Banded Tail Pigeons Dying by the Dozens

Julia Disieno of The Animal Rescue team in Solvang counted dozens of dead birds that were collected in just days by her team.

“Twenty two, three, four, five, … six seven, eight, nine, thirty,” said Disieno as she took the birds out the freezer to be shipped for necropsy.

The team has collected more than thirty birds in just one week, and the number is quickly rising.

The disease killing these birds is called Trichomonas.

“Once the disease hits these pigeons, they die in about ten days,” she said.

Trichomonas kills quickly, it affects the birds ability to swallow and breath properly, causing starvation and then death.

“It infiltrates esophagus airway so they’re not able to swallow anymore,” Disieno said.

She also explained that it only affects banded tail pigeons and fowl, but no other birds or animals.

For now, the dead birds are being sent to Biologists to be studied.

If you find a dead pigeon in your area, you are asked to call the Animal Rescue Team, at (805) 896-1859, or email info@animalrescueteam.net