7 replies to this topic

[Erin_Leigh]

I was wondering if anyone can ID this bird?
Seen in Southern California. Looks like a Dove or Pigeon, but I've never seen this coloring. In the second photo you can see it's been banded. It doesn't look like an exotic pet bird though... Anyone know what it is?

Thanks!

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[SuzanneO]

Looks like they are dyed; probably by people who use pigeons for sport. One of these groups was busted in 2007 for killing raptors:

http://www.fws.gov/n...E4A89664B1CFC29

[betiam]

There are a lot of sick people in the world.

[SuzanneO]

There are a lot of sick people in the world.

Not as many as good people but it sure seems like there a lot of baddies at times. I remember reading this and being shocked that this went on in my home state. I haven't thought of it for years. I just spent a little time googling to find out what kind of sentencing these bustards got, but I think it will take more in depth searching.

[creeker]

I googled around, and apparently this is not an uncommon practice amongst pigeon fanciers......


http://oreneta.com/k...eons_medium.jpg

[Liam]

I see so many pigeons here, this doesn't surprise me at all. I wonder if it bothers the pigeon.

[Aveschapines]

Here chicks (baby chickens) are often dyed before being sold in the markets.

[dklucius]

i never raised pigeons myself but have had lots of friends and relatives who were deep into racing pigeons and show pigeans and homing pigeons.
An older couple who were neighbors for years spent most of their lives raising thousands of pigeons. they would have anywhere from 100 to 200 at a time.
They shipped the fancy show birds to customers all over the world and tested and bred up the pigeons that were the best racing pigeons and homing pigeons. some of their best birds sold for hundreds of dollars each.
no specific breed made the best racers or homeing pigeons but individual birds just have sharper senses of homing skills and other are natural atheletes bred for speed and endurance.. Especially in asian countrys and even across the southern usa there are lots of raceing clubs. and millions of dollars spent on not only the birds but mostly gambleing on the races.
the owners would take the birds anywhere from 100 miles to a thousand miles away and turn them all loose at the same time. they even have GPS and radios on some birds to keep track of where they are at anytime.
not all birds make good show birds or racers or good homeing pigeons so the losers or plain ones or the slow ones are often sold to resturants or as pets or many end up just getting dumped