It's Time to Let Him Out

[jroberts]

I've been taking care of a wild pigeon for the last nine months. (I found him standing in the middle of a street in Chicago. He was about three months old at the time and had a broken wing. A local vet performed surgery and he's got his full flight capability.) Due to his age, weight, and our Chicago weather, I've put off releasing him until now. He currently weighs around 360 grams, is about a year old, and has been kept inside virtually the whole time.
He has had the chance to fly indoors.

The question I have is what is the best way to release him? Local rehabbers have conflicting opinions. Some say that he should join "a flock of pigeons that are in the temporary care of a rehabber (for a couple months if possible). He would have a chance to join a flock in captivity and be released along with them, having had a chance to 'learn' what he needs from the other pigeons in order to survive." This type of situation is not easy to find, but I have one contact that might be able to set something up like this. Other rehabbers say that if take my time introducing him to the outdoors by placing him in a cage and leaving him outside for a few hours a day, he should be ready to go in about a week. He would then be ready to go to a local park and join the pigeons there.

What's the best way to go about it? Any information is appreciated.

[Maggie-NC]

Hi, welcome to the forum and thank you for caring for this pigeon.

If you are unable to keep him as a pet, I would opt for putting him with a flock of pigeons at a rehabber's for a couple of months. That way, he can form "friendships" with them and not be so alone when released. Also, if you are lucky and there is an adult feral being rehabbed then he should help a lot with training and showing the others what to do in the wild.

The introduction to a feral flock in a park could work but he can't form the friendships with them in a cage or even learn a great deal about food and a place to sleep. It would be better though than just turning him loose "cold turkey".

We don't ever release a single pigeon by itself, particularly one that we have had as long as you've had yours.

[jroberts]

Originally Posted by Lady Tarheel

Hi, welcome to the forum and thank you for caring for this pigeon.

If you are unable to keep him as a pet, I would opt for putting him with a flock of pigeons at a rehabber's for a couple of months. That way, he can form "friendships" with them and not be so alone when released. Also, if you are lucky and there is an adult feral being rehabbed then he should help a lot with training and showing the others what to do in the wild.

The introduction to a feral flock in a park could work but he can't form the friendships with them in a cage or even learn a great deal about food and a place to sleep. It would be better though than just turning him loose "cold turkey".

We don't ever release a single pigeon by itself, particularly one that we have had as long as you've had yours.

Thanks. The contact that I mentioned isn't able to be reached at this time. Do you know of any rehabbers in the Midwest region (Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan, etc.) that are involved with the type of rehab and flock release that you mentioned?

[Trees Gray]

Have you tried this link?

http://www.tc.umn.edu/~devo0028/contactA.htm
http://www.tc.umn.edu/~devo0028/contactN.htm
or....

http://www.pigeon-life.net/prd.htm