Today, as I was walking in downtown LA, I had stopped on the sidewalk to do something (I forget what it was), and as I was finishing up, I looked down in front of me, and I saw a baby bird that had fallen out of its nest. I wasn’t sure if it was alive, or not, so I nudged it, and it spread its wings, to regain its balance. I was excited to find it was alive, and I picked the baby bird up, and continued along my way.
At first, I thought that the baby was a falcon, since it had a sharp beak and sharp claws that dug in to my fingers, as I held it, and I felt a bit of trepidation about what I was doing - saving a future predator of pigeons, but, I figured, it’s a baby, and I’ll take care of it anyways, since I like caring for birds.
Swifty, as I first found him.
Once I got home, I was eager to find out what falcon babies looked like, if they looked like this bird, or not, and then I asked ChatGPT about the bird, with a photo upload included in the query.
Asking ChatGPT about the baby bird I found.
At first, funnily enough, ChatGPT thought that the bird was a baby pigeon, but I pressed on, in asking it again, with a different photo, since the bird is obviously not a pigeon. This time, the photo was clearer on the features of the head of the bird, and ChatGPT identified it as a swift, not a predator, but an insectivore, meaning that it only eats insects.
I spent some time learning about swifts, and how to feed them, which was my primary interest with the bird, since, at this stage, the baby is still fluffy with fuzz and pin feathers, and it cannot feed itself. Swifts are very interesting birds, in that they are capable of flying for up to 10 months at a time, nonstop. They are purported to be resolutely destined for the wild, where they spend most of their time in flight, catching insects, for food. Google’s AI-assisted search says that Chimney Swifts breed in North America and migrate to the Amazon basin. What an exciting life!
Swifty, up close, on his first day here.
Now that Swifty had gotten some water in him, he’s brighter-eyed, and more active. He’s an adventurous one, at times, and he climbed out of a shallow bowl and blanket that I had placed him in, earlier, to explore his surroundings a bit. Perhaps it was his adventurous spirit that got him grounded, whereupon I found him on the sidewalk, although there was a loop of string around his foot, possibly from the nest. The string wasn’t tight around him, though, and I removed it, once I found out it was a string - it looked like dusty debris, at first. It’ll be an interesting few weeks, or so, with Swifty, hopefully (I purchased food for him that’s coming tomorrow morning). He isn’t making gestures, yet, of being hungry, although he would obviously be hungry. Perhaps, after a good night’s rest, he’ll wake up with a hearty appetite. He did make some screeching noises, earlier, so I could tell that his condition is improving, over time, even though he hadn’t eaten since at least this afternoon, when I found him.
Swifty fan art.
Update: The next day.
Swifty spent the night in a comfortable box, and we spent some time together in the morning and during the day, but he never accepted food or water from me, nor did he make any indications that he was hungry, which he obviously would be, after a day. I went online to seek advice, and I ended up texting the Pasadena Humane Society (they have a wildlife hotline, and they prefer texts, for photo references). The helpline agent got back to me, after several minutes, and asked to see a video of the bird, so that they could assess the bird’s fledging (feathered, and ready to start flying) status, so I sent a video over. The agent advised me that the bird would still possibly be looked after by its parents, even though it fell from the nest, so I should return the bird to the place where I found it. I hadn’t really considered that concept, because I thought that it was a hopeless thing, that the bird was helpless and flightless, on the ground, out of its nest, and the rebellious side of me was somewhat averse to returning the bird, but then, I considered the alternatives, and since the bird wasn’t displaying any signs of hunger yet, I felt that it would be unlikely that it would end up accepting food or water from me, at all, and that it would starve.
Saying goodbye to Swifty, for today. I’ll come and check on the box tomorrow.
Little wings!
I took Swifty’s box, and prepared it for hanging up at the location I found him at, and I put a note on the box not to touch it, because the parents might return for the baby bird. It’s somewhat like a chimney, I figure, so maybe it’s familiar to the birds. I hung up the box on a pole, with some tape, and I said goodbye, for now. Hopefully the box will still be there tomorrow, and perhaps for longer, until Swifty learns to fly, after reuniting with his parents. I’ll come back and check on him on subsequent days.
Update: 10:30 p.m.: I got the notion in me, at this time, that Swifty would be cold, spending the night outside, and plus, it’s almost July 4th, and there’s people setting off fireworks all around. He could get scared. So I went back to the box’s location, but the box was no longer there, by now. I wonder what happened to him. I think it would have been cool Swifty’s parents really did come back for him and raise him up until he could fly, from his place in the box.
Piotr has some good things going for him, for not being too scared of me. He takes food out of a container, as well as water, for example.
Piotr is the latest addition to the iPigeon.institute family. I rescued him, last night, when I spotted him pecking around at some food and looking listless. He gave off some hints that he wasn’t following flock behavioral signals, so I took it as a sign that he wasn’t adapting well to outdoor life, and that he could be putting himself at risk, for leaving himself vulnerable. Despite this, he also immediately gave off signs of being tame. He took food out of my hand, when I offered it to him, for example. He also let me pick him up, without any trouble. I figured that it would be better that I took him home than someone else, particularly because of his friendly traits, but also because I have a lot of spare time to give him attention.
I took him home and sat him down on my bed, and I went out to do some remote work at the library, which is where I was initially headed when I initially happened upon Piotr. When I came home, he was in the same spot, and I went to bed. I woke up a few times, during the night, and I checked on him, and this morning, I offered him some food and water, and he took both, which is a reassuring sign that he’s generally healthy and in good spirits. I think he’ll make a great pet! He’s a black-feathered pigeon, with some slight luminescence to his neck feathers.
Update: I noticed that Piotr was limping, so I took a look at him, and apparently, he’s got a wounded leg, of some sort. I guess I’ll be taking care of him for a little while, at least, while his leg repairs itself.
Piotr walks with a limp, I noticed - after I brought him home. He’ll be staying with me for a while during his recovery. He’s been eating heartily and he likes mineral water.
Update: I was considering veterinary care for Piotr, but I felt that it could be much more costly than trying to splint his leg myself. Since he’s pretty calm, I feel like I can do it on my own, so I ordered a pigeon leg splint from Foy’s Pigeon Supplies.
A pigeon leg splint, from Foy’s, a renowned pigeon and pet supply store.
Piotr awaits his recovery, and he passes the days mostly by sitting on my bed, or a pillow. He goes “home” to a cozy little nook, located behind my pillow.
Piotr, in his nook. I clean his spot once or twice a day, that’s all it takes!
Update: Sunday, May 11th
Piotr’s leg splint came in, yesterday, from Foy’s Pet Supplies, so I spent some time splinting his leg. The instructions said to wrap the wounded leg with cotton wool, then clamp the splint around the leg (it has plastic fasteners on it). Piotr was fairly calm through the stressful process, and I got his leg splinted successfully. Hopefully he heals up soon!
I was able to successfully splint Piotr’s broken leg (or foot).
Update: 05/19/2025
Piotr the pigeon is starting to show some affections for me, as well as pigeon intelligence. He flew down from his roost, last night, when it started getting dark, and he landed himself on my pillow, where he settled down, for the night, next to my head. I mostly left him alone, since he’s probably feeling things out, with me, as far as his personal security, as well as his place in life, with me.
Piotr’s lofty roost, up at the top of the photo, where he likes to situate himself when he wants time to himself, or when he wants to get away. He’s found that this spot is mostly secure for him, as far as being left alone.
Piotr has been eating well, despite having his leg splinted. He’s definitely adapting well, and he doesn’t hold the splinting against me, in terms of friendliness. He’s demonstrated that he knows when it’s meal time (when I’m having meal time), and he also takes well to demonstrating that he wants to eat, at times, by pecking around, or by showing up at his food and water dishes.
Piotr is having a drink of water, here. He’s a picky eater, and he only likes some of the seeds in the seed mixes I give him. Here, he tossed aside his seed bowl, entirely, after having some shrimp with me. He’s got a bit of an attitude!
This morning is when Piotr started dining interactively with me, after we spent the night as pillow buddies. I sat down for breakfast, and he noticed that there were eggs in my meal, which he likes. He headed on over to my plate and helped himself to some eggs. Piotr really has some personality to him.
Piotr, having some scrambled eggs, along with me, as I begin my breakfast, this morning.
I think it’s fascinating to observe how Piotr defines his boundaries and affections, upon adapting, over time, to domesticated life. I’ve still yet to discern whether or not I’ll keep him, but I really do like having him as a companion. It’s an adventure unlike other bird experiences I’ve had, since he has free rein over the room we stay in, perhaps.
Update: 05/21/2025
Some video content demonstrating Piotr having his customary lunch (seeds), then having a drink of water, and then, he returns to his roost.
Update on Piotr: 05/28/2025:
Mysteries abound in my head about this, even though my physical illness that beset me since the beginning of this past weekend took the foray, for the most of the day. After I had returned from getting breakfast, I seemed to offhandedly suppose that Piotr was not in any of his several spots in my room, where he likes to hang out. I had, at first, been concerned that he had been one trapped against the wall space, with my furniture’s placement, but I checked the possible spots where he “may” have been, and, being that I couldn’t find him there, I eventually checked his lofty high roost, where he may have been, in a second stacked box, but that wasn’t until much later in the day, due to going to the store having been so grueling for me, due to my body aches and feverish chills. Aside from that I rested, but when I checked the high up box, he wasn’t there, either. So I gave the room another full once over, and I cleaned up some mess that he’d been accumulating on the floor. In any case, I’ve affirmed that he’e possibly been removed from the room, during the times in which I’d gone out, possibly by management or my caseworkers, since I also noted that my moon lamp had been turned off, possibly as a suggestion, since I was sick for so long. The tales that were weaved in my head were pretty lighthearted and reaffirming, so that was nice, that that was the case. I think that my nurse possibly got concerned about me contracting bird flu, from exposure, and since I had gotten so sick; I felt that it would last throughout the rest of the weekend, and in a bad way, throughout, if I didn’t continue taking proactive measures for healing myself (medications). My nurse offered to buy me NyQuil and DayQuil, which had been a relatively quick and notable relief, from the pain.
My bedside moon lamp, in addition to the pigeon being gone, was turned off.
I suppose that his transition in to living somewhere else came at a reasonable time, since he was starting to land on me, a lot, and I was getting slightly worsening bedsores from accommodating his perching on me, not to mention that it had become difficult to keep up with the poop and spilled bird seeds on the floor. His time with the splint is generally done, now, although I hadn’t confirmed it, myself, although 3 weeks was the proscribed time period for a pigeon to wear a splint. Good luck, Piotr, and maybe I’ll see you out there, again, some day.
Update: Catching up with Piotr, out on the streets.
I was surprised, a few days after Piotr had unexpectedly disappeared from my room, to find him out on the streets. He did not have his splint on, anymore, and he’s currently limping around, but his leg looks like it set at a good angle for healing, and over some time, he’s gaining use of his leg back. Here’s some footage of him, out on Skid Row, now, where he linked up with the flock I’ve typically been feeding, on a daily basis, which is convenient. He gets along with the others, and it’s a no drama flock - he doesn’t get picked on, for being different, in other words.
Here’s to Piotr, for his resilience and ingenuity! I’m happy that he got in with the local flock of pigeons.
I was out at the library, doing some remote work on the computer consoles, for a gig that I had just started, recently, and the daylight was ideal for photography at the time I left the library, for dinner. On my way home, I captured some endearing moments of the pigeons at Pershing Square, in bright and vivid colors of Springtime.
I love how the bright florets of bougainvillea frame this pigeon’s disposition, at Pershing Square Metro Stztion.
A family of rats munches on some mud, to get a drink of water, after maintenance hosed the place down.
An ongoing online exhibition featuring visual odes to the pigeons that I've discovered, or happened upon, as a trekker of many streets and locales in and around the Greater Los Angeles area.
Box Art is a trending artistic expression form that sprung up, several years ago, as a seemingly ordained vehicle of artists' aspirations for public recognition (I'm not sure of the origins or certifying agency behind the legality of painting on public sidewalk utility server boxes).
The pigeons, being the endearing young explorers and ambassadors to the town that they are, have merited several works of art dedicated to them over the years, in the lives, works, and hearts of artists and art lovers all across several locales around the Los Angeles region.
Update: 02/17/2025:
It must have been someone local, who had taken note that Pershing Square had, in recent months, been taken over, it might seem, by flocks of pigeons who are well-fed, on a daily basis. Here, we see a miniature fiesta scene, with pigeons adorned in Mexican garb, eating mariscos (seafood). This begs the question as to whether or not the pigeons actually do eat shrimp, and I tried it out, with some shrimp cocktail.
Update: the pigeons don’t like shrimp.
The South Pasadena Metro Station
Los Angeles Trade Tech College Murals
The Martin Luther King Blvd. at Harbor Freeway 110 Underpass Murals.
The Ernst and Young Plaza Poetry Pigeons; Curious Over a Fried Egg - Cast Metal Statue
Santa Monica Pier re-opening welcome banner.
Update: 01/24/2022:
While out working on some more recent developments, of about a year-and-a-half since I’d last made inclusions and updates to this blog, I’ve come across a previously unknown, or previously non-existent - charming mural rendition of some of the Friends of the Pigeon: a sparrow, and what appears to be perhaps a baby seagull, with a characteristically youthful withdrawn stance, about the bust (breast, neck and head) of the bird, of which would suppose a more socially-shy and unsure fledgling addition to a flock, amongst adults, in a similar manner in which a puppy reserves it’s tail in between its legs, as an ostensible sign of submission to the elders and authorities of the pack, or family unit. This mural is located in the Playa Del Rey area, which is part of the expanse of public works projects that include a nature reserve designation, of sorts, that encompasses the Los Angeles River, which begins, winding further up the road, and around the bend, a bit, feeding in to channels that comprise the Venice Beach Canals (which are an upscale series of channeled waterways that mimic the Classical Canals of Italy’s Venice; thus Venice Beach, CA, is rightly named as, such that it would suppose a proper nod of the hat towards a facet of our Western heritage and culture, here in America; Venice Beach, largely known as a small, yet concentrated locality of the West Coast, in attracting many professionals and patrons of the Los Angeles, CA artistic culture and of progressive minds and lifestyles, and the area is, therefore, rich in diversity, arts, and spirituality. The Ballona Wetlands, as it is known, further up in to this current area, known as Del Rey, bordering on Culver City, in this instance, is a rehabilitated natural and native wetlands plants reserve, where the river flows inland, turning, at some point, several miles up the road from the beach, and winding its way through Los Angeles, as a large concrete ditch, perhaps anywhere from 20-30 feet deep, and, at times, anywhere from 30-75 feet wide, perhaps more, in some cases, as a watershed management development of the larger systems of society and government, and it is rumored that, at some point, the development project is projected to expand the entirety of the lateral expanse of the lower 48 states of America in coming decades.
Somewhere,
at the edge of two localities, the river becomes a great wash basin, capable of handling a significant flow of water, perhaps, someday.
Hollywood, CA - YMCA building.
The Hollywood YMCA, in the heart of Hollywood, CA, features an external mural and protective wall (since there’s sometimes small civic uprisings that find their way in to Hollywood, lately, at times [mid-late 2022]) featuring black and white birds, perhaps pigeons, that they could be.
Some of the pigeons have been doing pretty neat things, lately, during their meal time. One of them hops up on my arm and perches there to eat out of my hand. This is new behavior, as of the past couple of weeks, or so.
