Love, from Bailey 2 (original) (2023) Painting by Elodie M. Richard

Here is Bailey‘s rescue story! « Bailey was found when she was only a couple of weeks old, on the sidewalk, with both of her eyes destroyed and blood pouring down the sides of her face. Fortunately, she was found by GLPR cofounder and secretary-treasurer, Liz! Liz rushed Bailey to another of our cofounders, Susan, who quickly triaged her and brought her to the vet for emergency care. Bailey continued her healing with GLPR, vice president and medical Director Blanca for several months, until she joined Susan on a road trip to become part of our family. Bailey is completely blind, but she navigates remarkably well using verbal cues and distinguishing between different textured surfaces under her feet to know where she is in the house. She doesn’t fly often, but when she does she flies backwards! She has a very extensive vocabulary of English words to help her throughout her day! Because of the head trauma she sustained at a young age, Bailey has a neurological deficit that prevents her from being able to pick up seeds in order to feed herself. So 3 to 5 times a day, we open her beak and place her food, a well-balanced variety of Pigeon seed and pellets, on her tongue, so she can swallow her meal until she let us know she’s full. She tells us when she’s thirsty by nodding repeatedly! When we hold a water cup in front of her, and say the word “drink,” she knows that we brought her water. She’s also best friends with Ms. Pidge, another former Chicago city pigeon, who faced off with a subway train and lost her entire left wing to the encounter. Ms Pidge is Bailey’s faithful companion, and Bailey can identify Ms. Pidge’s coos from anyone else in the flock, so she follows Ms. Pidge all around the house! Because she needs help feeding herself throughout the day, Bailey also travels with us everywhere around the country, and is an expert at plane, car, and hotel travel! She is a remarkable bird who patiently introduces people to the intelligence and charming nature of Pigeons wherever she goes. (And yes, one time Bailey was asked if she was a pelican…)«
Bailey and Ms Pidge live in Chicago with their human family, Chava Sonnier, co-founder of Great Lakes Pigeon Rescue.

Related themes

Dove ArtPigeon ArtBird ArtRescued Pigeon StoryElodie M Richard Art Project