February 26, 2023
by Elizabeth
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UV Lighting for Companion Birds

Guest Post by Jiu Z

Why do your indoor birds need special lighting?
Birds need access to direct, full-spectrum UV (ultraviolet) light to be happy and healthy. Ideally, they’d get this through safe, protected outdoor time straight from the natural sun for at least 30 minutes a day, 3 times a week (more is better). However, if your birds are only getting sunlight through glass windows or through mesh screens, they aren’t getting the full spectrum light they need—UV light can’t pass through glass. For these indoor birds, you can provide full-spectrum avian lighting.

What does full-spectrum UV lighting mean?
Natural sunlight is more than just the wavelength of light that we can see (called visible light). It also includes UVA- and UVB- wavelength light, and these are what our birds need. UVA is invisible to humans, but it’s an important part of avian vision and mental wellbeing. UVB light is crucial for vitamin D production, which birds need for bone health, immune systems, energy levels, and more.

Full-spectrum UV lighting aims to replicate what your bird would get from the natural sun. It’s important to note that not all “full-spectrum” light is equal! Many lights advertised as such don’t have adequate UVB output, or are otherwise unsafe.

Benefits of Proper Lighting for Birds
People who use avian-safe UV lighting have seen huge improvements in their birds’ mood, activity, and overall health. Some benefits are easily visible to us humans: higher energy, better feather quality, healthier eggs. Others may be more subtle to the naked eye, but no less important: stronger bones, more robust immune system, and greater mental wellbeing.

Lighting recommendations
Here are some options for avian lighting for 1-2 pigeons. Read on for information on correct usage of UV lighting and things to watch out for.

Top pick:
Cage size: 48″w x 32″h or smaller (Large and XL dog crates with shelves where the bird’s head is 6″ or less from the top of the cage)

Lamp kit with bulb: Arcadia Bird PureSun Mini

Bulb only: Puresun T5 Mini Bulb [Requires a T5 light fixture! If you don’t have one already, get the kit version]

Place 6-8″ from top of bird’s head. Replace every 9-12 months. More details about this light.

Note: If you can get at least 8″ of space from the top of the birds’ head to the top of the cage, use the Arcadia PureSun Midi recommended below.

Cage size: 64″w x 34″ h

Lamp kit with bulb: Arcadia Bird PureSun Midi

Bulb only: Arcadia Bird T5 Midi [Requires a T5 light fixture! If you don’t have one already, get the kit version]

Place 8-12″ from top of bird’s head. Replace every 9-12 months.

More details about this light.

Other cage setups and bird species:

I recommend contacting Arcadia Bird with your cage dimensions and the distance of your bird’s head from the top of the cage (at the highest perching spot) for a custom recommendation. https://www.arcadiabird.com/contact/

More information at the end about buying lamps and methodology for researching your own.

Placement
Light is strongest closest to the bulb and weaker the further away the bird is. It’s important to make sure the light is placed close enough for your bird to benefit, but not so close that it causes burns or irritation. Lighting should always be placed on top of the cage, never to the side. Putting the light on top prevents your bird from having to stare into the light and provides a gradient so that they can self-regulate when to move closer to or further from the light. Make sure that there are areas of shade in the cage (such as under shelves) so your bird isn’t forced to always be in the light.

Refer to the descriptions above for recommended distances. If the lamp you want to use isn’t listed, contact the manufacturer. If you are using a reflector, increase the distance by 3″. Distance is relative to the top of the bird’s head at their highest perching location.

Note: “Distance from top of bird’s head” isn’t just the distance from the shelf, you also need to account for the bird! If you don’t have enough distance, the mounting bracket included in the lighting kit may be able to add a couple inches.

How long the light should be on
Many have had success with 12-hour cycles: On 12 hours, off 12 hours. Make sure that the time the light is off is at least 12 hours so that your bird has enough time to rest. You can use a light timer or smart plug to avoid having to remember to manually turn it on and off every day.

What to watch for
Although uncommon, sometimes UV lighting has caused skin and eye irritation in parrots and reptiles. Watch for squinting, face rubbing, or redness of the skin around the eyes. If you notice any of these, discontinue use of the light.

When and why to replace your UV lighting
All UV bulbs have a limited lifespan; their UV output decreases over time until it’s no longer enough to give your birds the UV dose they need. For compact fluorescent lights such as the ZooMed Avian Sun, replace the bulb at least every 6 months. For linear fluorescent lights such as the Arcadia PureSun Midi, replace the bulb at least every 12 months.

Considerations when choosing a light
If you decide to do your own research on what light to use, here are some considerations to take into account. I highly recommend downloading and reading the PDFs on UV lighting needs by Laura Wade, DVM and the Psittacine Welfare Institute.

Psittacine Welfare Institute Lighting-UV.pdf

1 file(s) 2.80 MB

Download

Wade, Laura (2018 revised) UV lighting (1).pdf

1 file(s) 550.20 KB

Download

Bulb type: Choose either linear fluorescent or compact fluorescent. Avoid mercury vapor bulbs. While CFL bulbs are a more common light fixture, they also need to be replaced more often, have a less diffuse light gradient (quicker fall-off), and you still need to finagle the fixture so that the bulb is horizontal over the cage and at the correct height. IMO, you might as well just get the Arcadia linear fluorescent kits mentioned above.

UV output: This is tricky, as it can be difficult to verify manufacturer claims. If you can afford a UVB solarmeter, you can test the light yourself. In general, look for a light that has adequate UVB output and isn’t known to have a high amount of short-wavelength UVB output (can be dangerous). Be cautious of high UVB reptile lighting that may be excessive for birds.

CRI: The color rendering index refers to how closely the light approximates the colors of natural light. It should be a minimum of 91 for birds (some sources cite 88, but higher is better.)

Here are some other options on the market you can consider. You may want to check if your avian vet has a solarmeter and whether they advise for/against a specific bulb. If you can get access to a solarmeter, this also helps with knowing when a bulb needs replacing.

Currently, I don’t recommend experimenting with unknown brands. Good avian-safe bulbs are difficult to make and research on them is already scarce; you don’t want to increase risk any further.

ZooMed Avian Sun: This bulb has weak output, which can be remedied by placing it closer (4-8″), but watch for signs of irritation (see above: “What to watch for”). Replace at least every 6 months.

According to the manufacturer, the bulb is 6800K and has a CRI of 93 and 900 lumens. The UVB is 5% of the bulb’s total energy output and UVA is 30%.

Hagen Exo-Terra UVB 100/ReptiGlo 5.0: These reptile bulbs come in compact fluorescent (CFL) and linear fluorescent. There are multiple lamps in the Exo-Terra range–if you decide to get one, be careful you are buying the right one! Some do not have UVB, while others have too much. The Exo-Terra UVB 100 bulb should be 9-15″ from the top of the bird’s head.

References

Association of Avian Veterinarians. (2018). ULTRAVIOLET LIGHTING FOR COMPANION BIRDS: BENEFITS & RISKS.

Bauck, L. (n.d.). Benefits of UVB Lighting for companion birds. Hari. Retrieved January 5, 2023, from https://hari.ca/avian-care/housing-environments/benefits-uvb-lighting-companion-birds/

Costanzo, G., & Armendaris, A. (n.d.). Lighting for Pet Birds. PetSmart. Retrieved January 5, 2023, from https://www.petsmart.com/learning-center/bird-care/lighting-for-pet-birds/A0364.html

Lupu, C., & Robins, S. (2013). Determination of a safe and effective ultraviolet B radiant dose in budgerigars (melopsittacus undulatus): A pilot study. Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery, 27(4), 269–279. https://doi.org/10.1647/2011-0291

Nightengale, M., Stout, R. W., & Tully, T. N. (2022). Plasma vitamin D (25-hydroxyvitamin D) levels in Hispaniolan amazon parrots (Amazona ventralis) housed indoors over time. Avian Diseases, 66(2). https://doi.org/10.1637/aviandiseases-d-21-00117

Psittacine Welfare Institute. (2022). Parrot (Psittaciformes) Lighting & UV. Retrieved January 5, 2023.

Stanford, M. (2006). Effects of UVB radiation on calcium metabolism in Psittacine Birds. Veterinary Record, 159(8), 236–241. https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.159.8.236

Stanford, M. (2006). Provision of Ultraviolet Light for Captive Grey Parrots. Avian Examiner. Retrieved January 5, 2023, from https://avianmedicine.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/ae29.pdf.

Stanford, M. (n.d.). INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON EXOTICS 2004.

Wissman, M. A. (n.d.). Hypocalcemia in Birds. Hypocalcemia in birds. Retrieved January 5, 2023, from https://www.exoticpetvet.net/avian/hypocalcemia.html

Woodhouse, S. J., & Rick, M. (2016). The effect of UVB radiation on serum vitamin D and ionized calcium in the African spoonbill (platalea alba). Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine, 47(2), 447–456. https://doi.org/10.1638/2014-0239.1

Jiu took in a lost pigeon as a student after a “dove release” on the UC Berkeley campus and has been part of Palomacy ever since. They spend their free time getting pecked by Pidge for peeping on his married life with his adorable pigeon wife, Meringue.

February 26, 2023
by Elizabeth
Comments Off on A Life Worth Saving: Moose’s Story

A Life Worth Saving: Moose’s Story

Guest Post by Jenna Close

“Human beings are a part of the animal kingdom, not apart from it. The separation of “us” and “them” creates a false picture and is responsible for much suffering.” ― Marc Bekoff, Animals Matter: A Biologist Explains Why We Should Treat Animals with Compassion and Respect

“When animals express their feelings they pour out like water from a spout. Animals’ emotions are raw, unfiltered, and uncontrolled. Their joy is the purest and most contagious of joys and their grief the deepest and most devastating. Their passions bring us to our knees in delight and sorrow.”
― Marc Bekoff, The Emotional Lives of Animals: A Leading Scientist Explores Animal Joy, Sorrow, and Empathy – and Why They Matter

My soul-bird Moose slipped the surly bonds of earth on December 19th, 2022. Despite years of anticipatory grief, I was not at all prepared for how I felt once he was gone. But I was even less prepared – for the sorrow, the beauty, the rawness and the respect – of Moose’s Flock.

I have a 14 pigeon aviary. They are all rescues, all bonded pairs, and they all have their frenemies and territories and daily habits. Half of them have experienced the only other death I’ve had here so far – Moose’s first wife Mercedes a few years ago. From that, I felt like I understood how eloquently and gracefully these birds grieve. I was wrong.

Moose was Home for 1,177 days. He was part of the first group of pigeons I adopted after catching 2 lost racers near my house and building them an aviary. By default – of both longevity and largeness of character – Moose was never at the bottom of the pecking order, but he also never cared much about being at the very top. Nico is The Boss and Moose was The Sheriff. He was always on patrol and no one ever messed with him or his space for very long. In response, he didn’t randomly push others around, but everyone knew he would if provoked.

Moose was ill – even before I brought him home – with a disease called mycobacteriosis. Mycobacteriosis is so difficult and expensive to put in remission that a diagnosis often results in humane euthanasia. Once we figured out what was going on there was no question – I wanted to treat him. The next 18 months of being medicated four times a day, of trial and error, hope and failure AND success were not ignored by his wife or his flock even though I always thought they were simply wondering why I was torturing their compatriot and for so long. They knew. They definitely knew.

The day Moose left us he went downhill quickly. Sometimes as hard as you look for signs, they are hidden until it’s too late. Pigeons are tenacious creatures who can withstand SO MUCH. If they decide they are ready to go, there is nothing on earth that can stop them. Moose’s departure started overnight but was only known to me early the next morning. I brought him and his wife Nike inside where it was warmer and started calling my vet. In that time, Nike had wrapped herself around him with one wing over his back so his head was in her wing pit, just as he liked it. Moose was always a big one for snuggling. She didn’t eat, she didn’t drink, she just sat there. This actually scared me, because they have spent a lot of time together on trips to the vet and Nike would always make him hold off on cuddling until she had some treats. Not that day.

Moose rallied once, enough to stand up, drink some water and say a few words to her. He said them loud and clear and he was so normal in that moment that I had a flash of hope that I was just overreacting. She responded by preening his whole face and then, when he lay back down, by pressing her body to his side and resting her head next to his. It was then that I knew for sure he was dying. Their closeness was different this time – it felt private and brave and final. It felt like a loving goodbye. I took two birds to the vet that day and came home with only one.

Nike had her time for closure after Moose passed, which is of the utmost importance for pigeons. When we arrived back home it was after dark. I walked into the aviary, looked at his night roost and saw no one was on it. This was highly unusual because Moose’s throne was the envy of all the flock. Whenever he wasn’t there, someone (usually Mo) would sneak onto it until they were discovered. But that night, every single flock member who slept next to him was lined up, equidistant, on either side of his spot. I lifted Nike up and placed her where he would have been. No one moved or made a sound. They looked like sentinels – an honor guard sending off one of their own. There is no other way to describe how unusual and moving it was except that it lifted and it broke me. I sat down right there, in the poop and discarded peas, and cried. I have thought back to that extraordinary moment often and it still blows me away.

The flock kept up their vigil for 3 days and nights. 3 seems to be an important number in grieving rituals throughout the world (so why not pigeons too?) but still I was astounded that the honor guard went on that long. On the 4th day, Mo gently and respectfully stepped onto Moose’s roost and quietly claimed the spot. If you know Mo, you know he is never quiet and is usually on a bragging parade somewhere. Very unusual yet understandable behavior for him.

I was very worried about Nike and how she was faring. She didn’t abandon her feggs but she did tell me what comfort she needed. I was out on the patio the day after Moose died, crying to my doves who live in an aviary nearby. I heard Nike coo, and it was the coo she always made for Moose when she wanted him to come into their box. I went in to see what was up and she raised her head, looked at me and cooed again. When she and Moose were together I was never allowed to put my hand in their box without getting an enthusiastic wing wacking, but I felt so strongly that I needed to comfort her that I put my hand in there and cupped her chest in my palm. Not only did she let me do that, she started preening my fingers. In that instant I realized that she knew everything – she knew what I was doing all those years medicating Moose, she knew how deeply I loved him, how hard I was grieving – and she was letting me know that together we would eventually be OK.

Nike and I kept up our special relationship for 4 weeks…the entire time she was sitting on her and Moose’s last clutch of feggs (she held onto them longer than usual). During that time, I adopted a potential mate for her, but he initially showed no interest in her or her him. Eventually she abandoned her feggs and called me into her nest box. I put my hand over her and snuggled her and she made a series of loud coos. The minute I left her, Titan (her new prospective mate) flew down to the porch, did a few dance moves, and walked right into her box. She came out for a second, then went back in, and that was that. As soon as she married Titan our relationship returned to normal (play fighting, no entry to the nest box without a bite), and I’m fine with that. She’s happy, Titan is happy, and I will be happy again someday too.

The flock has also returned to their regular antics. It is taking me a lot longer to find joy without my Moose, but I am overwhelmed and incredulous at how his flock behaved in the days after his death. I knew that pigeons grieve, that they are smart and emotional beings, but I had not myself witnessed such a tender and caring expression of love before. They knew that Moose and I had a special and complex relationship, and they honored that.

The grief of a family member, especially one that is so often misunderstood and maligned, is a unique and excruciating experience. I don’t really have words to explain how dark life becomes, how fraught it is with unexpected reactions and emotions. Perhaps that is because I haven’t come out the other side yet. But, as a friend said to me…the only way out is through. I have learned that you have to trust and accept whatever you are feeling when you feel it. Cry. Scream. Burn sage. Drink whisky. Get mad. Write a eulogy. Take a walk. Get a tattoo. Lean on your flock –– they will understand. And it will get better. It will never be the same, but it will get better.

“There is a sacredness in tears. They are not the mark of weakness, but of power. They speak more eloquently than ten thousand tongues. They are the messengers of overwhelming grief…and of unspeakable love.”
Washington Irving

I love you Moose. Always.

Instagram.com/moosethepigeon

Jenna is a commercial photographer and filmmaker based in San Diego. 5 years ago a ringneck dove self rescued in her yard, which led her to Palomacy. She is a moderator on the Palomacy Help Group, runs the Palomacy YouTube Channel and now has an aviary with 2 doves (the original self rescue and his mate) and another aviary with 14 pigeons.

February 19, 2023
by Elizabeth
Comments Off on Palomacy Is Preparing for Launch!

Palomacy Is Preparing for Launch!

Pomelo by Adrienne Ruork. Pomelo embodies the true nature of pigeon and doves—reverence, and resilience. He was found surrounded by not one, but five outdoor cats on someone’s porch.

On March 2nd, Palomacy Pigeon and Dove Adoptions will, after being fiscally sponsored for 15 years (three by Mickaboo Companion Bird Rescue & twelve with Community Initiatives), become the independent nonprofit public charity that we have always aspired to be!

Closer to our start date, as we get all the new connections connected and switches switched, we will share special blog post and newsletter editions laying out all the info you’ll need. No action required at this time, just stay tuned…

Pomelo by Adrienne Ruork.

Palomacy Is Growing!

January 5, 2023

By Clare Malone Prichard, Palomacy Board Chair with Elizabeth Young, Founder

It’s hard to believe, but it’s been fifteen years since Elizabeth Young met and rescued Gurumina, the lovely King pigeon who exposed the unmet need of domestic and unreleasable pigeons for adoption. Initially named MickaCoo and hosted under the experienced wing of Mickaboo Companion Bird Rescue, our first major growth spurt led us to become a fiscally sponsored project of Community Initiatives in 2011. The transition to our Palomacy name followed not long thereafter.

We find the need for our services continuing to grow. Once just a local organization serving pigeons and doves in the San Francisco Bay Area, we now provide valuable advice and guidance to rescuers across the nation and worldwide through our Facebook help group. We are grateful to Community Initiatives for their support over the years. We have been able to legally operate as a charitable organization under Community Initiatives’ 501(c)3 status.

A long held goal and our next milestone is establishing Palomacy as an independent nonprofit. Having our own 501(c)3 status means we can better serve the rescue community, fundraise in additional ways and explore new opportunities.

Our application for 501(c)(3) status has been approved by the IRS, and our FTB application for state tax exemption is due for approval any day. We have written our bylaws and established our board of directors. Now we transition from Community Initiatives’ fiscal administration to our own. We need to continue with all we are doing- our website, newsletters, rescuing, fostering, adopting, developing partners and aviaries, coaching, providing humane education and PR and now take over our banking, insurance, bookkeeping, accounting, HR and payroll, benefits, accounts payable and receivable, compliance, audits, reporting and more. Our plan is to start as a standalone nonprofit March 1, 2023! We need lots of help (including a new Board Treasurer) and you are invited to join us as we soar.

Please email Elizabeth@pigeonrescue.org to spread your wings & soar with us.

January 24, 2023
by Elizabeth
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Then Two Became One

Guest Post by Madalene Cordero

Madalene, Aiyanna, Peanut +2 Jan 24 2023

It was late March 2022 when my four year old granddaughter, Aiyanna, spotted a white King pigeon from the window of our house, walking across a very busy street. My daughter took her across the street to rescue it. They were afraid it would get run over by a bus or car since it appeared it couldn’t fly. We noticed the right wing was hanging from its side touching the ground and figured that was the reason why. Aiyanna named her Lily, she thought it must be a girl since she was so beautiful.

Well, Lily grew on us and after a week or so, her wing healed and she began flying around the house. Lily loved being around us and quickly became a part of the family. She followed us all around the house and her favorite spot was perching on the door of where we were.

Around the end of April we noticed her behavior began to change and she was not able to fly as far as she did before and became unbalanced. She began walking in circles and her head began to twist under her body. It saddened us to watch her lose control of her functions so Aiyanna would hold Lily in a blanket and just love on her.

We tried calling vets in the area and the one we found said their exotic pet vet was on vacation. I was informed to take her to Peninsula Humane Society-SPCA wildlife rescue. They transfered her to their exotics department (Palomacy was too full) but despite a week of supportive care and tube feeding, she was losing weight and growing weaker. There wasn’t much else they could do and informed me if that with no improvement, she needed to be rescued or they would have to euthanize her.

At Peninsula Humane Society SPCA

Elizabeth from Palomacy came to the rescue and picked Lily up, took her home and for the next three months would nurse Lily, who ended up turning into Willy, back to health. (See Willy Wonky)

Willy started trying to self-feed immediately after transferring from the shelter clinic to Elizabeth’s home

While Willy was in Elizabeth’s care, we communicated back and forth and she made me aware of the need for homes for rescued pigeons. So about the second week of June, Elizabeth connected me with a rescue in need of a home: an eight week old couch pigeon named Squeak, who loved watching his tablet and his favorite show on YouTube with birds flying and chirping and sounds of running water. (Squeak is a Homer pigeon, like they use for dove releases, that was found lost or dumped at only three weeks old.)

Squeak

Watching YouTube on the tablet

When he arrived, we tried to make him feel at home so we did the same but put a cage next to the couch and he ended up exchanging the couch for a padded perch and comfy bed. It wasn’t long before he was a part of the family and became very attached to us.

Aiyanna & Squeak

Squeak glow up!

Meanwhile, Elizabeth took such amazing care of Willy. Giving him his meds, taking him back and forth to the vet for tests, loving on him and nursing him back to health. She would always send me pics of his improvement and about three months later, Elizabeth brought a much recovered but still wonky Willy back home to us.

Willy’s return

Willy was still a little off balance, didn’t fly and would walk in circles at times, mostly when he was nervous. We had his cage on the ground so he could walk in and out of it by himself. Squeak’s cage was higher but next to Willy’s. Squeak was used to being the main attraction so he was aggressive and territorial around Willy in the beginning.

As time went on Willy began following Squeak around the house and mimicking him. When Squeak flew out of the cage and stretched his wings, Willy would walk out of his and do the same and follow him around. The time they spent together in the aviary helped them bond. Willy stayed on lower ground while Squeak flew back and forth to higher levels. Willy loves water and when he takes his bath, you’ll find Squeak right behind him taking turns in the water.

Willy shadowing Squeak

Post-bath pals

Today, Willy’s cage is as high as Squeaks and they are connected together so they can walk into each other’s cage. Both of them used to give warnings when they walked in the other’s cage but they are no longer territorial and share everything. Willy rarely walks in circles anymore and he can fly higher than Squeak (just needs a little practice landing)! Now I find them together as Squeak coos and arouses Willy to come over to preen him for a time. We don’t know what all Willy was sick with. His symptoms were strange and tests inconclusive but Elizabeth says that, as so often happens, time and supportive care kept him alive long enough to recover.

Fluoroscopy showed a weirdly enlarged crop

Home together

What an amazing journey to see Willy’s progress while watching them bond. Everytime I look at them now, they are inseparable. It’s amazing how these gentle, loving, peace-filled companions fill your life with love and joy. Our hearts are filled with joy to watch them grow closer together. It’s only the beginning and we’re still not sure if Squeak is a boy or girl. Needless to say, we’ve adopted them both. They are home.

January 24th 2023 Update:

Squeak’s a lady bird and she married Willy! They are such a happy, sweet couple. Squeak laid their first egg (swapped out with a fake for hatch prevention) but they are still figuring out nestbuilding and sitting.

Madalene Cordero lives in Daly City, CA; is a retired Service Delivery Coordinator; a mother, wife, sister, daughter and her 99 year old mother’s caregiver. She says, Through having Willy and Squeak in my life, I find a place of comfort and peace.

January 16, 2023
by Elizabeth
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All That Crouton Was

Guest Post by Nicole Smith

I don’t know how to share all that Crouton was with you.

In mid-December, I started writing the story of my foster bird, Crouton. While writing the story, I realized that Crouton’s story was inextricable from those of her best friend Sprout, me and my partner, and the community that supported her, including and not limited to Elizabeth and Jill and the wonderful vets that cared for her. Crouton was a bird that changed minds, inspired love, and received love so strongly.

Crouton has since passed. We now know that he was a boy. I am still unable to say his name without crying. Mourning is just one manifestation of love. I’ll be manifesting my love for Crouton in a million ways for a long time to come and the tears are part of that. Another part is reflecting. And I want another part to be sharing, so I am now revisiting the story that I started writing in December. I will not edit the part that I had already written, just pick up where I left off.

Sprouton’s Story

On Monday, October 31, 2021, at Medical Center for Birds in Oakley, a very special foster family was formed. Two young Palomacy birds, both ready for discharge after their hospital stays, would meet for the first time and their future foster mom, me, would arrive for totally unrelated reasons and end up taking them home with her.

Since that day, Crouton and Sprout have healed together. Sprout, who had been reliant on tube feeding and had not vocalized while in the hospital, immediately began self-feeding and vocalizing cheerily. I was able to decrease Crouton’s tube feeding amounts and let her self-feed with her new best friend. They snuggled together, flapped together, slept together, and ate together. While Sprout recovered from malaria and put on much needed weight, Crouton kept him warm and cozy. When Crouton needed help getting from one part of the cage to another, she pushed against Sprout to move around.

Despite their progress together, Crouton began having seizures. After the second one, I realized what was going on and immediately got her to Medical Center for Birds where she was started on an anti-seizure medication. The next day though, around 9pm, she had a seizure that would not stop. My partner, Chris, and I tried everything we could think of. Jill tried contacting Crouton’s vet after hours while Elizabeth reassured us and looked for help from knowledgeable friends. We turned off the lights in our house and I held Crouton and Sprout in their little bed together to try to allow Crouton to relax, but after an hour had gone by and Crouton started heating up and breathing hard, I knew we had to do something fast. I texted friend of Palomacy and animal superhero Dr. Tino Leuhman and she immediately told me to rush her over to her. Chris quickly drove us to Tino while Elizabeth, Jill, and I sent Tino all of the information and history we could on Crouton. Crouton continued to seize in the car while Sprout sat alarmed and quiet through all the stress. Tino immediately sedated Crouton and began checking her over. Once Crouton was sedated and no longer seizing, Tino propped her up against Sprout in a natural position to rest. She monitored her, administering tiny amounts of sedative, to keep her from returning to seizing. Sweet Sprout was very still and gentle, supporting his best friend physically and me emotionally as I pet him anxiously.

Tino saved Crouton’s life that night. Tino kept Crouton and Sprout together while she continued their care for the next couple days. I got to visit and give Crouton some gentle snuggles. Even in her sedated state, she responded happily to my holding and petting her. While I held Crouton, Tino and I noticed Sprout wandering over, peering curiously at little Crouton in my arms.

Once the two of them were back home with me, Sprout’s worried gaze never went away whenever I had to take Crouton out for her medications and tube feedings. It was touch and go for a little while, and an emotionally challenging period.

Crouton’s seizures are now effectively managed by her medications.

And at this point I stopped writing. I remember getting distracted because I turned around and saw Sprout and Crouton lying, pressed up against each other, preening each other and themselves, looking so comfy and happy.

Crouton had lots of wins. He learned to take steps (with my help for balance). He met the big king pigeons in the big aviary and ate some lunches there. He did happy duck tail wiggles while bathing and even stood on his own in the bath. He learned to walk around in a makeshift tinker toy wheelchair I made him, and to hang out in a sling I sewed to fit him just right and to give Sprout tall bird preenies. He responded to his name with happy wing twitches, even popping up on both legs when I greeted him one morning.

He had beautiful coonversations with Sprout and received many a feather from him, always accompanied by a beautiful dance. He explored the world, with Sprout always right next to him, on walks and trips in a cat backpack. He happy flapped, he locomoted, he preened, he played. His seizures suddenly became more frequent, so we started giving an extra dose of his seizure medication, and then we found him dead.

His new wheelchair will arrive in the mail any day now. And he won’t be here to use it. I know he would have loved it.

Sprout and I are hurting, and Sprout is ready to make new pigeon friends. In the short time I have volunteered for Palomacy, I have had the chance to learn that pigeons heal, and when they heal, they can heal the hearts of those around them as well.

There’s no other kind of pain I’d rather have, than to have known and loved and then to no longer have and still love. I miss him. I want him back. I want to continue to watch him explore the world and learn new things, maybe even become more mobile with the help of his little chair.

There is no “but.” It’s just tough. It’s the right kind of tough.

Crouton was home on October 31st. He had no doubt about it. He made himself permanently, essentially, inextricably part of our family.

Crouton loved without reservation, and I loved him back in the same way.

Nicole Smith discovered the magic of pigeons in 2020 when she and her partner, Christopher Hudson, scooped up a sickly young feral pigeon. Since then, the two of them have become Palomacy volunteers and fosterers. They have a flock of family-member birds, composed primarily of “self-rescued” pigeons that found their way to them all on their own.

Nicole is employed as a caregiver and recently went back to college at UC Berkeley to finish her degree.

January 5, 2023
by Elizabeth
Comments Off on Palomacy Is Growing!

Palomacy Is Growing!

Pomelo by Adrienne Ruork

By Clare Malone Prichard, Palomacy Board Chair

Please email Elizabeth@pigeonrescue.org to spread your wings & soar with us.

December 22, 2022
by Elizabeth
Comments Off on I Know Who You Are

I Know Who You Are

You may not know who I am, but I know who you are. You are a Palomacy person! Your commitment to birds like me, pigeons and doves in trouble, proves we are not disposable; we are deserving of compassion. All the ways you help- as advocates, volunteers, fosters, rehabbers, adopters, donors and sometimes all the above, make a life and death difference for us.

Many people are indifferent to our plight. Some ignore us. Some use us for their businesses and hobbies even well knowing the risks we’ll face. When predators kill us, they say, “That’s nature,” but Palomacy people know there is nothing natural about breeding and then endangering domestic birds in the wild skies. When we get lost, they say, “They’ll be fine,” but you know what really happens to us. You’ve seen us helpless, starving, seeking out human help. You’ve learned to recognize when we’re in trouble and you go to incredible lengths to get us rescued. You have stopped traffic to scoop us up out of the road. You protect us, transport us, save us.

I’m Paige and I wouldn’t be here if not for you. I was found lying concussed and near death on the side of a road. The nice person who helped me didn’t think I was going to make it, but she found Palomacy, and Care Coordinator Jill took me in. I had head trauma so severe that I couldn’t see or feed myself or even stand up straight. My recovery took months. Jill never gave up on me. She saw me fighting to live. She soothed me and connected with me and with her loving care, she laid down a trail for me to follow back to myself. And I did. Now I’m healed up and strong. I’m partially blind but it doesn’t slow me down. I’m proud, happy, and safe in the aviary with my fellow adoptable fosters.

Palomacy people create and sustain the communities and systems that make all this rescuing, rehabbing and rehoming possible. Two paid staff and a hundred volunteers funded by donations power the vet care, fostering, coaching, and adopting; the outreach and humane education; the partnerships and aviaries; the comprehensive website and 24/7/365 online Help Group assisting and coaching the good Samaritans and rescuers helping us not only in Northern California but all over the world.

We are comforted and so often healed thanks to your loving care. And even when we don’t make it, your kindness is a mercy that eases our end, that honors our worthiness. Whether you go way back to the MickaCoo days or you’re a newbie just getting started, please know you are a very important member of our flock. We need both your veteran experience and your fresh energy. You pour your hearts, your time and your money into helping us. You fall in love with our gentle, sassy, loyal ways. You are our champions.

I’m here to say, Thank Coo! I am grateful to you for all that you do to support Palomacy and I promise you, all the other birds are too.

With love, gratitude and a wingslap,
Paige

P.S. Elizabeth here. Dear Reader, thank you for all that you do to help us help so many birds! Truly, we cannot do this without you.

November 29, 2022
by Elizabeth
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Your Donations Save Nandas

Guest Post by Jill McMurchy

On October 31st, we got a voicemail about a pigeon sitting in the same spot outside a motel for three days, unable to walk. They had trouble finding anyone to help and were very happy to connect with Palomacy. We directed them to Napa Wildlife as the closest, fastest emergency care in the area willing to partner with us on domestic pigeon cases. Thankfully, our contact at Napa Wildlife said yes as long as we could pick her up within 24 hours. Despite being overfull and short on funds, of course we said yes because how could we say no? At the wildlife rescue, she was examined. Still unable to make her legs work right (suspected spinal trauma), she tried to but couldn’t eat. They offered a gentle euthanasia for her which can be a great mercy but this bird was still fighting to live. We would find the room. They gave an anti inflammatory, made a birdie sling for her (so she could stand) and she got busy eating. Best of all, she was SAFE.

The next morning I picked up Nanda (an Indian name that means Achiever, Full Of Joy) and got her straight to Medical Center For Birds (MCFB). Aside from her suspected spinal trauma, she was alert, shiny (one of the shiniest pigeons I’ve ever seen), not emaciated, which belied what we would come to realize was a very sick pigeon. She was given an injection of powerful inflammatory, Robenacoxib, and I took her home to help her recover her ability to walk.

Nanda at Medical Center for Birds

Heading (foster) home

Once we got home, Nanda’s condition took a down turn. She became anorexic and just stood in one spot, breathing heavily. I started supporting her with sub cu fluids, small gavage fed meals and love. I also noticed that even though her crop was emptying, she wasn’t eliminating herself and the seeds she ate at the wildlife center were still sitting in her crop, static. I helped her to poop (this is the first time I’ve ever had to help a pigeon poop!) and she felt better, but then the same thing would happen again. She would digest her food but couldn’t eliminate. Again, I helped her eliminate and got her another appointment at MCFB.

Not feeling good

Love is a powerful tonic

It is amazing how important emotions are to a pigeon’s ability to recover. Outcomes even with the best, most advanced avian medical care, are dramatically improved when pigeons are nurtured and reassured throughout their recovery. We call it love therapy and while it’s probably a true tonic for every living being, it can mean the difference between life and death for pigeons.

Back for additional medical treatment

This time she stayed there for a few days. Aside from the obvious neurological trauma, x rays revealed nothing of interest other than giving us the reason she was having a hard time breathing. Her GI tract was so full of poop, it was hindering her air sac inflation, so she was struggling to breathe. She also had an extremely high white blood cell count and they couldn’t figure out why. I know that one of the hardest things for a doctor is not having a diagnosis and Nanda was baffling the staff.

They work together at MCFB with their brilliant hive mind and all they could do was guess. She was on antibiotics, meds to help her eliminate, given fluids, gavage fed and more. They must have come up with a working cocktail because she finally started looking a little brighter and showed a tiny bit of interest in pecking at pellets. The biggest worry now was if she could poop on her own and she finally did. Small poops, but it showed us her GI was starting to work again.

Nanda getting better

I was able to pick her up after a several day stay in hospital. I was hoping this time she would triumph and SHE IS. She is eating, pooping, talking, and wing slapping me when I invade her cage. She also loves to be snuggled. Yesterday I found her sitting in her small water bowl so I took her out to the aviary to see if she wanted to bathe with a flock. She did, but I wasn’t happy with the amount of attention she was getting by even my gentle birds. She still tips over and needs protection. So I scooped her up and sat on the back patio, soaking in the sun.

She will one day be ready for aviary life but not for a little while. In the mean time, Nanda is inside the house, eating and acting like a pigeon should. She LOVES her mirror and preens her reflection. She is still one of the shiniest pigeons I’ve ever seen and will continue to shine in many ways. Thanks to YOU. YOUR DONATIONS SAVE THE NANDAS!

Strong, lucky, proud survivor Nanda thanks you!

WE ALL THANK YOU

November 24, 2022
by Elizabeth
Comments Off on Palomacy’s Very Exciting Online Auction Adventure!

Palomacy’s Very Exciting Online Auction Adventure!

Framed pastel painting, “Sunny” by Heather Hohlowski- SOLD!

This year, in tandem with our Summer of Dove party, Palomacy also produced our first ever online auction and it was awesome! It was fun and important. The birds in need of help flood in nonstop but our funding can’t keep up and we need new, creative ways to transform our supporters’ generosity into the dollars needed to keep Palomacy aloft.

Twenty-three donors contributed 30 amazing items including works of art, treasures for people and birds and compelling experiences. Over the course of eight days, 42 bidders raised $2,514 to help the birds! Thank You! I’m totally new to this role of auctioneer and, while our first effort was lovely if I do say so myself, there’s lots of room for improvement and I’m excited to see what we can do as we learn more and refine our skills.

Speaking of which, who wants to help? I would love to keep this position for myself but over-extended as I am, it’s just not smart. We need a volunteer to take on the role of auction manager. It won’t take a lot of time (I’m thinking we’ll have three or four per year?). The Auctria platform that we are using (thank you, Penny!) is very well designed and lots of fun to use with the bonus satisfaction of cool features to engage. The ideal person will be imaginative, attentive to detail, eloquent with words, patient with follow up, appreciative of donors’ talents and skillful at merchandising and marketing. Please email Elizabeth if you’d like more information. To donate an item for our next auction, please complete and submit this form.

One of a Kind Pigeon Lover’s Quilt by Rose Lalla Jensen- SOLD!

Original acrylic & mixed media painting, “The Angels Wanna Wear My Red Shoes” by Shae Irving- SOLD!

Pigeon Lover’s Wine Set by Sindy Harris- SOLD!

Relief print, “I’m Sticking With You” by Nancy Chiu. Hand-printed by artist- SOLD!

Rango! Plush doll by Cynthia Bardouka Large- SOLD!

Thank you so very much to our amazing donors and wise bidders! Please stay tuned for our next auction coming soon.

November 17, 2022
by Elizabeth
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Sweetie’s Story, Part One

Spoiler Alert: Belle successfully rescues Sweetie

Guest Post by Belle Cifu

In early August of 2022, my partner Beau and I moved to the Bay Area, specifically Oakland, for his work. We arrived to a completely empty apartment, filling out a small section of the living room with just the few boxes of clothes and knick knacks we could fit in the car on our cross-country journey from Virginia. We arrived in Oakland a week before Beau began work and set to work filling the apartment with at least the basics– a mattress, a desk and chair for the home office, some pots, pans, plates, and bowls, and most importantly, tons of succulents. When Beau left for his first day of non-remote work and the realization hit that I had a nearly empty calendar in front of me with no real plan in place, I settled in the only chair in our apartment (a Walmart camping chair, as our office chair was on backorder) with my laptop to find something meaningful to fill my days.

My first step was to search online for job postings and volunteer opportunities in animal rescue, as I’ve been volunteering for animal sanctuaries back in Virginia for the last few years and wanted to continue my animal rescue work here in California. I found Palomacy through one of these Google searches and immediately filled out their volunteer form. Though I’ve worked with rescue chickens, turkeys, ducks, and parrots, I’d never yet had the opportunity to meet a pigeon beyond the most curious & daring of park pigeons. Plus, from everything I was reading on their website and in the Palomacy Facebook Group, Palomacy seemed like a fantastic organization. I was ecstatic to have found them so quickly after arriving in the East Bay and hoped I’d hear back about volunteer opportunities in the next few weeks. In the meantime, I continued my search for A) a chair with lumbar support from which to conduct my search and B) a job in animal rescue.

I didn’t have to wait long– the day after I submitted my application to volunteer, Elizabeth called me on behalf of Palomacy to discuss what I could do for the organization and, amazingly, what Palomacy could do for me. We had a long conversation about the joys of caring for pigeons and doves, as well as our observations and insights from working in animal rescue. As there are so many great ways to help Palomacy– Alameda aviary clean up, Facebook & tech support, fostering/adopting, and aviary building to name a few– Elizabeth asked what specifically I’d like to do. Seeing my nearly empty calendar in front of me and craving some time spent with rescued animals, I told Elizabeth, “Sign me up for everything, I’m in!”

I didn’t have to wait long for my volunteering to begin (noticing a pattern yet?). The day after our call, I was feverishly rearranging the 3 pieces of furniture in our living room and contemplating the downsides of minimalism when I received a text from Elizabeth: “Remember how we talked about short-term emergency fostering? We have a single pigeon who needs a safe place to be for awhile…” I quickly decided to put off my furniture rearranging and instead arranged to pick up a crate, a cage, and most importantly, the pigeon later that week.

The next day, while on the way to pick up a borrowed crate and cage generously offered by Kay Martin and Jill McMurchy, I called the pigeon’s people to get a better understanding of the situation. Elizabeth had put me in contact with the family who reached out to Palomacy about their pet pigeon who was living loose in their garage. Sweetie had been the pet of their family member, but he’d somehow escaped his cage during renovations on the house in the spring of 2022. Now August, months had gone by without them being able to catch him and no other rescue organizations had been able to help. Though I’d never caught a pigeon before, I’ve helped with catching and transporting plenty of other birds and based off my phone conversations with the family, I felt reasonably confident that we’d be able to work together within the confines of the garage to safely secure Sweetie in the crate. That was, until they dropped the bomb that the garage Sweetie was living in was not quite the safe, if not a little inconvenient, pigeon playground I thought it was. It seems that, at some point in the renovations, the garage door had been removed, leaving a 2-car sized entrance for feral cats, coyotes, racoons, and any other creature who might see Sweetie as a tasty snack. Elizabeth immediately warned me that this rescue was now of IMMEDIATE urgency, so I arranged to head out to Concord the very next day.

Now a little less confident in my pigeon-catching abilities but even more determined to get Sweetie to safety, I set out for their house in a Concord neighborhood. I met Sweetie’s people in the driveway and saw what appeared to be a small chicken strutting around on the garage floor, pecking at seeds strewn about between large bowls of dry cat food.

“That’s where Sweetie normally hangs out, until we approach him… he always flies into the rafters when we or the cats get too close.” And, as if on cue, the small chicken flew up into the rafters of the garage, where he coo’d and revealed himself to be the very large and proud King pigeon I was there to rescue.

All 706 grams of Sweetie were immediately wary of me. He remained up in the rafters while I set up the dog kennel Kay had converted into a humane, one-way trap. With the help of his people, I moved the cat food out of the way, swept up all the remaining seed (including his secret stashes on the shelves) and settled in to wait him out. This was my first time hanging out with a pigeon, so I wasn’t in any hurry. I could have sat there for hours (… and eventually did!) watching him strut about and strategize.

Sweetie’s a pretty big bird and had gotten used to 24/7 access to bird seed. He was clearly all-too-aware that we’d swept up his all-you-can-eat buffet and replaced it with a portion-controlled pile at the back of the large, imposing kennel. After about 30 minutes of scheming and cooing (Sweetie’s an external processor), he jumped down to the floor of the garage. First, he made the rounds to be sure we hadn’t missed any seeds… he got a bit confused by a few forgotten pieces of kibble, but otherwise found nothing. Though frustrated at our thoroughness, Sweetie wasn’t yet hungry enough to abandon caution. He strutted in circles, inching closer and closer to the crate, then suddenly flew back up to the rafters to decompress and do a little more processing of the situation. A few minutes later, he was back on the garage floor, caddy corner to where he landed before, scoping out the scene from a different vantage point. For the next hour and a half, Sweetie repeated this strategy, his eyes alternating between the pile of seed in the kennel and the potential predator a yard or two away, who by this point had lost feeling in their feet and deeply regretted choosing a deep squat for their stakeout position. Beyond the impending threat of my legs’ blood circulation being cut off, we unfortunately had another time constraint on this rescue. Sweetie’s people needed us to leave the property by 4:00pm and it was already a quarter ‘til. Disappointed that we hadn’t been successful on our first day and a little bewildered by my time consuming and seemingly ineffective approach, they suggested that we throw a bath towel on him the next time he landed on the garage floor, as a last-ditch effort. But I wasn’t ready to throw in the towel just yet…

Instead, I asked them to stand around the corner with the towel ready in hand and await my signal. The last time Sweetie had ventured down to the garage floor, he had made a complete circle around the kennel and even stood just one foot away from my aching, crouched body. I knew that he was testing me to see if I’d pounce on him, as I’m sure the cats had attempted many times, as well as his family in earlier rescue efforts. Satisfied by my lack of movement (due in equal measure to my knowledge that he was too fast for me to catch that way and the nearly complete loss of feeling in my feet), Sweetie had walked right past me before retreating to the rafters. For reasons that defy logic, I had a hunch that the next time Sweetie flew down to the floor, he’d mean business. With my eye on the clock (3:53 and counting…), I quickly stretched my legs, double-checked the string was in the best position to swing the trap door closed when I pulled it, and sank back down into my squat.

Sweetie watched me move about down below, uncharacteristically silent, cocking his head as I settled back into stillness and he could refocus his eyes on the prize– the tempting pile of seeds. A few minutes later, Sweetie suddenly swooped down to the floor, just a few feet in front of the kennel door. He swiftly gobbled up the trail of seeds leading into the trap, then checked in with me once more before hopping onto the plastic kennel tray in the direction of his well-deserved prize. In seconds, Sweetie finally reached the seeds he’d been surveying for nearly three hours. At the same moment that Sweetie bent down for his first taste of victory, I pulled the string hard and called for towel reinforcements as the kennel door swung shut. With less than a minute left on the clock, I locked the door and Sweetie’s people covered the kennel with towels to help calm down the scared pigeon who was not quite used to confinement after enjoying months of uncaged freedom. We loaded him into the trunk of my car right at 4pm and celebrated our long-awaited victory. Then, Sweetie and I set off for my Oakland apartment, which was still empty beyond our boxes of knick knacks, the mattress still on the floor, our Walmart camping chair, somehow even more succulents, and one new essential piece of furniture– a tall bird cage, big enough for a loud, proud chicken-sized foster pigeon.

Belle brought Sweetie home to foster

Sweetie made himself right at home

Belle & Sweetie worked their first outreach together

Sweetie admires himself visiting the Ploughshares aviary

Sweetie’s Story, Part Two coming soon!

Belle, Beau & Sweetie

Belle Cifu Originally from Virginia, Belle has been working in animal rescue up & down the East Coast for many years. They have had the pleasure of rescuing & caring for all sorts of animals, from pot-bellied pigs on farm sanctuaries to sea turtles in a marine turtle hospital to Syrian hamsters rescued from a lab. Belle is currently working towards their MA in Visual Anthropology, Media, & Documentary Practices. They hope to someday contribute to the growing body of work on non-human animals within the field of anthropology. In the meantime, Belle has LOVED getting to know pigeons & doves as a volunteer for Palomacy and looks forward to many more high-flying pigeon adventures to come!