Regal bird!

[sabina]

Hi all-
This unusual-looking pigeon showed up about a week ago and has been hanging around our windows regularly. She doesn't scare easily and is a big bully with the other pigeons, very mean! We call her the Duchess, and you'll see why when you see her picture. We've never seen any pigeons like her. Check her out!!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/100fires/tags/duchess/

Sabina

P.S. The pictures were taken through glass so some are a little foggy but the last one is clear.

[Reti]

I think this is a Roller, not sure but I am sure it is a breed pigeon and most likely has a band.
Is there any chance you can capture her?

Reti

[Lady Tarheel]

Sabina, I just posted on your medicine thread about Duchess. After seeing her picture it definitely is a Helmet.

She/He must be lost from her owner but they are highly prized by people and are beautiful, sweet birds. If there is any way you can catch her maybe someone would like to have her.

[sabina]

Well that did occur to me since she is so unlike the other street pigeons. I looked for a band, didn't see one. I also looked under "Pet Pigeons" to see if anyone posted about a lost pigeon. What else can we do to look for the owner? I don't know about catching her, since she's not sick. I guess Aias could sit out on the fire escape with some seeds and try. It's true that she doesn't seem afraid of us at all. Should we catch her before we have somewhere for her to go though? We could keep her in a cat carrier till we do I suppose. Hmm. Any suggestions welcome!
Sabina

[Reti]

Ah, Helmet, I will remember that one now. Still learning all the breeds.
She is a beauty. Definately needs to be cought.

Reti

[Reti]

I think the sooner you cach her the better. I am always concerned about those poor lost babies, that they fall victims to predators or get sick or the wrong person catches them.

A carrier will be fine, maybe with some out time for exercising.

Good luck

Reti

[mr squeaks]

Looks like a twin to Pete's Gracie...

[Trees Gray]

Yep, they are very bossy little cuties, like my Jasper. That one is possibly a boy. Jasper gets along with my homers, because there are so many of them, but they consider him a nuisance, a cute little nuisance.

Please do catch that bird, because he is obviously lost and doesn't have the homing ability.



http://www.racingbirds.com/ptrap.html

[Lady Tarheel]

Sabina, if she is at a window maybe you could open the window and put seed inside and let her walk into your apartment.

[sabina]

Well Aias is trying today. He tried the open window/seed idea, so far only flies have taken advantage of the missing screen! I'm at work (someone had the brilliant idea of having clinic hours on Sunday), but I get home in a couple hours, maybe I can help fashion a trap like in the link Treesa sent. I thought the open window would work, Duchess (what's the male equivalent of a duchess?) is always looking inside as if she wants to come in. We'll keep updating!
Sabina

[christina11]

Oh I hope you catch that little sweety!


I seen a Helmet pigeon on this street it had a black cap what seemed to be a male too..
I dont know if I should go back and see if its lost or not as he was just walking on the streets looking for food was realy beautiful tho..

I think I will go back and check.

Good luck with yours.

[mr squeaks]

Originally Posted by sabina

Well Aias is trying today. He tried the open window/seed idea, so far only flies have taken advantage of the missing screen! I'm at work (someone had the brilliant idea of having clinic hours on Sunday), but I get home in a couple hours, maybe I can help fashion a trap like in the link Treesa sent. I thought the open window would work, Duchess (what's the male equivalent of a duchess?) is always looking inside as if she wants to come in. We'll keep updating!
Sabina

DUKE is male equivalent...

Good luck in catching the lovely pij!! I'm sure patience will out...

[sabina]

Aias adjusted his open window strategy--he opened the sliding screen just wide enough for her to come through, and put seeds on the other end of the window sill. So once she was in and eating seeds on the other side of the window, he closed the screen. Apparently she put up a big fuss, making growly "Grr-rrr-rrr" sounds which he had never heard before! Very interesting bird this is. She's now in the bathroom in the cat carrier with seeds and water. Calmed down from what I could see.

Apparently she (he? Duke not Duchess?) had some pigeon flies. Aias did some dusting but we're going to do a more complete job now. We can't get away from these things!!

Then what??? Should we post on pigeons for adoption?

It's funny, we thought she was sooo unique, and we click on a website about helmets and there she is everywhere! Lots of birds looking completely identical to her. We are clearly new to the pigeon world.

Ok let us know what to do to find a home!

Sabina

[Lady Tarheel]

Sabina, you and Aias are becoming pigeon magnets!

I am so happy Aias was able to coax her in and she is now safe and being well fed. I would post her in the Adoptions section.

They are beautiful birds.

[sabina]

Hmm what about finding her previous owner? Maybe we could try that for a day or 2 first? Anyone know how we could do that?

We're feeling a bit badly for the Duchess, in that little cat carrier, off by herself in the other room. I guess tomorrow she'll get some fly time. We didn't want to let her fly around today with the pigeon flies and mites. You can really see the mites come out after dusting a white bird!! Ick. By tomorrow, I trust they'll all be dead, so then she can stretch a bit.

Oh I heard the strange noises she makes when we took her out to dust her. Aias decided they were kind of pig or boar-like, so low in tone! I don't know what they sound like. Is that something helmets do?

Sabina