Sad Story..........

[Lovebirds]

My "story with a happy ending"
http://www.pigeons.biz/forums/showpo...70&postcount=1
has had a bad twist of fate. I had written to Lori to inquire how she and Walter were getting along. I just got a reply from her and she is totally devastated. She accidently let Walter get loose from her last week. She said he sat on her roof for about 10 minutes and then flew away and hasn't been seen since. She is so heartbroken. I wrote her back of course and tried to console her. We are hoping and praying that Walter will come back or maybe be found by someone and reported to us at 911 Pigeon Alert or even here. I told her that stranger things have happened and that we would all watch for any sign that he had been spotted. I ask her to send me some details like which leg his red band is on, which eye is damaged and any other distinguishing marks or colored feathers that might help identify him. All of you say a little prayer for Walter.

Below is her e-mail to me. I even teared up when I read it. Saving Walter to begin with was very emotional for her and me.

.............................
Hi Renee,
I did go to your website and read the whole transcript. It was very emotional reading it. You see, I don’t feel like such a wonderful pigeon mom right now. I have bad news. Walter got away from me Friday when I was transporting him from his indoor crate to a very large crate that I set up for him in my yard under a nice, shady tree so that he could be outside in the nice weather for short periods of time for a little change of scenery. The door to the crate started to swing open as I put him inside and as I went quickly to close it, Walter ran under my arm and got out – he was always looking for a way to escape his cage – and this time he was faster than I was. My heart sank and I could hear myself cry out “Noooooooo”. He flew up onto the roof of my house and preened his feathers for about ten minutes and then flew away. All I could do was watch him fly away and say goodbye. It’s been so hard for me to even talk about it, as I end up crying when I do….even as I write this to you. I’m just sick over this as I know what could be in store for him out there. I’ve been combing the neighborhood, called the local animal warden in case anyone finds him and calls, put flyers up, and put an ad in the local paper where I found him in case he remembers where he originally came from and flies back home. There’s no way to know if he does get there because I don’t know where he came from. The only thing that helps me is that I know that physically he is in good shape now, except for that eye. He’s put on weight and is very strong. Also, when he was at the vet’s in their wildlife area they were trying to teach baby bluebirds to eat off the ground and threw mealworms down for them and Walter would go eat the worms up, so I hope he has learned a little more about feeding himself out in the wild. I walk around my neighborhood calling his name in case he’s still around, but unlike dogs, birds don’t necessarily come when you call them, but I’m hoping if he hears my voice he knows that there’s food involved and might come to me. I have my binoculars with me always and have my eyes on the sky constantly. There are some wild pigeons about ¼ mile away from my house that sit on the utility poles every morning in the same spot. I’ve been looking for him to see if he’s with them. If so, maybe he can learn from them how to survive. I just go over that day in my mind again and again, playing it back, wishing that I could somehow change the outcome, but I can’t. I feel like I let everyone down, especially Walter. Although, I’m sure he’s the only one happy about being out free because he hated being caged, even if it was for his own good. I worry about him every day and pray for him every night. A part of me thinks I might see him again someday. I hope so. This experience has definitely made a big impact on me and I don’t think I’ll ever look at a pigeon again without thinking about him. Thank you so much for your endless help when I needed guidance and support and I hope that I may be able to write to you again with good news about Walter.

[Maggie-NC]

Renee, tell Lori not to beat herself up. Those things happen to the best of us and when you're not used to handling birds (like holding onto to them for dear life when you have them outside) they are great little escape artists. I remember our Whitey who was born in the aviary, and that was all she knew, shot past me as I was leaving the aviary and started flying around in the back yard. I was beside myself. She kept flying from tree to tree, on top of the aviary, the house, the garage, around to the front yard and finally landed on the deck railing where I managed to tackle her by grabbing hold of her tail when she was taking off. It's a wonder I didn't pull every tail feather out but I had to do something since she is so big and solid white except her tail fethers. She would never have survived.

I so hope he comes back.

[Pigeonpal2002]

Hi Renee,

That's a shame, Lori sounds completely distraught over this Maggie is so right and they are like little escape artists and very fast! Even my runts used to be good at eluding me when I first got them. They'd run, duck and squirm right out of my grasp when I tried to corner them and they didn't fly very much or fast. A smaller, flighted pigeon would be much more adept at doing so.

Sending positive thoughts to Lori and Walter. Hopefully he will be found again.

[littlestar]

Renee, Tell Lori I will keep her and Walter in my prayers that he comes back home and while he's out there I will pray he stays safe.
Mary Ann