Lost racer re-released and HOME AGAIN!!!

[JeannieN]

Dear Terry, Donna, WhiteWingsCA, and EVERYONE at Pigeons.com:

I am sooooo HAPPY to report that the little "lost" racer hen has indeed made it back, after two years missing, to her original home in Long Island!!! My husband went home for lunch and called me here at work to say there was a very excited message on the answering machine from the owner, who confirmed the dear little hen had arrived home and is in good shape! He is incredibly happy and appreciative to have his bird back (BTW, I had come to start calling her "Destiny"; I had no idea how appropriate that name would be!) I can't TELL you how joyful I feel now (but I bet many of you know firsthand!).

I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your encouraging words. Thank you for being there and unselfishly giving your time and expertise to help others who want to help animals. Each and every one of your posts has been deeply appreciated.

I've come to love this site so much, I'll probably keep checking in, even tho' I have no pigeon at present......

Best regards everyone, I'm so happy to report this happy ending, and you all helped make it possible!!!!!!!

YYYYYAAAAAAA!!!!!
JEANNE

ANIMAL LOVERS ROCK!!!!

[TAWhatley]

Hi Jeanne,

Thank you for the great news about this pigeon! I'm so glad she made it home safely and that the owner was glad to have her back.

Hopefully you will be able to help other needy pigeons in the future and perhaps even end up with one as a beloved pet.

Terry Whatley

[ddpowell]

Oh Jeannie, how exciting! I just recently found a bird from Oklahoma (I"m in Texas) and he asked that I feed him well for a week and then let him go. He said he is a prize racer and got lost during a storm. He said "he will make it back home the same day..trust me>". I am trusting him on this but I will be checking the weather and everything to be sure...will let him out in the morning and see what happens. I am so happy for you!! HOw far away was his home? That is just fantastic news. Gives me hope for my lost ones..
Oh..just now read your reply to me...that is so cool she found her original home.

[This message has been edited by ddpowell (edited May 27, 2003).]

[turkey]

I'm very happy that the racer made it home. It doesn't seem right that it was 'lost' for two years. It's possible that someone had kept it for two years.

Julie

[JeannieN]

Hi Donna! We were just doing the math, and we figure she had to fly no more than 40-50 miles back to her original home. We are on the CT shore, and she had to fly across Long Island Sound (approx. 12 miles), then maybe 20 miles south, then a few miles (less than 5, we think) inland to the town she originated from. I called the owner myself tonight when I got home. He said she looks good, and he's got her separated from the rest of the birds for now while she regains full strength. He'll be feeding her easily digestible foods, giving vitamins, etc. I think he's really taking good care of her. BTW, she does have a mate in the coop, who is very happy to have her back. Per the owner, the mate is "full of vim and vigor" (xoxoxoxo!!) now that she's back.
I will send positive vibrations to your Oklahoma racer for his journey home. His owner sounds completely confident in his abiility to return swiftly home. And I know you will see to it that he has every advantage on his side. I'm sure he will make it home just fine. I tell you, this whole experience has given me a great sense of awe for just how wise and capable these birds are.
Please keep us posted on the OK racer, we will all jump for joy with you when we hear he's safe back home.
Best regards!
Jeanne

[JeannieN]

Thanks Terry, and yes, I will always eagerly help any pigeon who is in need. I am now dreaming of an aviary when we have our own home someday. For now, I will happily serve as a pigeon hotel!

Jeanne

P.S. Julie, I agree the bird was probably not really lost for two years. Wherever she was is her secret alone, but what a testament to her strength that the survived and returned home again.

[WhiteWingsCa]

Jeannie:

I'm so happy to hear about this! I'd be willing to place a VERY large bet that someone had been keeping this bird all this time, and it either escaped on them, or they let it go for some reason.

One of our best racers is a hen who was missing from September to March, her first year. We sent her to a race mid September, and mourned her loss when she didn't return.

The next March, she turned up one day -- fat and sassy, in in fantastic health. In our area, March is when people start flying their birds again, getting ready for the race season to start in May. We guessed that someone had kept her, raised some babies from her, and tried to "break" her to their loft. Once out, she promplty returned to her "birth" home. We fed here. looked after her, and trained her lightly with the race team that year, but didn't race her until her 2nd year -- and she's been doing great for us since. (she's 4 this year)