Ellicott Wildlife Rehabilitation Center
What bird was here before humans, reproduces year' round, can find its way back home after being released hundreds of miles away, and because of its excellent vision and ability to see color is sometimes used for search and rescue missions? The answer is-the pigeon!
In rehab pigeons, including babies, show up at all times of the year. The pigeons generally nest on flat surfaces, and the nest is usually nothing too fancy; a pile of sticks. Both adults sit on the eggs, and both adults feed the squabs "pigeon milk." People who find these babies often aren't able to properly care for them, as these babies don't open their beaks and gape for food like other baby birds, and feeding them can be tricky. Pigeons mate for life.
Pigeons come to rehab after being poisoned, shot by darts, hit by cars, attacked by predators, and orphaned by weather and other circumstances not of their own doing. In the rehab world pigeons aren't considered glamorous or "prestigious" and it can be difficult to place a pigeon in rehab. EWRC enjoys pigeons and welcomes them into rehab. The lowly pigeon has been given the bad rep and I hear it all the time-that they're poopy (everything that lives excretes ;) that they carry disease (so do lots of other critters, including pets,) and that they're an overall nuisance. Very concerned individuals have brought me unusual-looking babies to rehab that they have found; babies swaddled in brand new, expensive blankets with so very much care and concern given to this exotic-looking critter that the finder is convinced is a one-of-a-kind, only to hastily yank their hands away from the baby, frown, and comment, "Oh, it's just a pigeon" upon learning their baby isn't a glamorous raptor or water bird. Baby pigeons don't much resemble the adults! I have to say, this reaction never fails to disappoint me.
As far as I know the magnificent eagle has never served in wartime, saving lives by delivering important messages across enemy lives; the pigeon has. I'm not aware that the might condor is able to help save lives by spotting survivors' lifejackets after a boat has capsized; a pigeon can. Aside from in the movies I don't know of any bird that can be trained to deliver mail; a pigeon can. A peregrine may be the fastest bird in a stoop but who do you think is the fastest distance flier? I'm told that is the pigeon. And has any bird besides the pigeon, including G.I. Joe, (WW2) received a medal for bravery?
With regard to bird poop, the pigeon flocks can make a mess of your newly-buffed and waxed car but did you know that at one time pigeon poop was prized as a fertilizer and also the only known source of saltpeter, a key component of gunpowder? The rock dove was a very valuable commodity and dovecotes were built for them. Back in those days you would have been in serious trouble had you attempted to steal pigeon poop!
Pigeons come in a variety of colors, from grey to purple to chamois to speckled and even white, with no pigment at all. Some have feathered legs and feet. Some have very pretty "headgear." I'm told that white pigeons are used to release at weddings and ceremonies instead of white doves, as they will go right back home and white doves are just loose, without a clue of where to go after their release.
Over the years I've learned by visiting with pigeon fanciers what a clean bird the pigeon can be; almost antiseptic, in fact. I'm not talking about the feral (free) pigeons but the ones folks spend big bucks on. These birds seem to have the best medical care, the closest health monitoring, and the cleanest systems I've ever seen. A big investment of a lot of time, love, money, and labor go into these birds, ensuring the cleanest, fittest, healthiest birds possible.
Pigeons can also mean big business. Pigeons are bred for a variety of sport, including homing, racing, and tumbling. This shouldn't be too much of a surprise, as pigeons are regarded to be one of the more intelligent birds. I've seen pigeons that were so incredibly beautiful and unusual-looking that they didn't at all resemble feral birds; bred for show, no doubt. These birds are very expensive, highly prized, very well taken care of, and can fetch several hundreds of dollars. You might be surprised to find local chapters of pigeon fanciers in your neighborhood and I think once you do a little investigating, you might be hooked!
Before jumping to negative conclusions about them, I think these fascinating birds deserve a closer look. As with all wild animals you find outdoors, you need to be aware of laws pertaining to wildlife and the problems they can bring as well. There are humane and relatively inexpensive ways to discourage pigeons from roosting where you don't want them. But be forewarned-trapping and relocating them miles and miles away isn't the way to go because they'll be back home waiting for you by the time you arrive!
www.ellicottwildlife.com
P.O. Box 75069
Colorado Springs, CO. 80970