Feral Rock Doves, or "(Micky) Streeters" as we used to call them in Hemel Hempstead - a long story, are not particularly high on my favourite garden bird list. They are begrudgingly allowed to feed in, and around, the garden on the basis that my neighbour, Barbara, absolutely loves them and happily feeds them copious amounts of seed every morning. They know what's coming and assemble, en mass, on the partition fence awaiting this daily ritual. Today, whilst outside scanning for additions to the BWKm0 list, I spotted a stranger in their midst. A ringed Racing Pigeon. I grabbed the camera and quickly rattled off a series of shots which have allowed me to get the ring details. Not too sure what to do with the info? Someone out there might be able to point me in the right direction?
There are obviously two rings. The blue one has the code GB 21 F12603. The yellow one is a split ring and might just have a phone number on it. However, the start of the code is obscured by the overlapping plastic so all I've managed to read is ......9 268993. Of course I might be wrong and the yellow ring is a race entry band? The fact that I'm blogging about a bloody pigeon speaks volumes about the local birding to be had today!
Lots of pigeon men up here Dylan. If they get that bird back it will have its neck pulled and be buried in the allotment for being late and distracted from its mission. These men are competitive racers so its a bit like Red Rum doing a stop off for a bit of trekking in the middle of the grand national. I wouldnt report it.
ReplyDeleteThanks for that insight into the sordid world of pigeon racing. Certainly not a subject I have much knowledge about. As no-one has been in touch and the fact that the bird has now gone, means that I'm no longer of help anyway? All the best - Dylan
DeleteI concur with this assessment. I was about to make exactly the same comment.
DeleteDylan,
ReplyDeleteUsing the ring info supplied , I was curious, and after a google session on the pigeon club of GB website have found the owner, he lives not far from Newlands farm , the bird was hatched in January, hence blue ring GB 21, and been missing a while (gone feral?) he was willing to come and collect it, but did not realize the bird was not in captivity. So the pigeon was a local Thanet bird unlike most of your feeder station visitors!, stay safe Phil
Hi Phil,
DeleteThanks for taking the time to undertake this research, all very interesting info. However, having been given the other version of the pigeon fanciers mentality, I'm happy the bird remains at liberty even if not too far from its' place of origin. Hoping all is well at your end and the close season doesn't drag on for too long? All the best - Dylan