Some of the Birds I Rescued:

               These are some of the pigeons and doves that I took care of:

Birds I Cared for during 1999-2006:

Poppy has been with me since July 26, 1999.  She is a Rain Pattern: grey with black raindrops.  She has iridescent purple and green around her neck.   Poppy is the first baby that is still in my care.  (I released all the ones I thought could survive just fine in the wild.) 

      [pictured left: top row L to R: Poppy, Musetta (behind Poppy), Florentine
                               bottom row L to R: Chavaleh, Glinka, Luigi]

Florentine joined us on August 1, 1999 He is of the Florentine Pattern -- mostly black.  He is quite large and his toe nails alternate perfectly between pink and black! He has a white neck tie and a small white yarmulke.  In addition, he was one white wing feather in each otherwise black wing.  Florentine's neck is iridescent purple and green.

Juliette is a Snow Pattern.  She's been with us since September 10, 1999. She is immaculately solid white, pure, soft, beautiful.  She has very large brown eyes and pink feet with black toenails.

Musetta was rescued on September 28, 1999.  I handfed her for twelve days, longer than any of the others.  Musetta flew for the first time on October 10, 1999.   Her pattern is Striped: grey with two black stripes.   [pictured right:  Musetta at feeding time]  Musetta died of natural causes in my aviary on September 29, 2003. She was very much loved and will be greatly missed.

Luigi is the daughter of Florentine and Poppy. She was born December 22, 1999. On January 10, 2000, she stood up all by herself for the first time! By January 14, Luigi was learning to eat by herself. On January 21, she got out of her box and began exploring. On January 25, she flew for the first time. On February 21, she lost her squeak -- not a baby anymore! Luigi is a Storm pattern, a dark grey. Luigi grew up and married Glinka.

Glinka is the son of Florentine and Juliette, but incubated by Poppy. He was born with splay leg. Kathy Rogers of Rogers Wildlife Rehabilitation Center helped Glinka and fixed him back up. Glinka was born on March 5, 2000. He lived in Dallas at Rogers Wildlife from March 12 until April 15. When he came home, he was happy, healthy, and adorable! Glinka is a Florentine Pattern with large beautiful eyes like his mother, Juliette.

Chavaleh was rescued from drowning on April 22, 2000. By May 2, she was beginning to eat a little bit by herself, but still required handfeeding. By May 10, Chavaleh was able to fly! She's a precious Rain patterned pigeon with a special affection for charming Glinka. However, when the handsome Attilla was later introduced, Chavaleh fell in love.

Waldo the Attack Pigeon was given to me by Rogers Wildlife on July 1, 2000. Waldo is a rare breed of Attack Pigeon, one of very few. Waldo is a strikingly handsome Rain patterned pigeon. He is now married to Juliette, my beautiful retired triathlete pigeon.

Tsukiko is "my little Japanese Pigeon" rescued by Rogers Wildlife. Tsukiko joined us on August 19, 2000. She has white eyeliner behind each eye. She's an elegant graceful pigeon who enjoys watching everything and everybody. Whatever the others are doing, they can be sure that they are being eyed by the curious Tsukiko. Tsukiko was found as a very young pigeon with a broken wing. Her wing is better now, but she is not releasable. Tsukiko is a striped pattern with beautifully designed eyes. She's slim and graceful. Tsukiko married Chaucer and then Prince Blue, and she died of natural causes on November 5, 2005.

Attilla the Pigeon is another Attack Pigeon given to me by Rogers Wildlife on August 19, 2000. Attilla married Chavaleh, who resembles him: both are Rain patterned. Attilla is bold, handsome, and very, very large! Attila married tiny, sweet Chavaleh, little Chavaleh.

Giselle is a Eurasian Collared Dove given to me by Rogers Wildlife on November 18, 2000. Giselle is solid white. She enjoys traveling, people food, watching the computer monitor, and walking on the keys. Giselle died on October 19, 2005. May she fly in the Heavens around clouds of gold forever.

Starlette joined us on December 2, 2000, also from Rogers Wildlife. Starlette is half starling, half pigeon. :-)

Jean-Pierre, a French pigeon, joined us on December 30, 2000, from Rogers Wildlife. Jean-Pierre married Starlette.

Gwendolyn, a German athletic pigeon, joined us on December 30, 2000, where she has rehabilitated from serious wounds inflicted by a hawk. Gwendolyn married Yngvar, who died of old age. She later got remarried to Ingmar, a beautiful and sweet Ice Pigeon.

Yngvar, a very old Nordic Ice Pigeon, joined us on December 30, 2000, from Rogers Wildlife. Yngvar was in love with Gwendolyn and lived out a happy life with her. Yngvar died of old age on February 21, 2002.

Andante, a feral pigeon from Town Lake, adopted us on January 21, 2001. Andante married Petra.

Mayumi, a beautiful Japanese gymnast pigeon, came to live with us on January 27, 2001. Mayumi married Aslan.

Angelica, a ring-necked dove with angel wings, joined Giselle and me on January 27, 2001.

Petra, a young female pigeon, was rescued in October 2000. She recuperated from serious injury at Rogers Wildlife and joined our family on February 3, 2001. Petra married Andante.

Marika, a beautiful dainty dove/pigeon, rescued and rehabilitated by Rogers Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, came to live with us on February 10, 2001. Marika married large, handsome Samson.

Carmela, rescued by Rogers Wildlife, is a beautiful Italian pigeon who joined our family on February 17, 2001. Carmela never married.

Roberto, orphaned and hand raised at Rogers Wildlife, joined us on February 17, 2001. Roberto returned to Rogers Wildlife on July 19, 2001.

Aslan, also orphaned and hand raised at Rogers Wildlife, joined us on February 17, 2001. Aslan grew up and fell in love with Mayumi, whom I never thought would get married!

Chaucer was rescued on March 4, 2001, from the Hike and Bike Trail with a broken wing. He joined our aviary on March 15, 2001. Chaucer is a beautiful glitter pattern with a number of bright, beautiful colors. Chaucer fell in love with Tsukiko, my small, beautiful, shy, Japanese racer with white eyeliner. The two were happily married. Chaucer died on August 26, 2003, in my aviary.

Shoshana was rescued from the Hike and Bike trail on March 10, 2001. She had a severely broken wing. She's recovering and doing well in my aviary. A gorgeous man named Fabrizio took Shoshana as his bride.

Jolo, named after a colleague because both have boundless energy and big eyes, joined us in April 1, 2001. I rescued Jolo from the Hike and Bike Trail. He was an adolescent at the time and was weak and emaciated. He revived quite nicely and became a gorgeous adult. He is a rain pattern with magnificent markings. Jolo was married to Musetta, who died of natural causes in my aviary.

Kitri, named for the female lead in the Russian version of Don Quixote, is a magnificent copper/silver pigeon rescued by Rogers Wildlife. I fell in love with her the moment I saw her. She is happy and healthy, and has been living in my aviary since May 9, 2001. Kitri became a mistress of Aslan and has never had a husband of her own.

Hansel and Yngwen, born June 4, 2001, are the babies of Gwendolyn and Yngvar. They grew up big and strong, thanks to wonderful parents!

Shiloh, the dove pigeon, handraised at Rogers Wildlife, joined our aviary on November 18, 2001.

Simeon, the hawk pigeon, handraised at Rogers Wildlife, joined our aviary on November 18, 2001. Simeon married Shiloh.

Samson, the eagle pigeon, a rescued pilot pigeon, joined our aviary on November 18, 2001. Samson married sweet, tiny Marika.

Alibeal, [returned to Rogers Wildlife] a rescued ballet dancer pigeon, joined our aviary on December 15, 2001.

Calista, a rescued ballet dancer pigeon, joined our aviary on December 15, 2001. Calista married Malachi. She lived a happy life, but died of natural causes on July 11, 2006. 

Malachi, a rescued prophet pigeon, joined our aviary on January 6, 2002. Handsome Malachi married gorgeous Calista.

Anneliese and Nikolai, two muffed Ice Pigeons, joined our aviary on March 5, 2002. They came all the way from a breeder in Washington state. Their children are Nakupenda and Malaika. Anneliese died of old age on January 23, 2006.

Donovan, Ashby, and Ingmar, three beautiful Ice Pigeons joined us on March 9, 2002. I purchased them from a breeder in Choctaw, Oklahoma. Tiana, Ashby's wife, died on April 15, 2003, in my aviary.

Fabrizio, an Italian pigeon, joined us after being rescued and rehabilitated at Rogers Wildlife. Fabrizio joined our family on March 10, 2002. Fabrizio fell in love and married Shoshana.

Morning Glory [released] was brought to me on April 19, 2002, by invertebrate biologist Mike Quinn, whose wife found him orphaned in a parking lot. Morning Glory was brought to health and released on August 19, 2002.

Malaika was born to Anneliese and Nikolai on May 24, 2002.

Kina was born to Calista and Malachi on June 4, 2002. Kina married Prince Blue, but divorced him after disagreeing on how to raise the children, Assisi and Francesca. Kina later married Assisi.

Nakupenda was born to Anneliese and Nikolai on June 26, 2002.

Kidege was rescued by an Austin vegan couple on Aug. 2, 2002. The baby was orphaned and emaciated.

Prince Blue, rescued by Dennis on August 14, 2002, is a Lahore Pigeon. Prince Blue married Kina, but later divorced her after the birth of his two children, Assisi and Francesca. Prince Blue then had an affair with Starlette, but Starlette returned to her husband, Jean-Pierre. Prince Blue finally settled down with Tsukiko after her husband, Chaucer, died.

Danicka, rescued from Spicewood, Texas, by a couple, was brought to me on November 9, 2002.

Chaucer Jr. was born to Chaucer and Tsukiko on February 23, 2003.

Chaucette was born to Chaucer and Tsukiko on February 23, 2003.

Assisi was born to Prince Blue and Kina on July 4, 2003. Assisi married Kina, his mom.

Francesca was born to Prince Blue and Kina on July 4, 2003.

Canterbury was the last egg of Chaucer and Tsukiko before Chaucer died. Canterbury hatched on September 10, 2003.

Minski and Minka, first children of Prince Blue with his new wife, Tsukiko, were born on October 5, 2003.

Satya, a white Fantail, was brought over by Donna Powell October 16, 2003.

Sinclair  was rescued on Congress Avenue during ITEC on November 12, 2003.

Reuben, ice baby, was born to Nikolai and Anneliese on November 12, 2003. He was fostered by Attilla and Chavaleh.

RuthAnn, storm pattern female, was rescued on April 30, 2004. She was found orphaned on the side of the Interstate. She got healthy, grew up, and even got married! She is slightly splay-legged, but can stand and walk okay.

Zuko, aka Greazy, small standard pattern male with one vertical white stripe in the left and right tail feathers, was rescued in my backyard, and joined my aviary on September 16, 2004. He was found completely oily and never learned to fly well. After a few baths, most of the oil in his feathers has been removed, but he is not releasable.

Lietta, snow mountain pattern female, was rescued in July, 2005 and joined my aviary on August 4, 2005. She has red rings around her eyes and red feet. 

Waldorf, a rare attack pigeon breed, was brought to me by a pigeon rescuer from Round Rock. He joined our aviary on January 1, 2006. He is a large standard pattern pigeon with a loud coo and well-practiced mating dance.

Dinesh and Jyoti are standard pattern muffed baby twins born to Malaika and Zuko on June 17, 2006. Jyoti has small black speckles above her first stripe.

Christine landed in my backyard and said "Help!" in late July, 2006. She was emaciated and starving. After nursing her back to health with food and rest, she joined my other pigeons in the aviary on August 4, 2006. She is a standard pattern pigeon with dabs of white makeup on her neck and head.

These birds lived in my aviary.

Pigeon Behavior

When Poppy was alone, she bonded with me for the first week.  Then I brought Florentine home, and Poppy taught Florentine to feed and fly.  When Juliette joined us, she was already an adult.  She was sick, starved, and exhausted when I met her (she was a racer), but she got better in a few weeks.

Florentine soon became interested in Juliette.  He began hanging out near her, and in time, they were courtship preening.  The two usually do things together and have gotten quite close. Florentine later married Poppy, however, and Juliette married Waldo the Attack Pigeon.

[pictured:  Juliette preens handsome Florentine]

When tiny Musetta joined us, Florentine was determined to show Juliette that he can be a fit father and loving husband.  So he began regular feeding of Musetta!   This helped me, too, because I was never sure that Musetta was getting enough food from my feedings.  (I used a nutritious baby formula starting at 6 times a day and working down to 3.)                                       [pictured right:  Florentine feeds Musetta]

I feed them parakeet and canary mixes, grains (oats, wheat berry, etc.), pigeon ambrosia (chopped peanuts, safflower, and sunflower seeds), and lettuce, which they love!  In addition, I use calcium grit and vitamins. Of course, they get plenty of fresh water for drinking and bathing, and plenty of love!

Holding these guys is such an honor -- you're holding a miracle in your hands!  They're soft and warm with very fast heartbeats. They are precious, with individual personalities, individual voices, and each one brings a special joy.  

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