Moppet's story continues, Echo surprises me - and Snow White has news.....

Sat 1^st March – Adorable little Moppet is coping really well – I want to pick her up and kiss her! But I certainly wouldn’t be able to catch her as she seems to have perked up in the 3 days since I released her last Thursday. Here she is on the roof with the pigeons she seems to live with.

 So tiny and sweet!

Sun 2^nd March – I went out to the shed kitchen early this morning and this is where I feed Loopy, our adopted cat, and where hubbie saw the fox not so long ago. Loopy’s biscuit bowl was completely empty (which it never is, even when Bertie’s been stealing some) and pushed round the room, making me think maybe the fox came back. This not very exciting happening was on my mind when I went into the spare bedroom to get the homies ‘up’ and I discovered to my horror that the grille was not on Echo’s box and it was empty – no Echo!! Strange thoughts of the fox stealing Echo went through my mind, but reason said that this was not possible! I soon found Echo crouching on the floor under the shelf, poor thing! What a way to spend the night – but in fact perfectly safe. Later on, Cissie managed to escape out of her daytime arrangements, by ducking under the draped cloth.

She doesn’t have a totally secure crate like Echo as I haven’t got another one, and he was there first. She is in an metal grille sort of old-fashioned carrier, with the back open to another box for her to hide or rest in. Here she is before I put her back, and stopped the gap with a box. That’s the first cheeky thing she has ever done! (Echo is cheeky all the time!)  I saw Moppet again today – and Big Boy – and was very pleased to see my other ‘poorly beak’ pigeon, Pandora! (she doesn’t come every day). Moppet is still managing  – her foot seems less crumpled but one of her eyes is slightly closed. I don’t really know what is wrong with her but she is a brave little thing, making the best of it.

3.3.14 – From about 11am on I am watching out for Moppet, and she did eventually arrive by about 1.30pm thank goodness. She looks more bedraggled every day, but still manages to get something to eat. If I get the chance to capture her again, I don’t think I would be inclined to let her go in a hurry – I wish I’d kept her. But maybe I am worrying unnecessarily – maybe the flock she lives with doesn’t live too far away, and maybe she does get enough to eat...... My camera has died, so I can't take photos which is very annoying. I am trying to find another one the same from ebay or somewhere.

Tuesday 4.3.14 – Something happened this morning which I hadn’t intended and was rather surprising and disconcerting! The flock arrived....was fed....I fed Cloud and put her in the hutch...then Echo is next. I had him in my hands wrapped in a cloth, about to feed him in the kitchen, when I noticed Big Boy was back on the lawn with only a few other pigeons, so I thought I’d give him a bit extra when there was less competition as he still finds it hard to pick up food in one go. There had been a light frost but already the sun was coming out quite brightly, so I put Echo down on the grass for a few minutes while I fed Big Boy. Ungrateful BB soon flew away, and so I went to get the net as I knew I couldn’t pick up Echo without it – he can run too fast! Echo ran hither and thither, making little fluttery jumps into the air and sometimes going quite high.....he rose higher and I lowered the net as I didn’t want him to panic into flying or fluttering near the river side of the garden....and then suddenly he seemed to gather all his resources and flew up and away, reasonably well, to the roof! I couldn’t believe it and I don’t think he could either! He looked amazed! This is the first time he has been so high and so free since I brought him in as a pathetic little half-starved scrap on 19^th December – 75 days ago! But this was not the way I meant to release him, and he hadn’t had any breakfast, and I don’t think still can’t feed himself properly, although there has always been food in his cage for his to experiment with, and I have seen him trying. Lucky and a few others came to the roof, so he wasn’t alone – and then a male pigeon turned up...and I think Echo might be a she...but he can stay he for now or it’s too confusing! (I’ve already changed his sex once!) This all happened before 8am and by 9am the pigeons had all left the roof, taking Echo with them. Obviously the idea was for Echo to recover and be released and I knew when I took him out every afternoon that he was getting better at flying but yesterday he didn’t show signs that he would be able to fly to the roof (never assume!) – I can only hope that he will stay with the flock and come back later to eat.  Cissie looked very much alone in the conservatory.....I have empty nest syndrome!!!!

Lunchtime – plenty of doves and pigeons, but no Echo. I fear I have probably lost him forever. No doubt the flock would head off to some farmer’s field, and he might not have the strength to rise up from the ground again, or keep up with the others. I checked back to one of my old blogs about Flash to see how long I kept him in when he had paramyxovirus. He was my daddy dove of the time and a great favourite – probably my favourite dove ever. He developed PMV and I caught him on 29.10.11 and confined him until he was well enough to be re-released which was on 26.12.11 – a total of 58 days. Echo had 75 days, but Flash was an adult male, and very strong – so in the time Echo was in with PMV he was also developing and growing up. After release, Flash had 20 days of freedom before the hawk ended his life – I do hope Echo has a least a few days before something happens to him. I don’t think he can feed himself well enough to survive, but you never know. He was such a baby when I brought him in, and probably now institutionalised..... Oh dear, I am so sorry Echo, this wasn’t how it was meant to be!

 Moppet managed to arrive again and through the course of the afternoon probably got enough to eat – she seems very small and fragile to me and I want to help her so much! When I see her on the lawn I go out and edge towards her but I haven’t had the chance to pick her up again, and daren’t wield the net for fear of frightening her. It’s more important that she eats than I try to catch her. I hope she can continue to struggle on – she’s such a sweetie, so much smaller than the others, though I assume an adult as she doesnt look like a juvenile.

Although the day was fine, I brought Cloud in to the conservatory to spend time near Cissie, so she wouldn’t be lonely now her noisy, cheerful room-mate has gone.

As the dovie day ended I looked out many times to see if Echo had returned to the roof, but he hadn’t. I try not to blame myself and if I had not brought him in in the  first place, before Christmas, he would’ve died anyway. Like a foster mother, I have to let go....but it’s hard not knowing where your baby is spending the night, or even if.... well, you know..... I can't dwell on it. I went out searching for him, but with no luck.

This evening I cleaned out Echo’s crate, ready for Cissie to ‘move house’ tomorrow. It will give her more space and be secure, which her current arrangement is not. If Echo was to return, and need to come in again, then I will go back to plan A.  I am a little sad about Echo.....

Wed 4.3.14 – It is now a week since I caught Moppet and brought her in for one night’s feeding up, rest and recuperation. Today I didn’t see her, so it’s likely she’s died – especially as last night the temperature went down to nearly freezing and it was frosty this morning. She did amazingly well and I’ll miss her. Echo hasn’t been seen either, and I didn’t really expect to see him. The human world makes allowances for special needs; nature does not. Oh Echo, you silly thing, you didn’t know where you were well off.....I just have to NOT think about what might have happened to him, but I do hope he enjoyed his short time of freedom..

Thurs 5.3.14 – There are a pair of white doves billing and cooing, and mating, on the roof. They pop in and out of Lucky and Charm’s front nest box, but as L and C are not around much nothing is said about it! Unfortunately Bertie has been here this morning and he is rather off-putting. I’ll take him home soon but I do hope that his visits don’t mean that I won’t have any baby doves this summer. Snow White cannot understand where Rose Red is (for any new readers, she was killed by the hawk a few weeks ago). He keeps coming to the cote, and saying ‘Here I am – where are you?’  So I have put him on my Dovie Dating Site ‘ Handsome snow white dove, widower of this parish, of proven fertility and part owner of bijou white riverside residence, is keen to meet pretty young lady dove, for meetings and hopefully more!’

Fri 6.3.14 – I have brought some hay in from the shed, where I keep it, to dry out thoroughly in a bag over the aga. Then I will add some to the nesting boxes as the doves are often not terribly good at making nests. They can always chuck it out if they don’t like it. The pair of white doves spend time in the cote but so far show no signs of nesting. The yard is far busier than it was a while ago, and this might put the birds off – as well as Bertie! But I wonder if the instinct to nest is stronger? Hubby has an old Jag that is SORN at the moment and I am going to see if I can persuade him to park it alongside the cote which means that no-one else can park there, so any noisy cars/people pulling up will be just that one step removed from the cote.
I hadn't seen Moppet for two days but suddenly at lunchtime, there she was on the roof! Oh sweetest Moppet - I thought you were dead! When she came down to eat I could see she was worse and unable to pick up any food at all.....oh dear! I then spent the whole afternoon popping in and out, trying to catch her without frightening her. Oh Lord, I prayed, please let me have my little Moppet so I can feed her and look after her. Five or six times I went out there, with the net hidden behind my back - it is sooo painful to watch a much loved little dovie desperately trying to eat, running about the lawn in the search of the perfect grain that maybe, this time, she can pick up! I lit my special dove candle - keep calm and pray. I determined that I would catch her, I had to catch her! And today would be the last time because if she flew away with the others, having not eaten, and in such poor shape, she would surely die. Every single time any doves or pigeons came down to the lawn during the afternoon, so did pathetic little Moppet, trying to eat. Eventually at 4pm I brought the net down on her, and she was mine again! I gave her no chance to escape, wrapped her in a cloth and started to feed her when we were safely in the kitchen. Feeding Moppet was nothing like feeding Big Boy - she was probably less than half his weight, and so delicate but I fed her a good quantity, gave her a drink and settled her down in the box I had ready. Thank you Lord for giving me Moppet back - I wouldve been so sad if she had flown away.

Sat 8.3.14 – When I have a poorly one I am always apprehensive going in in the mornings, but Moppet survived the night and I fed her first thing. She seems no worse than yesterday, but that’s not very good anyway. When the conservatory had warmed up a bit I moved her into the open wire old fashioned carrier that Cissie was in while I had Echo. I made her a hot-water bottle and a nice little bed, and arranged it, away from Cissie’s potential germs, looking out onto the garden, with a cloth draped over the back to shield her from the sun now streaming in. At present she will be on a 3 hourly feeding schedule – so I fed her 7.30am and again at 10.30am. She drinks alone from her little water bowl and totters around the box. There is absolutely no way she is fit to be allowed out though she can probably still fly.

Later – 1.30pm fed Moppet again. She won’t stay still in the little beddies I made for her but lurches around the container, spilling her water. I keep expecting her to die at any moment she looks so poorly. One half closed eye, half opened beak, one limp, weak foot, and bedraggled dirty tail feathers – but I love her to bits! When the sun went off the conservatory but was still in the garden I took her container outside and put it on top of the hutch so she could enjoy the sun on what will probably be one of her last few days, if not her last.

Moppet had another feed at 4.30pm, wrapped in a little cloth and then as she seemed a bit chilly I wrapped her in a small red fleece blanket and cuddled her on my lap for a while. I think if hubby hadnt been around I wouldve cuddled her all evening! Because of the lack of a camera I've been unable to take photos, but I remembered I had got one (I won it and have never used) out of the cupboard and managed to get it going.  At about 5pm I settled her for the night with the snugglesafe hot water bottle, and the box draped with plenty of blankets to try to keep her warm. Here’s Moppet, you can see how poorly she is..... what you can’t see is how small she is, and what a little soldier she’s been.

Will she still be alive in the morning....? I fear not.....

Sunday 9.3.14 – Moppet had moved out of her nice nest-bed and died against the grille of the night-box. There was blood on her wing and I don’t know how she had managed to hurt herself as there are no sharp edges inside the box, and the floor of it was padded nicely. I was saddened but not surprised, and she sailed off down the river with a miniature daffodil under her wing. Rest in Peace, little sweetheart. I will miss you. And I am pleased that I was able to ensure you didnt die hungry.

The flock cheered me up as it was already a beautiful fresh and sunny early morning. They ate then crowded round the communal baths while I fed Cloud. Lucky was there but seemed oblivious of the fact that a pair of white doves were in ‘his’ front nest box. I am not sure if this pair is Snow White and a new lady friend or another pair, but later I definitely saw a white female in the cote and Snow White sitting on the brick on Cloud’s hutch.

 You can just see someone in the cote in the photo above, with Snow White on the brick

Maybe Lucky has given up thought of nesting in the cote this season.....or will there be ructions later. The afternoon was more like June or September rather than March – glorious! I put Cissie outside in a box on top of the hutch to enjoy the sunshine and then when it got cooler moved her back, and brought Cloud in too, as I always try and give them some time together.

Monday 10.3.14 – Nothing much to report – I am glad my 'Moppet worrying' is over, but I miss seeing that little bundle on the roof. She was such a fighter.

Tuesday 11.3.14 – I have ordered a camera from Amazon and hope to be able to take some nice photos soon! Lucky and Charm seem to be going through a ‘trial separation’ or something! I do see them, usually only once a day each, and not together...... I can’t be sorry if they are not going to nest in the cote as I have never had a worse dovie mother than Charm. And I haven’t really forgiven her for leaving those poor little babies in January. Maybe Lucky hasn't either - maybe his instinct told him that it was her fault - and it really was! Snow White on the other hand has good news to report – he has now ‘remarried’ and spends time with his new bride, billing and cooing on the roof. He has also ‘carried her over the threshold’ into the cote, and Lucky has not objected.

Thurs 13.3.14 – Snow White and his bride were in the cote together, busily arranging their front nestbox space. I sneaked up to the cote, moved the steps gently, reached up and put my hand with fingers spread out over the entrance, and had a peep – luckily I could see Snow White’s ring on one leg, so I was able to reach in and take out the female for ringing. It is far easier for me if the doves in my cote are ringed, so I can recognise them – partly for targeting for feed, but mainly so I know if a white dove is going in, it belongs there and is not an intruder! I brought the dove into the kitchen and ringed her with a yellow ring on her right leg. She will be called Star Light – so Snow White and Star Light (Star for short). It only took a minute or two, and then she was set free towards the roof, and I do hope soon forgives me!

Later – it was lovely and sunny again. Snow White and Star Light seemed perfectly happy together, and I’m so glad for SW as he is a lovely, quite tame dove – but I spared a thought for poor young Rose Red, his first little wifey, killed by the hawk right at the beginning of February.

Fri and Sat.14/15th March 14 - Nice and quiet on the dovie front these last couple of days. I've seen Snow White and Star Light mating and they are still in and out the front and back of the cote, unable to decide which nestbox they want, but SW hasnt started collecting sticks for a nest yet.

 Above, a pigeon in courting mode, with SW centre and SL right

 The pigeon decides to try his luck with SL

and follows her down the roof

 Below, Star Light

 Left, Snow White - you can just see his green/pink rings and right, Star Light with one yellow ring

They are in love!

Remember I told you in the last blog that I had ordered something exciting from Australia? Well, the package came a while ago......

And the contents have been waiting on the mantelpiece til I had sorted out my camera. Today I opened my pack of Australian Feather Magic Oracle Cards - created by Geraldine Teggelove. Lovely box - green is my favourite colour!

 Then I took the cards out......

 This is the reverse - stunning I thought

I decided not to go any further at that time, but later on when hubbie was out, I read the booklet. What a wonderful introduction - I hope Geraldine won't mind me copying down for you - 'Remember today to tread softly upon our Mother Earth - see with the eyes of an eagle, hear with the wisdom of the owl, and love with the softness of a feather falling gracefully to the ground'. The new cards should be cleansed by burning white sage and moving the smoke gently around with a feather. I've never done anything like this before - I assume it is 'smudging' which I have heard of. People have bought feathers from my Feather Shop for this purpose. This explains it 'Smudging' - I hadnt got any white sage in the garden, only purple sage, but I went out to pick some leaves, hoping that purple was ok (my intention was good anyway!) It was dark by now but there was a full white moon, so must be auspicious! I burnt the sage in a little bowl, as directed, and waved the smoke gently around with one of my white dove feathers before doing my reading. It smelt lovely! The images on the cards are of real feathers (Australian). Here's my favourite from the pack - Grace. What a gorgeous feather with that glowing green, and distinctive white tip and fluffy base - I wonder which bird it came from?

I will keep the cards on my bedside table for a while. There is a Focus for the Day, where you draw one card to focus on or learn from for that day so I will try to remember to do it. I am not going to allow anyone else to touch my cards so they retain my energy and the energy of the feathers depicted. Find out more about Geraldine Teggelove and the Feather Oracle Cards HERE  I have been in touch with Geraldine and it's a possibility that I might be able to offer the cards in my feather shop -  Groovy Cart Shop Search - this link will take you to the search page. If you want to see my feathers put the word feathers in the 'search for a shop' - but also look at anything else you might like - crafts, dolls, bric a brac, whatever you are into - see if it's on Groovy Cart!

To be cont...

Big Boy returns!

Sat 22.2.14 – I saw Big Boy for the first time since his release on Thursday morning. He came down with the morning early-birds and I thought I must observe him closely to make sure he can pick up food ..... and he could! I am overjoyed! He can’t pinpoint small grains like the others, but I targeted him with larger grains and peanuts and I think he got enough. Gradually, I hope, he will get more used to whatever funny way he has to eat and adapt as necessary.

 Above - Big Boy arrives with some pigeons (he is far left)

and below you can see his crossed over beak

 and here you can see 'my' ring!

Sun 23.2.14 – Big Boy was again here this morning, and stayed a while, coming down several times. Sometimes he struggles, and other times he picks up several in a row with no problem. You can see from this photo that his beak is still crossed over. There is a sweet little scruffy white dove that comes with a posse of pigeons – it has difficulty in picking up grain, and does it with an endearing side-ways movement. I try to target it with the kind of food that it can pick up easiest, but I do wonder if I will be seeing it for many more days. I told you that I don’t see Sugar now, didn’t I? It’s sad to lose these little doves, they do try so hard.

Monday 24.2.14 – Big Boy – tick. Sweet little scruffy dove – tick. I targeted them both with the kind of food they can eat best. I tried to put Cissie in the hutch with Cloud again as it was sunny, but this time Cloud wouldn’t accept her, and made vicious swiping movements so near Cissie’s head that I was concerned and felt it best not to leave her in there. It’s annoying because I was hoping that keeping Cloud and Cissie in the hutch would be an option for the spring and summer. Another option I have been wondering about is whether Echo and Cissie would get on well enough – even pair  up – so I could keep them together. Pigeons don’t reach sexual maturity til 5-7 months of age, at least, so if I am right about calculating Echo’s age now at about 14 weeks then he wouldn’t be getting a twinkle in his eye til about May time. And I don’t know Cissie’s age – she didn’t seem as babyish as Echo when I first brought her in.  You may be thinking what on earth is she thinking about to consider pairing up two handicapped birds.... well I am not thinking that they would be able to rear babies, or even have eggs, but just be a little bit more than companions on either side of a grille! Of course, the ideal scenario will be that both Echo and Cissie recover totally and are able to be released. Echo had a bath outside as it was so sunny – here he is drying off in the garden, and trying to fly. Cissie isn’t allowed on the grass  yet as she is still infectious so she had a bath in the kitchen. Both pigeons find baths a little stressful, so once every 2/3 weeks is plenty at the moment. I have to hold their heads up while they are in the water or they would probably drown.

Tues 25.2.14 - Went to Wisley RHS with my daughter and grandchildren to see the butterflies. The atmosphere in the glasshouse didnt suit my camera and it seized up and had to spend the night by the aga to recover. It's an old camera but I would hate it to 'die'  as I need it for this blog and for my ebay!!! - luckily it was ok!

Wednesday 26.2.14 – I came home with my 2 year old granddaughter especially to feed the birds this lunchtime, well particularly the little sweet one. There was a bunch of pigeons on the roof but no little one, and I wondered what had happened to it. Every day it had been finding it harder and harder to pick up the grains so I thought it might not have had the strength to get back here. By the time I came home alone again though it was here, but really struggling now. Hubbie and me both observed it and he seemed to think there was something wrong with its beak and one of its feet. I managed to pick it up without netting it at first try, and that’s not a good sign. I brought it in to examine and hand-feed, but it struggled out of my hands and banged itself against the window, poor little thing. It weighed 247g so not impossibly small (thought it seems tiny) – Echo was only 211g at first pick-up. Firstly I thought it might have some sort of canker in its throat, but after offering a weak sugar/salt hydrating solution, it washed it away so must have been just seeds or something Then I fed it about 30 grains, and gave it another drink before settling it in Big Boy’s old box which was standing clean and ready. I did think that its beak seemed slightly open and one foot was definitely a bit crumpled up – which is also a bad sign as some of the pigeons ‘turn up their toes’ before they die. I will consider what to do with it in the morning – but, if alive, I will spray it as it is covered in visible lice.  Echo went out this afternoon again, and he really enjoys it and is beginning to get quite mischievous on the lawn – running away from me like a naughty toddler when it is time to go in! It reminded me of having to chase Jose (my flightless dove) around the lawn when it was time for her to go back in the hutch. I had forgotten how fast they can run! He is also getting better at flying – rising up from the lawn to a height I wouldn’t be able to reach and somersaulting down. I will have to be careful he doesn’t flutter over the fence and into the river because there would be no hope of rescuing him! For the first time EVER since I brought her in over a month ago, I have seen Cissie drink on her own – since the 19^th January I have been offering her a drink at least twice a day, so thankful I can cross that care chore off my mental list now. Especially as I have a new patient!

Thurs 27.2.14 -  The new little one survived the night. She is much more of a poppet than Poppet was, but I will call her Moppet. She drank thirstily and I hand-fed her but will leave the spraying for lice til a bit later on in the day. I was thinking about maybe releasing her – she can fly and wants to go and I haven’t really the facilities for looking after yet another bird. I know it sounds awful, but I can’t keep them all!  I had thought that we hadn’t seen anything of the hawk for at least a week, but when I went out in the garden there were feathers sprinkled all round the lawn which looks like maybe an attempt was made. Moppet was released at midday when it was sunny and what looked like ‘her’ posse of pigeons were on the roof. She flew straight up immediately. Unfortunately later it rained heavily and hailed, but she had gone by then, and all I can hope is that I see her tomorrow.

Thurs 27.2.14 - Lucky is driving Charm again – which means he is chasing her (apparently it keeps the hens away from other cocks during the mating period) – and this is prior to laying eggs. Fine! But the dovecote is  grubby and has a greenish tinge. I really need to scrub it, but I hate that task because I have to do it on the steps, and the water runs up my arms.... but unless I am quick they will start laying again and I won’t get the chance!

 Above - Lucky, centre, with Grace behind him, and a racing pigeon to the right

And below - Grace, now a year old

 And Lucky again, looking very determined

Echo was seen playing with his wood and bell dangle toy today. He is a lively bird and it will be a shame if he doesn’t recover from the PMV but it is 10 weeks since I picked him up from the lawn and he is no better.  And neither is Cissie – she star-gazes now and I suppose that is the progression of the disease.

Friday 28th Feb - Moppet made it back again.... see the line up below (sorry the photo is so small) and you can just see a little white figure away from the rest on the far right - that's Moppet!

 And below, poor scruffy little Moppet

 But she came down several times, and got something to eat. Of course I regretted letting her go and wished I'd kept her.....but I couldn't pick her up today. Echo came out for his playtime and here he is running away from me down the path.

It was sunny mid afternoon so I bit the bullet and scrubbed the dovecote. It really is a most hated chore, teetering on the steps that are sinking into the soggy lawn, wearing rubber gloves that have sprung a leak.... but in fact it only took three-quarters of an hour. The cote is not persil white of course, it needs repainting, but at least the greenish tinge has gone. Lucky is still chasing Charm, but we are apparently due for a cold snap, so that will put them off nesting, and I'd prefer they didnt for now.

I have ordered something from Australia - perhaps my RL friend Hari can guess what it is? More about that when it arrives!

Before I go, a special hello to my blog reader Harvey Hedges who made himself known to me on my last blog's comments as a long time silent reader of my blog. Welcome Harvey! and thanks to everyone who reads about my little dove/pigeon world, it is much appreciated whether you make yourself known or prefer not to.

One last thing (I have to mention my shop!) - if anyone needs real birds feathers for craft or lifestyle do please have a look at my Groovycart shop 'Real Birds Feathers' - thank you! I have just added some lovely partridge feathers.

Real Birds Feathers on Groovycart

To be cont....

Big Boy's Release - and I think more about Echo and Cissie's futures

Sat 15^th – Sugar was with the morning flock – well done little Sugar, it’s been a dreadful few days with wind and rain but you have managed to keep up!

Sun 16^th – Still no Lucky, though Charm was here again. This afternoon hubby cut off Big Boy’s racing pigeon ring with wire cutters – the metal was pretty tough!

I suppose it may well be against the law to remove a racing pigeon’s identification ring but as his owner didn’t even care enough to send an email or make a phone call to find out how his pigeon was, then I feel justified. As far as the owner and RPRA are concerned then pigeon number GB13XXXXXX has died – and you and I know he has been born again as Big Boy, my pigeon and a free agent (when I can release him). His bit of ‘wobbly beak’ was there at the morning feed and gone by the afternoon one. I plan to hand feed him up to the day of release, but from tomorrow will also put a bowl of food in the hutch for him to see how he gets on. I really do think his beak is a lot better, it looks much cleaner where the infection seemed to be – but it is still skew whiff and I don’t know if he will actually be able to feed himself or not. Today, for the first time I saw him take a long drink from his water bowl which means I no longer have to attempt to give him drinks.

Mon 17^th – Lucky’s been missing long enough for me to wonder if something has happened to him – especially as I see Charm at least once a day. Bertie keeps visiting - here he is eating a bit of potato on the lawn that I'd thrown out for the birds.

 I am soooo looking forward to being able to release Big Boy – he is so patient and good, he really is. We are both counting down the days now. I put a bowl of grain in the hutch with him today, and it was strewn everywhere so he must have been having an attempt to feed himself. I try to vary his temporary boring existence – he is in the hutch for part of the day, then I bring him into the kitchen to perch loose above the aga for a while, then he goes in his night box to be with the others in the conservatory, before they all go to bed in the spare room. I can only have him with the others as I am assuming as a former racing pigeon he was inoculated against PMV. Today I decided to give him a bath – in my actual bath – but after he’d paddled a bit and I’d splashed him all over, he wouldn’t let me take a photo but flew up to the door frame, as you can see. 

Then he went – or rather I took him - into the kitchen to dry off. I bought the pidgies, Echo and Narcissus, some presents – a mirror each, and a wood and bell toy for Echo who is more curious and active. They’ll get them after I release BB and clean/sort the cages out.

 I have an idea in my head, to try to get Cloud and Cissy living in together (in the hutch outside), as they seem to like each other but so far have only sat each one side of a metal cage so I am not quite sure how they will react if I put them in together. I am still considering Echo and Cissy’s futures of course – with them in mind I drew out an Angel Card – and it was this one.

 It says 'Adriana - I am leading you towards the answer to your prayers. Please listen to and follow the steps I am communicating through your intuition, thoughts and dreams'. Very appropriate I thought. My blog reader 'Hopeinparis' suggested that I could make a decision to run a small bird rescue/sanctuary but a main reason against this would be that we don't own the cottage and garden, we rent it, and I don't think our landlord (let alone my husband!) would like the idea. Another of her suggestions was to send the birds to other sanctuaries, and I have been looking into this. My search took me to  Save the Trafalgar Square Pigeons and although they cannot help me, they pointed me in another direction to some ladies who might be able to do so. Please do spare a few minutes to look  - it is a super little interesting website, and if you have wondered about the fate of these iconic pigeons after Ken Livingstone waged war on them, you will be able to find out. And if you ever enjoyed feeding the pigeons when you were a child (or an adult!) then please consider making a small donation (via paypal so very easy!). I will certainly be doing so myself. And I have put my email address down to receive their newsletter. I enjoyed looking at the photo gallery there - I must search my old photos and see if I've got any of my children in Trafalgar Square, I remember taking them and how much they enjoyed it. I was there last October, and it just isn't the same without the pigeons - made me sad! Any time I go to any town I am always looking out for the pigeons. I'd rather look at and photograph town pigeons than window-shop. The following was sent to me by Hopeinparis -  At artist Zina Saunder's "Overlooked New York" cool website visit http://www.overlookednewyork.com/pigeon/index.html

Click on the thumbnail art portraits to read about each profile of keepers of pigeon racers and homers in New York - fascinating! And Hopeinparis herself has some gorgeous photos of pigeons and doves on her pinterest board http://www.pinterest.com/hopeinparis/pigeons/ plus she has recently put the following on Youtube - a video of Hope the baby wood pigeon being fed by her father, set to Debussy's "Reverie." 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8ban8gkiww

Something I meant to mention a blog or two ago was that I had these two beautiful little characters knitted - as a present to myself! The clever knitter was Beki Wetherall from 'Clicking Pins' - have a look at her website - she doesn't just knit pigeons! Knitting projects undertaken

Knitted pigeon and white dove from Clicking Pins

Real white dove with knitted one!

 Above, Cloud with the knitted white dove and below, Narcissus with the knitted pigeon

Beki suggested I also credit the pattern writer - well I don't know exactly who created the pattern, but I bought it from madmonkeyknits on ebay. To find the pattern, search for 'My pet pigeons knitting pattern'. I hope all these links work!

You will probably be getting the vibe that I have no intention of taking Echo and Cissie for a one-way trip to the vet - I just can't do it. Hubbie, despite moaning sometimes about the pigeons, doesn't think it would be fair either. Below is Echo relaxing in his box in his crate - when I talk to him he still flutters his wings in the babyish way that young squabs do to attract the attention of their parents. Since he was so very young (I think!) when I first took him in, he has assigned me the role of 'mummy', and how could I have my 'baby' put down?

Tues 18.2.14 – 3pm another attempted hawk strike but as I just happened to walk out of the back kitchen where I was mopping the floor at that moment, the lucky pigeon got away. If the hawk and it’s babies are hungry then another won’t be so fortunate. I re-ringed Big Boy with a plain light green band on his right leg – at the moment I would recognise him but if in the future his beak mends enough to look normal, then with the band I will always know.

So yesterday was a bath, today was re-banding, and tomorrow I will give him a spray against lice before his Big Release Day on Thursday. The weather is forecast poor on Thursday but I think I will release him anyway....unless it is appalling. He is so desperate to go!

Wed. 19.2.14 – Just one more day Big Boy, one more day! I was out for much of the day so didn’t have to endure seeing him hunched in the hutch. I didn’t get a chance to spray him against lice, so will have to do that in the morning before he goes. Guess who was at the morning feed? A very hungry Lucky! I was pleased to see him as I don’t have any issues with him (just with his mate, Charm, for leaving the babies).

Thursday 20.2.14 – Big Boy’s release day! Only mizzling a little bit. I gave BB the last of his medicine, fed him 60 grains/peanuts/defrosted warmed peas instead of the usual 40 per feed. I didn’t anoint his beak with honey this morning as obviously I didn’t want him to be leaving with a sticky beak that might cause problems – so the only thing to do was a quick anti-mite spray under the wings, on the back and breast (with his head lightly covered) and a few photos....

To make it easier to see if there is any improvement - the first photo below is of Big Boy on the 11th Feb and the second one is today, 20th Feb. I definitely think his beak looks better, don't you agree?

The flock had already had some grain when we went into the garden, but were still around. They seemed settled, and I hoped the hawk wasn't nearby. BB knew, he really knew, that he was allowed to go at last. I kissed the top of his head – God Speed Big Boy! Then he quivered and flew straight up to the roof. You can see him here - back row, in between the brown pigeon and the white dove.

 And here - having a little jump of glee!

The homies had a more interesting afternoon than usual. Now that BB had gone I wanted to have a big clean up, so I  washed out his box and put clean bedding in – ready for anyone who might need it. Then, as the sun was shining with a bit of poke in it, I took Cissie out to the hutch to see if Cloud would accept having her in with her. Cloud always sits near Cissie in the conservatory, and they seem companionable so it was worth a try, especially because if Cissie can eventually NOT be released then having two birds in together, outside, is far less work for me. (The hutch gets messy of course, but it can be hosed out).... and I’m thinking, surely it is better for them, as pigeons are flock birds. So, I said to Cloud, please let Cissie come in with you....be nice! 

I kept one eye on the hutch outside while I cleaned out the crate and boxes in the conservatory – having moved Echo to be loose on the table where he watched me with interest. Although Cloud was making her semi-aggressive head swiping movements towards Cissie, she didn’t physically attack her, and I am hoping, little by little, to integrate them together. Eventually she (Cloud) got bored of head-swiping and moved to the outside part of the hutch to get some fresh air and sun.

I’m not sure what Cissie thought of it but she didn’t seem perturbed. Then, for the first time since I brought him in on December 19^th, I took Echo out into the garden, and put him on the lawn. I have carried him out a few times, wrapped in a cloth, in my arms but now he is over the 6-8 week period that the virus takes to die (according to what I have read) hopefully he is not infectious any more (unlike Cissie who has another month or so to go).

 Above - Echo is put on the lawn - looking very small next to my big shadow! 

 He looks normal for a while, til he goes into star gazing mode below

 Here Echo looks coy!

 and now he's curious!

 I assumed that he, like Cloud, would not be able to fly - until he surprised me and took off, turning somersaults and landing in the pampas grass! (Better that than the river!!!) The fact that he wants to fly, and can fly (albeit all twisty-turvy) gives me a glimmer of hope that he might possibly spontaneously recover - as some pigeons have been known to do

 Here he is on the lawn with some of the flock - he's next to the white dove

 And just as my nice My Hermes lady comes up the path, Echo goes all floppy in my hand again

Then it was Echo's time to go inside, and Cloud's turn to walk on the lawn

 Back inside the clean cages, I show Echo his new toy - which he ignores

 And Narcissus takes no notice of her pretty little self in her pretty little mirror either!

I have realised what is 'wrong' with Cissie's eyes now - and the answer is probably nothing much except that they are odd i.e. mismatched. This is her right eye - which doesnt appear quite so light and bright in ordinary daylight....

and this is her left eye, which is browner and slightly hazier...but not as cloudy as the photo - and I think she can see perfectly well.

Friday 21st Feb 14 - Cissie has another hour out in the hutch with Cloud this morning, and much the same happened - so far, so good (if not perfect). I haven't seen Big Boy since his release and hope he's enjoying the freedom, the sunshine and managing ok. I also haven,t seen Sugar for quite a few days, and I'm afraid a little dovie like her probably might not have survived, which is a shame as she is such a sweetie. One day in the week Dolly (Fennie's white sibling) arrived with straw wrapped round one of her feet. I wasn't too worried, though string/threads etc round birds' feet is extremely dangerous, as I thought it would soon drop off, and it did, but it shows the pigeons and doves are accessing farms and hopefully finding a proportion of their food elsewhere.

I don't want to bore you but mentioning my little feather shop on Groovycart on my blog brings it up on Google so I will try to remember to mention it every blog (sorry!) - see Real Birds Feathers on Groovycart. I have also just started a mini-blog there too and written my first (about the uses buyers have found for my feathers). Real Birds Feathers - Groovycart shop 

To be cont...