How it all began

[sidlawpigeon]

Six years ago, when my daughter was a newborn baby, my father caught a pigeon which clung to the wall by our window. It was a carrier pigeon, still very young, totally exhausted and weak.

We took him in and fed him, my dad had some experience with pigeons because he had some when he was a child.

We called him Richard. We then tried to find out where he came from and were successful. So we phoned Richard's owner and told him that his pigeon - a handsome young man I must say - was with us and asked if he wanted to pick him up, for he lived pretty far away. He told us that we could keep the "bastard" and fry him if we liked to, a pigeon so weak and lazy was not up to his taste. What an idiot!!!!

So we built a little paradise for the new member of the family. Some months later, a young pigeon lady was attracted by his cooing and came and would not fly away - so we put the two together. She was an ordinary pigeon, but very lovely. Her mother or father must have been a carrier pigeon, too, for she looked a lot like Richard.

But Richard's hopes were not to be fulfilled. The young lady already had a partner who came after his beloved one some days later. These two are Hermina and Gustavo.

By that time we called Richard Sir Richard already, because he has the manners of a perfect gentleman and has this graceful behaviour. He is now with Rosie, the eldest daughter of Hermina and Gustavo.

Pigeons have become the passion of all the family - my mum and dad, my daughter and me. My grandpa from mum's side was a pigeon freak, too, so was my great grandpa Paul, from dad's side. This is something special. Pigeons are so intelligent, social and elegant. We love to watch them for hours and hours - and they watch us. It's just wonderful.

[Trees Gray]

Thank you for the lovely story about Richard, he sounds like quite a wonderful bird. He is lucky to have found you and your father.

I also come from a family of pigeon "freaks", as my grandfather and his father had a passion for racing pigeons.

Do you have any pictures you can share?

[sidlawpigeon]

Hi,

so far, I have no pics to share, but I will make some and post them.

Richard looks pretty much like your Tiny. What race is this? I never really cared about the race, you know, he is a great bird and looks great. But now I am really curious.

[Trees Gray]

Originally Posted by sidlawpigeon

Richard looks pretty much like your Tiny. What race is this? I never really cared about the race, you know, he is a great bird and looks great. But now I am really curious.

Tiny belongs to my friend, Reti, who also is a member here.

He is a beautiful feral pigeon, what they call "blue bar." He is a hand raised pet, much like my Skye, who is quite intelligent, as well as quite tame. He is a homing pigeon type, with some homing skills.

Skye is a domestic homing pigeon, with homing abilities.

[maryjane]

Thanks for sharing your sweet story. I am the first in what I know will be a long line of pigeon lovers. Found one drowning in the winter river almost seven years ago and fell in love. Now I have around 25 and do rescuing for them. They're just some of the coolest birds in the world, and it never ceases to warm my heart when I hear about all the other people here who love pijies too.

[sidlawpigeon]

Wow, you're a real rescuer, Maryjane! Good you were there to save the bird! you know, I was so angry when we called that guy - he has about a hundred other pigeons - and he said he would not want this wonderful bird back and that we could just as well kill him!!!!!!!!!! He sent the pigeon on a long distance journey when he was still far too young! Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. How can people be so cruel! Sir Richard really is the boss of the pigeons here. The most elegant - and the teacher of all the youngsters. He really teaches them manners, believe it or not.