Wandering racing pigeon

[Bramble]

A quick question - which pigeon organisation uses a pink band? A beautiful racer has been putting in intermittent appearances with our street ferals for the last four weeks or so. He seems to be perfectly happy slumming it, I'm just curious as to where he's come from Sorry there's no pic, it has lovely white markings on the head and wings and white "trousers". I suppose he doesn't count as wildlife, but he is certainly putting in the training

PS I've managed to get a list of the main organisations off the RSPB website so if I do contain the doo I can get the right address

[wildone]

Is it a metal or rubber ring? Rubber rings are race ring put on before the bird is released and taken off in a special time piece when it reaches home. You might like to report it to:
Welcome to the Royal Pigeon Racing Association
although owners rarely want their lost birds back. They are deemed not good enough.

wildone

[Bramble]

Originally Posted by wildone

although owners rarely want their lost birds back. They are deemed not good enough.

wildone

I would be quite chuffed to have the bird, it's a beaut. The ring looks plastic. It's in good health too, as far as can be seen. I just wish they wouldn't play with the traffic, I have to turn my head away constantly

[christina]

We had the same thing happen to us in the summer. I took a pic of the bird and saw his rings...I zoomed in and noted down the abreviations then managed to track down the Association it belonged to by googling (it was something like Wales Homing Unit (made me thing of West Ham United lol)). I emailed them and they in turn got in touch with the owner. Pigeon came all the way from Wales and, hopefully flew all the way back to his loft.

[Nicola Main]

Hi Bramble. My Dad owns racing pigeons and he says that coloured rings change every year. Pink was used for the year 2003. Maybe it has been lost since then and just never bothered to fly back to its loft. He also says to check the Angus Federation??? I have no idea about pigeons so I'm typing this on behalf of my Dad who knows a lot more than me.

[honeybee]

Originally Posted by wildone

Is it a metal or rubber ring? Rubber rings are race ring put on before the bird is released and taken off in a special time piece when it reaches home. You might like to report it to:
Welcome to the Royal Pigeon Racing Association
although owners rarely want their lost birds back. They are deemed not good enough.

wildone

Like greyhound racing there are some dubious people involved. Like you say, not all owners would want them back and if they were returned could be killed.

[LUPUS]

Most of these pigeon people have no time at all for a bird that does not find its way home PDQ. and if they are not PDQ they are "not worth the corn it costs to feed them" . The losses are usually blamed on raptors as none of the breeders want to admit to breeding duds which is why the country is awash with feral pigeons.If you return this bird it will probably end up dead.

[christina]

Originally Posted by LUPUS

Most of these pigeon people have no time at all for a bird that does not find its way home PDQ. and if they are not PDQ they are "not worth the corn it costs to feed them" . The losses are usually blamed on raptors as none of the breeders want to admit to breeding duds which is why the country is awash with feral pigeons.If you return this bird it will probably end up dead.

I was told this by a friend so was reluctant that our stray pigeon flew off...I mentioned my fears to the WHU and they reassured me that the wandering bird would not be killed by its owner on its return. Of course, I have had no confirmation that this did not happen. Heartless is what I would call it.