At the local park in the city centre.
RIP little love
String removed from 2 double sf pidges including the one from the loo roof top.
Yesterday, thread removed from one double string footed pidge.
Kitty is usually waiting for me when I get back from town.
Since the last 4 days, I've been doing both solo patrols and mini patrols with two other members. The latter are missionaries from Southern California, and wish to learn the techniques so that they can continue to catch/de-string in CA.
Each day, I managed to catch quite a number of them and de-string them. Friday=5, Sunday=4,Monday=6 (including 3 double sf) and yesterday 1 as I only did a mini patrol.
On Sunday, I saw a double string footed pidge on the main square in the city centre. It had both their feet tied with ribbon (wrapping paper ribbon) and it was double; i.e. both their legs were tied with the string. This means that the pidge cannot walk normally and is in pain, they are in danger of being predated and the more they walk, the more the string because tighter, they cannot get food easily and are bullied. So, for a de-stringer, it's urgent to catch them before they are predated or the string cuts the skin.
I went back on Monday were I spent several hours going around the city centre to find them. I also went to a park, the market place and another square nearby. I managed to catch 5 including another 2 that were double sf. I bumped into the 2 missionaries and we had a long chat. I also picked up a dead pidge who was desembowled (attacked) on the pavement and laid the poor thing to rest under a tree.
I was beginning to feel deflated so I popped into
Land & Monkeys to pick up a free pistachio cookie and have a glass of water. I went back to the same place where I saw the pidge on Sunday (they were on the roof of a public loo) and threw down some seeds. Tons of pidges came down from the rooftops and there they were! After 2 near attempts (they were skittish) the 3rd one was successful. I managed to find a seat and removed all of the ribbon which thankfully, hadn't cut deeply into their feet. I can't explain the feeling of elation when you manage to free a badly sf pidge.
I went back yesterday as I had an appointment but only did a a few hours. I managed to catch yet another double sf pidge and freed them of the threads which were quite deeply embedded. The pidge was very good and quite calm which was a relief.
Sadly, one of the ares in the centre which is near the courthouse is surrounded by armed (machine guns) police as there is an ongoing trial. A drug gang (2 gypsy brothers) are accused of kidnapping, murder (including one of a 16yr old boy) and also another murder of a shopkeeper. I will make a note of steering clear of this area until the trial is over. I simply cannot comprehend that the market is still held there when you have police officers with machine guns a few metres away from the stalls! The French can be so illogical at times.
I did engage with a few people and had some interesting conversations. One man wanted to know what I was doing as he had previously seen another man catching them to eat. Another couple plus their mum, were happy to know that someone was caring for pidges and didn't know that sf existed. One gentleman asked to join the group and another 2 Australian students asked whether they could take some pix.
I also saw more people that tried to kick them! I shouted at one and told him to stop. He looked shocked and thought that he could get away with being a vile bully! Sadly, nobody ever intervenes!
So, that makes a total of 31 pidges that have been successfully de-stringed since I have created the group. I must add that members are lacking in enthusiasm and the experience is totally different to the one in Brighton. My next patrol is with the young Californians who seem to be the only members who are constant and enthusiastic.
31 tiny souls are now living pain free.
