Need some advice about a homing/racing pigeon.

I have a wild pigeon that arrives here the same day each week, stays a few days, eats, etc. and then leaves again. This bird has a band on it and is very tame. I almost ran over him with the tractor the other day when he was eating. Is this a homer who is sent out and stops here on the way back or is he lost or what? I am so curious, yet I do not want to catch him and keep him. I have exotic birds and I do not want to bring in a strange bird that I have no clue where he has been or what bugs he could be carrying. What are your thoughts on this bird and should I keep feeding him? I could catch him and get his band ID I guess, but I am 81 and not exactly as quick as I used to be. : >)

I wrote to several pigeon groups on Yahoo and ask about IDing the band if I caught him and never got an answer. So much for that.

Look at the letters on the ring - they will be the code initials for the organisation the owner is affiliated to. Send the number to them, and they will be able to contact the owner.

This gives details for racing pigeon organisations in Europe; it won't help with your bird, but does give an idea of what to expect: http://blx1.bto.org/euring/lang/pages/pigeons.jsp

In general though - it is very unlikely that the owner will want the bird back. A racing pigeon that regularly strays isn't one that will win races, so it is of minimal value. If it was returned, its likely destiny would be pigeon stew. The only exception is if it belongs to a near neighbour with your garden in its normal home feeding flight range (in which case, returning it won't stop its visits!).

Your worries about the risks of disease are very valid; I'd not advise putting it in with your own birds.

Resin

Thank you Resin, I am very fussy with my birds. I will not even babysit other exotics anymore because since I moved I do not have a separate room to put them in and no one gets into my bird area. When I bred exotics I kept a closed aviary for the same reason. I will check out the link you sent. Thanks again.

I know someone that has racing pigeons and he says sometimes when he gets new ones it takes them a while to find their way back home.

This one seems to rerurn here once a week at least, almost always the same day or a day later. Very interesting.