Last Friday afternoon I went into town to check on Matilda, the one-footed pigeon. I do worry about her but she seems to be managing ok. I’m sure I could find her a permanent home in an aviary if she was really struggling but I think she prefers her freedom.
When I arrived I spotted a pigeon alone, on the ground, all fluffed up in a tiny corner of dryness where all around was pouring rain and an Artic wind. I threw seeds on the ground and the rest of the flock descended while the fluffed-up bird began squeaking like a baby, hoping to be fed. While he had no remaining yellow feathers I could tell he was just a baby still. A storm was forecast for last weekend so I scooped him up and took him home. You can’t tell by looking at a bird how thin they may be because the feathers hide it but this one, I could feel, was emaciated.
I warmed him up and fed him some defrosted peas when we got home which he enjoyed. Here’s how he looked that first night.
By Wednesday he was looking much brighter though still very thin.
I weighed him on the Monday morning and discovered he was only 140g which is emaciated for a pigeon. He had been eating by himself but seeing his weight so low I begin supplementing with hand-feeding and he loved that – he would perch on my arm and squeak for more.
By Wednesday his weight was up to 200g. Given how thin he was I figured he needed expert and more long-term care than I could provide so I contacted New Ark who took him in on the Thursday. He’s since been treated for parasites by them which I’m sure will help also. I named him Edward. He’s the cutest little thing. We miss him but he’s in the best place he can be and hopefully he’ll grow up strong and have a nice long pigeon life.
It must be tough to come into this world, be fed by a parent for the shortest time then abandoned at about 5 weeks of age, finding yourself in a cold concrete jungle in the pouring rain just before a storm and feeling hungry and alone. It’s a tough world out there for animals and we don’t make it any easier for them.
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