Advice, please

[Outsider]

I have a stray pigeon here in Harewood, Nr Leeds. I spoke to the owner and he is in Somerset. He hoped the bird would take off for home after a couple of days but it doesn't look as though it will. Even though I have withdrawn food and water. Should I try grabbing it and taking it down the M1 for a bit and releasing it? I am worried that if I do that it might still not go home and come to harm instead. At least here it will probably be reasonably safe. I would love to get it delivered back to his owner but I can't afford it, nor can the chap who owns him. What do some of you experts think?

[Guest TAMMY_1]

well the onus is certainly on the owner to get it back, just report the bird to the rpra and they will make him take it back, cannot be bothered with folk like that  who will not reclaim birds, if they cannot afford to send for them they should not race them .

[Outsider]

Thanks Tammy-1.  I did email RPRA, and they just confirmed owners name and phone number, and said he would advise me.   I feel a bit sorry for him myself because this one of his birds has certainly got itself a long long way. He said he lost 9 on Saturday and had 7 phone calls, and can't afford £30 each time.  You know more about the sport and whats what, though. Whats the protocol on these things. Could another birder around here take the bird on?  

[Guest TAMMY_1]

Thanks Tammy-1.  I did email RPRA, and they just confirmed owners name and phone number, and said he would advise me.   I feel a bit sorry for him myself because this one of his birds has certainly got itself a long long way. He said he lost 9 on Saturday and had 7 phone calls, and can't afford £30 each time.  You know more about the sport and whats what, though. Whats the protocol on these things. Could another birder around here take the bird on?  

 

yes anybody can take the bird as long as the owner transfers the bird to them

[Outsider]

Cheers. I will give it a day longer and if its still here I'll put an announcement on, asking for a local owner to come forward. Then discussions with current owner can commence.  Its testing my resolve to have to ignore it hanging around by the kitchen door, looking for its supper.

Thanks again.

[murphy]

Cheers. I will give it a day longer and if its still here I'll put an announcement on, asking for a local owner to come forward. Then discussions with current owner can commence.  Its testing my resolve to have to ignore it hanging around by the kitchen door, looking for its supper.

Thanks again.

 

If you speak to family, friends or work colleagues, you many find that some of them know a pigeon fancier.  The sport in this region is quite strong and there is a lot of fanciers in the area.

 

At this time of year it will be a young bird.

 

You been a non fancier, they will probably take the bird and they would know how to deal with the red tape you seem to have gone through at the RPRA.  They would either make the owner take it, or take the bird somewhere to where it can get home.

 

Murphy.

[Outsider]

Cheers Murphy, you're right, its a 2007 bird, I believe. Its breeding begins with J, and is supposed to be known for long distances.  I will ask around, as you suggest. Do other non-fanciers get so hung up over these birds when they get one? I'm getting obsessed and now want to go on web sites to learn all about pigeons. I take it that stray ones usually end up tagging onto flocks of feral ones in towns? I see lots in town centres with rings on, often missing feet and all sorts. I don't want this one to go downhill after its epic flight over the weekend in the rains and winds. It deserves a good home.  

[Guest]

Cheers Murphy, you're right, its a 2007 bird, I believe. Its breeding begins with J, and is supposed to be known for long distances.  I will ask around, as you suggest. Do other non-fanciers get so hung up over these birds when they get one? I'm getting obsessed and now want to go on web sites to learn all about pigeons. I take it that stray ones usually end up tagging onto flocks of feral ones in towns? I see lots in town centres with rings on, often missing feet and all sorts. I don't want this one to go downhill after its epic flight over the weekend in the rains and winds. It deserves a good home.  

why not give it a new home ? you could become the new owner , and start in our glorious pastime ??                                andy

 

 

[THE FIFER]

yes get a small rabbit hutch or if u have a garden shed section off a bit for it, could be a good friend to u,

[Outsider]

Really? is that all I need - a rabbit hutch?   Got a bit of a coal shed. Has a window but doesn't look like agreat place to live to me.  Don't know if I can catch it now. Its getting a bit used to freedom and won't let me get quite so close to it whilst it eats. Think its taken a fancy to a pretty collared dove, actually. She's having none of it of course.

Got to admit, I'm getting kinda interested in what it'd be like to take it short distances and watch it come back. Bet its a nice feeling isn't it?

Cheers

[Guest]

;D post your location up Outsider see if anybody on here will let you visit their lofts , and take it from there  ;D best of luck ...................       andy

[Outsider]

good idea, Andy. Thanks. If anyone near Harewood is reading this, how about it? As you all, no doubt, know, its surprising how interested you can suddenly become. Today I noticed (and would never have done before) a very very striking exotic looking white and black  pigeon high on a roof in Wakefield. It looked remarkably like some of the 'fancy ' sorts that are pictured on this site. And I guessed that too has strayed from its race route in the last few days. Must be a bit sickening when one doen't come back, I imagine.