[SheffieldLass]

Originally Posted by healfdan

I know the rules, if it appears to be unhurt leave it where it is and walk away. There must be dozens of birds falling from their nest or not strong enough to take to the wing, and they have to take their chances. But I know how sometimes the heart rules the head. I once gave two very young wood pigeons (squabs) that had fallen from a nest, a helping hand and successfully reared them. Unfortunately my efforts to get them to leave were less successful. After a few weeks they were fully feathered and taking short flights around the nearby woodland but always returning after a few minutes. They spent most of their day on the roof but when I was in the garden walked behind me like household pets. By early summer it was obvious they had no intentions of moving on, so I boxed them up and took them in my car to a wooded parkland about fives miles from my house. Having watched them fly up into a tree I made the homeward journey which took me a little over 30 minutes. As I drove into my driveway they were sitting on my roof waiting for me. They remained with me until late autumn and then left.

Homing woodpigeons ...
They did leave eventually though.