the wild pigeons of salisbury beach part 114

Here is Craow Dum.
 I hardly ever call her that.
I mostly call her "booger" or "Bust-a-move". These names mostly ascribe to her personality with affection.
She is doing wonderfully after over three and half years later since I found her half dead in a gutter.
She is the love of my life-boogers and all.
She still follows me around like a dog. As you can see she has claimed my slippers on top of the dryer.
After leaving that other poor pigeon that was so severely injured at the  vet's office I have been second guessing my decision.
Could I have done more?
The vet was pretty adamant that this poor bird would never recover and was suffering.
My husband on the other hand was not convinced, and was furious.
 Euthanasia was not an option, in his opinion.
 Let's just say we had a "marriage encounter" over the vet's decision.
I really felt shitty enough.
Really shitty .
I've never seen him so pissed.
Our birds could definitely feel the tension in the house.
When ever we spoke the birds squawked loudly and paced frantically.
"Eddie" (my fav cockatiel) kept flying to my shoulder and to my husband's shoulder making alarm sounds. The squawking was deafening.
Even Craow Dum was crying in the laundry room.
We finally sorted things out on what to do next time in regards to helping other injured pigeons in the future and peace was once again restored in our house-hold.
It has been a brutal winter for birds.
Jody had told me from her report from the Tufts wildlife clinic that in one day alone they brought in 75 owls that were injured or starved.
This is in one day.
 And these were the ones that were found and rescued.
Earlier in the season I found quite a few dead pigeons that were starved and frozen to death on the beach.
Craow Dum was lucky. She  has miraculously  survived and thrived. I guess my husband thought the same luck would befall upon that other poor frost-bitten pigeon with my "magic touch".
Sadly, it wasn't meant to be.

the wild pigeons of salisbury beach part 113

I felt a little hopeful today even though the little pigeon's condition has not improved I still felt hopeful.
 I tried various things to make him comfortable and upright. I would spend the better part of the day fussing over him making sure he was clean, fed and upright.He would peck a little at the food right in front of him but I wasn't sure he was eating anything. He had the same issue with water so I would force his mouth open to hydrate him. I would also administer meds, peas and pellets. There was always problems .He would somehow manage to get out of the wrappings (or rather entangle himself) messing himself and flipping on his back.While I was talking on the phone he nearly strangled himself in the wrappings.
Jody-the wildlife rehabber-got in touch with her vet and finagled a vet appointment for me.
 I was delighted.
Even if the prognosis was that he would be disabled so long as he could eat he could stay with me as a pet. Prior to his appointment, after an hour  of coaxing and by holding him, I got him to drink water and eat on his own.
This was another small spark of hope.
Unfortunately my hope was short lived.
The vet examined him and concluded he had spinal damage with no real chance of recovery. In addition the pigeon's lower jaw was broken. Every time I tried to open the bird's mouth to feed and administer meds was causing it to fracture more. The bird was suffering and could possibly starve to death.
My husband had a hard time accepting this and continued to believe this was not the end.He was extremely upset and refused to believe there was no chance of recovery.
Yet the bottom line was that the poor little pigeon did not go home with us.
Was this the right decision?
I do not know.
 I really do not know.
 Jody met us at the vet office and we talked.
Even with the best efforts some animals don't make it.
I think about this situation and I get so furious with the @$$holes that drive so  fast at the beach area where the pigeons reside.This poor bird was hit by a car and was left stuck in a snow bank to die.
I tried saving him.
sigh...

the wild pigeons of salisbury beach part 112

  Well, I found him downstairs in his aquarium upside down.
 He was fighting, kicking and struggling. I cleaned him up, fed him, medicated him and moved him upstairs. I devised a "sling" of soft rubber mesh as Jody recommended to keep him upright and to position his legs. He was eating and seemed A-OK. This was a major undertaking to size it correctly so his fanny and his legs had a way out. I was pretty happy with this and went off to take my shower.
 I heard my husband squawking and the pigeon managed to get out of the sling and twist it all over him. So I made three or more attempts getting it snug and positioned right.Again he yanked his way out.
He is getting stronger and more rambunctious. The final time he got out and got poop all over the place.
 Oh great.

 So I tried something else wrapping him in a bandage to keep his wings from causing him to flip over (Only one wing works) but his feet kept pushing him against the glass. This worked for all of 2 minutes.

I tried again propping him up on the towels and keeping a soft box in front so he wouldn't bang his head plus positioning his legs to stand. So far, this is working.
He eats on his own but still refuses to drink (?!)so I have to use a syringe to get water in his stomach.
His condition is improving as far as being more feisty with more movement in his legs but he still pushes off tumbling to the side upside down and his right wing doesn't work.
 I hate to say it but it reminds me of my father. Both are testy and stubborn trying to get somewhere refusing to acknowledge that something is broken and isn't functioning while fighting you to the end. You try to help and it is a major struggle.
I figured I'd call Jody's vet (again) to see if he would at least take an x-ray to know what I am dealing with. I let the vet know I had no problem  paying for the treatment  and the pigeon would stay with me to convalesce.
Still no dice.
They said the bird would have to stay with them since I am not a license rehabber and the pigeon is considered "wildlife".
This would mean they would put the bird down.
Again I walk away with a heavy heart.
I'm not sure what to do except keep doing what I am doing.

the wild pigeons of salisbury beach part 111

Well I've had the "snow plant' pigeon under my care since thursday.
There has been some improvement.
I'm not sure if this is a good thing or a bad thing.
"Movement" gives me "hope", but that does not mean that in the end the poor thing will make it. I do not know if he will heal despite my best efforts but we shall see.There is now movement in his legs and if I put a small cup of seed right under his beak, hold him firmly and prop him up, he will eat. When I first picked him up on thursday, there was no movement at all, and he refused to eat.
I've given him a few doses of metacam which helps with the inflammation. With this all being said, he still refuses to drink water.  I've had to stick a syringe down his throat a few times a day to hydrate him.
He can not "sit' properly. He tumbles to his side and pushes off one foot franticly causing him to either lay on his side or tumble on his back. He'll poop and then roll in it getting it all over him. He is much more feistier than he was earlier.
I had contacted Jody from Cape Ann wildlife. She no longer runs the rescue but I thought I could seek some experienced advice. I brought him over to her home this morning for a 'look/ see".
She didn't feel any fractures but she did think he had some spinal damage. This may or may not heal. Some birds she had similar to this did heal over a long time and others, did not.
She suggested devising a "sling" in order to keep the bird in a normal position in order to eat and poop properly. The sling she talked about is made out of a spongy under-rug non-slip material. I ran up to walmart to get it to construct.
In the meantime, she gave me some prophylactic meds for parasites. Flagyl for canker :1/6th a pill once a day for 7-10 days.Vetafarm wormout: one pill each day for days then again in 10 days to make sure he doesn't have yucky worms.
Right now, he is in the basement in an aquarium with a heating pad. Once he is finished with his worm meds I'll bring him upstairs and set up the sling where it will be warmer.
Jody was cautiously optimist in his recovery and suggested I call her vet again to possibly get an x-ray.
I will keep you updated on his progress-good or bad.