www.niparacingpigeons.co.uk/ is the source of this photo. I could not get our winged visitor to hold quite still enought for a photo, but it was an identical bird to this one. Who knew I'd find pigeon raising so fascinating? After this, I may give up my pedestrian chickens for some of the truly fancy pigeons - it has been so beautiful to see this one whirling over the farm. I will not underestimate pigeons in the future!
Amid the dazzling heat waves and sporadic, never-enough showers, a new visitor arrived at the farm. Back at the chicken runs, a beautiful pigeon flew in, hungry and thirsty. It was obviously "more" than an ordinary city pigeon, not that we get those out here anyway, but it had all the habits of a domestic bird - it was used to people (although not willing to be caught) and used to commercial grain feeds.
When it didn't continue on its route, staying with the chickens during the day and we still don't know where at night, I eventually made note of the leg bands and began computer searching for pigeon info. Turns out we have a racing pigeon harboring over, possibly lost from a race or from a transfer between owners. AU 2007 CL 1831. That's the band. She/he hails from Chautauqua NY - Mayville being the closest club. A local pigeon racer is checking on ownership for me. Although I feel responsible for returning the lovely bird to her owner (wouldn't I want any of my pets back?), I'm already aware that I will miss coming out to hear the melodious whirring of her wings as she settles in to greet me when I walk back to the chickens.
I assume someone wants her back -- after all, she really didn't do a great job of "homing", poor thing.
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