What to do with a Lost Bird

We are often contacted by people who have a lost bird and they want to know what to do.  How should they take care of it and find the owner?

FIRST OF ALL, pigeons will not bite or hurt you in any way.  If you hold it, do not squeeze it or ruffle the feathers.  Be gentle but firm. 

SECONDLY, get the bird some food and water.  If you can catch it, place it in a small cage (about 2 feet square) or even a cardboard box with a screen top so light can get in.  An old bird cage or even a pet carrier will do the job.  If the bird is wild in your back yard, put the food and water where it can be found. 

Water should be in a bowl at least 1 or 2 inches deep because pigeons suck water and must be able to immerse their bill.  If the bird is really exhausted, you may have to show it where the water is initially.   If a bird looks really exhausted, Gatorade or other sports drink may be added to the water. A teaspoon or two per cup (250 ml) of water will help replenish electrolytes.

Any of the following grains will suffice as food: popcorn, wheat, rice, barley, bird seed, or other whole grain that you may have.  Do not cook these grains.  Bread is not a good choice because most pigeons will not recognize it as food. 

After it has gained its strength, let it loose and it may continue on its way.  Never attach a note to the leg because you may cause loss of circulation and injure the animal. 

Or you may have a wonderful new friend that lives in and returns to your backyard.

If the bird is injured or unbanded and you need assistance, contact your local Humane Society.  You might also look in our directory for white dove release businesses near where you live. 

BANDS AND FINDING THE OWNER
If the bird has a band, from the number, you may be able to locate the owner. Some bands are personalized with names and phone numbers directly on them.  Others will have a series of numbers that might look like this:   IPB-224-ABC-01.  Begin by contacting the organization that issued the band.   They should have a record of who owns the bird.  Good Luck, and thank you for taking the time to care.
 

IPB	224	ABC	01
Organization	Birds unique #	Club Code	Year of banding

North America
Band Code	Organization	Contact
AU	American Racing Pigeon Union	http://www.pigeon.org
CPFA	Canadian Pigeon Fanciers Association	http://www.pigeonfanciers.ca/
IPB	Independent Pigeon Breeders (United States)	http://www.foyspigeonsupplies.com Phone: 877-355-7727 Fax: 724-843-6070
IF	International Federation of Homing Pigeon Fanciers	www.ifpigeon.com
NPA	National Pigeon Association (United States)	http://www.npausa.com james4bird@aol.com Mr. James Avery Secretary/Treasurer National Pigeon Association
United Kingdom
Band Code	Organization	Contact
BRC	Bentley Roller Club (United Kingdom)	Mr P Green 85 Slater Street Willenhall, Wolverhampton WV13 1HZ Phone: 01902 634695
BSRF/RSG	British Show Racer Federation (United Kingdom)	Mr D McClary 59 Argyll Road Pennysylvania, Exeter. EX4 4RX Phone: 01392 273947
EERC AICF/NYC	East of England Roller Club (United Kingdom)	Mr J Mullan The Legend 41 Coopers Rd Martlesham Heath, Suffolk IP5 3SJ Phone/Fax: 01473 624526
FPA	Fancy Pigeon Association (United Kingdom)	Mr L Mullan 41 Coopers Rd Martlesham Heath, Suffolk IP5 3SJ Phone/Fax: 01473 624526
LFRC	London Flying Roller Club (United Kingdom)	Mr C Fisher 97 Sketty Road Enfield, Middx EN1 3SJ Phone: 020 8367 8350
MPRC	Midland Roller Pigeon Club (United Kingdom)	Mr S Taylor 44 King George Close Sidemore, Bromsgrove, Worcs B61 8ASH Phone: 01527 870092 after 6pm please.
NPA	National Pigeon Association (United Kingdom)	Mrs Tracey Edwards Bridge Villa Main St Pollington, Goole. DN14 0DW Phone: 01405 869516
NRC	Northern Roller Club (United Kingdom)	Mr J Weir 24 Lowry Villas Whiteleas, South Shields Tyne & Wear NE34 8HZ Phone: 0191 4261653
NTU	National Tippler Union (United Kingdom)	B. Rose 46, Maynard Road Hartcliffe, Bristol BS13 OAG Phone: 01179 647275
NTUW	National Tippler Union of Wales (United Kingdom)	Mr R Williams 4 Clayton Street Landore, Swansea SA1 2PW Phone: 01792 424393
NFTTS	Norwich Flying Tippler & Roller Society (United Kingdom)	Mr C Howard 4 Fitzgerald Rd Lakenham, Norwich NR1 2NF Phone: 01603 470920
NRTT	Nottingham Roller Tippler & Tumbler Club (United Kingdom)	Mr R Davis 79 Westdale Lane Gedling, Nottingham Phone: 0115 9539771
WEFT/BSW	West of England Flying Tumbler Society (United Kingdom)	Mrs R Williams 12 Clovelly Road Bideford, Nth Devon Phone: 01237 477096
WHFC	Worchester Hi-Fli Club (United Kingdom)	Mr J Smith 22 Albert Rd Worcester WR5 1EB Phone: 01905 355041
WTC	Wolverhampton Tumbler Club (United Kingdom)	Mr S Porter 70 King Edward Rd Rugby, Warks CV21 2TE
NEHU	North of England Homing Union (United Kingdom)	NEHU@nehu.co.uk 58, Ennerdale Road Walker Dene, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE6 4DG Phone: 0191 262 5440
NWHU	North West Homing Union (United Kingdom)	Janet. E. Hull 10 Ward Street Lostock Hall Preston, Lancashire PR5 5HR Phone: 01257 421 271
GB	Royal Pigeon Racing Association (Great Britain)	RPRA The Reddings Cheltenham Glos. GL51 5RN Phone: 01452 713529 Ms. Karen James RPRA Strays Coordinator strays@rpra.org
IHU N	Irish Homing Union "N" (Ireland)	J. Hughes 34 Adelaide Avenue Belfast BT9 7FY http://www.irishhomingunion.com/
IHU S	Irish Homing Union "S" (Ireland)	S. Lehane 69 Lorcan Crescent Santry, Dublin
SU	Scottish Homing Union (United Kingdom)	231A, Low Waters Road Hamilton, Lanarkshire ML3 7QN Phone: 01698 286983 http://www.shuonline.co.uk
WHU	Welsh Homing Pigeon Union (United Kingdom)	3, Coed Cae Tirfil, New Tredegar Gwent NP2 6HH Phone: 01443 833161
Europe
Band Code	Organization	Contact
BELG	Royale Federation Colombophile Belge (Belgium)	39 rue de Livourne Ixelles, Brussels 1050 Belgium Phone: 0032 2537 6211 Fax: 0032 2538 5721
FRANCE	Federation Colomophile Francaise (France)	54 Boulevard Carnot 59042 Lille Cedex, France Phone: 0033 3200 68287 Fax: 0033 3201 50157
DV	Verband Deutscher Brieftaubenliebhaber E. V. (Germany)	Essen, D-4513 Schonleinstrasse 43 P.O. Box 103935 Germany Phone: 0049 2018 72240 Fax: 0049 2018 722499
NL/HOLL	Bureau N. P. O. (The Nethernlands)	Landjuweel 38 3905 PH Veenendaal The Netherlands Phone: 0031 3185 59700 Fax: 00313185 23712
NORGE	Norges Brevdue Forbund (Norwegian Racing Pigeon Association)	Stein Thorsen (Norwegian language) Postboks 196 5322 Kleppesto Norway   Inge Fagerli (Norwegian and English language) froy__@hotmail.com
PL	Polski Związek Hodowc�w Gołębi Pocztowych (Poland)	Polski Związek Hodowc�w Gołębi Pocztowych Zarząd Głï¿½wny w Chorzowie Skr. pocztowa 177 41 - 501 Chorz�w Tel. +48 32 241 59 82 Web: http://www.pzhgp.and.pl/
PORT	Federacao Portuguesa de Colombofilia (Portugal)	Rue Padre Estevao Cabral No. 79 Salas 214/215, 3000 Colmbra, Portugal
ESP	Real Federacion Colombofilia Espanola (Spain)	Eloy Gonzalo 34 piso 7 Iz'da 28010 Madrid Spain
MALTA	Federation of Pigeon Racing Clubs of Malta (Malta)	Railway Avenue Hamrum, HMR08 Malta
Asia / Australia / New Zealand
Band Code	Organization	Contact
PHA	Philippine Homing Pigeon Association	primelnk@skynet.net Mr. Francis Uy PHA Secretary General P.O. Box 1252, Ermita 1099, Manila Philippines Phone: + 63 2 243 2972
SAHPA	South Australian Homing Pigeon Association	sahpa.gensec@gmail.com Phone: + 61 8 8262 3856 (Assoc) + 61 448 883512 (Mobile) (Lost birds)+ 61 8 8252 9377 http://www.sahpa.asn.au
	Pigeon Racing New Zealand	http://www.prnz.org.nz