I'm pretty sure this is some sort of racing pigeon, it's been visiting my garden for well over a month now, I have no problem with it being around, it used to be really tame and I was able to sit next to it in the garden hand feeding it, it's not tame at all now all I have to do is look out the window and 50% of the time it'll fly away, but when the postman comes he'll sit there and continue feeding.
I don't know whether it's male or female, just assumed it was a male lol, he's been named 'Pidge' by my family, and he's got 2 rings on his right leg one green and one blue. The green one is plain, but the blue one has letters and numbers on it.
He's a really pretty bird...
The only thing that concerns me is that last night on my way home from walking the dog at 10pm, he was sitting on the roof of my house huddled up sleeping in the rain and it made me feel bad :-( Is there anything I can do for this lovely bird?
Becca :-)
How close can you get to him? I have used the tea towel method in the past, which works quite well as long as you manage it first time. Just get as close as you can, tea towel open at the ready, then throw it over the bird and pick him up straight away before he panics. I'm sure he will forgive you when you next feed him!
Cheers, Linda.
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Hi Becca,when kids we used to catch lots of birds for fun then release them,we used a sieve for sieving soil lifted up on one side with a 6 inch stick tied long string onto middle of stick and put some wheat under sieve and when bird under sieve pull string,bingo.
My guess is if you really want a pigeon so bad and found a local pigeon racing person they are bound to have a useless racer that they would give you and will give you lots of pleasure.
Naughty Sooty
Trying to remove a ring can cause damage ,even a broken leg.
Ray
a good laugh is better than a tonic
Why bother catching the bird to cut the ring off ?you may end up disressing the bird although a racer may be used to being handled.If you just keep feeding the bird it will probably adopt you itself and not bother leaving you,no one could accuse you of stealing then could they ? It will certainly be better off in your care,as said above the owner will not waste corn on a homing bird that cannot find home.
Pete
Birding is for everyone no matter how good or bad we are at it,enjoy it while you can
I might be able to try the tea towel method Linda, I didn't even think of that!
But as it won't stop raining I won't be trying it today lol, he was sitting on the roof when I got back from walking Jake which made me feel bad but I'm sure he's okay.
I know we needed to the rain but honestly could do without it for a day I think! I'd like to catch my lovely pidge :-)
I don't think the rain will bother "pidge" plenty of good food and as I said he will adopt you.
Hi Becca, its definitely a racing pigeon and judging by the description of the rings and the time that its been with you I would hazard a "good" guess that it is someone's stock pigeon and probably cost a lot of money. A good way to get Pidge close to you is to feed her human grade monkey nuts. No more than 4-5 a day. She will soon be crawling all over you and you will gain a good friend.