What do I do now?

[ridnchief]

My first experience with a racing pigeon occurred several weeks ago when I found a white racing pigeon in my horse field searching for food. I was able to catch her, and also to locate her owner. I kept her in a wire crate and fed and watered her and eventually sent her via Express Mail back to her owner. She had flown from Indiana to Virginia so it was doubtful she would return on her own. She made it back home September 2.

Yesterday, 9/21 I happened to look out the window and lo and behold there was a white pigeon perched on the telephone wires directly across from my house! I called the owners and found out that the bird, who they had now named after me.., had not returned from a race this past weekend. I highly suspect "Greta" has come back to Virginia, only this time with a dozen or so of her friends.

I went outside with a can of bird seed and shook it hoping to attract their attention but they all just flew off. They came back briefly and then disappeared for the day. I figured they had rested and perhaps were headed home. But.......this morning I looked out and there were 14 birds pearched on the wires again, only this time "Greta" wasn't there. This time I tossed some corn out hoping they would at least see it and eat if they are hungry. And once again they flew off.

Does anyone have any suggestions how to attract these birds to food without scaring them off? I grew rather fond of "Greta" during the week or so I had her and hope nothing bad has happened to her. She is more than welcome to hang around with her friends but I would like to be able to provide them with a safe and healthy environment.

[AZWhitefeather]

Hello & Welcome.

What an interesting chain of events going on.

You mentioned when you shook the can of seed your 'flock' scattered. My suggestion would be, if they have a clear view of you, don't shake the can, rather toss the seed up & out so the birds can see what you are doing. Believe me, eventually they will come down to investigate & begin eating.
Be sure to toss the seeds where you want them to gather.

Hopefully Greta will rejoin the group, especially if she sees there's a reward, in the form of seeds.

Please let us know how things are going.

Cindy

[Trees Gray]

Hello and Welcome to Pigeon-Talk

Thank you for your concern over these birds, and helping Greta return to her home earlier. She must really appreciate your hospitality.

With the additional pigeons coming around you seem to be a racing pigeon magnet!

If you saw Greta, then it is very likely she has learned to re-home at your place. Perhaps if she comes back and you are able to catch her and ship her, the owner will need to keep her inside and keep her for breeding, or you should keep her, with the owners permission.

When and if you call the owner you can ask him how he gets his birds inside to eat, maybe he shakes a can or blows a whistle. If they are familiar with a different sound perhaps you can lure them to the seed. Also, if you put a bowl of seed out perhaps that might bring them down to eat.

Hopefully the birds will regroup, get their sense of direction, and are able to find their way home, if not it would be good to try to catch them as you did with Greta and find their owner/owners.

[AZWhitefeather]

Originally Posted by ridnchief

I highly suspect "Greta" has come back to Virginia, only this time with a dozen or so of her friends.

I think I misunderstood your sentence.
I was thinking she joined a feral group, which often happens, & brought them to you place.

If they appear to be members of Greta's 'racing team' then Treesa's suggestions are by far the best.

Good luck & please do keep us posted.

Cindy

[ridnchief]

Thank you for your suggestions. I am not positive that the birds with Greta are racing pigeons or not but a few of them appear to have different markings which suggest to me they are not feral but it's possible there is a combination of both.

I have never had pigeons around my property before Greta showed up so it was very unusual to see 20 birds at once. I had kept Greta in the house and they were perched directly across from it so I was thinking that it had to be Greta and she knew where the food was.

If they continnue to return I would prefer that they eat down at my barn. If I were to open my loft door and put food in the entrance do you think they would find it?

[christina11]

If they continnue to return I would prefer that they eat down at my barn. If I were to open my loft door and put food in the entrance do you think they would find it?

Most likley they just have to get used to you then hopefuly sooner or later they shall fly in the coop and then you can shut the door.

Is anyone else feeding pigeons around you?

If so maybe you could ask them to stop for a while because I dont understand why the pigeons would not go to the seeds all the ferals around here dive as soon as they see a tiny crumb lol.

So maybe someone is feeding them and there not hungrey I dunno...

[Trees Gray]

Originally Posted by ridnchief

If they continnue to return I would prefer that they eat down at my barn. If I were to open my loft door and put food in the entrance do you think they would find it?

IF they get hungry enough and can actually see the seed bowl from outside they might come eat from it if there are no distractions or disturbences.