Rock Pigeon Curiosity...

[Chic_girl]

At my school, there are several Rock Pigeons that live on the roof, which is really weird, because our school is in a rural area, in the middle of corn fields!

A few of them have spashes of white, red, and brown, and I believe they may have been abandoned or released, or just purly feral. I first noticed them a few weeks ago.

We have a lot of hawks in the area, and I wanted to ask any pigeon people if they though these birds could survive. If they were grey, I feel they would escape notice, but since at least 2 are white, I wonder if hawks would see them and target them? Also, winter is fierce in my area. If they are domestic pigeons, could they survive the cold?

My school administration dosn't really appreciate them, and I wondered if there would be a way they could be captured and relocated. Does anyone know a good way they could caught? Would it be recomended that they are caught, or should they just be left alone?

Just curious about pigeons...I think this little flock is adorable, and its so much fun to watch them strut around the courtyard. I would consider getting pigeons, but I have far to many chickens for my parents to handle!

 

[Mary Of Exeter]

They were probably once domestic or are direct descendants of domestics. You can catch them and rehome them. Especially if any of them look like fancy birds or if they have bands on their legs. Otherwise, they'll adjust and learn to live like any other feral pigeon.

 

[laughingdog]

id say keep or rehome any you can, as i know they can manage, and seen some beautiful feral flocks mixed in or from domestic stock, but most of the purely feral for so many years just dont do as good for to long. theyre alot easier and quieter than chickens to keep, so you might not have to worry to much about them being a nuisance, unless you have dozens. lol mine were trained were they can and cant settle and roost (makes the messes easy to clean). they dont scratch or tear up gardens etc.. dang i miss having chickens already! pigeons are kinda great as friendly enough, but then they can go off and do own thing also, were some chickens need to constantly be touching you, or never want lubbinz except o their own terms. pigeons dont seem to be able to be bribed as well though. they just do things because theyll want they want to (though had pigeons and chickens both who would tap on the window glass in the morn to be let out, or eat, or to be let in, or just to get attention. so its a toss, but pigeons will home, even the wild ones, so that is differant than most chickens, though had some disapear, then show up days later, running r flying in for some types from way out who knows were, tired, hungry and cooing for attention.

 

[cochinGurl]

As becky said, prolly released domestics or their ofspring. I would say try to catch and rehome them. a local animal shelter may be able to lone you some traps. those birds are lucky they have someone whos concerned about them. good luck!

 

[Chic_girl]

Thanks for this information! I am planning to talk to School administration, and see their thoughts. There is only 7 birds, so they are not a huge deal for the school, in the near future.

Until then, I hope they will survive, as I think they can find shelter from any predators.

I was mainly worried about the chances for survival of the unusually colored birds. Are they more at risk for attack?

 

[dinahmoe]

any updates on the birds?

 

[deerman]

Hawk do take alot of the common pigeon......just about all in the State came from excape pigeons over the years