time she was here. Indeed it’s probably a good thing she’s gone as I’m sure she’d have imprinted on us all and then not been sufficiently wary of humans once released.

Even Ben was besotted.

Isn’t she just the most adorable little thing?

She’s in good hands now and from initial updates is well and joined the wildlife rescue flock. She wouldn’t have lasted the day where I found her; if the cold hadn’t take her, dehydration or predators certainly would have.