When One Door Closes, Another Opens: From Software to Saving Pigeons

Today is officially the last day of my office job as a Senior Software Developer - I was made redundant along with some other truly exceptional people I worked with. It’s a weird mix of emotions - sadness because I’m leaving behind some incredible colleagues, relief because I can finally recover from burnout, uncertainty about what comes next, and excitement because, for the first time in a long time, I have the freedom to figure it out.

One thing I do know? Pigeons will be a big part of it.

How It All Started

I never planned to become a pigeon rescuer. It started small - I used to just feed my local flock. Then one day, I saw a pigeon with string wrapped around his toes - stringfoot. I googled what to do, caught him, and carefully removed it. Another time, a tiny pigeon huddled next to me while I was feeding them. He looked fluffed up, vulnerable, and the other pigeons were bullying him. I picked him up, unsure of what to do, but I just couldn’t leave him there.

That’s how it all started. One bird at a time.

Then I learned how many pigeons need help. How few people actually rescue them. How there’s no government support, and it all comes down to individuals using their own time, money, and energy. Before I knew it, pigeon rescue became my second full-time job.

Leaving Tech Behind (For Now)

I’ve always loved problem solving. That’s why I got into software development in the first place - I liked building things, figuring things out, understanding how stuff works. But I’m also the kind of person who thrives on interest. If I love something, I’ll get really good at it, really fast. But if it doesn’t suit me - whether it’s the work itself, the environment, or just the overall purpose - I lose interest, and with that, the skills fade.

That’s what happened with my job. The work itself wasn’t fulfilling anymore, and honestly, it was hard to care about cost-saving meetings when I knew there was a dying bird nearby, and I was his only hope. My time and energy were stretched so thin between my job and rescue work that I had nothing left for myself. No time for hobbies. No time to just exist. And that’s a fast track to burnout.

Now that I’m stepping away from software, I want to focus fully on rescue - at least for now. There’s so much to learn: diagnostics, physiotherapy, microscopy... - list goes on. The more I know, the better care I can provide. But I also need to be realistic - rescuing pigeons doesn’t pay the bills. So part of my time will go towards fundraising and sharing what I do with the public. And who knows - maybe I’ll go back to software part-time, or find a way to blend tech with rescue work, which would be ideal. I just know I don’t want to go back to the same routine as it was not sustainable.

What I Want People to Know About Pigeons

If there’s one thing I wish people understood, it’s this: be kind to pigeons.

If you see one struggling - don’t ignore them. Pick them up. Keep them safe. A ventilated box is best, but if you don’t have one, use your jacket, a scarf - anything. Just don’t leave them there. By the time someone reports an injured pigeon and I get there, chances are they're already gone. But if they're contained, I can arrange pickup.

Also, pigeons aren’t dirty. They aren’t pests. They are domesticated animals that humans abandoned. They used to be loved and valued - for companionship, for delivering messages, for being part of our lives. Now they’re forced to survive in filthy cities, dodging cars, predators, and people who don’t want them around. It’s heartbreaking. If more people stepped in to help - just one person on every street looking after a couple of pigeons - we could stop so much suffering.

How You Can Help

Rescuing pigeons is incredibly rewarding, but it’s also expensive. Food, medicine, vet visits - it all adds up. If you’d like to support my work, please consider donating by visiting the donate page. Every bit helps, and every donation goes directly to caring for pigeons in need.

Thank you for reading - and if you ever see a pigeon in trouble, please never leave them. 🕊️