Maddie Huerta, Neighbor

I started a small business called Pigeon Patroll to help birds. I started Pigeon Patroll at my old home in Layton, Utah in February 2020. Me and my family lived in an apartment next to a busy street, so there weren’t many birds that would visit us, only pigeons.

Early in the year of 2020, there were two pigeons that started to come around everyday. I named them Molly and Peter. In February 2020, Molly and Peter had built a nest between two of our huge plant pots. Molly had laid two perfect eggs. The eggs hatched and I named the two baby pigeons or squabs Cuckoo and Coco Puff. Everyday I would sit in front of the glass door and watch the pigeons for hours. I wrote everything I learned from them in a journal. Watching Cuckoo and Coco Puff grow to adults was so special and interesting. The two babies looked similar to dodos when they were young. Sometimes, I was able to watch their feeding time. I also witnessed them doing funny wing stretches. Then one day, they started practicing flying. They would take turns flying to the plant pot, then to the railing on our balcony. After that, they started flying from the railing, then quickly circling back. Cuckoo was always the fearless one. After they learned to fly, it was time for them to leave. Cuckoo and Coco Puff left me a single feather the morning before they left. They visited occasionally. Cuckoo, living up to his name flew into the window once. Cuckoo was alright. In 2021, I moved to South Carolina. It was hard moving away from four pigeons I love so much. Minutes before I left, Molly and Peter flew on the rail of our balcony. I became passionate about becoming a bird rehabilitator when I grow up because of the pigeons. Pigeons inspired me and are my spark bird.