When Crystal Zhang got a call one night about a pigeon stuck in an apartment stairwell, she didn’t hesitate. As a volunteer pigeon rescuer in Sydney, she’s used to emergencies — but this one sounded especially urgent.
The bird had reportedly been trapped for days with no food or water. Crystal grabbed her supplies and rushed over.
“It was almost 9 p.m. when I arrived,” Crystal told The Dodo. “A kind resident guided me up the stairs, and there she was — a pigeon just standing quietly, staring at us. They said she hadn’t eaten, couldn’t fly and could barely walk.”
Crystal approached slowly, trying to wrap the frightened pigeon — later named Margaret — in a towel. But Margaret panicked and attempted to hop down the stairs to escape.
That’s when Crystal saw it: both wings drooping, as if too painful to lift. Something was very wrong.
Determined not to leave her behind, Crystal gently secured Margaret and carried her out to the car. Once home, the little pigeon was frozen with fear, refusing to move, drink or eat.
Crystal dimmed the lights, gave her space and carefully dabbed a few drops of water onto her beak to keep her hydrated.
An hour later, Crystal peeked inside the quiet room and saw Margaret nibbling seeds. “I felt so relieved and happy,” she said.
With Margaret calmer, Crystal finally got a closer look. She suspected a wing fracture — and the next morning a vet confirmed it.
An X-ray revealed a broken bone near the elbow that prevented Margaret from flying. Nobody knows yet whether she’ll ever fully regain that ability.
But Crystal didn’t hesitate for a moment. She brought Margaret home and set up a safe, quiet space for her to heal. She’s fallen in love with the gentle pigeon, and she’s already planning for Margaret’s future, whatever it may be.
“She’s still recovering,” Crystal said. “Her future is uncertain, but if she can’t return to the wild, I’ll either keep her as a companion or find her a forever home in a protected aviary where she’ll always be safe.”
Despite everything she’s endured, Margaret is soft-natured, calm and clearly grateful to be somewhere safe. And Crystal, who has rescued dozens of pigeons, cherishes her just as deeply.
“I remember every single one,” she said. “Their personalities, their struggles, their recoveries. Some go back to the wild, some live in aviaries, and some sadly pass on. But each one is precious to me. I care about every being that crosses my path.”
If you’d like to support Margaret’s care, donations can be made through her GoFundMe.
