How To Return A Bonded Feral Pigeon To The Wild?

[raynjudy]

I know of feral pigeons that refused to leave, once released. I know of tamed pigeons that just up and left.

I know of pigeons currently coexisting peacefully with a cat and I know too, of disaster from this arrangement.

Any experienced advice for Amy?

Here is her email from yesterday...

--Ray

************
See my reply below in [brackets]...

----- Original Message -----
From: amy crosson
To: Ray B
Sent: Wednesday, July 11, 2001 11:03 PM
Subject: Re: Rescued pigeon

Hello!

Thank you for all the help, the bird is doing great!! I was lucky in that it was able and ready to start eating on its own. I will go get some Grit tomorrow, that was some thing I did not know about. Do you think its ok that he hasn't had any??

[Yes. The pigeon will know what to do and how much it needs--just don't mix grit with feed.]

I obtained some dove feed at a local pet store, the bird seems to like it. His head is healing nicely and the scab has come off. The feathers are growing back slowly but surely on its head. His tail has grown almost 2 inches! and his coloring is really showing up. Im not sure if its a he or she, but I call him Mr. Bird. And he has become attached, he flys to me if I'm not paying him enough attention, and he like to roost where he can see me.

They are very interesting animals. I would like very much to return him to the wild, I dont believe in keeping wild animals as pets.

[Understood; but a pigeon is a different case--the feral flock contains released, escaped & rejected birds from many a loft. And many a resident pigeon is from a feral background. People have kept pigeons for better than 6000-years. WE are the reason they are present in this country, feral or otherwise. The fastest, banded racers and the fanciest banded show pigeons have better than 99.9% the DNA of culumbia livia the much mailgned and misunderstood "feral" pigeon.]

If you could send me some info on how to tell when he's ready and how I should go about it, Id be forever in your debt.

[See Pigeon-Talk...]

A week after Mr. came to live with me I acquired a small kitten (she was in the tire well of my car at work) Id say she is about 6 wks. old. I have to keep the 2 of them in a bedroom, separate from my other pets (3 cats, 3 dogs) . I was very careful to keep the bird in its cage when I was not in the room and to watch how they reacted to each other. I was amazed to discover that they have become attached to each other!! The bird watches the kitten play and if she gets too close the bird will peck at her, but the strangest thing is the kitten has now taken to sleeping next to the cage. I hope this is not a bad thing.

[No guarantees from me. But this is not unheard of--just ask on Pigeon-Talk. Sometimes it works, and sometimes it ends in heartbreak. I've heard both stories. Again, check Pigeon-Talk for feedback...]

Once again thank you for your help.

[The honor and pleasure are mine.]

[Pigeons Forever!!!]

Amy

[--Ray]