I got a call from a friend a little while back that a little brown pigeon was found outside of The Gunston Flower Shop. The mother and daughter of the shop found him out on the sidewalk area and didn't think he would be safe out there alone. They cared for him with the cage they had, but didn't have the space that he would ultimately need. The ladies of the florist shop were hoping I would take him in. Well, it turns out this little brown bird had a band that was registered with the Birmingham Rollers Association, and I could also see by his band that he was born back in 2008. That would make him 7-years old! I really wondered what stories he had to tell, where he was from and why he was where he was now. I told him I knew there was someone who was missing him very much and he seemed to agree.
When he got to my loft, he was weak and had a scab under his throat. When he went into the loft, he just went about his own business and ate and drank and settled in. The white doves gave him plenty of space, I think they thought he was a hawk! They scattered whenever he would land down by them. Little Brownie (that was what I was calling him) did not realize he was causing the commotion. He would look up during the ruckus and wonder why everyone was scared, seeing nothing amiss, he would just keep on eating.
Frustratingly, for some reason, the Birmingham Roller people did not have a record of his band. That means that there is no way to contact the owner and let him or her know that his old friend is found. (I am still working on this!)
Well Brownie never really seemed to get strong or healthy. For ten days, he ate and drank and ate and drank again, went about his business, but never looked that great. His wound had healed and he no longer had a scab on his neck, but he never seemed to gain weight and was a little shaky at times.
Well Brownie never really seemed to get strong or healthy. For ten days, he ate and drank and ate and drank again, went about his business, but never looked that great. His wound had healed and he no longer had a scab on his neck, but he never seemed to gain weight and was a little shaky at times.
One morning, while working in the loft, I was watching Brownie take a drink of water. I watched him a lot. This morning, he had a line of water down his neck. I thought, that is strange, why would he have water on his feathers there? I picked him up and while I gently spread his feathers apart on his throat, I was able to spread open a new hole there. In the hole, there looked like little yellow maggots. Gross and sad!!! On better inspection, I realized it wasn't maggots, it was little tiny bird seed! Poor little guy, he must have had his crop damaged and the food and water was coming right out. The outside scab had healed, but underneath had not. It was a torn crop. Most likely from a hawk attack and that was what had probably sidelined little Brownie.
I gave a call to his original benefactors, the Gunston Flower Shop. The ladies there told me about a veterinary hospital that would take in wild animals in need. I called them immediately. The reason I won't give there name here is because they told me that their group wasn't supposed to take in any type of animal except for wild animals, but that they would take this little bird. When I got there, I had to sign a form saying I gave up any rights to Brownie and that I would not be able to call or get any further information once I turned him over. Before I did this, I waited while a veterinarian (I'll call her Angel) took Brownie in the back and told me what I had suspected was true, a torn crop. She told me that it is typical for the crop to heal on the outside, but to still be torn on the inside. After awhile it would open again. The good news was that she was willing to do surgery on him that night! Hearing that, I signed him away and sad goodbye.
What luck that this veterinarian turned out to be a compassionate woman. Unlike what the form that I signed said, she told me she would call and let me know how he did. She asked if I would be willing to take him back afterwards, and of course, I said yes.
A few days later we spoke. She said she had taken him home after his surgery and he was living in an incubator still very weak. She asked me if he had been shaky with me and was worried he might have eaten some poison and his kidneys were ruined. It turns out she had to do the surgery one more time before it would ultimately heal for good. Two weeks later she called me to say he was ready to come home to my loft.
What luck that this veterinarian turned out to be a compassionate woman. Unlike what the form that I signed said, she told me she would call and let me know how he did. She asked if I would be willing to take him back afterwards, and of course, I said yes.
A few days later we spoke. She said she had taken him home after his surgery and he was living in an incubator still very weak. She asked me if he had been shaky with me and was worried he might have eaten some poison and his kidneys were ruined. It turns out she had to do the surgery one more time before it would ultimately heal for good. Two weeks later she called me to say he was ready to come home to my loft.
When Brownie got back to the loft, the white doves once again were unsettled by his hawklike appearance. This time, it only took about a month for him to look beautiful and strong and sleek. Here is a picture of him taken two weeks ago. He even looks better now! He is sweet and kind and has beautiful eyes. I often wonder if his owner lies awake at night wishing for news of him like I would. I hope to be able to tell him how lucky his little plucky bird was to have landed at Gunston Flowers because they love animals. How lucky it was to find the Angel vet who didn't give up on him. Now I am lucky to enjoy a good story and a beautiful bird.
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