Found Racing Pigeon

[kittypaws]

Hi there,

My friend has had a pigeon start feeding in her garden and she noticed it had a band around its leg. She hasn't been able to catch it although has been close, but did manage to note the phone number down - clever girl. When she phoned the number the owner's mother took a message saying she would get her son to call back but he hasn't. The bird is probably about 70 miles away from home.

She is a bit worried that it won't survive what with winter coming on, but I know that she puts food out for the birds all the time so he won't get hungry. She is not sure where he goes to roost. I think he would be OK as he is a pigeon and they can survive winter and whether he will intergrate with a feral flock I don't know. However she is worried that a cat may get him as he seems tame and maybe not "streetwise" to cats.

Can you just maybe advise me so that I can put her mind to rest re winter and if the owner doesn't want it back that she can be assured that it should be OK as long as it avoids felines.

Thank you

Tania

[Trees Gray]

Hi Tania,

How long has the bird been hanging around your friends garden now?

..and where does she live?

Maybe we can help find a home for this bird, as it is only a matter of time that it becomes a meal for a hawk or cat.

Here is a site for an easy to make trap to catch this bird.

http:www.racingbirds.com/ptrap.html

[kittypaws]

Hi Treesa,

I think it has been around for about 3 - 4 weeks now.

My friend lives in Chessington, Surrey, UK.

I have made one of the traps when I was trying to catch my pigeon with the fishing line around his feet. Sarah ( my friend) says she can get very close but is nervous to grab him so I think the trap may work. I am going over there Friday so I may just try and grab him myself. It may be that the owner will call her and want his bird back but I guess if he doesn't and that it may be easy prey for a cat ( we don't get too many raptors this way only sparrowhawks which are the same size as pigeons) then if there was a homer nearby who could take him then that would be better.

I'll keep you posted as to whether the owner calls her in the next few days - if he doesn't then a contact in either London, Surrey or Middlesex I think would put her mind at rest.

Kind regards

Tania

[Trees Gray]

We have several moderators on this website, who live in the UK, I will e-mail this thread and perhaps they can better advise you.