u/TheSpasticSheep

I run a small pigeon rescue. We’ve released injured fledglings once they healed (as long as they were “full of feral feistiness”). This situation is a bit different. Four 1-2 week old nestlings were brought to our rescue after being displaced by construction. We have an aviary. We’ve had success with our flock fostering before and placed gave two of our bonded pairs each a set of babies. They all immediately stepped up to the plate and raised their foster babies. We were completely hands off. Obviously still in the aviary daily cleaning, refilling food, etc. Now all four babies are fully fledged. They are skittish around people and definitely seem like they would be good candidates to return to their feral friends.

We used to have a substantial flock near us where we liked to release rehabbed pigeons but that flock has shrunk/spread out. We know the general area where they were found and know there’s pigeons around. We drove around there earlier this week and couldn’t find the pigeons main hangout area (probably on the top of one of the skyscrapers out of sight).

I guess I’m torn between where to release them so they’re set up for the most success.

1&2: Them now
3&4: When they arrived

Steel cut oatmeal, pinch of salt, Irish butter, good honey, blue cheese, and freshly cracked black pepper. Gorgonzola dolce is tastes most like childhood but Trader Joe’s cave aged blue cheese works in a pinch.

What’s up with their cere/beak. I’ve seen other beak injuries in rescue pigeons, mostly window strikes, but never a cere that looks chipped. Any insights would be appreciated.

Frillback found snacking in an asparagus patch in an urban area. Has feather lice, otherwise no major injuries on preliminary exam.

Featured pigeons:
1- Calzone, wing amputee & Peanut, abandoned fancy
2- Marsh, former splay leg baby
3- Flour, dove release industry survivor & Little Baby, orphaned nestling
4- Pidge, wing amputee & Calzone, Peanut, Marsh & Lumi, wing amputee & Betty, orphaned nestling
5- Peanut, Betty, Pidge, Little Baby
6- Cob, wing amputee & Pidge, Calzone
7- Calzone, Peanut
8- Lumi

Mallow survived a predator attack as a nestling and wears a custom orthotic to help her stand on her remaining leg.