Very sad day – we lost Randy

From the

Diary as of 5/30/09

TODAY IS A VERY SAD DAY! For the first time we lost a bird: Randy died in my hands this morning. Apparently he got cold during the night or was sick although we did not realize anything at all yesterday. Everything seemed to be okay. But this morning when I looked into the nest I saw that something was wrong. Terribly wrong. He hardly could lift his little head, his beak opened and closed again but no begging sound left his mouth. He was very weak.

I took him out of the nest and realized that his body was totally cold. I hardly could feel his little heart beat. I put a piece of cloth around him and tried to give him a few drops of warm water with a syringe which he swallowed, put him in a little basket and drove off to the vet. He could not help, said there is no hope -  so I had to go home again, put him on a hot-water bottle but it was already too late to help this little fellow. After an hour he died, while I was holding him in my hand. I am very sad.

My assumption is that during the night which was very cold Emma could not warm both babies because they were already too big.  So she had to decide to warm one only and the other was doomed. It was a very unlucky time – both babies had not enough feathers yet to keep them warm and they were already too big to find enough space under the mother’s belly.

Also his immune system was perhaps already too weak – the weather was so awful – so he had no chance to survive when the temperatures even dropped more during the night.

Later on we buried him in the park under some trees. I hope his little soul is in the birdie heaven now.  I know this is only a little pigeon but he was such a dear little fellow. And even if these are wild birds one builds up a relationship with them – so their well being is mine. Good bye little Randy, good bye.

Wally and Randy (with white claws)

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Wally and Randy, the Baby Pigeons are growing fast (1 week)…

From the

Diary as of 5/23/ – 5/26/09

5/23 – 5/24 The little ones are growing fast – you could nearly see it. Randy will get a white cap – you can see that already from the quills.

Angelo is coming now each day and walks into the living room to the feeding box as if he had not done anything else ever. He is really a very clever young pigeon! Amazing how fast he learns.

Because it was so hot today he lay down on the ground of the balcony in the shadow – like a little dog or cat. Being very content hiding from the sun. How sweet!!!

5/26 Heavy thunderstorm this evening – with heavy winds. Emma, Pete and the Willies made it home safely. Erwin saved himself too here and another one of the visitors who often sit here on the balcony in my empty hanging flower pots. They all were quite frightened – you could see that. Head between their shoulders and making themselves as small as possible. All sitting there one beside the other, quietly without any fighting.

Jimi is missing again since 19.5., also Joey did not appear for a couple of days – since 22.5. Wild Willy always chases him away when he tries to get to the food or water bowl. So I suppose he – Joey – has given up for the moment and Jimi as well.

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We have Twins!

From the

Diary as of 5/16/ – 5/17/09

5/16 WE HAVE TWINS! You won’t believe this but Wally and Randy – jumped out of their egg shells today, very early in the morning – around 4 °clock the first one and only a few hours later came the second! That’s why we called them twins. Now I have the problem that I do not know who is Wally and who is Randy. We will see in a few days who fits the name best.

Is this happening in pigeon lives that both babies hatch nearly the same time????? I knew it – we have some very special little guys!

AND Jimi is back today. He just appeared and asked to be fed. What a sweetie – he knows where his real home is! I am very relieved that he is doing okay. His beak and his whole little face looks really worn out – apparently he has some begging mouths to feed. It really looks as if some baby beaks are always trying to stick theirs into pappa’s. But it also could be that he is fighting all the time with other pigeon guys. I have seen him once with a “bloody nose” – which means that his beak’s knob was really incrusted with blood. Yet after 2 days theses injuries were healed. Thank heavens.

I really don’t quite get it anyway that “our” little philosopher – as I called him while he was sitting on my easel – has become such a macho and is battling with other guys. He always used to avoid any conflicts and rather flew away.

5/17 Wally and Randy’s second day on this world. Today I watched Pete already feeding them. That’s early. Both seem to be in good shape and already very vivid!!! So sweet both of them!!

And soooooo tiny!

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