This page is to help people who have found a pigeon in their yard or on the street that would like to get it back to its home. We as the homing pigeon community are very thankful to the good citizens of the community who are willing to take time of out there day and help an animal in need. First and foremost homing pigeon are not the typical street bird you seen in your city's or gas stations those are feral wild birds. Homing pigeon are like Thoroughbred horses pampered and taken care of like children they are elite athletes who sometimes get lost. These are steps you should take if you find a homing pigeon with a leg tag on it.
Number 1. Try and contain the bird in a cardboard box or dog cage something secure.
Number 2. Supply the pigeon with some fresh drinking water in a small dish. If possible dunk the birds beak into the water gently just to give it a little help in locating the water it may be very stressed and disoriented and may not find the water on its own.
Number 3. If possible put a small dish of wild bird seed in with the bird found at any pet shop or supermarket just so the bird has a little food.
Number 4. After the bird had rested take the bird and look at the tag on its left or right leg there will be two letters the most common in our area are IF,AU,CU,ARPU or a name then the year then a set of numbers and . Each federation has its own leg bands and i will provide links to each one below. Go to the appropriate site and look at the year and scroll threw to see if you can find the birds owner. If there are no tags on the pigeon then it is most likely a stray and should be brought to the nearest shelter.
Bands Explained
1) IF - is the national organization that has registered the bird, in this case the International Federation of homing pigeons . The band can also have AU, CU, ARPU and others.
2) 2018 - is the year the bird was hatched and banded/registered. These numbers may vary depending on the birds age.
3) ABC - is a letters representing the pigeon club the band is registered to (no two clubs have the same registration letters - and they have one, two or three letters).
4) 1234 - A number unique to each pigeon based on the club letters.
NOTE: (PERSONALIZED BANDS) Sometimes the band may just have the owners name, phone and/or address on it that you may call or write them.
Links to each Federation. If the band has none of these markings please google the band.
IF. https://www.ifpigeon.com/if-band-list.html
AU. https://www.pigeon.org/bandlistings.php
CU. http://www.crpu.ca/our-sport/miscellaneous/
NPA. http://nationalpigeonassociation.org/lost-pigeons-what-to-do
Foys. https://www.foyspigeonsupplies.com/pigeonclubs.html
Number 1. Try and contain the bird in a cardboard box or dog cage something secure.
Number 2. Supply the pigeon with some fresh drinking water in a small dish. If possible dunk the birds beak into the water gently just to give it a little help in locating the water it may be very stressed and disoriented and may not find the water on its own.
Number 3. If possible put a small dish of wild bird seed in with the bird found at any pet shop or supermarket just so the bird has a little food.
Number 4. After the bird had rested take the bird and look at the tag on its left or right leg there will be two letters the most common in our area are IF,AU,CU,ARPU or a name then the year then a set of numbers and . Each federation has its own leg bands and i will provide links to each one below. Go to the appropriate site and look at the year and scroll threw to see if you can find the birds owner. If there are no tags on the pigeon then it is most likely a stray and should be brought to the nearest shelter.
Bands Explained
1) IF - is the national organization that has registered the bird, in this case the International Federation of homing pigeons . The band can also have AU, CU, ARPU and others.
2) 2018 - is the year the bird was hatched and banded/registered. These numbers may vary depending on the birds age.
3) ABC - is a letters representing the pigeon club the band is registered to (no two clubs have the same registration letters - and they have one, two or three letters).
4) 1234 - A number unique to each pigeon based on the club letters.
NOTE: (PERSONALIZED BANDS) Sometimes the band may just have the owners name, phone and/or address on it that you may call or write them.
Links to each Federation. If the band has none of these markings please google the band.
IF. https://www.ifpigeon.com/if-band-list.html
AU. https://www.pigeon.org/bandlistings.php
CU. http://www.crpu.ca/our-sport/miscellaneous/
NPA. http://nationalpigeonassociation.org/lost-pigeons-what-to-do
Foys. https://www.foyspigeonsupplies.com/pigeonclubs.html