Alien flew away

One of the oops babies born last year (I mentioned him in the naming thread) flew away yesterday! When I was at work my mom was giving him some water and I flew over her head and was gone. We searched later in the afternoon/early evening but we didn't see any signs of him.

I'm thinking of posting in some local lost and found ads and on Craigslist, but honestly, I don't really have much hope that he'll be found.

He was not trained and we kept him in a small coop (about the size of a rabbit hut) with only one window on the side-- so he couldn't really see the entire house and surrounding yard... we were keeping him there temporarily until I could get the new pigeon loft built this spring/summer. (He was being picked on by the older pigeons so I thought it best to keep him separate).
Also, he doesn't have a band. That's something I was going to worry about later, when the pigeons were settled in their new home. I guess I should look into purchasing some bands for the other pigeons, just in case something happens to them, too!

We are going to drive around some more today and maybe we can find him... but of course he could also be very far away by now! I miss Alien. He was a sweet bird. I can only hope if I don't find him that he at least finds a flock & learns how to find food and water from them. I don't want him to be alone out there!

Thanks for listening to me blab.

I don't know about not finding him...I remember someone else that had a similar thing happen a couple of years ago and she did get the bird back. It took several weeks but she was so happy when her baby was found. If memory serves me correctly, that bird wasn't very tame.
I would post in craig's list with a picture if you have one and your general location. I'll bet he's near by.

I'm so sorry Alien flew off, I hope he comes back home to you. Even if he didn't know the whole house and the area outside, he will undoubtedly be able to retrace his steps to the house, unless he's gone looking for a lady pigeon. I pray he will be safe and well.

Thanks, ladies. Your story gives me hope, Charis. I'm praying he comes back.

Teresa, he could be looking for a lady pigeon... he was getting really "nesty" this spring. But who knows? Maybe he'll bring her home, too.

I spent all afternoon driving around the city. Went to the rail-yard and saw what seemed like hundreds of pigeons on the tracks eating the grain! I should have taken a picture for you guys. It was quite a sight.

Anyway, I'm writing up an ad for Craigslist tonight.
I'll keep you posted if there are any developments.

Thank you for your support!!

Do you have a picture of him?

I'm sorry to hear about Alien.

Sending positive thoughts that he returns to you safely.

Please keep us posted.

I'm so sorry that Alien is missing

It's so very hard to know that a pet is loose & you don't even know where to start the search, your mom must feel terrible.

At least he wasn't handicapped and will be able to eat, drink & fly without a problem, I know that probably doesn't make you feel any better.

I would print out fliers with his photo and hand them out asking people if they saw or to keep an eye out for him. If you can put them on electric or telephone poles throughout your neighborhood or in store fronts & bullentin boards.

Good luck I hope you find him.

I know how you must feel - I am very sorry for this . There are so many thoughts going through your head and not the best probably. But please think the other way round - Alien is doing well, he is looking for adeventures and he is doing well. And maybe he will come back in a few days when he's had enough! Try to think optimistic. There is always hope.

Matilda wrote:

Do you have a picture of him?

Yes, I do, thankfully! Just his face... but I'm going to use a cropped shot of his sister so that people know what his wing pattern looks like

EgypSwiftLady wrote:

I'm so sorry that Alien is missing
At least he wasn't handicapped and will be able to eat, drink & fly without a problem, I know that probably doesn't make you feel any better.

Actually that is comforting. I've been telling myself if he meets other pigeons (there are a lot in the neighbourhood) then maybe they'll help him to figure out where to find food. If he is free & happy then I will be happy for him-- it's just not knowing that worries me!

EgypSwiftLady wrote:

I would print out fliers with his photo and hand them out asking people if they saw or to keep an eye out for him. If you can put them on electric or telephone poles throughout your neighborhood or in store fronts & bullentin boards.

That is a really good idea. Thanks!!

pigeonwriter wrote:

I know how you must feel - I am very sorry for this . There are so many thoughts going through your head and not the best probably. But please think the other way round - Alien is doing well, he is looking for adeventures and he is doing well. And maybe he will come back in a few days when he's had enough! Try to think optimistic. There is always hope.

Thank you for your encouragement.
I think we were typing at the same time. I guess I'll take that as a sign I need to believe he's having a grand adventure. :) I like your way of thinking!

~Lilo

I am so sorry to hear this.
I know how bad it feels, it happened to me last year with my Wi, a PMV victim.
Luckily we found him back.
But while Wi is handicapped, your Alien has more survival chances, and many pigeons around.
That will make it easier for him to figure out how to survive.
Anyway, I pray and hope you find him back.
There is a thread ging on on a yahoo forum about a caged pidge who flew away, and came back, against all the odds, she was never out before.
Pigeons are so much more intelligent as we think.
Fingers crossed!
Myriam

I agree with Myriam...certainly not all hope is lost. I remember when your Pigeon was lost and how you found him, Myraim.
Several years ago, one got away form me. Three months later, my former husband found her in front of his house, a mile a way. Pigeons are also very intuitive about where to go when they need help.

I've read several stories where pigeon have returned to where they flew from even months later. :Yes:
Always keep a positive outlook that he will return. The sooner the better of course.

Hi everybody,

I have a positive update to share-- Alien is nearby! I knew I should've listened to all of you. I guess his instincts are really good after all.

Right now he's perched on a wire in the alley, beside us. He's being stubborn though. We've been calling him and shaking his food tin to entice him to fly nearer but he doesn't seem to want to come closer. Perhaps he's enjoying his freedom too much!

I'm going to try to upload a photo I just took of him here... hopefully it works:



I guess the best we can do is wait and see if he decides to come closer to eat and maybe he'll try to go to his little hutch.

Do you guys have any tips on how you got your pigeons to go inside or come closer, or will he simply come when & if he's ready?

YES!



JUST A MATTER OF TIME NOW! My guess is he'll come down and feed when the hunger for seed is more than the hunger for adventure!

I agree with Teresa although, I'll leave the back flips to her.

Oh...by the way...he really is a pretty bird.

Oh my goodness, just caught this thread.
It's a heart in the mouth moment but thank goodness you've at least spotted him and he knows he's in his home territory.

Might be an idea to set up a box trap nearby with some seeds under it so if he's feeling hungry and comes down you stand a chance of catching him.

Keeping my fingers crossed he comes back down.

Janet

Alien is just having fun outside. :That\\\'s so f

Teresa wrote:

YES!

JUST A MATTER OF TIME NOW! My guess is he'll come down and feed when the hunger for seed is more than the hunger for adventure!

Matilda wrote:

I agree with Teresa although, I'll leave the back flips to her.

LOL! Very cool backflips, Teresa!

to all of you for your support, positive thoughts, and prayers! It really worked because guess what?! ALIEN IS BACK HOME!!!!

I'm so happy now!!!

What happened was he finally decided to come down after hours & hourse of coaxing. You should've seen him on the roof. Sometimes he listened to me and other times he would just cleaning and sunbathe (arrgh!) But then he seemed to get really hungry and he landed on one of our platform birdfeeders. Even though he was jumpy, he wasn't afraid of me or my mom when we approached. We caught him as he was eating on the platform!! Whew!!!!

Since I finally learned how to upload photos to messages (thanks to Alien's little adventure), I thought I'd share a photo of him I took just a moment ago. He's relaxing by his mirror in his "bed": :)



Isn't he just so very pleased with himself now?! LOL!

That is such good news.

Well I wonder what's going through his little head.
'Mum that's one big world out there and I'm so glad to be back and have my dinner on the table'.
(but it was fun flying up high all the same). :Yes:

You'll have a good nights sleep tonight now.

Janet

... .... .... ...

It's great that Alien is back home, safe and sound.

I'm sure you will both sleep well tonight.

Wonderful news!



At my age, I daren't go for any more back-flips...

Teresa wrote:

At my age, I daren't go for any more back-flips...