Found a banded pigeon! Connecticut!

[black_cat]

Earlier today my friend came over (we are in the same quarantine circle) and asked for my help catching a lost pigeon that was in someone's driveway. We successfully caught it by throwing a towel over it and putting it in a shoebox. We brought it back to my house and quickly rigged up a tent so that it couldn't escape, but it could still move about. The pigeon looks like a normal pigeon? I guess? We contacted the local audubon center, and were told that it was most likely a tired pigeon that was going somewhere, and that we should let it go free. The pigeon is currently sitting on a rock in our yard. It's been there for a while, and it's sitting with it's feathers fluffed up a bit.It is not scared of us, and it was fine when we checked it's wings. On one leg it has a red metal band with the number '851' on the other side of the red band are the words '2020 pigeon' on it's other leg, it has a bright green plastic band. It has a bowl of water and some bird seed. We held it similarly to how you hold a chicken: holding its wings close to it's body, and cupping our fingers around its chest. Pictures:
Our pigeon friend being held. We originally brought it into the dog playpen that I have in our yard with an old sail over it to prevent flying, but we were worried it would hurt it's head between the bars. We then rigged the tent.

This is the metal leg band with the numbers and writing on it.

The bird being pet. It didn't mind when we pet it. You can see the water dish that we gave it. It's sitting in the shoebox. When we caught it, we did not close the box but put the towel over it.

Pigeon in the yard. You can see the bright green band on it's other leg. That one is plastic.

I've looked at the 'found a lost pigeon?' thread on here but there is no tracking number. The pigeon is still in my yard, and I could probably recapture it if needed. Seeking advice/confirmation that we've handled this properly.

 

[Pyxis]

I would catch it and bring it inside to safety, and give it food and water, to start.

It does look like a homing pigeon. It could be exhausted and needing to rest, eat, and drink, before continuing home. Maybe it was tossed and got lost, or maybe a hawk scattered them, etc.

Is there any writing aside from what you've already said on the bands?

2020 means it's a young bird, so it could easily have been on one of its first tosses and gotten lost or tired.

Also you can read this article:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/found-a-lost-pigeon-here-is-what-to-do.75944/

 

[black_cat]

I would catch it and bring it inside to safety, and give it food and water, to start.

It does look like a homing pigeon. It could be exhausted and needing to rest, eat, and drink, before continuing home. Maybe it was tossed and got lost, or maybe a hawk scattered them, etc.

Is there any writing aside from what you've already said on the bands?

2020 means it's a young bird, so it could easily have been on one of its first tosses and gotten lost or tired.

Also you can read this article:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/found-a-lost-pigeon-here-is-what-to-do.75944/

Nope, no other writing on the bands. That was one of the parts that confused us. There is nowhere that I can keep it inside without my mom FLIPPING out. It is uninjured, but we did remove it from a driveway down the street. Is it possible that we messed it up? I'd be happy to bring it back to their yard.

 

[Pyxis]

Nope, no other writing on the bands. That was one of the parts that confused us. There is nowhere that I can keep it inside without my mom FLIPPING out. It is uninjured, but we did remove it from a driveway down the street. Is it possible that we messed it up? I'd be happy to bring it back to their yard.

You could go ask them if they keep pigeons, and make sure you didn't steal their bird that they were loft flying accidentally, haha.

So unfortunately without registered bands, you can't find the owner that way. You could try posting on Facebook or see if there are any local pigeon clubs in your area that you could contact and tell you found a lost pigeon.

Otherwise, you can keep it in a safe place for the night with food and water to let it eat and rest, and then try releasing it in the morning. It may fly off and find its way home on its own, if it's just tired.

 

[black_cat]

You could go ask them if they keep pigeons, and make sure you didn't steal their bird that they were loft flying accidentally, haha.

So unfortunately without registered bands, you can't find the owner that way. You could try posting on Facebook or see if there are any local pigeon clubs in your area that you could contact and tell you found a lost pigeon.

Otherwise, you can keep it in a safe place for the night with food and water to let it eat and rest, and then try releasing it in the morning. It may fly off and find its way home on its own, if it's just tired.

The people at that house don't have pigeons, nor do the houses around it. It is outside with it's food and water right now. Do they roost at night? What should I do if it is still there this evening?

 

[black_cat]

I've thought of something we could use as a safe space: we have a prefab chicken run that extends our run. Our chickens are locked out of it at night. It is not super secure (hence why the hens don't have access at night) but it is safer than being out in the open. There may be some spilled chicken feed on the ground, though.

 

[Pyxis]

I've thought of something we could use as a safe space: we have a prefab chicken run that extends our run. Our chickens are locked out of it at night. It is not super secure (hence why the hens don't have access at night) but it is safer than being out in the open. There may be some spilled chicken feed on the ground, though.

That would work, and chicken feed is safe for pigeons to eat. They do roost at night, so he would appreciate some kind of perch in there, if you could.

Anything is better than being exhausted and on the ground, vulnerable to predators like a neighborhood cat

 

[black_cat]

That would work, and chicken feed is safe for pigeons to eat. They do roost at night, so he would appreciate some kind of perch in there, if you could.

Anything is better than being exhausted and on the ground, vulnerable to predators like a neighborhood cat

If he hasn't moved on by night time, I'll relocate him into there for the night, then set him free again in the morning. Do they roost flat footed like chickens? My options are a branch or a 2x4 set up on bricks.

 

[black_cat]

Should I use the 2x4 or the branch for him?

 

[Pyxis]

Should I use the 2x4 or the branch for him?

They perch, either will work