New Winged Friends ♡

 Friends, this week I learned it's never too early to become the "crazy" pigeon lady. 

me in 50 years if global warming allows it

My university's campus is HUGE, and in it roams all different kinds of animals, the most notorious being cats, grackles, and rock pigeons.

Last week's Friday, however, was a special kind of day. There's a deli at the Uni Plaza that I rarely visit, but I was craving their sandwiches, for some reason. On my way there before class, I found this little guy–or girl, I think–loafing on the steps.

As I carefully walked down the steps, it didn't move at all, making me wonder if something was wrong. There weren't any physical signs of injury so I decided to walk into the deli for my sandwich. 20 minutes later, I walked out to find it under the bench across the deli's entrance.

I decided to approach it this time, thinking something was actually wrong. I happened to carry a bag of dry rice with me, so I gently tossed it in front of the pigeon.

And she immediately ate it. 

Okay, so maybe she was just lounging and minding her own business. Because she quickly got comfortable getting close to me and eating from my hand, and words can't describe the joy I felt in that moment. It turns out she has a case of string foot, and my heart broke because I can't help her. It seems too late.

I left that Friday hoping to see her again when I came back on Monday. People can be so cruel to pigeons, and since she was inside the plaza, I was worried they were gonna try to get rid of her.

I didn't see her that Monday, but I ended up making a BUNCH of new friends. It all started with me feeding these brown loafing pigeons outside the plaza, and then all their friends decided to join in on the dry jasmine rice feast.

Before I continue, you need to know that as an exhausted college student, I dread waking up. No, I'm not depressed. The action alone of opening my eyes to another day at 5:00am because I need to take the morning bus so I can make it on time for my morning class is dreadful. Especially when it's the most boring lecture class ever. HOWEVER– things have changed. Throughout the rest of the week, I woke up so excited (without snoozing my alarm, okay?!), because I had some pigeons to feed. 

I was so eager; it's so nice to have something to look forward to at seven in the god forsaken morning. I fed them religiously until Friday, and I hoped they started to recognize me as I did them. 

There's one with a case of avian pox. He's so adorable, and I try to feed him seperately because he can only see through one eye. Therefore he's too slow to notice the food, and the others waste no time to eat it all. It seems his warts have taken over the side of his face, making him lose an eye. 

There are some signs inside the plaza asking the consumers from the other businesses to not feed the birds. So I hoped me doing it outside wasn't a problem. Yes, they ended up pooping everywhere, but they were fed, and the rain always washes it away, anyway. 

On Friday I saw the one with the stringfoot again! I forgot to take a picture, but it seems now we're on lap-sitting basis? Either way, I was so happy to see she's doing okay, and her feathers are so soft! 

I hear them often being called 'rats with wings,' but I see highly intelligent creatures who are just trying to survive after being domesticated then abandoned. 

They deserve to eat, too. And I can always wash my hands.