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A large show pigeon showed up in our yard in HPP today. He's as big as a chicken and has beautiful red eyes and long splayed feathers at his feet. Humane Society tells me they don't deal with birds, but took my number in case someone calls about it. We can't keep it - our dogs would tear it apart. We can't catch it, either - it comes very close, like a foot away, then flies off like 15 feet if we reach out to it. If anyone knows who's lost it, please let me know. They can call or text me at 987-0805. A friend says she thinks it is a Tumbler pigeon.
Someone on Facebook said there were stolen pigeons in Hawaiian Beaches a week ago, so I've called the cops, who are coming. Not sure what they can do, but what the hell - might be a stolen one.
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When most people think of "gambling birds" on the islands they think of cock fights, but the other one is racing pigeons. They transport the birds (often to another island) and then let them go. Sometimes a bird gets ill or disoriented which can lead to exhaustion and they head to the ground. If you give the bird access to food and water (if you don't have pigeon feed, anything it eats (like bread or seeds) is often enough for it to regain it's strength and return home. Usually a rest of 3-4 days with food and water is enough.
Sometimes racing pigeons have leg bands with the owner's phone number on them, sometimes they have AVID (or similar brand) chips in their breast. Although the humane society doesn't deal with birds, their scanners would be able to pull up the microchip scanner info if the bird has one.
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Thanks,Terracore. We gave him water and seed mix. Try to corral him, but no luck. He's up on the roof now resting. I hope you're right that all he needs is rest and he will fly off. He's a beautiful bird.
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I've never heard of show pigeons before. I just hope it didn't look like this:
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236...9be0d9.jpg
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Thanks, Alaskyn, but when DTisme said her visitor had gone to the roof, I just couldn't help thinking of this!
https://youtu.be/tpQdqAKHDNc
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HA!! There's a Fawlty Towers scene for everything!
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alaskyn- thanks for the links. Trying to see if I can find a # for someone local.
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Found president of pigeon club on Oahu & sent pics. He's going to try to find someone Hilo-side who will take him. He's probably a racing bird as terracore said. Thanks everyone for your help. I'll let you know what happens.
