In other news, we have two new resident pigeons to join Dora and the gang!
Burko is a grey checker feral pigeon that was found on the ground in February. He was healthy but was simply not flying. It is thought that he had just fledged and maybe got dazed and confused. After a bit of care Burko started flying again.
Tux is a black and white pied feral pigeon. She was found in March, all wet and oily with a damaged left wing. The wing healed within a few months, by which time Burko had wooed his way into Tux’s heart, since the two had been living in the same house together (with a few cats too). Both are a bit too friendly towards people and cats so they cannot be released and were brought to my work for rehoming.
Tux and Burko settled in fine in Dora’s aviary and I’m sure they’ll be sitting on eggs soon (fake ones when I sneakily replace them). I cannot wait to get to know them better. When they were in the isolation pen Burko kept attacking my fingers in a playful manner, so I can see he’s a very feisty pigeon, however, Tux was not so keen to interact with me. I think she’s a bit more timid and may take a while to get used to me and her new surroundings.
Remember Birdie girl? Unfortunately, she hasn’t chosen a mate yet. Neither Button or Davey have stolen her heart. I’m afraid she may never choose a pigeon mate, rather preferring a human companion. If she seems unhappy I will have to rehome her to a loving home, however, at the moment she doesn’t seem unhappy with the pigeons. I will keep an eye on her and assess the situation later. On a happier note, Birdie’s feathers are growing back so she should look like a proper pigeon soon.
List of all the current resident pigeons (fancy or disabled) at my work:
- DORA – female - fancy pigeon (paired with Pidge)
- PIDGE – male - feral pigeon (paired with Dora)
- GERTIE – female - racing pigeon (paired with Marmaduke)
- MARMADUKE – male - Archangel breed (paired with Gertie)
- FLEUR – female - fancy pigeon (paired with Marmalade)
- MARMALADE – male - Archangel breed (paired with Fleur)
- MADDIE – female - feral pigeon (paired with Lord Nelson)
- LORD NELSON – male - West of England Tumbler breed (paired with Maddie)
- PEACHES – female - fancy pigeon (paired with Stanley)
- STANLEY – male - feral pigeon (paired with Peaches)
- SPECKLES – female - feral pigeon (paired with Horatio)
- HORATIO – male - Highflyer/Tippler breed (paired with Speckles)
- LUMI – female - feral pigeon (paired with Turk)
- TURK – male - Turkish Takla breed (paired with Lumi)
- MOUSIE – female - racing pigeon (paired with Rudderford)
- RUDDERFORD – male - feral pigeon (paired with Mousie)
- TERESA – female - feral pigeon (single)
- DAVEY – male - feral pigeon (single)
- BUTTON – male - feral pigeon (single)
- BIRDIE – female - feral pigeon (single)
- TUX – female - feral pigeon (paired with Burko)
- BURKO – male – feral pigeon (paried with Tux)
Burko is such a cutie