I had to get up at 5-20am in order to get to Kingston Station before it was too busy. I had two nests to check. When I was there two weeks ago, I took two squabs from a third nest (before the pest controllers installed plastic spikes). The other two nests each contained two eggs, so I told the station staff that I would return today, once the eggs had hatched.
April and Sammy, rescued on April 28th
The four from this morning. On the left John & Yoko and on the right George and Patti.
Shortly after I had arrived home from dropping off the four little Pidges, I received a telephone call from a member of staff at Addlestone Station. She and her colleague had seen a fledgling on the platform and it was seemingly unable to fly. No adult birds had been down to it. I asked what species it was and they said black with yellow on the head. Addlestone is not exactly local to me and I don't have a car. Nevertheless, a bird required help, so off I went. I had to get a bus to Earlsfield and then a train to Weybridge where I changed for Addlestone. Once I arrived there and crossed over to platform 1, I immediately spotted the bird. It was a young Pidge, probably about three weeks old. It has clearly fallen out of the nest that I could see under the platform canopy. It was located over the tracks, so the Pidge was fortunate not to have fallen to its death. The Pidge was on a ledge about five feet from the ground, so it clearly had some limited flight. What I assumed were the parents were busy fussing over the remaining nestling. The escapee allowed me to pick it up and I was able to put it in the pet carrier, where I had plenty of soft cloths and a small hot water bottle. From there I made the return journey to Wimbledon and then on to Wallington to hand over the Pidge to Liz from Forget me Not Wildlife Rescue.
Here's the Pidge from Addlestone. I named it Edmund.
Before I forget, on May 4th I received a call from Merton Council regarding some baby Pigeons that were in a nest on a shopfront that was being refurbished. I also retrieved those two. I named them Fish & Chips.
So many Pigeons, so little time...
Unicum arbustum haud alit duos erithacos
(One bush does not shelter two Robins)
Zenodotus (3rd Century B.C.)
Oh my 5 rescue Pidges, what will happen next, I await the next installment! You go above and beyond Paul to rescue these little birds, Well done.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
What a man e'h Catlady? I've said before that the pigeons in your area MC are so lucky to have such a kind person as you looking after their welfare. Well done once more and by the way, love the names:-)
Lot to learn
Just wonderful MC & so good of you to travel here, there & all over to aid these helpless little scraps ... great pics too, I wish them well!
2013 photos & vids here
eff37 on Flickr
Good job done Paul, I think London transport should give you free travel for your services to Wildlife, hope all the rescued birds do well and await the updates !
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Regards, Hazel