Not writing a proper pigeon post today. Got too many things going on.
So I’m asking you all to do something nice for a pigeon, either your own or a wild one.
Just remember, pigeons are the best! 
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- Feral Pigeon Project - Research blog to answer some of the mysteries about feral pigeons.
- Knitted Pigeons at Revati.co.uk - Buy a knitted pigeon from Revati
- Matilda's List - An international list and directory of pigeon friendly veterinarians and rehabbers.
- Palomacy Pigeon & Dove Adoptions - Organisation dedicated to the rescue of doves and pigeons in the San Francisco Bay area.
- Pandemonium Aviaries - Organisation dedicated to preventing the extinction of targeted avian species through conservation and education.
- Pigeon Aid UK - A site that provides advice for those who have picked up a sick, injured or baby pigeon and need guidance.
- Pigeon and Dove Rescue - A website aimed at providing help for anyone that has rescued a pigeon or dove by providing details of pigeon friendly rescue centres, vets and guidance on how to care for orphaned, sick or injured pigeons.
- Pigeon Angels - A forum dedicated to the support & care of all pigeons, feral or fancy, that find themselves in jeopardy.
- Pigeon Blog - A bona fide urban pigeon telling it how it is for the pigeons of London.
- Pigeon Control Advisory Service (PiCAS) - PiCAS specialises in the provision of non-lethal, holistic and sustainable bird control systems, which will result in a permanent reduction in bird numbers.
- Pigeon Control Resource Centre (PCRC) - An online resource for anyone with a pigeon-related problem. All information and advice provided on the website is geared towards completely solving pigeon control problems by the use of humane and non-lethal control methods.
- Pigeon Rescue Team (UK) - A group aiming to help and rescue pigeons in the area of London
- Pigeon Tales - Interesting blog following the lives of a family of feral pigeons living with the author.
- Pigeon-Talk - A global forum open to all pigeon lovers.
- Rescue Report - Wonderful blog about fostering and adopting pigeons (from MickaCoo Pigeon & Dove Rescue).
- Urban Wildlife Society - Their mission is to promote appreciation for all animals, particularly pigeons, that share the city and suburbs with humans. The website is filled with information and articles about inhumane pest control and offers advice on alternative measures.
- Wild Bird Fund - Website for the non-profit organization that provides assistance for wild birds, including feral pigeons, in New York City.
- Wing and a Prayer Bird Haven - Wild bird rescue centre and sanctuary in Norfolk, UK
Pigeon Rescue: people who can help
Links to various pigeon-friendly organisations, groups, rescue centres, and vets that can help with injured, ill or orphaned pigeons and doves.
The problem of chronic egg laying
Talking about the problem of continuous egg laying in birds (e.g. risks to health) and possible solutions.
Welfare of fancy pigeons
Discussing the genetic welfare problems of some fancy pigeon breeds.
How to tell if a pigeon is male or female
Explaining a bit about sexing pigeons.
The scoop on pigeon poop!
Are pigeon faeces dangerous to humans and can it be used as fertiliser?
Pet pigeons - what we mean
Explaining what we mean when we talk about keeping pigeons as pets. In brief: We mean keeping tame, imprinted or disabled pigeons that would not otherwise survive in the wild.
Feral pigeons and disease – do pigeons carry disease?
Do pigeons pose a threat to the public and your health. The quick answer is: No, they do not. Don’t believe me? Well, read the full article to find out.
Hand-rearing pigeons - right or wrong?
Controversial post on whether it is right to hand-rear a pigeon on its own and therefore potentially cause them to become imprinted on humans.
Invisible babies
Why we don’t normally see baby pigeons, their growth rate (photos included) and info on what to do if you find a baby pigeon.
Pigeon Rescue: what to do with injured, ill and orphaned pigeons
Information on what to do, as well as links to various sites about pigeon rescue.
It has been a record hot summer in Finland this year – the hottest recorded temperature was 37.2 degrees Celsius (on July 29th). I’m hoping that not too many animals suffered from the excess heat – since they’d normally be used to colder temperatures. (For wintertime, check out: Pigeons in Finland and Finnish pigeons).
Here are some photos of the pigeons we saw this summer:
At the arboretum in Tampere
At the arboretum in Tampere
Chilling out in the sun!
Must be the warmest spot to sunbathe on.
Looking good!
Feral pigeons foraging with the crows and ducks.
We had a coffee in the town centre of Tampere and we were joined by some lovely pigeons, who helped themselves to the left-overs:
I have received the ultimate book on pigeon breeds!! I am so happy!! It is an amazing book filled with photos of all the different breeds of pigeons you can find in the world. It is a book I have been wanting to have ever since I laid eyes on it on the internet (being the book addict I am). A dear friend heard of my desire and bought it for me. I cannot thank her enough!!
The book, of course, is the “Encyclopedia of Pigeon Breeds” by Wendell M. Levi (1965)
It is very thick and heavy, not surprising since it consists of 790 pages! I will spend many a lazy evenings going through it, just looking at all the amazing, weird and wonderful pigeons displayed in it. What a treat!
Richard has come up with some designs and slogans to add onto shirts, mugs, aprons, bumper stickers, etc., to help you lovely people show your support and love of pigeons.
Please check out our shop at http://pigeonsaspets.spreadshirt.co.uk/ and shop to your hearts content! 
As you might have noticed there is a new box in the right-hand column of our website which displays our merchandise.
Richard will be creating some more designs later, but here are a few examples of what he has done so far:
The England v Algeria football match became interesting for our pet pigeons when a bird was spotted sitting on the Algeria goal post during the match. After a replay we saw what looked to be a juvenile speckled pigeon (Columba guinea) sitting quite safely on the goal post (seeing as there wasn’t much of a threat of a goal from England):
Here’s photos of the pigeon:
And here’s a photo of a different juvenile speckled pigeon:
Juvenile speckled pigeon (photo from Dave Shedman)
Buy your official Pigeons As Pets England v Algeria T-shirts: “Ah! The Algerian goal, the safest place to nest.” at http://www.cafepress.co.uk/pigeonsaspets
Welcome to PigeonCam!
We bought an IP camera in order to keep an eye on our precious pets while we are away on holiday. It’s a great bit of hardware and I’d recommend it to anyone. To access our PigeonCam click on the “PigeonCam” icon on the right of our website. It is early days yet with this so please bear with us. Changes may later occur. At the moment you will only be able to view Elmo (who has the run of the bedroom while we are at work).
Pigeon Hiding Places
Elmo can normally be found:
- On the foot of the bed, near the window
- On the chest of drawers directly beneath PigeonCam
- On the covered bedside table
- By the door (to the right of PigeonCam)
Operating Hours
PigeonCam is normally online between 8:30am and 4:30pm Mon – Fri.
Instructions
The image updates every 1.5s. You can control the camera using the arrows which overlay the stream or the arrow keys on your keyboard.
NB: Please be patient when controlling PigeonCam. The image only refreshes every 1.5s so your control will NOT be immediately evident.
Here are a few Finnish pigeons we found in Tampere, Finland. It was -10 degrees Celcius and there was/is lots of snow and ice about. We felt like gathering all the pigeons up and taking them inside for bed and breakfast. Maybe we should start a winter pigeon hotel?
I arrived in Sonderborg, Denmark on Thursday evening. Sight-seeing at that time of night is restricted to bars and clubs.
In the morning however we had a walk around town and the harbour. Hunting far and wide I’m unhappy to announce there are no pigeons in Sonderborg. Plenty of seagulls and a couple of swans, but not one pigeon to be found.
Rest in Peace gerbils Petra and Suri
Suri
Small and furry, thumping feet
Twitching noses as they meet
Sisters two,
black and white
Sleeping soundly
out of sight
Petra
Rodents they are as quick and as bright,
dumpling Petra, Suri slight.
Time spent digging, chewing and grooming,
neither sand-bathing, simply removing.
A cocoon, a haven, that soft warm nest,
nothing more needed – simply the best!
Suri
At some point last night our remaining gerbil Suri passed away. We aren’t sure as to the cause of death, but she was getting old and has been pining away for her sister Petra whom we had to put to sleep last November (due to an inoperable tumor).
We got Suri & Petra from a animal rescue center (Kit Wilson Trust – www.kitwilsontrust.org.uk) on 11th Sept 2007. We’re unsure of how old they were at the time but we were told 1 year old. They had been kept in pretty standard conditions, a small enclosure, and well looked after in terms of food, water, bedding etc.
Gerbiville
We managed to find a 4ft fish tank for them to run around in, with numerous tubes running out above the tank where their house and feeding ‘pod’ was kept. They loved the new space they had been given. They ignored the wheel provided and decided to set up house in the wheel pod with their ‘summer cottage’, a wooden house, in the tank below. We like to think that they had a content life, having plenty of toilet rolls to chew as well as feathers to chase.
Rest in peace dear Suri, we hope you’re snuggling up with your sister now.
