Lost Baby

1563 Views 19 Replies 6 Participants Last post by RodSD, Apr 6, 2009

learning

Discussion Starter · Apr 4, 2009

Last night I got a call from a guy in Snellville, Ga about a bird he found that had my band on him. Over a week ago I had a hawk hit and scared my youngbirds up. They had just been hanging around my loft, no routing yet. I lost about 8 birds that day. Really bummed me out. This guy is over 50 miles from my loft. I made the drive to get him and met a really nice family with two young boys. The bird had lost a lot of weight and was a bit dehydrated but other than that was no worse for ware. We ended up talking for about 30 minutes about birds and the sport of pigeon racing. Who knows, I may have sown the seeds for another new flyer.

My point is that it is always worth your time and a little gas to retreive lost birds that people have taken the time to report found. You never know what can come of it. Besides, this youngster was off of a direct son of one of Warren Smith's direct Ludo's and a Flamingo cash winner. He now has plenty of "worldly" experience. Who knows, he may turn out to be a champion!

Anyway, always take the time to retreive your birds. It is always an opportunity to spread positive press regarding our sport.

Dan

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Skyeking

· #2 · Apr 4, 2009

learning said:
Last night I got a call from a guy in Snellville, Ga about a bird he found that had my band on him. Over a week ago I had a hawk hit and scared my youngbirds up. They had just been hanging around my loft, no routing yet. I lost about 8 birds that day. Really bummed me out. This guy is over 50 miles from my loft. I made the drive to get him and met a really nice family with two young boys. The bird had lost a lot of weight and was a bit dehydrated but other than that was no worse for ware. We ended up talking for about 30 minutes about birds and the sport of pigeon racing. Who knows, I may have sown the seeds for another new flyer.

My point is that it is always worth your time and a little gas to retreive lost birds that people have taken the time to report found. You never know what can come of it. Besides, this youngster was off of a direct son of one of Warren Smith's direct Ludo's and a Flamingo cash winner. He now has plenty of "worldly" experience. Who knows, he may turn out to be a champion!

** Anyway, always take the time to retreive your birds. It is always an opportunity to spread positive press regarding our sport.

Dan

**Absolutely, I have met the nicest people who's birds have come to "visit" at my loft. Also, it is your duty to pick up any bird that belongs to you-or make arrangements for the bird.

I'm sorry you lost so many birds that day, who knows how many of those 8 birds may still return. I'm glad your prized bird was found and someone took the time to locate you.

SmithFamilyLoft

· #3 · Apr 4, 2009

You are a REAL Sportsman !

Dan,

Good for you !! You demonstrated real sportsmanship in making the drive to retrive the bird !

Sadly, there are fanciers who would not make the trip, and IMO, that is a black eye to the sport, when a good citizen goes to the trouble to locate you, and the fancier acts like he could care less.

I have lost several YB's so far this season from actual kills, but 3x's that number from birds that get scattered in a hawk attack panic. Sometimes they do show up days later, but in too many cases, like your bird, many miles away.

Would be interesting to know in the future, if this "worldy experience" helps his racing career, or if the fact that he became lost in the panic is a sign he lacks what is needed.

Due to the very young age and the circumstances, I would be willing to give him the benifit of the doubt.

Lovebirds

· #4 · Apr 4, 2009

learning said:
Last night I got a call from a guy in Snellville, Ga about a bird he found that had my band on him. Over a week ago I had a hawk hit and scared my youngbirds up. They had just been hanging around my loft, no routing yet. I lost about 8 birds that day. Really bummed me out. This guy is over 50 miles from my loft. I made the drive to get him and met a really nice family with two young boys. The bird had lost a lot of weight and was a bit dehydrated but other than that was no worse for ware. We ended up talking for about 30 minutes about birds and the sport of pigeon racing. Who knows, I may have sown the seeds for another new flyer.

My point is that it is always worth your time and a little gas to retreive lost birds that people have taken the time to report found. You never know what can come of it. Besides, this youngster was off of a direct son of one of Warren Smith's direct Ludo's and a Flamingo cash winner. He now has plenty of "worldly" experience. Who knows, he may turn out to be a champion!

Anyway, always take the time to retreive your birds. It is always an opportunity to spread positive press regarding our sport.

Dan

Good for you Dan!!! I'm very glad one was found!!

SmithFamilyLoft said:
Dan,

Good for you !! You demonstrated real sportsmanship in making the drive to retrive the bird !

Sadly, there are fanciers who would not make the trip, and IMO, that is a black eye to the sport, when a good citizen goes to the trouble to locate you, and the fancier acts like he could care less.

I have lost several YB's so far this season from actual kills, but 3x's that number from birds that get scattered in a hawk attack panic. Sometimes they do show up days later, but in too many cases, like your bird, many miles away.

Would be interesting to know in the future, if this "worldy experience" helps his racing career, or if the fact that he became lost in the panic is a sign he lacks what is needed. Due to the very young age and the circumstances, I would be willing to give him the benifit of the doubt.

AMEN and AMEN........this is a VERY sore spot with me.

wolfwood

· #5 · Apr 4, 2009

I agree 100%!!!

As the owner of 8 birds whose prior owners/breeders "didn't want them back" when they were found by others (the birds were then turned into Humane Society Shelters), I couldn't agree with you more. I'm obviously NOT a racer, nor have anything invested in the homing ability of my birds, but if one breeds the bird .... one should remain responsible for it EVEN IF IT HAS BEEN SOLD. If 'you' bring the life into this world, you are creating a forever obligation for yourself. Of course a new owner has an obligation, too ... but YOU are the breeder. If a bird you bred is found, you have an obligation to retrieve it and find it a new home. Except in very rare circumstances, there is simply no excuse for a banded bird to ever be in a Shelter or left to fend for itself because it's original owner/breeder "doesn't want it back".

The concept that the birds are bred, sold (or flown), lost, and not the breeder's responsibility is an element of the pigeon world that I absolutely don't understand - nor agree with.

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Lovebirds

· #6 · Apr 4, 2009

wolfwood said:
The concept that the birds are bred, sold (or flown), lost, and not the breeder's responsibility is an element of the pigeon world that I absolutely don't understand - nor agree with.

Well, join the crowd. I don't understand it either and I won't even get started on my soapbox............

wolfwood

· #7 · Apr 4, 2009

Lovebirds said:
Well, join the crowd. I don't understand it either and I won't even get started on my soapbox............

I'll move over and make room for you on mine....somehow, I expect our respective 'boxes' look very similar

G

· #8 · Apr 4, 2009

well lets not forget that some birds are sold across the country to others and have gotten loose so you cant expect someone from cali to drive over to NJ to come get and then theres those owners that have died and the birds are dispersed so hes not coming to get them either

Lovebirds

· #9 · Apr 4, 2009

LokotaLoft said:
well lets not forget that some birds are sold across the country to others and have gotten loose so you cant expect someone from cali to drive over to NJ to come get and then theres those owners that have died and the birds are dispersed so hes not coming to get them either

Of course there's always circumstances that just can't be helped. But........if I raise a bird and I am contacted about it being lost then I either let the person it really belongs to know OR try to make arrangements for the bird.
Sold a bird to a guy in NC. Almost a year later, I get a call from TN. That bird has been found. It was a year old when I sold it. Talked to the girl AND her mother......they wanted to keep it. It WAS one of the pretty birds I raised, so I agreed AND sent them a hen to go with it.
THAT'S what you're supposed to do. Not say, "oh, I sold that bird" (click/hangs up phone).......

G

· #10 · Apr 4, 2009

Lovebirds said:
Of course there's always circumstances that just can't be helped. But........if I raise a bird and I am contacted about it being lost then I either let the person it really belongs to know OR try to make arrangements for the bird.
Sold a bird to a guy in NC. Almost a year later, I get a call from TN. That bird has been found. It was a year old when I sold it. Talked to the girl AND her mother......they wanted to keep it. It WAS one of the pretty birds I raised, so I agreed AND sent them a hen to go with it.
THAT'S what you're supposed to do. Not say, "oh, I sold that bird" (click/hangs up phone).......

your right , that "you deal with it " click!! sure dont make us look good at all

wolfwood

· #11 · Apr 4, 2009

Lovebirds said:
Sold a bird to a guy in NC. Almost a year later, I get a call from TN. That bird has been found. .....

Could you have your next ones fly NORTH and "loose themselves" in Southern NH - - - please

G

· #12 · Apr 4, 2009

I think she still has some extras looking for a good home ... do you Renee ????

Lovebirds

· #13 · Apr 4, 2009

wolfwood said:
Could you have your next ones fly NORTH and "loose themselves" in Southern NH - - - please

LOL...........I hope they don't fly THAT far north!! I've had em' go to far north, but don't think they quite made it to NH. Had one wind up in Indiana once. She flew the 500 mile race she was supposed to fly. Just flew the 500 miles in the WRONG direction........LOL

Oh geezzz....even pigeons have bad days once in a while.

Lovebirds

· #14 · Apr 4, 2009

LokotaLoft said:
I think she still has some extras looking for a good home ... do you Renee ????

Actually, yes I do have a couple. No one wanted them so they just stayed right here.

G

· #15 · Apr 4, 2009

Lovebirds said:
Actually, yes I do have a couple. No one wanted them so they just stayed right here.

hint!! hint!! wolfwood lol

Lovebirds

· #16 · Apr 4, 2009

LokotaLoft said:
hint!! hint!! wolfwood lol

LOL........just so you know. I don't expect anyone to take my birds just because. IF they want them and I have them available, then of course, but any birds that are not taken when offered, will just stay here. They ain't going no where and nothin's gonna happen to them.
These two are left over race birds, so it's not like I can't fly them later on. Not a big deal.

wolfwood

· #17 · Apr 4, 2009

I have a few x-Racers who were rescued from Shelters. Other than that - - Mistwold Lofts has little to offer a Racer who still has some racing left in them. If Renee's birds can make it to Indiana from VA - by mistake - then I am confident that, someday, (at least) one of them will fly North (just gotta figure out how to get those itty bittty batteries out of their GPS

)

Lovebirds

· #18 · Apr 4, 2009

wolfwood said:
I have a few x-Racers who were rescued from Shelters. Other than that - - Mistwold Lofts has little to offer a Racer who still has some racing left in them. If Renee's birds can make it to Indiana from VA - by mistake - then I am confident that, someday, (at least) one of them will fly North (just gotta figure out how to get those itty bittty batteries out of their GPS)

LOL........you're so funny. And........she flew from Alabama to Indiana!!

wolfwood

· #19 · Apr 4, 2009

Lovebirds said:
LOL........you're so funny. And........she flew from Alabama to Indiana!!

Then a trip to NH would be a short one!

You doubt your little one's abilities? Momma Renee - - - that doesn't sound like you!

RodSD

· #20 · Apr 6, 2009

Nice work Dan!

Kudos to those family as well. They took the time to call you.

When someone found my lost bird (I searched the road for 1 week asking people), she called in pest control because she didn't know what to do. I found that out when she gave me the number she called in to help my birds. I called the number and there goes my shock! It was not an animal control phone number! I went back and told her, but she didn't know the difference between an animal control officer and pest control officer. There goes my pet pigeon and my most favorite to boot. Sorry for such depressing story. I feel like venting because my bird didn't encounter the nice, good family that you encountered.

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