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Pigeons and Doves 455

without other birds, introducing additional birds of the same species may help a human‐habitu-
ated bird to “wild up.” Whenever possible, never raise a bird alone if it is intended for wild
release. Alternatively, for those birds destined to be companion animals, the more they can be
handled from an early age, the better adjusted they will be to perceiving humans as sources of
comfort and safety.
Check weather forecasts and release only when weather is expected to be calm and dry, without
temperature extremes, for 2–3 days. Early morning releases enable the bird to adjust to its sur-
roundings before nightfall. If birds are to be released in areas that allow hunting, it is prudent to
postpone release until the season is ended.

Acknowledgments

Guthrum Purdin, DVM, offers his heart‐felt thanks to the staff and volunteers at the Wildlife Care
Association in Sacramento, CA, for their tireless dedication to the needs of the animals in their
care. Nancy Eilertsen would like to thank Linda Hufford, who has been a continual source of
moral support, knowledge, and sanity stabilization for many years.

Sources for Products Mentioned

Ultracare Mite and Lice Bird Spray: 8 in 1 Pet Products, Hauppauge, NY, (800) 645‐5154.
Leg bands: National Band and Tag Company, 721 York St, Newport, KY 41072‐0430, (800) 261‐
TAGS (8247), https://nationalband.com.
Vetrap, Tegaderm, and Micropore paper tape: 3M, St. Paul, MN, (800) 628‐7462, https://www.3m.
com/3M/en_US/company‐us/all‐3m‐products.
Kaytee products: 521 Clay St, PO Box 230, Chilton, WI 53014, (800) KAYTEE‐1, https://www.
kaytee.com.
Avi‐Era Avian Vitamins and Emeraid products: Lafeber Company, Cornell, IL 61319, (800)
842‐6445, http://www.lafeber.com.
BeneBac Plus Bird and Reptile Powder: PetAg, Inc., 255 Keyes Avenue, Hampshire, IL 60140,
https://www.petag.com.
Animal Intensive Care Unit™ and Grumbach Hatcher™: Lyon Technologies, Inc., 1690,
Brandywine Avenue, Chula Vista, CA. 91911, (619) 216‐3400, https://lyonvet.com.

References

Duerr, R.S., Purdin, G.J., and Bowers, V. (2017). Small‐bodied birds: passerines, doves, woodpeckers,
others. In: Topics in Wildlife Medicine, Vol. 4: Orthopedics (eds. R.S. Duerr and G.J. Purdin), 53–74.
St. Cloud, MN: National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association.
Engberg, R.M., Kaspers, B., Schranner, I. et al. (1992). Quantification of the immunoglobulin classes
IgG and IgA in the young and adult pigeon (Columba livia). Avian Pathology 21 (3): 409–420.
https://doi.org/10.1080/03079459208418859.
Girard, Y.A., Rogers, K.H., Woods, L.W. et al. (2014). Dual‐pathogen etiology of avian trichomonosis in
a declining band‐tailed pigeon population. Infection, Genetics and Evolution 24: 146–156.