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Post by plocket on May 8, 2007 14:10:24 GMT 1
This is Percy:  |
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Post by sweetleaf on May 8, 2007 14:13:12 GMT 1
Plump, isnt he? No wonder the cat is eyeing him up!  |
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Post by Sleepy on May 8, 2007 14:13:21 GMT 1
This is Percy: He looks familiar. Has he passed by this way before? |
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Post by plocket on May 8, 2007 15:38:19 GMT 1
Are you a pigeon fancier then Sleepy???  I think he looks plump because it's quite windy today - when he's strolling around the garden he looks quite sleek. He's on a neighbour's roof at the moment so I don't know whether I'll get to take another photo or catch him! |
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Post by sweetleaf on May 8, 2007 15:41:00 GMT 1
The pigeon fanciers round here shake a box of food to make them come home and chuck a bit of food on the floor, maybe you could try that?
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Post by plocket on May 8, 2007 15:47:54 GMT 1
Done the food on the floor thing Sweetleaf - he eats it but if I go close he just flies off!! I think I'm just going to have to tell the owner I can't catch him.
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Post by madonplants on May 8, 2007 16:01:22 GMT 1
My parents had one once land in their garden and I was going to their house that day anyway, so I was able to help catch it. It was reasonably easy, but later we were to find out why!! When I caught it, we checked the number on the ring and it actually had a phone number on it. When we phoned, the gentleman told us to just keep it quiet as we had already got it into a box, that had holes put into it, and he would collect it the following day. My parents never saw it feed either on bird food or scraps of bread. We were told it had been used to a very specialised diet, so may not feed 'ordinary' food. Seemed weird, but he was the 'expert'. I offered to drive down the following day to meet the gentleman halfway, but sadly the pidgeon died, probably of lack of food, as it had been lost for 3-4 days. Why wouldn't a pidgeon eat what other pidgeons eat, so it would stay alive? He obviously diet of either exhaustion or hunger or both. I managed to get it to drink from a syringe, but not food, even a worm!! The gentleman was upset, but he had told me I had done everything I could have done, so not to feel bad. Unfortunately I did for a while, as I thought maybe I could have got it to him quicker. He responded by saying they were not at home, so wouldn't have helped.
Racing pidgeons are normally quite tame, so keep trying with a bit of food and as stated have a towel handy. Don't chase it though! Try and gain it's confidence. Have you got a box to put it in as well, if you can get it?
Keith
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Post by plocket on May 8, 2007 18:55:02 GMT 1
Yep I've got a nice clean cardbox ready for him and the owners said he'd be quite happy with wild bird food. I think they are rather keen on this one because I've spoken to them quite a few times today! Percy is now getting more wary of us and prefers to stay on our neighbour's roof - probably because he doesn't like my yellow tea-towel. I've put some more food down but the problem we have now is that the local wild pigeons are visiting for an easy snack! : I'll keep the food topped up for him though so if he wants more it's available. |
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Post by madonplants on May 8, 2007 19:49:33 GMT 1
Yep I've got a nice clean cardbox ready for him and the owners said he'd be quite happy with wild bird food. I think they are rather keen on this one because I've spoken to them quite a few times today! Percy is now getting more wary of us and prefers to stay on our neighbour's roof - probably because he doesn't like my yellow tea-towel. I've put some more food down but the problem we have now is that the local wild pigeons are visiting for an easy snack! : I'll keep the food topped up for him though so if he wants more it's available. The wild ones could help as well as hinder!! Being in your garden Percy will get confidence, but trying to pick one out from umpteen could be a problem. Have you tried a different tea towel? Daft question, any cats about??? Keith |
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Post by plocket on May 9, 2007 8:19:33 GMT 1
It would be good if the wild pigeons could help because Percy is still hanging around. This morning there is a kind of Mexican stand-off between my cat and Percy. Percy is on the single storey extension looking wistfully at the food yet eyeing the cat. The cat is pretending to sunbathe on the brown wheelie bin but keeps Percy in sight at all times. Luckily the bird does seem quite canny! Oh and yes I've tried three different tea towels. OH thinks we should set up a sort of trap using an empty hanging basket but I'm not sure what I can use to hold it up.....
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Post by sweetleaf on May 9, 2007 8:22:02 GMT 1
Cant you keep the cat in for a bit?  |
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Post by plocket on May 9, 2007 8:23:55 GMT 1
She'll be in shortly and won't go out until the evening most likely!!!
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Post by sweetleaf on May 9, 2007 8:25:53 GMT 1
The last thing you want is to explain to the owner that Percy became cat food !  Do you think she could catch him, anyway? |
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Post by plocket on May 9, 2007 8:28:26 GMT 1
Erm... it depends on whether Percy is dozy or not. Poppy is getting old now so needs to have a decent chance to catch a bird - something she hasn't done for a while now. And he's naturally cautious, knows the cat is in the garden, so hopefully will be ultra-careful. I'm going to try and set up a trap today then at least I know he'll be safe in a cardboard box!!! |
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Post by sweetleaf on May 9, 2007 8:36:42 GMT 1
Take photos, I want to see the trap! ;D
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Post by plocket on May 9, 2007 9:16:20 GMT 1
I will take photos when I've worked out how to do it!!! ;D
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Post by Sleepy on May 9, 2007 9:17:39 GMT 1
I will take photos when I've worked out how to do it!!! ;D When you've worked out how to take photos? |
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Post by plocket on May 9, 2007 9:28:56 GMT 1
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA Sleepy!!! ;D
Right! The trap is set! I’ve put some food under a large wire hanging basket, which I have propped up with a thin stick, with some string tied to it. The string leads into the playroom and hopefully Percy will eventually come down, tempted by the food, and I can trap him in the cage. I’m no trapper so it might not work! And yes I've taken a photo which I'm just loading up now.....
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Post by plocket on May 9, 2007 9:31:50 GMT 1
The trap:  Oh and the cat is locked in the house for the time being!!! |
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Post by sweetleaf on May 9, 2007 9:40:29 GMT 1
good work P!  |
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Post by plocket on May 9, 2007 9:45:49 GMT 1
Except the blessed bird won't come down and I can't keep the cat locked in the kitchen forever!!! |
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Post by plocket on May 9, 2007 14:25:56 GMT 1
Still no joy with trying to catch Percy - he's so wary!!! At least he's sussed the cat which has just tried to get him - hopefully he'll decide to fly home soon.
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Post by plocket on May 11, 2007 8:23:01 GMT 1
No sign of Percy this morning but there are five or six great tits flitting about the garden at the moment. They are such a joy to watch!
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Post by madonplants on May 11, 2007 9:34:19 GMT 1
Oh yes, Great Tits remember them well!! Maybe Percy has finally flown off after getting his strength back. Maybe a call to it's owner would confirm this in a few days time. Have you had any new big roads built near you or large buildings taken down, as this is what they believe they use to guide them home on their journey?
Keith
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Post by plocket on May 11, 2007 9:47:50 GMT 1
Oh now there's a thought Madon but there's been no major developments here except for new houses being built - far too many of them and no schools or road improvements  I hope Percy is ok - the other pigeons didn't like him and the buzzards have been around too. As you say I might give the owners a ring at the weekend. |
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I think he looks plump because it's quite windy today - when he's strolling around the garden he looks quite sleek. He's on a neighbour's roof at the moment so I don't know whether I'll get to take another photo or catch him!
I hope Percy is ok - the other pigeons didn't like him and the buzzards have been around too. As you say I might give the owners a ring at the weekend.