- Mickacoo - mickaboo.org

Please Welcome Jaclyn- our newest volunteer
by Elizabeth Young 21 Oct '10

21 Oct '10

Hello- Jaclyn and her friend Rod have been VERY busy this past week and a half rescuing 13 (to date) king pigeons of 20-something that have been dumped at the Our Lady of Peace Church in Santa Clara. Prior to finding a king pigeon from the group that was being attacked by a hawk (Mogie who is recovering great), Jaclyn had never heard of king pigeons. She has joined MickaCoo not just as a finder but as a fellow rescuer- taking the injured and sick to vets, helping to build a cage for housing, fostering, fundraising and publicizing. Welcome, Jaclyn, and THANK YOU for helping these poor birds. MickaCoo would have been unable to take in so many without your and Rod's support. e -- Elizabeth Until they all have homes, don't buy, don't breed- adopt. www.RescueReport.org www.MickaCoo.org http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGjyooh3Yo0

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Re: [MickaCoo] [Mickaboo Discuss] New study shows pigeons like to gamble
by Barna Mink 20 Oct '10

20 Oct '10

I've read this a few days ago, but I see no reason to find experiments on pigeons funny. This guy "has worked with pigeons for more than 35 years". Worked with? Hardly, as that implies cooperation on the part of the animals. More like "used". Just how many birds has he "worked with" throughout his long career as an animal experimenter, and also do pray tell, what important insights did his research bring us? We all know already that pigeons are intelligent animals. So they take chances... um, okay. What a shock. I wouldn't have guessed that! Like most if not all other animal experiments, this one too is using animals against their will and best interest to "prove" the most trivial and useless things. I bet these pigeons are purpose-bred for Mr. Zentall's research. They live in cages, they never see the sun, they never fly, and they are "culled" once they are not "useful" anymore to the research facility. Animal experimentation is just another brutal industry which sees animals as disposable commodities. I understand that scientists sometimes need to go public with some BS "research" to raise their profile and secure continued funds for their jobs, and that this creates these funny articles with a punchline, but at least we should be a little more willing to question and take a stand against experimentation on these magnificent animals. If not us, who? Barna On Oct 20, 2010, at 6:53 PM, John Graziano wrote: > Interesting implications for foraging and training... > > http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/44199/ > > Pigeon Gambling: Study Shows Pigeons Have Urge to Gamble > > Pigeon gambling? That’s what a scientist at the University of Kentucky is saying in a recent study which showed that, like people, some pigeons take risks to win prizes, according to a news release from the school. > > University of Kentucky psychology professor Thomas Zentall has been working with pigeons for more than 35 years. He conducted a study of the birds to test their affinity for gambling through pecking at lights for predetermined numbers of pellets, the news release said. > > Professor Zentall said if a pigeon pecked to the left, it would see a green or red light. After 10 seconds, the red light would reward the bird with 10 pellets but the green light would give nothing. Overall the birds would receive two pellets per trial on average, according to Zentall. > > Meanwhile, if pecking on the right side, a bird would receive either a blue or yellow light, which both would give out three pellets per trial. > > "You'd think that pigeons would choose the right side, but they don't," Zentall said in the news release. The study noted that most birds “reliably” chose the left side in hopes to get 10 pellets when zero was more likely, although some, like some humans, preferred not to gamble. > > Zentall likened the pigeons' behavior to gambling in lotteries and casinos, but noted that a few pigeons do not display this behavior. > > "It's more efficient not to gamble, and the likelihood of winning is low, but pigeons do it anyway. And so do people," he said. > > > > ------- HOW TO -------------------- > CHANGE PERSONAL SETTINGS: https://mickaboo.org/cgi-bin/mailman/options/discuss/ > VIEW LIST ARCHIVE: https://mickaboo.org/cgi-bin/mailman/private/discuss/ > HOW TO RESET YOUR LIST PASSWORD: > http://confluence.mickaboo.org/x/2wFj

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FW: [Mickaboo Discuss] New study shows pigeons like to gamble
by Elizabeth Y 20 Oct '10

20 Oct '10

-----Original Message----- From: John Graziano <jgraz(a)mac.com> Sent: Wednesday, October 20, 2010 6:53 PM To: General mickaboo discussion <discuss(a)mickaboo.org> Subject: [Mickaboo Discuss] New study shows pigeons like to gamble Interesting implications for foraging and training... http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/44199/ Pigeon Gambling: Study Shows Pigeons Have Urge to Gamble Pigeon gambling? Thats what a scientist at the University of Kentucky is saying in a recent study which showed that, like people, some pigeons take risks to win prizes, according to a news release from the school. University of Kentucky psychology professor Thomas Zentall has been working with pigeons for more than 35 years. He conducted a study of the birds to test their affinity for gambling through pecking at lights for predetermined numbers of pellets, the news release said. Professor Zentall said if a pigeon pecked to the left, it would see a green or red light. After 10 seconds, the red light would reward the bird with 10 pellets but the green light would give nothing. Overall the birds would receive two pellets per trial on average, according to Zentall. Meanwhile, if pecking on the right side, a bird would receive either a blue or yellow light, which both would give out three pellets per trial. "You'd think that pigeons would choose the right side, but they don't," Zentall said in the news release. The study noted that most birds reliably chose the left side in hopes to get 10 pellets when zero was more likely, although some, like some humans, preferred not to gamble. Zentall likened the pigeons' behavior to gambling in lotteries and casinos, but noted that a few pigeons do not display this behavior. "It's more efficient not to gamble, and the likelihood of winning is low, but pigeons do it anyway. And so do people," he said. ------- HOW TO -------------------- CHANGE PERSONAL SETTINGS: https://mickaboo.org/cgi-bin/mailman/options/discuss/ VIEW LIST ARCHIVE: https://mickaboo.org/cgi-bin/mailman/private/discuss/ HOW TO RESET YOUR LIST PASSWORD: http://confluence.mickaboo.org/x/2wFj

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Re: [MickaCoo] Help Needed: Lots of King Pigeons being dumped in Santa Clara!
by Cheryl Alley 18 Oct '10

18 Oct '10

If the Merc won't respond, the local community papers should be interested - so look for the local city paper that comes out once a week and call their editor. They way it gets out to the neighborhoods where the problem is actually happening (those papers automatically show up on everyone's driveway. The Vietnamese neighborhoods are pretty tight nit, but there a city mayor or district rep in that area that's Vietnamese. She might be worth approaching, but it's a sensitive cultural issue. The only reason I know this is a buddy of mine is Japanese and he's talked about how that community would like to get rid of all the local Mexicans, so they're not very inclusive. They've recreated Viet Nam in parts of San Jose and really stick together. Might want to see if there is a local church pastor for the Vietnamese community as well that could get the word out. I doubt that group reads the Merc anyway. Any there's a local Vietnamese newspaper as well, so you might want to talk with them (you could probably find one at a hair salon) - that's how you'll let them know there's a problem with what they're doing. I'm sure they think they are saving the birds by dumping them. Hope that gives you all some ideas. Cheryl

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Help Needed: Lots of King Pigeons being dumped in Santa Clara!
by Elizabeth Young 18 Oct '10

18 Oct '10

Hello- Last week there were a bunch of kings dumped at the Our Lady of Peace Church in Santa Clara and, thanks to good samaritans (and now MickaCoo's newest volunteers) Jaclyn & Rod, 7 of them are safe and being cared for. At least ANOTHER TEN have been dumped by a couple believed to speak Vietnamese. Three pigeons have been caught, one killed by a car and the fate of the others still TBD. We're absorbing the healthy, aviary-ready birds into foster aviaries and have 4 sick one in special care but are going to need help for any more sick or injured ones that come in. (Short-term foster in a dog-crate on a heating pad with likely twice daily meds and a vet trip.) If you can help foster sick birds OR if you speak/write Vietnamese (or know someone who does) or if you are in the area and can help stake out the area, please reply to me (AdoptKings(a)gmail.com) and to Jaclyn at jaclyn.alderete(a)gmail.com Also- four of the original seven caught have needed vet care and we know that at least of the three caught today will too. If you are able, please donate towards the cost of these poor birds care. Three were sick BEFORE being dumped (Paco, Lupita & Francis) and one was damn near killed by a hawk (Mogie). The link for donating is here- http://www.rescuereport.org/2009/09/donate.html and include "Our Lady of Peace Pigeons" in the comments/note section. Please share this with others as well. We've been too busy dealing with all these poor birds to get them up on the website or blog yet but that will be coming- stay tuned. Here's a link to some pictures on Facebook- http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#!/album.php?aid=289581&id=7294212… -- Elizabeth Until they all have homes, don't buy, don't breed- adopt. www.RescueReport.org www.MickaCoo.org http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGjyooh3Yo0

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HANDLED: Pigeons need ride from SF ACC to MHS in Novato- can you help?
by Elizabeth Young 18 Oct '10

18 Oct '10

Thank you VERY much to Martha for making the trip! (And to Kimberly for being our back up plan!) e On Fri, Oct 15, 2010 at 11:22 AM, Elizabeth Young <adoptkings(a)gmail.com>wrote: > Hello- > > There are two king pigeons (Buttercup and Truffles) in small cages at SF > ACC and a single pigeon with a nice big indoor/outdoor barn stall at Marin > Humane Society all too him/herself. > > Can you help get these SF king pigeons out of their scary little shelter > cages and into the fresh air and sunshine and each other's company in > Novato? > > Please let me know at AdoptKings(a)gmail.com if you can! > > Thank you for considering, > e > > -- > Elizabeth > > Until they all have homes, don't buy, don't breed- adopt. > www.RescueReport.org <http://www.rescuereport.org/> > www.MickaCoo.org <http://www.mickacoo.org/> > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGjyooh3Yo0 > -- Elizabeth Until they all have homes, don't buy, don't breed- adopt. www.RescueReport.org www.MickaCoo.org http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGjyooh3Yo0

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OT but useful to share with your shelter contacts? Fwd: Very Relevant Webinar
by Elizabeth Young 17 Oct '10

17 Oct '10

This was forwarded from the SF Homeless Animal Coalition... it may be OT but useful to share with your shelter contacts? ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Justin Pinkerton <justinwpinkerton(a)gmail.com> Date: Thu, Oct 14, 2010 at 11:43 AM Subject: Very Relevant Webinar To: Justin Pinkerton <justinwpinkerton(a)gmail.com> Maybe, at the next meeting, we can designate someone to take part in one of these. Hi everyone,** We are happy to announce an exciting new webinar. You can register for this session at http://petsmartcharities.webex.com. *Reducing/Preventing Shelter Surrenders * *by Starting an Animal Help Desk* Presented by: Beata Liebetruth, Animal Help Desk, Nevada Humane Society Tuesday, October 26: 12:00 p.m. Hawaii; 3:00 p.m. pacific; 4:00 p.m. mountain; 5:00 p.m. central; 6:00 p.m. eastern Wednesday, October 27: 9:00 a.m. Hawaii; 12:00 p.m. pacific; 1:00 p.m. mountain; 2:00 p.m. central; 3:00 p.m. eastern Friday, October 29: 6:00 a.m. Hawaii; 9:00 a.m. pacific; 10:00 a.m. mountain; 11:00 a.m. central; 12:00 p.m. eastern Nevada Humane Society launched their animal Help Desk in 2007 and has since seen a consistent decline in animals surrendered to the shelter. It just shows that even in tough economic times, when some communities are seeing double digit increases in incoming pets, that it is possible to actually reduce the number of animals in need of sheltering. Through the help desk free advice is offered on behavior modification, training, general health care and spay/neuter information. The truth is that many situations *can* be resolved in a manner that will help keep the animals out of the shelters. This webinar focuses on how providing a free "Animal Help Desk" could help decrease the number of pets coming into YOUR shelter. Ø Understanding the Problem and How You Can Help Ø How to Handle the Most Common Requests - Moving, Behavior Problems, Medical Issues Ø Special Circumstances – Special needs pets, Multiple-Pet Placement, etc. Ø Feral Cats - The Basics and Benefits of Trap/Neuter/Return Ø Injured or Orphaned Wildlife Ø Other Situations - Lost/Found Pets, Orphaned Kittens, Spay/Neuter info, etc. * * For more information about how webinars work please feel free to contact Suzy Hayton at shayton(a)petsmartcharities.org. -- Elizabeth Until they all have homes, don't buy, don't breed- adopt. www.RescueReport.org www.MickaCoo.org http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGjyooh3Yo0

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Donated Pigeon Attache Case/Carrier available in SJ
by Elizabeth Young 17 Oct '10

17 Oct '10

Hello- This unusual carrier (pictured on the left) was donated to Mickaboo and is being offered to MickaCoo volunteers as well. It seems like a stylish way to transport a pigeon or two if needed. (We use a different, lighter carrier for shipping so wouldn't use it for that.) It is in SJ. If it is something you could put to good use, please reply to Michelle (cc'd). -- Elizabeth Until they all have homes, don't buy, don't breed- adopt. www.RescueReport.org www.MickaCoo.org http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGjyooh3Yo0

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Dove fosters and adopters needed!
by Elizabeth Young 17 Oct '10

17 Oct '10

Hello- MickaCoo Pigeon & Dove Rescue <http://www.mickacoo.org/> has lots of doves in need of foster and/or forever homes! And we even have three donated aviaries/outdoor cages available to use to house them! Even if you're not ready or able to help out with the doves, PLEASE reach out to people you know and share this plea with them. It is easy and fun to care for a pair of doves indoors or outside or to help a whole flock and MickaCoo is critically short on dove homes. Pictures of the available enclosures and a care sheet are attached. Thank you for helping MickaCoo and the doves! -- Elizabeth Until they all have homes, don't buy, don't breed- adopt. www.RescueReport.org <http://www.rescuereport.org/> www.MickaCoo.org <http://www.mickacoo.org/> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGjyooh3Yo0

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The Story-A Dove called Sammy
by C Dickinson 16 Oct '10

16 Oct '10

Hello there! I wanted to share a story about a Dove called Sammy. Last week I responded to a MickaCoo surrender for a single Male Dove called Snow Drop who I renamed Sammy. Sammy's life was something like this, Two years ago he was rescued from the SPCA as a single dove surrendered by a man and for the past two years has lived alone in a small cage next to a Parrot. He did live in a larger cage outdoors, but moved inside as the man of the house did not like his soft coo's. The surrender indicated Sammy had to go along with her Parrot due to the economy but mentioned more that family members could not handle the noise. Sammy not only led a life as a single lonely male, when I picked him up he was in a dark room in way too small of a cage. I could fit my hand in, but struggled to get Sammy out. I was told it is easier to take the top off the cage! I am not sure the cage was even suitable for a single finch. The cage was only suitable for the recycle yard! My heart knew that I was Sammy's get out of jail free card. I heard Sammy coo in the box on his ride up to Pacifica and got him settled in a flight cage with a mirror,Millet, fresh water, greens, dove seed, hay and a log! Sammy was really happy and was cooing and flirting with himself in the mirror. He also was chatting my pet "Best pigeon in the universe" Mandee up who sat in the cage next door. Clearly Sammy just wanted to be part of a flock. I see Sammy needed to have some attention, so I took him with me in my Pigeon Aviary and let him fly and see other birds. Well Sammy chased all the pigeons (I think he wanted to play) and they run from him, sometimes I have to rescue him from being clobbered. He is delightful to watch and seems to be really on a real holiday! I am a pigeon rescuer but find I am also helping a lot of doves. I want for little Sammy to get a girl and a very good Dove home so he can have a happy and playful life he deserves. MickaCoo has an outdoor flight and one Dove foster Aviary closing soon, please help spread the word we are in great need of Dove Fosters and adopters. Sammy is somewhat tame and trying really hard to be a pigeon. See link for Pictures: : Share this album with anyone by sending them this public link: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=292979&id=640866498&l=0321311b06 Everyone have a Rockin day! PS In one Picture Little Sammy and Lena (one of the 7 Kings rescued from the church in So. Bay) took on a special friendship and were playing in the mirror, it was really just too cute for words! ____________________________________________________________ Cheryl A Reiki Master - www.cheryldickinson.com A MickaCoo Volunteer - www.MickaCoo.org A King Pigeon Rescuer - http://cheryldickinson.com/kings.htm

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