How To Trap A Homing Pigeon
 

So I got home this afternoon and this beautiful white pigeon was walking around the front door. I saw that it had bands on both legs so figured it was someones pet or maybe a racing bird that was lost.

It seemed friendly enough but would only let me get within 8-10 feet before it flew to the roof then returned after I went inside to get some wild bird food I use in the five feeders I have in the back yard. I put the seed and water in bowls, splashed the water to let it know and tossed the seeds at it's feet but couldn't get close enough to throw the towel hidden behind my back to capture it.

I don't think it will last the night with the coyotes and fox around here. I picked up the food and water and it went up to the roof again for now.

Any ideas on what to do? I can't get close enough to read whatever is written on the leg bands and after searching found that the pigeon racing community won't respond without those.

Note: Do not request or suggest pigeon meat recipes.

Call animal control.

Not much of a homing pigeon if it is lost.

If you can't get close the predators can't either.

If they do they need to eat as well.

It will fly home when ready.

Or not.

There are loads of recipes for pigeon. Some meat shops even sell them ready to cook.

Maybe a cast net. They're cheap, like $20.

Throwing towels, nets, clothing, whatever at a bird without the proper experience and training is more likely to harm it than just leaving it alone and letting it find it's own way.
It is obviously not in any distress and needs no "assistance" at this point.

i used to know 2 guy's that raced pigeons. sadly, both of them died within the last 5 years.

so you're 6 years too late for me to answer.

I have no experience in using a castnet, figured it would just hold it down without doing damage. I've only ever used a fishing pole and speargun and both of those seemed too much.
The fishing pole would be boring as fishing is most of the time and the speargun would just probably ruin the whole thing.

We only have one cop here to patrol the area the size of Rhode Island in daylight hours. Animal control has better things to do though I called the Portland Audubon Society and they gave me the tips about the food/water/towel trap.

Avian flu?

There you go. I figured a bird would be beneath them but maybe they'd have some good ideas.

Not obvious to me, I've never seen one here and can't tell if it's in distress though was given tips on what to watch for from the Audubon Society. It will most likely see the usual commotion at the backyard feeders and baths by sunrise and get enough nourishment to continue its journey. Meanwhile I posted on a local community forum that might help.

Yep. He is probably just on a break.

nope.

one passed away quite abruptly due to lung cancer. i believe it was related to his adolescent smoking habit(he was 50-60). they said his pigeon stew was amazing, never got the chance to try it.

the other was a really good neighbor of my parents that his kids threw in a home so they could live without him and then passed away at 85-90..

What we used back in the farm to catch chickens was to fabricate a "catcher" made with a 5-10 ft length of #9 wire with hoop on one end (for your hand) and a open flanged hook on the other end. The gap in the hook would be just wide enough to snugly fit over the birds leg.

Picture that?

humfrz