This post is unusual in that it is not about budgies, but I wanted to share an experience that I had.
On Thursday we were on our way out and I noticed a pigeon sitting on the floor. He didn’t move away when people walked past him, so it was obvious he was in trouble.
I panicked a bit as I had no idea what to do. I went on my local facebook group and made a post asking what to and then typed “pigeon” in the search. I found a post mentioning “London Wildlife rescue” and called their number. The message that was played said to send them a whatsapp message with a photo and location of the bird.
I sent a message via whatsapp, but in the mean time the pigeon had wandered into a garden with a locked gate.
I had to go home at this point. But I could not stop thinking about the pigeon, feeling I had failed him.
Then someone from the London Wildlife rescue called me and said they had no volunteers at that time and asked if I could go and get the pigeon, pending someone getting in touch with me. We feared the bird would get eaten by a fox or killed by a cat.
I sent a message to a few friends asking if someone could help me as I am not confident with knocking on strangers doors on my own.
Eventually a kind friend of mine said she could help, so I waited for her to be free.
We rushed off to the garden where the pigeon was last seen. Just as we approached we saw a cat coming out, my heart sank.
It turned out to be a communal garden for 3 houses. We tried door 1, no answer, same for number 2.
By a stroke of luck door 3 answered. I reassured him that we were not mad people and we just wanted to help a pigeon that had made his way into the garden. Thankfully he let us in!
The garden was pretty big and had bushes all around the outside. As these were the covered areas, that is where he would be.
For the next 20 minutes we searched the bushes, using our phones as torches.
Just as we were about to give up, I spotted him on the floor in a corner standing on a thick fallen branch. Our chance to grab him had come!
I shouted to my friend to bring my bag and the carrier over.
I had a small blanket with me and I tried to chuck it over him with no success as he was a lot bigger and heavier than a budgie. So my friend opened the carrier and held it in front of him while I held the blanket round him and pushed him into the carrier!
We must have looked a sight but we got him, and he looked well, but obviously could not fly.
We walked off with the pigeon, I was feeling so relived. At that moment a rescue person phoned and asked if we could meet her with the pigeon in about 45 minutes, which we did.
She sent me a message the next day to say he had gone to Pigeon Recovery in Sutton that morning.
These are the photos I took. Pigeon on the floor, the gate he crawled into and him in the carrier.
Hoping this post inspires people to help more injured creatures.
Featheredfiends 