463210/10 POR

On the 22nd, I saw this little beauty foraging with my ferals:



Goodness knows how many photos later, I managed to piece together the band no.: 463210 2010 PORTUGAL.
And I called her Principessa, Italian for 'princess'.



I informed the Portuguese Federation of Pigeon Fanciers, but when last night she still wasn't listed among the finds, I sent them another email. Today they phoned and said that they couldn't list her as having been found unless I caught her -- to avoid wasting the owner's time, if he came to pick her up and she wasn't here.

They explained to me how it works over here: you catch the pigeon, report it, and wait 2 weeks. If at the end of those 2 weeks the owner has not made contact, the pigeon becomes the property of the finder, and the owner, or the federation (if he can't be bothered) will send the finder the pigeon's paperwork and new registry.

So I caught her. It wasn't hard, she's been coming over to eat and drink every day, and she's very trusting. And I sent them another email, with this photo:



I posted the find on P/T too, as I know of at least one Portuguese fancier who is a member there.

That was 15 hours ago, and she's still not listed as found.

What an absolutely gorgeous bird, Teresa.

It just boggles my mind and makes my blood boil on how non-chalant some of these people are.
Sending you both a big .

Please keep us posted on any new developments.

I finally got a communication from the Federation, closely followed by an email from the owner asking me to set the pigeon free to find her own way back home.

So I did that, and she flew... straight back in, as soon as it got dark!!! She's sleeping in the veranda now, perched on top of George's cage.
The window is open in there, so she can come and go as she pleases. And for my part, I confess that I hope she continues to visit!

Appreciate the update on Principessa, Teresa.
I too, hope she sticks around.
She definitely has the best of everything right where she is.

I wouldn't have bothered trying to locate the owner. For 1, they don't normally want back a bird that didn't come home, and would probably just kill her anyway. And 2,if she's been hanging out with your ferals, what made anyone think that she'd go home when released. If she had wanted to go home, I think she'd have done that before you caught her. I hope she sticks around also. She's pretty. Wonder if she just got lost, or just doesn't like it at home?

NiteOwl wrote:

I wouldn't have bothered trying to locate the owner. For 1, they don't normally want back a bird that didn't come home, and would probably just kill her anyway. And 2,if she's been hanging out with your ferals, what made anyone think that she'd go home when released. If she had wanted to go home, I think she'd have done that before you caught her. I hope she sticks around also. She's pretty. Wonder if she just got lost, or just doesn't like it at home?

That was my 1st thought too Jay! She would most likely be culled by the owner too!

I hope she stays with you Teresa!

She isn't indoors tonight, but she was here this afternoon. I think she likes it around here and is unlikely to go home.
I know that some owners don't care too much about their birds, but occasionally they do, especially if the bird is very valuable. Principessa is in perfect condition, free of external parasites, and very people-friendly, which made me think that someone had treated her very well and spent quality time with her.
So I decided to do 'the right thing', but if the owner isn't bothered enough to collect her, then his loss is my gain.

First of all, let me congratulate you for the wonderful job, I guess you did the right think, because even tough we're all aware of the fact that many owners kill their pigeons once they get late of lost, the right think to do is always to report, specially when the animals look as good and healty as Principessa does!

Now, if the person didn't care, then I guess you should leave things like they are now, for what you told us she is free to come and go when she wants, so you are not taking away her freedom, she is the one who loves to be there.

I also hope she sticks around...

Please, keep us updated about Principessa.

Principessa still comes round every day.
Whatever the racing community may think about her, and I quote, 'Nice bird, such a shame she can't home!' Well, she can! She does. She just wanted to choose for herself where 'home' was!

Teresa wrote:

* Principessa still comes round every day.

** Whatever the racing community may think about her, and I quote, 'Nice bird, such a shame she can't home!' Well, she can! She does. She just wanted to choose for herself where 'home' was!

*

** And that she did. The best home ever.

AZWhitefeather wrote:

** And that she did. The best home ever.

Lol Yes,

So, how is the lovely Principessa going, Teresa? Still coming around? I hope so, as she seemed to love it, and I'm sure it must be the best home she ever had, otherwise she wouldn't come around so often...

Yes, still around! She came into the veranda for dinner quite late today, when the others had already eaten, so I had to lay out an extra meal for one!

She's been hanging around the chimney with Cinderella and her mate. And I still don't know when that net can be fixed! :(

Ok, good to know! It's always nice to have a pleasent company!

And she even got a special meal, just for her!

OMG, that chimney story again?

Here she is...

Yesterday, in the chimney. The two on the right are Cinderella and her partner.
You can see how the wire net is torn, and a great chunk is missing.



and today!

is right!!
You certainly don't need anymore pigeons coming down the chimney.

That is quite a 'birds eye view' they have though.