Tam (Rescued Pigeon) Survives Infecion! Tuesday's Truths WK 199

A little over one month ago (on 10-13-2020), with help of a colleague, I rescued a pigeon (now named Tam) who was in my garden on the UWS of NYC; and took him to The Wildbird Fund (AKA WBF), NYC's wonderful and only bird rehab center. 

I subsequently posted detailed info about this scenario in an entry here on Blogger at that time. The collage directly above gives a pictotial overview of the pigeon's ultimate survival, which  I just learned about yesterday (11-23-2020) and  which I'm now offering as my content for this 199th episode of my Tuesday's Truths series. 

I am most grateful to the WBF and as you may know, this bird rehab place, along with pigeons are just a couple of topics pigeons are included in my three volume book series, Words In Our Beak.

MY BOOK SERIES

Thank you dear reader, for holding good thoughts re this rescued pigeon's demise and stay tuned to see if I happen to encounter him again.

Tam's Demise (Tuesday's Truths WK 198)

Two weeks ago, with help of a colleague, I rescued a pigeon (now named Tam) in my garden on the UWS of NYC and took him to The Wildbird Fund (AKA WBF), NYC's wonderful and only bird rehab center. I subsequently posted detailed info about this scenario in an entry here on Blogger at that time. 

I ultimately found out (via Twitter) that I could follow up in ten days-two weeks time to see the status of the injured creature.

Yesterday, I did that and I am offering the folowing is a "transcript" of our exchange as my content for this week's Tuesday's Truths segement (posted below in italics):

ME: I'm not having success with DM re the pigeon I brought in on 10-14-2020. Can you PM me? Yesterday, 1:55 PM

WBF: Hi. Can you send me the name on the intake form for the Oct. 14 pigeon? Yesterday, 2:55 PM

ME: Patricia Youngquist Yesterday, 4:00 PM

WBF: Thank you. I found it on Oct. 13. This is a fledgling, very emaciated, we suspect as the result of a bacterial infection. He's in our isolation room, receiving antibiotics, anti-fungal medical and supportive care. We'll have to wait and see how he does. Thank you for helping him! Yesterday, 4:05 PM

ME: Thank you for your reply and oops you are right. I did bring the pigeon in on October 13th. I hope he pulls through. When should I check in again? I really appreciate the work you do (understatement). I am quite behind in rent and am scrambling for income but when I turn things around, I hope to be able to donate $$$ to you. Yesterday, 4:14 PM

WBF: Thank you, Patricia. Don't worry about donating. We all are suffering right now! Check back in another 2 weeks. Hopefully, there will be a more substantial update. Yesterday, 4:16 PM

Me: I will check back. Thanks again for all!

WBF: <HEART>

------------------

I am so thankful that The WBF is caring for this sweet-looking creature and I hope I will hear good news on this pigeon's status. For your information both The WBF...

... and pigeons are included in my book series, Words In Our Beak.

MY BOOK SERIES

Please, dear reader, hold good thoughts for this rescued pigeon's demise and stay tuned for his progress.

Wednesday's Words: A Resilient Pigeon's (now named TAM) Update

THE WILD BIRD FUND

I’m offering this blog post as a follow-up re the status of an injured pigeon whom I initially discovered in my garden this past Saturday (10-10-2020) and whom I spoke about in Monday's (10-12-2020) entry here on Blogger.

The collage directly above gives a pictotial overview of the pigeon's fate, and below is a copy of what I baiscally said (italicized text) about it on Facebook:

As of this posting, my injured pigeon, now named TAM,* after the people who weighted in on what I should/could do and someone who helped me capture him (for transporting to The Wild Bird Fund (WBF).

[*TAM: “T” for Tina Pina, pigeon advocate and artisan, “A” for Amanda Remsberg, bird re-habber, and “M” for Martha, AKA MB, the woman who helped with my rescue.]  

MB can be seen in the next photograph (which was taken in 2016) where she is standing in my garden. 

We were working in my garden during a time, the now often full-time wearing of face-masks could never have been imagined. However, re-purposing plastic bags into rain gear was quite the norm. 

In any event, the weather, was very similar to the conditions taking place in March of 2016 and when an attempt was made to sweep/clean behind the container housing my Smoke Bush (which is a large dark-green box seen to MB’s right in the image, or to the lower left in photo view), a dead pigeon was discovered.

AN UNFORTUNATE PIGEON

I began to weep, and MB, unaware of my recent experiences in discovering an injured pigeon, warned me to take it easy. As the work in the garden continued, a planter that is home to my fall blooming anemones which butts up against a large planter that is now housing my Sweet Autumn Clematis and toadlilies (seen in the following image)...

TOAD LILIES WITH OTHER FLORA

... was moved and in doing so, my injured visitor’s hiding place was discovered and she was able to pick him up and set him in my bathroom..

A SAFE PLACE FOR AN INJURED PIGEON

...until we could (within an hour’s time) take him to The WBF. 

Alas, I had no brown paper grocery bags on hand as I don’t buy many groceries and when I do, in the interest of recycling take a bag from any store as I carry a cloth bag. Therefore I lined a box with one of my bedsheets, placed the pigeon in it.

Then I put his box in a Christmas gift bag — the only bag I had on hand — for transporting.

TRANSPORT FOR AN INJURED PIGEON VIEW 1

MB drove me to The WBF...

THE WILD BIRD FUND

... where the intake person mentioned how remarkable it was that this creature survived the heavy rains of the past few days.

Out of an abundance of caution, convo exchanges between rescuers and rehabbers is extremely minimal and I neglected to ask how I might follow-up on his condition (they do not take phone calls).

Moreover, I “coulda” offered to release him in my garden, but the thought did not occur to me as I was focusing on helping him get the care he needed at the time.

On another note, my first experience in rescuing a pigeon and having him transported to The WBF is included in volume one...

WORDS IN OUR BEAK VOLUME ONE

... of my three hardcover book series, Words In Our Beak.

MY THREE VOLUME SERIES

I hope Tam will recover as one of my other rescuees (named Thursday) did under the care of The WBF, and if I'm able to find out Tam's prognosis, I'll be sure to post it on Facebook and on this blog.

An Injured But Resilient Pigeon

SAINT FRANCIS IS FEATURED IN MANY OF MY BLOG POSTS

I need Saint Francis's (whose image is imprinted on a copy of a prayer card which is posted atop this entry) intercession on a situation with a pigeon who visited my garden this past weekend. He is known to be the patron saint of animals (especially birds, which is something I referenced in a recent FB post).

In any event, this past Saturday (10-10-2020) in the early evening, I noticed a pigeon in my outdoor space who did not seem to be doing very well. I had hoped to "capture" him in order to transport the creature to The Wild Bird Fund  (WBF) but since they were closed for the evening, my next best option was to "capture" him and make him comfortable for the night so I could take him to The WBF the next morning (which would be Sunday, 10-11-2020).

Years ago I learned about transporting injured or sick birds to The WBF so I knew this could be done but I was a little unsure of how I might keep this unfortunate pigeon comfortable over night so I phoned the Brooklyn based pigeon advocate (and artist extraordinaire), Tina Pina AKA Mother Pigeon (who graciously called me back with helpful tips) to seek her advice as I could not reach bird rehabber Amanda Remsberg  (AR) whom I usually contact when I have questions re birds in need.

But it turned dark outside very quickly and so it was impossible to see anything but I prepared my rescue and transport supplies to ensure I'd be ready for Sunday's mission.

I did not see my visitor in the morning but he was there in the afternoon and I was able to determine he could fly but was injured. Plus I could hear a thumping sound when he limped across my terrace.

However, in spite of my past successes with swooping up a bird in order to take him/her to The WBF, I could not grab this guy, but I could take pictures of him (seen in the next sequence of photos)...

PIGEONS ARE FEATURED IN MY BOOK SERIES

PIGEONS ARE FEATURED IN MY BOOK SERIES

PIGEONS ARE FEATURED IN MY BOOK SERIES

PIGEONS ARE FEATURED IN MY BOOK SERIES

... and contact AR about this for a form of "tele-med" (via Facebook Messenger). The following is a copy of our correspondence that was based on the images posted above.

ME: Here is what my limping visitor looks like. I thought from the face he/she is a youngster BUT from what you said about the feet, I may be way off. I'm not confident I'll be able to "grab" te bird in order to transport him/her /to the WBF, but I can hear "thumping" (from a limp) when the bird moves  about. Thanks again for your time.

AR: Yea, he does look young with that knobby pale beak.  Such pretty colors.  I hope he will be ok.  The placement of his feet doesn’t look like a broken leg, maybe just soft tissue damage.  Tis a hard life for a pigeon in the city. 💕

ME: He's out there right now and I guess I should just let him alone because I can't capture him and he may be safer here?

AR: Hopefully.

ME: Hopefully indeed. It's hard to her him thumping about and not be able to provide relief.

UPSHOT: It is now Monday(10-12-2020) and a cold rain is falling heavily but I am keeping my eye out for the pigeon and ready to continue to take action in order to transport him to The WBF. I truly care about this pigeon's well being. 

As some of you may know, pigeons are featured within my three volume hardcover book series, Words In Our Beak which are available wherever book are sold get your copies now and please stay tuned for updates on the pigeon featured in today's post.

MY BOOK SERIES

Pablo, the jay, needs a prayer for healing!

THIS BIRD TYPE IS FEATURED IN MY BOOKS

Last night when I checked something on FB, I saw a notification that I had received a photo from someone (Gloria Criollo) who is a friend in "real life" and on FB.

Because it is unlike GC to message images I decided to phone her before I clicked on it to see if she had sent me anything as I know people who have had their account hacked these days.

Plus I had intended to phone her anyway due to the Father's Day holiday (today) and because her husband, Pablo, died from COVID-19 (coronavirus) this past April, which is something I mentioned within an entry here on Blogger on April 20, 2020, I wanted her to know she was in my thoughts, always, but especially at this holiday time.

As it turned out, GC had sent me a photo. It is of a bird that she saw crying in the street as the creature stood next to a dead bird who had probably been hit by a car while he/she was on the streets of NYC.

FRIDAY FLASHBACK

The awesome photographs atop this entry of a Peregrine Falcon, were taken by Reggie Williams. He is a technician who I met at an Imaging Center a little over a month ago. I had gone to that Xray facility at the urging of my doctor, who upon examining me for injuries I sustained on the Saturday prior to this past Memorial Day, urged me to have a specific Xray.

I had asked Reggie (who was supervising my particular technician) to take a couple photos of the equipment that was being used to diagnosis the extent of my injury because I was so grateful to be able to avail myself of Xrays that would pinpoint the extent of my injury. The pictures he took on that day can be seen in the next set of images (and you might recognize them from as they are nearly identical to images used in one of my previous posts).

I explained to him that my reason for requesting this, was because on a few occasions I had participated in rescuing wild birds who had ultimately passed away; and their dying was attributed to the fact that the bird rehab place where I had taken them did not have proper Xray equipment due to lack of funding. I also confided that whenever my book series becomes financially successful, it's my goal to help the rehab facility procure proper Xray equipment. Upon hearing my motives, Reggie shared with me his appreciation of wild birds.

In any event, today Reggie Williams and the date of my aforementioned Xrays are on my mind today because it was only a few days ago that I discovered the pictures of the falcon atop this entry which he evidently had emailed me on June 14th! I'm not sure why I only recently discovered the correspondence, but, I'm truly thankful that I did. With his magnificent photographs, Reggie included the following message:

"Hi Patricia, 

It was a pleasure meeting and speaking with you in addition to providing your medical imaging at Lenox Hill Radiology last week. I attached a few pictures of the raptor that I took while I lived in Boston. I left out the more grotesque ones where the bird was actually feeding :-). Your blog is great and I will look in more often for a good read. 

It is truly amazing, the people we meet, in our day to day travels and such. I'd be remiss not to mention how thankful I am to have met you. I took a look at your blog and it inspired me to continue writing and taking pictures. Things that I have enjoyed doing all my life but have let get away from me. You have a very pleasant aura. Thank you for chatting with me and I look forward to speaking with you soon!

Have a blessed day!"

My discovery of Reggie Williams' email to me came at an opportune time, as I'm on shaky ground these days, and as a result, I often experience discouragement, even despair re my circumstances.

Thank you, Reggie Williams, for sharing your awesome photographs and heartfelt words with me!

June 3rd 2017

The photographs atop this blog entry features Super, a Northern Flicker, who I helped rescue a little over a year ago. In this image he is being held by a rehabber at The Wild Bird Fund (WBF) in NYC.

You might recognize these particular pictures, dear reader, as I featured them in a prior entry here on Blogger, in which I discussed how I participated in his rescue. And if you followed this creature's story, which I chronicled in a number of posts on Blogger, you might remember that he eventually had to be euthanized (at The Raptor Trust, where he had been transferred to for treatment).

Wednesday's Wisdom: See An M.D.

The pictures atop this entry were taken by a man named Reggie, who works as an Xray technician at an imaging facility on NYC's Upper Eastside. I had gone there for some tests in response to my doctor's orders, after she examined me for some severe rib pain, which I started having this past Sunday morning.

a recovering JACK-O-LANTERN does some BIRD WATCHING

In spite of his head injury, the Jack-O-Lantern in my urban garden (in NYC) is doing some bird watching. You may recall that a little over two weeks ago, this Jack sustained trauma to his head when he stayed in the sun too long!

However, he hasn't let his injury stop him from enjoying the array of fauna that visit my garden, including this pigeon. Pigeons are one of the bird varieties that Cam (the prolific cardinal who visited my rooftop garden) mentions in her book, "Words In Our Beak Volume One.” 

And in her book (available in digital format via Apple's iBooks or Amazon's Kindle), Cam references a NYC bird rehab facility, as well as how I was able to participate in the rescue of a member of this bird type. Be that as it may, the recovery time for MY head injury is taking longer than the Jack's; but I am doing the best I can (under the circumstances) to help Cam in promoting, as well as selling her book.

Meanwhile, I'll take on the Jack's wisdom and keep my eye on the birdies!

ADDENDUM FALL 2018: 

The non-hardcover version (or versions)  of Volume One within the Words In Our Beak book series that are mentioned in this entry may only remain available for a limited time, but hardcover versions of Volume One, Two and Three can now be found wherever books are sold. Please click here to go to my blog post that provides details as to where you can get these books.

MY BOOK SERIES

Additionally, I have rendered some images from these books into other formats and they are available via Fine Art America (FAA). Some of my other photographs (Black & White Collection, Kaleidoscopic Images and the famous Mandarin duck who visited NYC) can also be found on my FAA pages.

Tuesday's Truths WK 13: How The Bald Eagle Became America's National Bird AND Other Cool Facts!

Hello and welcome to week thirteen of Tuesday's Truths. The photo of a Bald Eagle atop this entry was taken yesterday at The Raptor Trust, a bird rehab facility in New Jersey. As you may know, dear reader, I initially learned of The Raptor Trust's existence from The Wild Bird Fund, the only bird rehab center in NYC. I made my first trip to their facility last Friday and posted this fact on Blogger on Sunday, October 9th, where I introduced Pearl, an American Robin, who is classified as "partial-Albino" by The Raptor Trust, as evidenced in the photos below.

In any event, within the aforementioned blog post, I promised that I would write about the other birds that I saw there. But I  didn't know that I would have the opportunity to return to The Raptor Trust today with a friend who wanted to give our mutual buddy (who has been recovering from an illness for a long time) an opportunity to have a day trip.

I only took a few photos yesteday as I haven't had the chance to use the ones I took this past Friday! But the photo of Pearl (directly above, as well as the image atop this entry, and the two directly below were taken yesterday.

I had hoped to get better images of the Bald Eagles who are permanent residents at the facility as I knew my intention was to post information re how the Bald Eagle became America's national bird.

Pearl, a lovely American Robin

The bird in the photograph above goes by the name of Pearl. In this picture, she can be seen in her home which is on the grounds of The Raptor Trust in New Jersey. The Raptor Trust, as you may know, either from your own experience, or from my posts here on Blogger,  is a bird rehab facility in New Jersey. I learned about the organization through The Wild Bird Fund, a bird rehab facility in NYC.

Pearl belongs to the bird type known as the American Robin (AKA Turdus migratorius). I was introduced to her this past Friday when a dear gentleman, FR, drove our mutual friend, DD-S, as well as his dog, Uli, and me from NYC to Millington New Jersey; where The Raptor Trust is located. I had the distinct honor of sharing the backseat with FR's chow chow, Uli (a nickname for Ulysses).

He is a dog you may recognize as I featured him in a post here on Blogger this past August, in honor of National Dog Day. Uli was a great travel companion and didn't bark about the fact that his animal type is not allowed within the grounds of The Raptor Trust. The reasons for their rule are obvious, even Uli understands!

One Pigeon's Plight

The pigeon pictured at the top of this blog entry is being held by a bird rehabber at The Wild Bird Fund (WBF) in NYC. She was evaluating the pigeons physical state. I had brought the pigeon The WBF (yesterday) after I noticed that he had an accident in my urban rooftop garden.

Inspired by a One-Legged Mourning Dove

Anyone who has been following  my postings within the cyber-venues known as Blogger, Facebook, tumblr and twitter, knows that I've been a bit pre-occupied from my "usual" content of "reporting" on the flora that grows in my urban rooftop garden; as well as "reporting" on the antics of the array of birds which visit it. My preoccupation has been with the steps I've needed to take to recover from an accident that I had this past May. 

One of these steps was to go for a doctor-ordered  Xray to determine rather or not I had broken my ribs when I fell. I wrote about this on Blogger, one month and two days ago after I had that test. In the aforementioned entry I discussed that I was more fortunate than Super (the Northern Flicker I helped rescue this past April), for I was able to have a C scan the night I had the accident; and  I was ultimately able to have my ribs Xrayed at Park Avenue Radiology. Super had not been able to get the Xrays he needed to help him (which I wrote about in a prior post here on Blogger).

In any event, the findings of the Xray of my ribs revealed that I did break ribs, but thankfully, as of this posting, the pain from that injury subsided. However, I had another pain, re my accident that came up unexpectedly on June 23rd, a little over a week after I had my ribs Xrayed. This was a nerve pain that the doctors involved believed to be related to a tooth. 

Since my nose was broken in the accident,  the doctors  suspected my new pain had something to do with the fact that the nerve serving the tooth in question (which also has a function that serves the nose) was the cause of my agony, and I was sent for another type of Xray. The machine used to determine what was causing my pain, as well as the picture it took, can be seen in the images atop this blog entry. 

I am most grateful that I have been able to get medical treatment re my accident and each time I have, I think of injured birds who may not be able receive the medical attention when it is needed. I've written about this in relation to Super and have provided links to my musings. And now, another bird that visited my garden, reaffirmed my concern about the plight of injured birds.

Serving The Frugivores

According to Holiday Insights, the month of June is set aside for a few national observations: National Accordion Awareness Month, National Adopt a Cat Month, and National Fresh Fruit and Vegetables Month. In an effort to pay homage to the latter, I've been offering fresh blueberries to the birds that visit my urban garden in NYC.

And as you can see from the pictures posted above (which were taken in my garden), a lone American Robin and a Northern Mockingbird have been enjoying my hospitality.

Anniversaries

Yesterday marked the one month anniversary of the accident I had in mid May. I celebrated it by getting an Xray,  for I have reason to believe I injured my ribs when I fell. As you may know, dear reader, there is not much one can to about a rib injury, yet an Xray is usually recommended. Therefore, I agreed to have pictures of my ribs taken (with the device shown in the image above),  even though I much prefer to be behind any camera than in front of one — no matter what type of camera it is! Yesterday also marked the one month anniversary of the last time I saw Super, the Northern Flicker that I helped rescue.

Super Bird's Ultimate Fate

Those of you who follow my cyber-venues may recall that on April 5th 2016, I participated in the rescue of an injured Northern Flicker whom I ultimately named Super. He had severe injuries that The Wild Bird Fund (AKA The WBF, which is the only bird rehabilitation facility in NYC, the city where I live) tried to address.

Fortunately I was able to visit Super on a weekly basis from the day I brought him to The WBF (4-5-16) until May 14, 2016. And within a number of posts, during that time period, I "reported" on his progress here on Blogger; as well as tumblr, Facebook, and Twitter.

As I've just said, the last time I saw Super at The WBF was May 14th 2016. During that visit I was given the good news that Super was being transferred to The Raptor Trust, a remarkable rehabilitation center for birds. This was very exciting to hear and caused me to be very encouraged for "my" sweet avian "friend."

Another One Of Those "TWTWTW"* Things

In my last entry here on Blogger, which was International Migratory Day, I mentioned that as part of my paying homage to that official holiday, I had hoped to visit Super, the Northern Flicker whom I helped rescue on April 5, 2016.

As of last Saturday, Super was still rehabbing at NYC's WBF (Wild Bird Fund). Fortunately I was able to see him, have someone take this photo of him, and to hear detailed news re his prognosis. But, unfortunately, later during that same day, I had a horrific accident and have been unable to participate in much of anything, including my cyber-venues. 

However, I did post details re Super's prognosis as well as my accident on TLLG's Facebook Page. I hope to be back to posting content on a regular basis — here on Blogger — in the coming week. Please stay tuned. (P.S.*TWTWTW references can be found within this blog by clicking here.)