I found a ?pigeon?

[woodstock989]

It looks like a pigeon - but all white, with red and white feet. It's been haging around my house for over a week (more like 2) now. It did (sort of) fly away when I tried to catch it once....flew into the neighbor's garage door that is. When I went to leave for work yesterday, I backed out of the driveway and it had been sitting under my car. I managed to shoo it into the garage until I figure out what to do with it.
It does have bands on both feet; this is a dumb question, but if there's any markings on the bands, should they be on the outside or inside?

[Pidgey]

Yes, there should be markings on the outsides of the bands that you can read with good eyes or good glasses. However, there are some breeders that use bands with no markings for their own tracking purposes. This could be a "wedding release" pigeon or dove. Sometimes those birds don't know how to find their way home. Anyhow, you can feed it wild bird seed for the moment and a dish of water deeper than a half-inch. If you can tell us where you basically are, we might be able to locate someone in your area who can help. Also, if it's a lost white homing pigeon and there is information on the bands, then there's also a webpage for reporting those. Somebody will link it up in a later post if you tell us that you've found the right kind of information on the bands.

Pidgey

[woodstock989]

There's no markings on the outside of the bands at all. One is red and white striped, the other yellow and white.
I'm in western Pennsylvania, just outside of Pittsburgh.

[Pidgey]

Well, in that case it's unlikely that we'll find this pigeon's actual home except by pure accident. This bird is obviously not geared towards living in the wild so we might as well work on getting him adopted unless you take a shinin' to him. Please keep him in some kind of cage with some food and water for now and we'll start working on finding someone. If memory serves, we've got a member in or around Pitt so we'll see if that person would like him.

Thanks for your concern!

Pidgey

[AZWhitefeather]

Originally Posted by woodstock989

There's no markings on the outside of the bands at all. One is red and white striped, the other yellow and white.
I'm in western Pennsylvania, just outside of Pittsburgh.

Hi Woodstock,

Without any ID on the bands it will be nearly impossible to locate the owner.

Please try to catch & secure the bird. The fact he apparently spent the night under you car (healthy pigeons roost high at night) & flying 'into' a garage door sends up red flags that this baby needs some help. First being, removing him from harm's way.

Cindy

[woodstock989]

Thank you for the advice. I should probably contact my vet to see if they have any information. Apparently there were some homing pigeon releases in the state recently, and an unusual number of the birds didn't return home. This is the bird - if it's not a pigeon, I have no idea what kind of bird it would be.

[christina11]

Yep thats a pigeon alright no dout about it... or it could be a large sized albino sparrow... just kidding lol.


He/she sure is pretty/handsome glad you helped it out, also hope you find it a loving good home you know pigeons are great pets if you ever want to keep it those are also some fancy looking leg bands are they removable clip on's?

[Pidgey]

Well, as to feeding, do you have or can you acquire any bird seed, dried peas, absolutely raw popcorn (the old stuff--no salt or oil), wheat, barley, sunflower seeds (again--absolutely raw) and such?

Pidgey

[arnieismybaby]

He sure is a little cutie, although he doesn't look too impressed with having his picture taken

Michelle

[Trees Gray]

Hello and thank you for rescuing this bird.

You can try to find a pigeon club in your area and ask if they know of anyone who has white pigeons with those type of bands.

Here are some pigeon club locater links. Just click on your state and your local clubs will show up.

http://www.thepigeonloft.com/brclloc.html

http://pigeoncote.com/clubs/clubs.html

[andinla]

the time being. Please give him bird food if you can purchase some at a petco, or animal feed store. Pigeon/dove food. He will also need grit to digest his food. Please keep him out of drafts. He might be sick. Can you have a look in his mouth and see if there is any white / cheesy looking growths inside..

Also what does his poop look like. as in color,etc,...

Thanks he is a nice looking pigeon.. Thank you for helping him.

Andi

[Lovebirds]

You might also try the web site below. Even if the bird does not belong to any of the members, they maybe willing to take it as a breeder just due to the fact that it's white. Good luck.


http://whitedovesociety.com/index.htm

[woodstock989]

It doesn't appear to be sick; it's eating and drinking, and doesn't appear to have any outward injuries. I don't think it likes me; it flaps it wings at me when I get near it and makes a sort of grunting noise. (ingrate ) I'm a dog/cat person, and I'm really not looking to keep it. Also, I have an immunocompromised cat with lymphoma, so bringing another pet into the house is not a good idea right now. Someone I work with told me that people with racing pigeons will release the white ones with the rest as a decoy for hawks to go after. That would explain the lack of any info on the bands on it's feet (it was never expected to return home). While I'm not a bird enthusiast, I don't want anything to happen to the little bugger. I'd rather have it go to someone who wants it as a pet rather than someone who would turn it out as hawk food. Anyone in the area who would want it is welcome to take it.

[Trees Gray]

Thank you for continuing to care for this bird.

Did you try locating the owner/ or someone who might want the bird, on the websites provided?

If so and you got no results, you can post in the adoption section as see if one of our members would like to adopt the bird.

[Lovebirds]

Originally Posted by woodstock989

Someone I work with told me that people with racing pigeons will release the white ones with the rest as a decoy for hawks to go after. That would explain the lack of any info on the bands on it's feet (it was never expected to return home).

I hate it when people say things they don't know are true. While some racing fanciers may TRY what you said, the majority of us DO NOT do anything of the kind. I have a young bird team of 32 birds. I only have one white bird. She flys with the team and has been to every race station for the past 4 weeks. She has flown 135 miles, 172 miles, 220 miles and 278 miles. She's not flown as a decoy. She's flown because she's a racing pigeon and that's what she's supposed to do. A hawk might get her tomorrow, but not because I put her out there for him to get. So, you can tell your friend to tell THEIR friends that it's not true. Now, your bird.......it's very possible that she was never trained at her loft and escaped accidently and the owner has no way of knowing where she is, which if of course is the owners fault, as she should be banded with a traceable band. I sure hope you find her a home. I would do as suggested and list her in the adoption section of this web site. Might get a taker..........never know. Good luck.