Exhausted Racing Pigeon

[Tilly2]

This evening we discovered an extremely beautiful but exhausted racing pigeon in the garden. We managed to catch it and it is now in a pet carrier in our utility room. It has had some food and some water and is not the least bit afraid of us. Now what do we do? We need someone to come and take it away. I have tried in vain to find a local pigeon fanciers' club number. Any ideas about who we should contact?
Stupidly, we didn't take the information from the leg rings before putting it in the carrier. We don't want to disturb it again and will have a look tomorrow morning.

[Tilly2]

Thanks, PP. So a few days rest will be what it needs?

I hope it will still be ok in the morning. How do I get myself into these stressful situations?

[TWR]

By being caring Tilly, nowt wrong with that.x

[Tilly2]

I'll keep it inside for the evening and then put the carrier in the garage. It might get a bit smelly to have in the house. I have just been to see how it's getting on and it was eating the birdseed we put in earlier.

Here's a picture I took earlier.

http://i61.tinypic.com/1z64eg3.jpg

[Psybbo]

Well done Yilly, it'll head home when it has recovered

[Tilly2]

How will we know when it's ready to go?

I don't want it walking around the garden, unable to fly. Tilly will get it, or the Sparrowhawk!

[ethandron]

Google roar.org and it will have all the information you need.

[ethandron]

'Rpra'

[wolf63]

Put his photo up on Facebook and see if anybody recognises him. It surely isn't a girl as she would have stopped and asked for directions instead of getting lost.

You are right to keep stress to a minimum - a stray dog may love a cuddle but the pigeon just wants to get left alone.

Tilly will keep an eye on him for you. You keep an eye on Tilly.

[Tilly2]

Thanks for the link, ethandron. I'll contact them tomorrow.

[Tilly2]

Wolf, I don't do Facebook but it would have been a good idea to do that. Thank you.

[wolf63]

Tilly - I am full of ideas, most are not 'good' ideas, many are stupid ideas and many many more as so bad that I dare not tell anyone of them.

Good luck

[Tilly2]

It was a good idea, woof and if I was not so scared of Facebook, I would have done that. By the way, it was Tilly that found it. Mr T and I were putting up a trellis and didn't notice it was there. She chases the pigeons off the lawn but this one didn't fly. She didn't really know what to do. Fortunately, she didn't attack it.

[paddywak]

I've been around pigeon racers all my life and sadly even if the bird finds it's way home it might not be to a happying end.Many owners simply "neck" a disappointing bird,unless it has a particularly good pedigree.

[Tilly2]

This bird is particularly beautiful, paddy. It is dove grey all over and doesn't have any bars on the wings. It looks like a ghost pigeon. It is beautiful.

It seems to be perking up now, stretching its wings and eating and drinking.

[Buenchico]

This might help:
http://www.homingpigeons.co.uk/lostpigeon.htm

[Retrochic]

Best just to let it go tomorrow,we have had a few land in or around our barn and after some hen food and a quiet night on the hay bales away from the cats they've flown away.

[Tilly2]

Thanks for that link, Chris.

Retro, I hope it will be ready to go tomorrow. It is a beauty and I will be sorry to let it go but it's not mine and I'd like it to find its way home.