Pigeon Recovery, Sick birds, Pigeon Rescue, Pigeon Welfare
Occasionally, you may see a sick or injured bird on or near the Square – or indeed anywhere else. The best thing you can possibly do is take the bird to Pigeon Recovery, an excellent sanctuary where the birds are assured of the best possible treatment. They are at:

8 Vermont Road
Sutton
Surrey SM1 3EQ
[Map Link]

If there is no-one in, facilities exist outside the front door for leaving poorly pigeons, and the sanctuary owners are never away overnight. If at all possible, a small contribution posted through the letterbox when you leave the bird(s) would go towards paying for the bird’s treatment, food etc.

Of course, it may be that you can’t get to Pigeon Recovery in which case, depending on what is wrong with the bird, you may need to attempt first aid or take it to a professional. If a bird is found in Trafalgar Square, and there is no way you can get it to Pigeon Recovery, please take it home with you and email us with your phone number. We’ll call you and discuss the best way of helping you and the bird.

If taking a bird to a professional becomes necessary, please be very careful where you take your patient. Make absolutely sure you know what will happen to your bird – many “professionals” treat the lives of pigeons with contempt, and are not legally obliged to treat creatures disgracefully classified as “vermin”.

If first aid is an option, we offer some basic tips below, but strongly recommend you visit the following sites for more information and advice:

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www.pigeon-life.net
This is an extremely useful resource. You’ll need to register, but this is free, simple and takes seconds.  Click the “member exchange” button.  You can then post a question, outlining the problem in as much detail as possible (if you can upload a picture, so much the better), and ask for advice. With over 5,000 members, the chances are you’ll be inundated with helpful, friendly advice within minutes.

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Austin Duck Police
Don’t ask, we didn’t come up with the name!  Located at www.duckpolice.org, this superb site contains invaluable information on everything from hand rearing a baby and emergency feeding techniques to fixing broken wings and legs.

Basic Tips
If the breast bone is protruding, the plumage is poor and the bird seems weak, it may be malnourished. Such birds should, of course, be fed as soon as possible, preferably with smaller seeds as well as mixed corn, as these are easier to digest.

Dehydration may occur, especially in summer conditions. A suitable solution to give to a pigeon – held to the beak, not forced down the throat – is the following:-

1 tablespoon of sugar
1 teaspoonful of salt

dissolved in one litre of water, offered frequently. “Flat” soft drinks may be used in an emergency.

Twine around the feet is often encountered. Sharp nail scissors can usually remove very loose twine and the birds can afterwards be released, but if there is skin damage, loss of toes etc, an antiseptic spray from any chemist should be applied and professional help sought.  You may want to invest in a pair of suture scissors (see
http://www.coleparmer.co.uk/catalog/product_view.asp?sku=1091830 for a supplier) that are ideally suited for effective, safe twine removal.

If signs of infection are present such as discharge or an offensive smell, on feet or around the beak and eyes, the pigeon will need antibiotics as soon as possible. Broken wings and legs are treatable – do not let anyone talk you into “putting down” such a bird. They will, however, require treatment by a sympathetic vet or Pigeon Recovery.

Pigeons which seem unreleasable, too, such as those who are blind, lame, disorientated or in any way disabled, should not be destroyed – they are assured of a place in Pigeon Recovery’s garden sanctuary. If you are in possession of such a bird email us and we’ll get back to you
as soon as we can.