Just saved a Pigeon
Discussion
I've just rescued a Wood Pigeon from a Kestrel. I couldnt just watch it get killed on my doorstep. Especially as it could be one of the regulars at our bird table.
Arrived home from the shop to much noise from the local Maggies and some something that looked odd at the bottom of the road. Walked a little closer to see it was a Kestrel with its wings open standing over a Pigeon.
Walked a little closer and the Kestrel attempted to lift off but the Pigeon was too big and it only managed about 6ft before dropping it. At this point i'm about 6 feet away. Kestrel has one last go then flies off.
Pigeon is huddled in a corner next to a bush. I pick him / her up and take it to our garden. I've just put it in a spare Hutch we have and left it alone. Their was a fair bit of blood on my hands.
Any advice welcome.
No I should have just left it comments please.
Arrived home from the shop to much noise from the local Maggies and some something that looked odd at the bottom of the road. Walked a little closer to see it was a Kestrel with its wings open standing over a Pigeon.
Walked a little closer and the Kestrel attempted to lift off but the Pigeon was too big and it only managed about 6ft before dropping it. At this point i'm about 6 feet away. Kestrel has one last go then flies off.
Pigeon is huddled in a corner next to a bush. I pick him / her up and take it to our garden. I've just put it in a spare Hutch we have and left it alone. Their was a fair bit of blood on my hands.
Any advice welcome.
No I should have just left it comments please.
Truth is you should have though. It's nature. You may not have done it any favours. It could be badly injured and may die more slowly than he would have done.
However it may be ok but I'd suggest as you have interfered with nature (which is understandable) you need to get the pigeon checked out by a vet (it won't cost you) if very badly injured they'll put it to sleep. If not bad you may be able to re release it.
Is it still where you left it?
However it may be ok but I'd suggest as you have interfered with nature (which is understandable) you need to get the pigeon checked out by a vet (it won't cost you) if very badly injured they'll put it to sleep. If not bad you may be able to re release it.
Is it still where you left it?
bexVN said:
Truth is you should have though. It's nature. You may not have done it any favours. It could be badly injured and may die more slowly than he would have done.
However it may be ok but I'd suggest as you have interfered with nature (which is understandable) you need to get the pigeon checked out by a vet (it won't cost you) if very badly injured they'll put it to sleep. If not bad you may be able to re release it.
Is it still where you left it?
Yeah I left it in the Hutch ! It seems chirpy However it may be ok but I'd suggest as you have interfered with nature (which is understandable) you need to get the pigeon checked out by a vet (it won't cost you) if very badly injured they'll put it to sleep. If not bad you may be able to re release it.
Is it still where you left it?
enough. I've put a bit of bread in their and some water. Tried to make a break for freedom when I opened the door !Brilliant if it recovers. keep it warm and fed and if it can fly let it go. I would have saved it myself, regulars become part of the family although wood pigeons are anything but a threatened species. I have knwn people keep wood pigeons in an aviary if the couldnt fly, they ever really settle though. if you take it to a vet all they will want to do is pugt it down
SMGB said:
Brilliant if it recovers. keep it warm and fed and if it can fly let it go. I would have saved it myself, regulars become part of the family although wood pigeons are anything but a threatened species. I have knwn people keep wood pigeons in an aviary if the couldnt fly, they ever really settle though. if you take it to a vet all they will want to do is pugt it down
No they won't, not if they have chance of being released. Wild birds should only be kept captive if the person has a licence to do so. We send them onto Secret World.Op if keeping then you need fo purchase appropriate food. Wild burn seed suitable for pigeons.
bexVN said:
No they won't, not if they have chance of being released. Wild birds should only be kept captive if the person has a licence to do so. We send them onto Secret World.
Op if keeping then you need fo purchase appropriate food. Wild burn seed suitable for pigeons.
I have no intention of keeping it. It's warm, dry and secure in a nice sized Rabbit Hutch with a bit of food and water if it feels upto it. If it survives the night I'll let it go. If it cant fly then i'll stick it back in the Hutch while I consider what to do.Op if keeping then you need fo purchase appropriate food. Wild burn seed suitable for pigeons.
Worse case scenerio Pigeon Pie for Tuesdays tea.
Davey S2 said:
And if it doesnt it will have had a long probably painful death.
Credit to you for trying to help but I cant help thinking you have done the wrong thing and should just have just let nature happen.
Well you're entitled to your opinion of course. Time will tell if I've made the wrong choice or not. Same scenerio I would do exactly the same again.Credit to you for trying to help but I cant help thinking you have done the wrong thing and should just have just let nature happen.
I saved a Black Bird from a Cat last year under very similar circumstances. It was one of a pair nesting in the tree in our garden. Put it in a box over night and released it the next morning. They raised a nice brood between them.
Should I have left the Cat to it ? Maybe and maybe not.
nick heppinstall said:
Davey S2 said:
And if it doesnt it will have had a long probably painful death.
Credit to you for trying to help but I cant help thinking you have done the wrong thing and should just have just let nature happen.
Well you're entitled to your opinion of course. Time will tell if I've made the wrong choice or not. Same scenerio I would do exactly the same again.Credit to you for trying to help but I cant help thinking you have done the wrong thing and should just have just let nature happen.
I saved a Black Bird from a Cat last year under very similar circumstances. It was one of a pair nesting in the tree in our garden. Put it in a box over night and released it the next morning. They raised a nice brood between them.
Should I have left the Cat to it ? Maybe and maybe not.
nick heppinstall said:
I saved a Black Bird from a Cat last year under very similar circumstances. It was one of a pair nesting in the tree in our garden. Put it in a box over night and released it the next morning. They raised a nice brood between them.
Should I have left the Cat to it ? Maybe and maybe not.
There's a fairly big difference between a kestrel and a cat, and not just that one is a bird and the other a mammal. Should I have left the Cat to it ? Maybe and maybe not.
I'd happily save anything I could from any cat (assuming the caught beast had a chance of surviving) and have done in the past. The only thing I'd even consider "rescuing" from a kestrel (or any other native, wild bird of prey) would be my own pets, and that's never going to happen with my current pets.
Poor decision imo, hope it lives though so it was worthwhile
Good news this morning. Uncovered the Hutch and it looked pretty well. Opened the door and we all stood and watched.
Took him a few minutes to pluck up courage but he eventually did and flew up onto our Eve's.
Stood their looking at us for a minute then shot off at high speed over the houses across the road.
Took him a few minutes to pluck up courage but he eventually did and flew up onto our Eve's.
Stood their looking at us for a minute then shot off at high speed over the houses across the road.
Edited by nick heppinstall on Saturday 10th November 10:25
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