Rural Gardening: Updated Pics of Red Rosie, 0 by DrDoolotz

DrDoolotz wrote:
OK, get ready for a LONG story....

Last week, on about Wednesday, when I got home, I went to see Rosie in the backyard. When I got back there, there was a pigeon standing near the bantam's enclosure. I thought that was weird because I live in the country and we don't see pigeons much. I see them in the city. I approached the pigeon, thinking it would take off, but it didn't. I got REALLY close to the pigeon, and then I began to worry that it was sick. I thought it seemed kind of groggy, and I worried it might have bird flu, and it might transmit it to my chickens. I hurried off to get the chicken catching net (fishing net) that we used to round up the chickens at Jim's farm when I got them.

I walked up to the pigeon and simply popped the net over it with no trouble. Something told me this was not normal. I gently extracted the pigeon from the net, and realized that it had 2 leg bands on. One was green and one was red. I read the numbers on the green one and thought I should look them up online. When I did, I found out that it was a racing pigeon from Elgin Racing Pigeon club near Chicago. So, I found the contact number for the club online, and called it. I spoke to a nice gentleman who informed me that they'd had a race and a LOT of birds went missing for some reason. Nobody knows why because it was a nice day. Anyway, he said it was one of their birds and he would look up the owner and have him call me.

I asked what I could do to help the bird and he said it was probably exhausted and to give it water and food. I asked if chick feed was good and he said it was. So I gave it some water and food in dishes and it ate like nobody's business. That poor bird was starving, so I called him "Starvin' Marvin" just for fun. The club rep said after a couple of days if he had energy to release him.

So, on Friday morning, it was beautiful and clear and Marvin (not sure if it is male) was feeling energetic so I held him for a while and said that I enjoyed the visit and hoped he would have a safe flight home. He flew off into the clear blue sky like a shot, so fast. I watched until I couldn't see him any more, and I felt sad but happy for having experienced this.

And off I went to work.

I got home around 6 pm, and I went out back to see Rosie. And there was Rosie, as usual, and....there was Marvin. Marvin came back and was sitting in the temporary hamster cage I had used for him, which I had left the lid open on in the morning when I left. He was eating as usual. I had a discussion with Marvin and released him again, but he just circled around a little and came back.

Well, it's Sunday today, and he is still here, and he and Rosie hang out on the back porch like old buddies....

I feel kind of bad that the pigeon doesn't want to go home, but the owner never contacted me, and I called the club (long distance) to try to help out, but now he seems happy here, so I am just content if he wants to stick around

So here, in living color, are Rosie and Marvin. :-) I had just been picking some grapes. Marvin was checking them out, and Rosie decided she wanted to eat out of Marvin's usual dish. Sorry for the contrast shadow/sun but I had to take it while they were not looking at me or Rosie will come to the door!

Claire