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Today I was released from Hospital after a severe case of pneumonia in both lungs, frankly at one point I thought I was a goner !
For over 15 years I have suffered from a progressive illness called COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ) I have coped well with this as long as I did not fall prey to any chest infections.
However, After numerous blood tests during treatment, it transpired that I am extremely susceptible to the dust and dander of pigeons, leaving me open to a condition known as "pigeon fanciers lung."
Unfortunately this means I will no longer be able to handle and care for sick pigeons, which is a sad state of affairs for me.
The recent care and handling of pigeons was the trigger for this attack of pneumonia, so any future sick or injured pigeons will now have to go straight to the Scottish SPCA 03000 999 999.
I would like to thank all those well wishers and people of good will for their kind thoughts and wishes.
I was so out of it and unable to get online, hence no updates for a while. I am still pretty weak and likely to take some weeks to fully recover.
The Trust has continued to feed the river birds daily in spite of my absence, and proves the wisdom of setting up the Trust for just such an eventuality ! Friend and fellow Trust member George Stephen has been feeding the birds on my behalf, the trust is grateful to George and we all thank him !
The trust still seeks financial support from the public as well as new members, feel free to donate if you can. Thanks.
They might not be everyone's favourite common bird, but I find pigeons quite appealing with their friendly nature and variety of shades.
When you gain their trust they can be very laid back, and easily come to hand.
They also like water, bathing, and relaxing in wet grass !
Short video of a pigeon pal below.
Mid - May and the weather is atrocious, basically a repeat of last year. It's becoming that we can boast having 9 month Winters !!
Even the Birds are acting as though the autumn was here, seeking out food a full time business just to keep the cold at bay.
With the arrival of the cygnets imminent, Popeye is on close standby and Penny trying to keep the nest dry and windproof to allow the hatch underneath. The 7 surviving ducklings are doing well and a safe size from crows and gulls.
The pigeons in the aviary will be let loose tomorrow, and the wee duckling with the badly broken leg continues to get pain relief medication.
I only hope the weather improves before more ducklings show up !
Always dread the clocks going back, seems like an overnight plunge into Winter ! It's two fold this weekend, with winds coming down from the Arctic and clocks going back, it' s a double whammy ! The Geese always give the game away, by arriving in large numbers just prior to the Winter Weather heading our way. The river wildlife let me know as well, clamouring for food - the colder it gets the more they clamour !
Even the pigeons have joined the grain feast, and I have many friends on the riverside, especially throughout the Winter !
Both lower pics are courtesy of a lady with a multimedia phone, and Charlie Robertson who did a bit of filming !
The Town has a large population of feral Pigeons, and quite a few have capitalised on my feeding tree ! The smaller birds are constantly dislodging seeds from the feeders and upwards of 30 pigeons clean up daily. For the past few weeks I have watched the antics of the male pigeons
doing their utmost to impress the females,(short vid below). It may still be Winter, but wooing the pigeons is in full swing for some. I found a cracked pigeon egg the other day, so nesting has already started !
