Racing pigeon

[Freds]

So this guy showed up early yesterday morning. And for as often as the dogs have chased him out of the yard, he keeps coming back. I found a pigeon racing organization and called them, thinking they would tell me what to do, but they pretty much said I was on my own. To go ahead and try to catch him myself, then trace the numbers on his tag back to whoever he belongs to. I was hoping they would tell me of a nearby club (I know there is one, but can't locate them using the computer or phone book), and maybe a member would come out to catch it them self, but I guess there's no camaraderie in pigeon racing or concern for the birds they use.
So anyway, I went to Agway and the price for hawk netting is through the roof. I'm not going to spend 25 bucks on something to catch him. I Googled again and it appear pigeons can be caught in havahart traps. And I have one. So there it is set up by the dogs' yard with an ear of corn inside and some kernels outside. I'll be amazed if such a light critter could trip it, but I've been amazed at less.
And I am really hoping I don't wake up tomorrow to find a skunk in it :shocked:

 

[Chuck52]

I've caught blue jays in my coon traps two times. I thought a coon was managing to get the bait and not trip the trap, so I set it so a nasty look would trip it. Got a blue jay, and then did it again to see if that was really what was getting my bait. It was. Since I knew the blue jays were also pecking my peaches, I introduced both birds to their maker. I guess the other jays were watching, 'cause they seemed to ignore the baited traps after that.

Chuck

 

[Freds]

Maybe there's hope then. I have it set pretty light. We'll see if he comes back after the dogs chased him out of their yard again.

 

[dave1949]

I thought racing pigeons 'raced' back to their home coop. This one has lost it's bearings. The fact that it hanging around with persistence means it thinks it is home - as I understand it at least.
Dave.

 

[tallyho8]

You might be able to read the id tag on his leg with a close-up photo and blowing it up on your computer.

I have found racing pigeons before and phoned their owners just to be told that they don't want them because they don't have the sense to come home so they are worthless.

 

[piller]

I happen to have three racing pigeon lofts on our farm which we call Rock Dove Farm. My brothers and I have kept and raced homing pigeons since we were kids. I frequently get calls to go do "pigeon rescues". My wife and kids love to go do pigeon rescues, we usually meet nice people. There is not much we can do to help unless you have caught the bird, which is fairly easy to do. Once a bird is caught one can read the registration bands and the owner can usually be found.

Unfortunately there are some pigeon fanciers who think the birds are disposable and don't want to be bothered with getting their birds back. These people give our sport a bad name. At least one national organization, the American Racing Pigeon Union, has rules that require it's members to help out with lost birds.

If you have not yet caught the bird do you know where it is spending the night? Pigeons don't see well at night and are fairly easy to catch at night if you can safely reach where they are perched, for example in a garage/porch/barn.

It's hard to tell from the picture but your bird might need some R&R. The dropped wing is not a good sign. Pigeons are grain eaters, do not provide bread for the bird, most pigeon feed mixes include seeds such as small yellow corn, austrian or canadian peas, safflower, milo, millet, rice, barley, oat groats, sunflower, wheat, etc. The pigeon will need fresh clean water. Wild pigeons find their own grit, I provide mine with a fresh supply of vitamin fortified mineral grit daily.

Feel free to PM me if you like.

 

[Freds]

That's a good point, tallyho. Maybe that's why the person I spoke with seemed so nonchalant with trying to help me, figuring the owner probably wouldn't want the bird back.

Very good info, pillar. It's nice to see at least some care about their birds.
I don't know where he's going at night. It's not the house, even though he hangs out on the roof all day when he's not in the dogs' yard. The dogs gave it a pretty good scare again early evening, so we'll see if he comes back or not today. He appears to fly pretty good, that's for sure, but he gets a bit more skittish everytime he needs to leave the yard in a hurry, too.

 

[Freds]

I don't know where he's going at night. It's not the house..

Well it appears to be east of the house, maybe in the trees along the creek or the open pole barn back there. He just flew not five feet from me on his way into the yard again, lol. The trap is set up just outside of the yard, so the dogs don't bother it. Maybe he'll wander over and check out that ear of corn. I also sprinkled some bird seed just outside the trap door.

 

[Freds]

dang, he was right inside the trap, but apparently doesn't know what corn is. He didn't even eat the loose kernels by the door. I have since tied a string from the trip mechanism to inside my porch window ;^)
No time to watch it now, but maybe he'll get hungry when I'm inside the house again.

 

[MossRoad]

So this guy showed up early yesterday morning. And for as often as the dogs have chased him out of the yard, he keeps coming back. I found a pigeon racing organization and called them, thinking they would tell me what to do, but they pretty much said I was on my own. To go ahead and try to catch him myself, then trace the numbers on his tag back to whoever he belongs to. I was hoping they would tell me of a nearby club (I know there is one, but can't locate them using the computer or phone book), and maybe a member would come out to catch it them self, but I guess there's no camaraderie in pigeon racing or concern for the birds they use.
So anyway, I went to Agway and the price for hawk netting is through the roof. I'm not going to spend 25 bucks on something to catch him. I Googled again and it appear pigeons can be caught in havahart traps. And I have one. So there it is set up by the dogs' yard with an ear of corn inside and some kernels outside. I'll be amazed if such a light critter could trip it, but I've been amazed at less.
And I am really hoping I don't wake up tomorrow to find a skunk in it :shocked:

Working in a downtown environment, we have our share of pigeons. And we find our share of banded birds. Guess what? The pigeon racers don't care if you find one of their birds. They never want it back. They will never come to get it. Why? Because if it doesn't come back it is either not a good racer or it is old and dying.

My suggestion would be to feed it if you want to and let it hang around until it decides to leave or croaks or gets eaten. It is human nature to feel sorry for it. So, treat it kindly.