Meet Compass, our resucued injured Pigeon.

For me, caring about our planet is directly linked to caring about all of it's inhabitants.  Sometimes this level of caring lands an adorable yet hopelessly injured pigeon in your lap, who quickly earns himself a spot on the spoonfeeding schedule.  Meet Compass, so named for my 4 year old's friend of a friend, the later being a curious monkey named George.

Besides looking good in turquoise, Compass has a perfect disposition.  He sleeps all day, eats what's in his syringe and never sqwaks back.  But then he has had a concusion, been in shock and doped up on pain meds for the past two days.  Actually, he showed his first sign of spunk when the meds kicked in and he, thinking himself healed tried to hoble over the 6 inch side of his box.  (Hey, who hasn't made the same mistake?  Take it easy there Compass!)

What I hope to deliver with this post is the documented recovery and hopefully sucessful release of this bird back into the wild/Springboro city streets.  Actually, we'll be happy to take care of him indefinately but are sincerely hoping he learns to feed himself and fly again.  Here is his story.

My husband found him unconscious on the side of the road near a highway ramp.  He called every wildlife rescue around and they all said that because pigeons are not a native species (where are they from? Mars?) that the only assistance they could offer is euthanasia.  So, we decided to care for him ourselves and took him to a local vet that treats pet birds.  Turns out he has a fractured wing and a broken jaw bone causing his beak to line up crooked.  The vet gave him a pain shot and an antibiotic prescription and advised me how to syringe feed him until he learns to eat again.  This is what I will be doing for the next 4 weeks, as well as taking photos to update his progress.

My boys are 4 and 21 months and they couldn't be happier to have a bird around.  They love birds and feel like real animal rescuers!  Don't worry, I don't let them touch him and he has his own warm, quiet room to rest in when he's not in his net covered box on the back porch.  Please, if any readers have experience with wild birds, drop me a line of adivce!  Otherwise I'm operating on my love, instincts, google and the vet in the next town over to keep this bird comfortable and having a chance a life.

Follow Compass's journey here.

Buffalo Style “Hot Vings” w/ Ranch Recipe

Here is any easy eco-friendly recipe to satisfy a classic craving:

1 package Morningstar Farms Chick'n Strips
1 C Louisiana brand hot sauce
1/4 C Vegan butter such as Soy Garden

Ranch Dressing for dipping:
1/2 C Veganaise (Follow Your Heart brand)
1t apple cider vineager
1/4 t dill, parsley, onion pwd, garlic pwd
salt and pepper to taste

Method:

• Mix all ingredients for Ranch and refrigerate until needed.
• Saute your Chick'n strips in the butter until fairly crispy.  Remove from heat and add hot sauce in a cool bowl (do not heat the add hot sauce to fry pan or it will smoke you out!)

Serve Hot Vings with Ranch on the side and celery sticks if you like.  This recipe is a favorite of Green Earth Grill customers!

Can also serve in a tortilla w/ organic shredded lettuce and chopped tomatoes, gourmet street food!

Photo is of Green Earth Grill's Hot Ving Wrap: