Pigeons with rings on legs amongst flock I feed.

Question

Hi, I'm new here. I have been feeding birds in the back garden for around a year now, with feeders for smaller birds, fat balls, mealworms and some food on ground too. At one stage 26 Collard Doves, along with several Starlings, House Sparrows and a few Crows, Ravens, Magpies, Chaffinches, Blue Tits and a pair of Robins. The past few weeks we have had a flock of 32 pigeons coming too and eating most of the food put on the ground. Now on,y a max of 6 Collard Doves come and often can't get any food. Even if we feed at different times the pigeons still appear and are always hanging around. I've noticed around 5 have rings on legs, some of these birds with rings are a white mix in colour. I know there is a racing pigeon chap lives locally. Could these pigeons with rings be ex racing ones who got lost and joined a feral flock? Or is it possible the flock could all be owed by someone? It's costing a lot of money for feeding them! I feel bad for the Collard Doves and other birds not getting much food. Any advice will be very welcome.

monkeycheese · Accepted Answer

Hi Jane. It is quite common for racing or homing pigeons to join up with Ferals. By doing so they learn to forage and stand more chance of survival. Many stranded or exhausted homing pigeons are not fortunate to find their Feral cousins and die of starvation as they have no foraging skills. The Pigeon rescue people that I know caution against contacting owners of lost or stranded pigeons. This is because in some cases the birds might not be considered as fit for racing and are disposed of. This is not true of all pigeon fanciers, but I wouldn't take the chance. Maybe you could try squirrel proof feeders. That might deter the Ferals?

Unicum arbustum haud alit duos erithacos

(One bush does not shelter two Robins)

Zenodotus (3rd Century B.C.)