the wild pigeons of Salisbury beach part 98 (baby pigeon)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7prT77Bc4I&sns=em

For the last couple of days, I've felt like I am "out on parole". I've had a few good days without headaches. You have no idea how 'free' you feel. I've doing my four times a day yoga stretches along with physical therapy.
I am hopeful.
 Every 'clear day" is a gift.
Seriously.
I visited Jodi from Cape Ann Wildlife rehab again so she could show me how to 'tube" a pigeon. She also sent me this video (see above youtube link) as reference. The pigeon in the video "Bob" is a severely deformed pigeon similar to my pigeon . She uses a 14 guage curved stainless steel feeding needle attached to a 20cc O-ring syringe. The food is kaytee exact baby parrot formula (no seeds just formula). She will leave bowl of seeds and bowl of water to hopefully encourage them to eat on their own.The cage is a mesh "reptile" cage with  a bark covered perching stand and a pigeon cuddle toy with (I think) an overhead heat lamp.
(*see above photo. That's Craow Dum enjoying the sunshine). Both pigeons need constant care and are both so sweet and loyal. Thankfully, my pigeon eats on his own with a full bowl but as I had stated numerous times he needs his face/nose/mouth cleaned twice a day or he will suffocate and /or choke.
Poor little "Bob" is missing his beak due to a severe case of "canker". He also has a hole on his head as a result of the disease and his legs are a mess. He does like to flap his wings and enjoys a cuddle.
The little pigeon I found at the beach who is now under Jodi's care is , so far, doing Ok. He is still severely emaciated but he is taking in food and pooping. Prophylactically, she gives rehab pigeons flagyl (to get rid of canker) and vetafarm wormout tabs (for any intestinal nasties). Once the pigeon is out of critical health danger , she will give these meds to them to clean out the "bugs"- so to speak. this little guy looked pretty good.
 Jodi said that he probably still had a sibling on the beach because there are usually two together. I did see a youngster in the flock.He was eating and carrying on with the others without a problem.
Hopefully, this little pigeon will be able  mix with other rehabbed and potential releasable pigeons.
Like I said before, every "clear" day is a gift.

the wild pigeons of Salisbury beach part 97 (movie star pigeons)

On friday, the beach front was blocked out for a movie shooting  of "The Equalizer' starring Denzel Washington and Chloe Grace Moretz  (She starred in the movie "Kick Ass". This was one freakin'  funny movie. She totally made this movie).
There were a bunch of additional "props" moved to the beach arcade area such as a ferris wheel and some carnival games( like they used to have in the 1970s). They starred filming around 3:30 in the afternoon but I was there as usual feeding the pigeons in the morning regardless of the film crew setting stuff up. I got a few odd looks but so what.? Sure, I could've been filmed as the crazy pigeon lady feeding the pigeons.
However, the truth be told, that MY pigeons will be in the movie!
I wonder if they will sign autographs?

the wild pigeons of Salisbury beach part 96 (baby rescue)

We are back from vacation.
We did our usual early morning pigeon feeding on the beach. I noticed a youngster huddled over near a corner. People were walking their dogs and I felt for sure this baby would get killed. I saw retahded guy deliberately let his dog go at the flock. I stood by the baby to protect him and just gave jerko the ol' stink eye.
I had my husband pull some chairs over by the neighboring bar so he could stand on it to place the baby back on the ledge where I presumed he fell off of. We watched for a few minutes to make sure the parents would feed him.
Instead they both viciously attacked him and tossed him off the ledge.
I was horrified.
This pigeon was not even a fledgling. He was only about 3 weeks old with fuzz still on him. I had no choice but to take him home. The poor little thing was covered with lice and mites. I was then covered with the creepy crawlies as well. I brought him in the basement because I did not want to infect my other birds and sprayed him down with bird lice spray. The creepie crawlies were falling off in mounds. It was disgusting.
 I placed him in an aquarium lined with a towel. I tried feeding kaytee baby parrot formula (a warm slurry mix) in a washed out medicine bottle with a rubber cover with a small hole opening for him to stick his beak in. I sat there for a good hour and tried again a few hours later and again. I think he drink a little of the solution but not enough to nourish him.I tried mixing the slurry with seed to see if he would respond to that but he only gulped a tiny bit. I offered him a bowl of water and which he sucked up. I laid some  seeds at the bottom of aquarium to see if he was old enough to forage but no luck there. He was pooping only scant amounts which made me worried.
The next morning I thought I would bring him back to the ledge but at a different side closer to where I found him hoping the parents would welcome him.Sadly, this set of parents did the same thing. They attacked him and tossed him off the ledge. Again, I brought him home hoping he would eat.
I contacted pigeon.biz and Jodi from Cape Ann wildlife rescue to ask what I need to do to help this bird.
The folks at pigeon biz said it would be difficult to release the pigeon once he is old enough to fly because the other pigeons will not accept him in their flock plus he would be imprinted to me.
Jodi highly suggested I bring him to her rescue so she could check him out, "tube' feed him ( a long thin tube is inserted down his throat for gav feeding. Many vets do this) Plus she would release him with other rehab pigeons in her care as a flock when he was old enough and strong enough.
I thought about this and figured this would be the best choice. I was hoping I could do this on my own but this made better sense.
Despite of  a nonstop pounding migraine, I drove over to the Cape Ann wildlife rescue located near the marina.( I would drive by her place on my way to Easy Diver!)
Jodi was very nice and accommodating for the little pigeon. She inspected him and saw his keel was very pronounced. He was starving. Other than that he visually inspected OK. Most of the mites & lice were eliminated now.She would give him a dose of flagyl as a preventive just in case he had trichomonads which is common with pigeons. Under her care, she a couple of severely handicapped pigeons, a dove in recovery that was run over by a lawn mower, a white wedding dove and an injured hawk.
I scrubbed my house down just in case any creepie crawlies made their way on my floor or rugs.
I will keep in touch with Jodi to see how the little pigeon is doing.

cruisin' when you are bruisin'

This summer was a total bust.
I had hoped my foot would be "normal" by the end of the summer so that we could sneak off to Bonaire for some serious diving. Unfortunately, that was not in the 'cards". I am in rehab now learning to walk "normal" and also dealing with neck issues.
I've been really down in dumps so my husband suggested we take a cruise out of Boston for a 'change of scenery". I thought to myself, "hmmm... no dirty digusting painful airplanes and suffocating migraine inducing germy airports to deal with" "A week of NO cooking/cleaning/ just pool side relaxation..."
Hmmm That did sound appealing.
So off we went.
We drove into Boston and whamm, we were immediately on "vacation".
Since funds were a bit limited since I have not been working we stayed in the "bargain basement" room which was the size of a closet. (My shoe closet is bigger). (I called this below deck area with all  the other "budget conscience" folks 'the projects") With that being said, the bed was the most comfortable bed I've ever slept in. Seriously. it was so comfortable that I went online to see what mattress they used. (It's a Italian memory foam topper) This was the first time in MONTHS I actually fell asleep.
 I still got up at 3:00am to do my yoga stretches.Mostly because my 'neighbors' got into a massive fights every night, screaming, swearing in spanish and throwing each other against the wall. When this finally subsided, they "made up" by getting "busy". If you know what I mean (wink wink)There was a lot of creaking and moans.I never saw them and they always ordered room service.
When people talk about cruises they obsess about the food.
For two days, I just ordered steamed broccoli and rice. I hadn't had an appetite and had shriveled down to about 104lbs. After a few nights of good rest and no headaches, my appetite came back like gang-busters and I had discovered the vegetarian Indian buffet.
It was wonderful.The main chef was Indian. The food was delicious.
It was also so nice not to have to cook and clean for a full week.
I got up at 6:00am and worked out in the gym overlooking the ocean for a good 1 1/2-2 hours in the morning. It was mostly yoga stretches and weight training. The spectacular view was very motivating. My husband would go off to play basket-ball on the upper deck when I hung out at the gym so we both got our exercise.
Since my activity level was still limited I was happy to be able to get in the pool and move my legs around. The water was cool and refreshing although a bit crowded.
I splurged and went for their on board spa treatment where I had a facial and mini massage. I ended up buying one of their cooling/detoxifying gel for my feet. It seemed to take away a lot of the swelling. It was expensive at $55.00 a bottle but it was worth it.
I liked the fact that I could dress up at night for dinner and a show-which I did every night.I bought a pair of flat healed sparkly sandals for this occasion  since I could not wear any of my many sky high heels. (Sadly, it is going to be a very long time that I will be able to wear heels or most of my shoes for that matter since my foot is still huge)
I don't care much for singing/dancing shows since I am not much of a music lover but I did enjoy the game shows(Newly wed game) and comedians.
The weather going down to Bermuda was foggy and drizzly but when we arrived in Bermuda the sun came out.We didn't do any of the "shore excursions". I would've liked to go on the catamaran snorkle trip (maybe next time).
 There was a small beach near the docking station that I could walk to. I was happy as a clam to be able to walk to it and get in the water. The water temp was 80F! We took the bus into town the next day for 'high tea" but it turned out the day we were there no high tea servings were available so we just did some shopping instead. My husband bought me a UW citizen watch. Isn't he sweet?
After being out and about most of the day, walking around and photographing the local pigeon population. I was exhausted and my foot was really bothering me at that point. I overdid it but at least I felt somewhat "normal" to be able to do some things..
The staff on the cruise were extremely nice and helpful. I usually had an "escort" help me up and down the stairs. They would also 'special order' me a plate of steamed broccoli and spinach. There was this one Jamaican guy on staff who had multiple duties.He had many talents He would deliver coffee and sign it off making this amazing rooster call.He was my favorite guy.
No, a cruise is not for everyone. People joke and say it for the "newly wed, over fed and nearly dead". Well This trip worked for me. It was true VACATION!
 No hassles, no stress, no work. NO F*CKING  airplanes!(Did I say that already?) I just relaxed, read books, sunned by the pool, dressed up at night and was pampered. When we arrived back in Boston we were back home in less than 2 hours (compared to 14 hours leaving the apartment in Bonaire to arriving to our home.ugh)
Would I do it again?
Yes! But the next time I would definitely upgrade and get a la de da balcony room. I would probably be fit enough to do the catamaran snorkle trip as well and hike to the more adventurous beaches.
This is just what the doctor ordered! :-)