Digeon
Digeon was born at the refuge. Normally all eggs are picked
up or shaken within 24 hours of being laid. Most of the females
do not choose to sit on the eggs so this is not a problem. The
refuge would not be able to accommodate all the hundreds of
ducklings that could be hatched each year if this was not done.
Imagine the surprise when a caretaker saw something dark
move in a box where two pigeons were sitting in the refuge's
main barn. Upon closer examination, it was found to be a newly
hatched rouen duckling. The proud pigeon parents and the new
baby were put into a large kennel and brought inside to the
climate controlled indoor aviary. Mama pigeon had neurological
problems that cause the head to twist around when the bird
is nervous. It is a condition that afflicts many of the permanent
resident pigeons. Most live in the indoor aviaries as they
are unable to fly. Apart from that they lead normal lives
including choosing a mate. Mama pigeon had the new baby tucked
under her wing in no time. She was so proud. So was daddy
pigeon. The egg had evidently been missed underneath some
straw and these two pigeons sat on the egg until it hatched.
Baby ducklings eat on their own from the moment they are
hatched. Baby pigeons must be fed by their parents. You can
imagine the concern this cause the pigeon parents when the
baby didn't need feeding. It got even more perplexing to them
when the baby went right into a small water dish placed inside
the kennel for the duckling. Nevertheless, they loved the
baby and soon found that having a baby that did not require constant
feeding was a plus. They would both stand near the water dish
and watch the baby bathe. As the baby grew, less and less
of it fit under the wing, but no one seemed to care.
The day came when the duckling had to be moved out of the
kennel. Still too young to be put outside, it was put in one
of the indoor aviaries. Mama and daddy pigeon were moved in
there also. It was decided after what they had accomplished,
they should be allowed to live in the indoor aviary which
is like a luxury resort for birds.
The duckling continued to get bigger and bigger, but it retained
many pigeon traits like sleeping in a box. Soon it was evident
that the baby was a beautiful female rouen duck. All ducks
that live at the refuge have names that start with the letter
D. Digeon was a perfect name.
Two years later she still sleeps in the aviary at night.
We tried to get her to sleep with the other ducks, but she
did very poorly and had to be reunited with her pigeon friends
at bedtime. She is one of the most popular residents with
the caretakers because she is so tame and nice. |
