This week I had a bit of an unusual case. The clients were a family with two young boys. They had just returned from a whole day at sea where they spent most of the day boating around Gozo and exploring its many sea caves.
As the boys excitedly told me, they were slowly entering the mouth of a small cave when the elder of the two spotted something just ahead of them bobbing in the water. As they approached, it became obvious that it was a baby bird in distress. With every wave that rolled into the cave, the bird would disappear beneath the water’s surface and then come up again. They managed to fish the bird out of the sea and, once safely out of the cave, they examined their rescued bird.
The boys thought it was a falcon. The parents thought it was pigeon and, of course, the parents were right. Either way, the entire family rallied round, determined to save the little bird. It must have been in the water for some time as it was very cold, so they wrapped it up in a T-shirt, made their way back to shore and headed for the clinic where they told me that they wanted to do everything they could to save the bird and keep it as a pet.
Coming across baby birds out of their nest is something that we have all encountered. In most cases, it is best to leave things up to nature. Firstly, because the bird’s parents are the best carers for their young and, secondly, because caring for a baby bird requires considerable commitment that few can afford with today’s busy lifestyles.
Nestlings, which are baby birds still without their feathers, may have fallen out of the nest or been pushed out so that the stronger siblings will have a better chance of surviving and go on to themselves to breed strong chicks. It’s nature’s way. Fledglings, that is, baby birds that already have feathers and can move about should either be placed back into their nest if you can find it, or left alone. The parents will not be far and will continue to care for the young bird as soon as you move away. It’s worth knowing that the perception that birds will abandon their young if touched by human hand is indeed a fallacy.
Provided you have the resources necessary both to care for the health of a pigeon, as well as to house it responsibly when it grows, there is no reason that should preclude you from considering this breed of bird as a viable pet
Of course, the situation does change when the baby bird is injured or, as happened with my clients, the bird is in a life-threatening situation. I examined the baby pigeon. By this time, it was dry and warm, albeit scared of every movement and sound. From the size of it, the sparse growth of feathers, and its partial head of yellow fuzz, the pigeon seemed to be about two to three weeks old. I looked for injuries. There was no bleeding, no puncture wounds, and no broken wings or legs. Its throat was clear and free of obstruction, its eyes were bright with no signs of discharge and the droppings that it had obligingly deposited onto the T-shirt were the right colour and consistency. The only thing that it had was a bad case of bird mites that had survived the dunking along with the pigeon. If well cared for, this fledgling would survive.
Pigeons that are rescued at a very young age are quite capable of adopting and cherishing their human owners. Many pigeon fanciers will also tell you how intelligent and affectionate these birds are. So, provided you have the resources necessary both to care for the health of a pigeon, as well as to house it responsibly when it grows, there is no reason that should preclude you from considering this breed of bird as a viable pet.
Pigeons remain in their nest until they are about 30 days old, by which time they look very much like their adult counterparts. This explains why you never see very young pigeons as you would, for example, a young sparrow. This also means that until they reach that stage, you need to provide for them just as you would if you were the parent pigeon.
Although you will see city pigeons eating anything from bread crumbs to pizza crusts and even crisps, pigeons are mostly eaters of seeds, grains and legumes, with the occasional worm or insect. As babies, they squeak and flutter their wings, and press their gaping mouth over the adult’s beak. This behaviour is the signal to the parents that the young want to be fed.
In response, the pigeon pumps food from its crop into the baby pigeon’s mouth. The crop is a soft sac located over the breast area of the bird. It secretes a milk-like fluid, technically called crop milk but also referred to as pigeon milk. Crop milk looks like dairy milk and has the same consistency but is nothing like it. It is therefore important that rescued baby pigeons are not fed dairy milk. Just as a matter of interest, both mother and father pigeons can feed their young.
If you find yourself in a similar situation, your vet will be happy to advise you what to feed your baby bird and how often depending on how old it is. Until you can get to the veterinary clinic with your rescue, any baby pigeon that is more than a couple of days old but still too young to eat solids can be fed porridge oats well-soaked in sufficient water that the mixture retains a loose consistency. They will also do very well on softened hard-boiled egg.
The internet provides a wealth of information from reliable sources that depict how to feed young pigeons using syringes or feeding tubes. Notwithstanding, it is important that you take your rescue pigeon to your vet for a check-up. My clients have named their baby pigeon Muccu and every day he grows bigger and stronger. The bird mites with which he was afflicted have also cleared up.
About Pigeon Patrol:
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
It may not be very obvious now, but the earth is tilting away from the sun in the northern hemisphere. Gradually, the sun is at a little lower angle.
The days are a little shorter. And some cooler nights after passing cold fronts portend some fun ahead. Hunting.
Doves are first. A social shoot may be a better descriptor of a dove hunt.
Doves can fly fast and can be elusive targets. It’s almost time to gather with hunting buddies for some wing-shooting fun.
Switching from retriever marking and lining drills with plastic bumpers. To real birds and real shots is a welcomed late summer transition. And some related good news. Survey results in the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries website show dove numbers in Louisiana have increased the last several years.
For doves Louisiana is divided into two zones. There are three split seasons. The north zone seasons are: Sept. 2-24, Oct. 7-Nov. 12, Dec. 17-June 15. Daily shooting hours are 1/2 hour before sunrise until sunset on private and public land most of the season.
But shooting hours are noon until sunset on opening day of the first split on State WMA’s and leased land, other than Elbow Slough WMA for which the season is the same as on private land. I wonder why?
Several species in the dove/pigeon family are found in Louisiana. The small Inca and ground doves are not legal to shoot. Mourning doves are the main quarry. Hunters can legally harvest up to 15 mourning and white-winged doves in the aggregate per day.
Also Eurasian collared doves and ringed turtle doves are legal game. Fully dressed they are included in the limit of 15 per day. But with the head and one wing still attached they are bonuses. The common rock pigeon is also fair game. Check out details on the LDWF website.
Doves have weak legs and don’t scratch to find seed to eat like quail and turkeys. They feed on exposed small seed in fields with some bare ground. They don’t feed in thick vegetation. Particularly attractive habitat is harvested grain fields such as milo, millet, and corn.
Sunflower fields are another good bet for doves. New clearcuts are good habitat for a couple of years before they grow too dense. Clearcuts that have been site-prep burned or herbicided to reduce vegetation density are especially attractive. Hunting over bait is illegal.
A nice shady spot is a good place to set up. When flying to feeding fields doves often light on snags (dead trees), isolated trees, or wires, before flying down to feed. So these are good spots to intercept them.
When shooting-just relax, cheek to the stock, and shoot where they’re going. Light shotgun loads of No. 7 ½ or 8 shot are appropriate. Be sure to pick up your downed birds quickly. Fire ants find them quickly if you don’t.
Try to set up in the doves’ flight path or the edges of feeding areas rather than directly in the feeding areas. Doves will come to the field longer if they are not shot at there.
You can extend your hunting days by not shooting out your field. Only hunt half days and only a couple of days a week. Some doves will often remain and attract new migrating doves. You can extend your hunts if you don’t hammer them. Rotate fields you hunt if possible.
Afternoons are hot this time of year. Be careful about you and your dog overheating. Some have lost their canine hunting partner to heat on opening day. Find a shady spot to shoot from. Take cool water for you and your retriever. Take a break during the hot mid-day; the doves will. Cool off if y’all get hot.
Remember to get your new hunting license. Have fun this first hunting season. Look forward to cool weather, and the many hunting opportunities ahead.
About Pigeon Patrol:
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
Wood pigeons have knocked blue tits of their perch to bag the number one spot for most common garden bird in Bromley, according to the results of a survey published yesterday.
Blue tits have fallen all the way down to fourth position. Blackbirds are the second most common garden birds and robins are third.
A new entrant into the top ten is the ring-necked parakeet.
The Garden Bird Survey was done by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds’ Bromley group.
David Hampson, the leader of the RSPB Bromley Local Group’s survey, said: “We’re lucky to live in a borough with lots of green space – gardens, parks and countryside.
Bromley’s gardens are an important habitat for our birds as they provide water, food and shelter. Our survey shows that our borough’s gardens support at least 40 different species.
The Top 10 from the 2017 Garden Bird Survey 2017 (last year’s result in brackets):
1 (2) Wood Pigeon
2 (4) Blackbird
3 (3) Robin
4 (1) Blue Tit
5 (5) Magpie
6 (6) Great Tit
7 (7) Dunnock
8 (10) Ring Neck Parakeet
9 (9) House Sparrow
10 (16) Chaffinch
About Pigeon Patrol:
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
SAFFORD — The Arizona Game and Fish Department is offering a free clinic and workshop for youth dove hunting Sept. 1-2 in Safford.
The event is geared toward youths who are first-time hunters. Game and Fish wildlife managers and local sportsmen will teach hunting and firearm safety, dove ecology and management, species identification, how to prepare equipment and clothing for a hunt, where to find doves and how to hunt them, as well as cleaning and cooking doves.
Participants will meet at 6 p.m., Friday, Sept. 1, at Dry Lake Park, 250 E. 2760 W. Dry Lake Road, Safford, after which youth hunters will be able to practice shooting clay pigeons at the trap range, free of charge, shotguns and shells included. Coaches will be available to provide instruction, as well as range safety information and techniques.
The program includes a dove hunt for participants the morning of Saturday, Sept. 2, in the Safford area with an experienced mentor/hunter. Parents are encouraged to accompany the youth hunters. Shotguns and ammunition will be available, but participants may also bring their own.
Participants will need to provide for their own transportation to the hunting area, unless prior arrangements are made. The Southeastern Arizona Sportsmen Club will provide lunch after the morning event.
Attendance is free but limited to 20 young hunters ages 9 to 15 with an adult partner. Hunters will be registered by phone or e-mail on a first-come, first-served basis.
Participants age 10 and older must purchase a valid Arizona youth hunting license ($5), which is not required for those under 10 hunting with a licensed adult 18 and older.
There is no cost to young hunters because of generous contributions from the Arizona Game and Fish Department, Southeastern Arizona Sportsmen Club and the hunting community.
About Pigeon Patrol:
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
Falcons should be brought in to tackle Southport’s pigeon fouling problem, a local councillor has said.
Cllr David Barton said the long-term issue was affecting vital areas of the town, such as Lord Street, and was causing major problems for residents,businesses and tourists.
Cllr Barton, who represents Dukes Ward, said: “A recent initiative agreed by Sefton Council to install six plastic hawks across town to deter pigeons was nowhere near enough to resolve the issue.”
He said that he first raised the issue of pigeon fouling in 2014 and claims a falcon handler was employed during The Open golf championship.
He added: “I am seeking the local community’s views with a view to addressing the issue of pigeon fouling along Lord Street and other areas.
“Lord Street is a prime target for pigeons which tend to roost and nest in tall buildings and can do untold levels of damage to the historic fabric of these properties.
“There are many methods of pigeon control including bird proofing, wire deterrent systems, netting, bird spikes and a large variety of electrical and sonic bird deterrent solutions.
“Given Lord Street’s status as a conservation area not all these prescribed measures are appropriate from a conservationist’s perspective so I am advocating for a more subtle yet effective approach consisting of a falcon handler to be deployed to address this issue.
“Besides preventing regularly tarnished pavements this will also reduce the incidences of trips and falls caused by pigeons that have been reported all year round.”
The councillor claims pigeon droppings are not only unsightly, but their acid content can lead to the deterioration of soft stone and cause long-term damage to buildings and nest droppings and feathers block gutters and rainwater pipes.
The birds are capable of lifting loose roof coverings, tiles and battens to gain entry into roof voids which can significantly damage the structure by allowing water penetration.
He also suggests that reducing the amount of pigeons in the town will boost the retail sector.
Cllr Barton added: “Action to curb the effects of pigeons may also encourage more investment into the retail sector across the high street, especially along the central cross-section which coincidentally has consecutive units that have been vacant since 2013.
“Whilst measures such as plastic hawks may provide some interim management for the situation, this will ultimately cease to work and indeed may actually only last for a far shorter length of time than planned.
“It is important that we take the best action possible which has been tried and tested and would give incumbent retailers and new interested big names a reason why they should choose our classic resort town.”
About Pigeon Patrol:
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
