Anonymous Guest Post

Our older two kiddos are AuDHD and struggle with anxiety. While it looks different for both of them, pigeons have been an incredible support to our family. For our oldest, who “got us into” pigeons, it was initially a special interest, which broadened to birds generally, vegetarianism, food systems, and education/advocacy as he’s grown, giving him a purpose and a focus.

Roosevelt, Clover’s husbird who recently passed away, was responsible for helping him learn to read — he struggled to engage and be still enough to work on reading skills, unless he had a lap pigeon. As a teenager he now works as a counselor at a local naturalist club as well as a preschool, and has learned so much about teaching and advocacy through pigeons, and has introduced now hundreds of preschoolers and elementary kids to pigeons. The pigeons have been a way to interact and connect with other people for a kiddo that has struggled, a calming presence. This has been huge as we spent over a year navigating mental health supports — the pigeons really got him through that time.

Our middle struggles with emotional regulation, and when his feelings are especially intense he can struggle with hand banging and generally being overwhelmed. We have tried for years with various supports and interventions, and the one thing that helps him the most right now is having a pigeon with him when he is doing challenging or frustrating work, or even when he starts to get overwhelmed. We share our home with many other animals, but pigeons are the specific presence that is the most calming and supportive for my oldest kids.

Guest Post by Michelle Norman & Heather Hohlowski

In early July, the Palomacy Phone Team answered a call from a person who noticed a domestic pigeon with a serious chest wound. We asked them to catch her, which they did, and then asked if they could take her to Medical Center for Birds, in Oakley, California. And they did that too – and stayed throughout the appointment. She was given the name Sassafras and stayed at MCFB for a couple of days before going to her foster home with Michelle, a longtime Palomacy volunteer.

Sassafrass asking for help

Sassafras is a young pigeon racing survivor – only six months old when rescued. She likely got lost and attacked on her first race, a sadly common occurrence. It was clear that Sassafras had been caught by a hawk who had begun to eat her alive. She was torn open from the start of her throat almost to the end of her keel and yet, amazingly, was still able to get away and then, even more amazingly, live long enough to be rescued alive.

Sassafras had significant chest injuries

After three days of in-hospital wound treatment, she arrived to foster care still traumatized from her ordeal – and she did NOT want to be picked up. She would flail around, clawing at Michelle. As she adjusted to her new surroundings, Michelle began wrapping her in a soft blanket and just sitting and snuggling with her: “I would adjust the blanket for her comfort and I preened her head. I would do this and she would begin to calm down. Then I added foot massages to our routine!”

Sassafras gets cozy under a blanket

After four weeks of care and compassion, Sassafras began to trust her foster mom: “It wasn’t long before she was napping on my lap. She watched the routine of my other birds and fosters and grew comfortable in her new surroundings. She had her first outdoor time and returned to her crate – her safe place – all on her own. Her chest wound is just about healed and she has two male suitors on either side of her wanting to make her their wife. A beautiful ending to a tragic start. I decided to add Starlene to her name since she is a darling pigeon.”

Sassafras Starlene thanks you!

Please donate to ensure birds like Sassafras Starlene can get the avian vet care they need.