Poor, poor Wood Pigeon :-(

[pippy]

Saw the most distressing sight today

I'd just left a client's house and was driving up the road (a quiet road) when I saw flapping wings on the pavement behind a parked car.

Slammed on the brakes and ran across to see what it was and was nearly sick. Two Crows were literally trying to peck their way into the head of a young Wood Pigeon.

I scared the Crows away, ran to the car, grabbed my coat from the back seat and ran back to the young bird. It had blood all down it's face and a little hole on the top of it's head.

It did struggle as I picked it up which I thought was a good sign because when it was being attacked it looked as though it had resigned itself to it's fate and was just resting it's beak on the pavement and giving the occasional weak flap of the wings.

Wrapped it right up in my coat so it couldn't get out, put it in the passenger footwell and drove as fast as I dared to a local vet who I know treats wild birds.

Our local wildlife rescue group takes all it's birds/animals there and I've taken various Pigeons and Gulls there over the years, always after they've been hit by cars though, this one today was a first (and I hope, last) for me.

Ran into reception and asked for some help as my coat was wriggling all over the floor of my car! They came out with a small cage so I picked the baby up and popped it in then took it into the surgery. Could then see that as well as having a small hole on the top of it's head that it had also had one of it's eyes pecked out

I rang the surgery this evening and the bird was still alive so I'm hoping they'll be able to do whatever they need to do to help it recover fully.

I know it's just nature and I know the Crows were just after a meal but to actually see them trying to get inside this bird's head and to eat it alive was one of the most disturbing things I have ever witnessed

Do you think it will make it? I will ring again tomorrow morning.

[Greycloud]

Poor baby. I hope it does survive. You did a great thing. We can't save them all but we can sure as hell try.

[xafsmom]

Gah! The nature show people always say "let nature happen" as the object of their filming die horribly, starve to death, watch its young drown.. etc.

Well, sometimes you can sure as heck sneak one out of nature's grip! Good on ya, Pippy! I'd have saved the lil guy too!

My fingers are crossed for it!

[RockysMom]

awww that poor baby!! I hope it makes it through, I would have done the same thing for the little guy! :(

[pippy]

Oh I'm glad I'm not the only one who stops to rescue 'dirty' wild birds!

So many people I know say they wouldn't touch either a Gull (mainly Herring gulls round here) or a Pigeon of any kind because they're 'vermin'. Well ok, so Gulls are scavengers and some Pigeons carry disease but I still cannot bring myself to just walk/drive on by a bird or animal in distress!

As far as I'm concerned if it's got a pulse, it's stands a chance, therefore my conscience won't allow me to leave it!

I've just rung the vets and the receptionist is going to get someone to call me back when they have time.

[kali]

I'll keep my fingers crossed...

[Ashling]

If it were "nature," I'm sure the pigeon would have been hiding in some woodlands and the crows (sure they weren't Ravens? I love Ravens) would not have found him. Alas, nothing but concrete and brick so who said anything about nature! Well done :)

I put a baby bird higher up in a tree the other day. "Nature" would have a dog find it and tear it to shreds, or a person "rescuing" the "abandoned" baby bird that had "fallen" from its nest!

[SillyArwenBurd]

No worries! I do that sort of thing whenever I come across a critter that is in need of help... I mean we push them out of their natural habitat just to build big buildings and houses it's only fair we help out the unfortunate critters that find themselves in un-natural circumstances as a result of human greed.
I saved a regular old barn pigeon a few years ago poor thing was shivering in the snow and was ruffed up by some cats, the pigeon tried it's best to get away from me but was too weak and finally gave into the warmth it felt from my hands he/she looked as though it was almost giving up on life so I took it to my mom's car and luckly I always bring a little blanket everywhere (who says blankies are for babies haha :P) I wrapped the pigeon up in it and turned the heat up in the car and took it home. Thankfully I had extra perches little bits of knitting I never finished and an old hagen cage I kept the pigeon for 2 months it eventually started to perch instead of using the knitted stuff to rest on and got very feisty lol and cooed like crazy. It felt amazing to help the little guy and make it healthy again :)

So good on you! I'm so glad there are compassionate people out there :)

[pippy]

Great news! The bird lasted the night and is being picked up by WADARS (our local wonderful animal rescue charity) this afternoon and being taken to a wildlife hospital!

[Greycloud]

What great news! See, you earned some angel wings yourself!