Unsociably early one recent Sunday morning, our retired guide dog nuzzled me awake. Half sleepwalking into the back garden with her, I greeted the gentle quiet of the morning, the air still cool and breathable, the ongoing daily dose of stifling heat not yet dispensed. Just the odd pigeon padding about. Well, one odd pigeon. Not one of the usual suspects – bulky, block grey, waddling -here was a delicate, slender creature, striking black and white feathers sleeked across its back, cautiously pecking under the birdseed feeder hanging from an apple tree.
A mysterious, ancient world of allegiance, courage and efficiency
A closer look revealed each leg was banded – one green, the other turquoise. As my husband and I, both of whose knowledge of pigeon-keeping was zero, pondered what to do, naming it seemed a useful excuse for deliberation. Banded were its legs so Bandy it became, not intentionally casting aspersions upon the shape of his legs.
Our priority was to figure out how to help Bandy home; he was clearly disoriented, taking refuge in a strange garden. A quick online search led to the Royal Pigeon Racing Association website, prominently displaying how to report a stray pigeon. First, note the ring number. This was going to be tricky. Pouring a handful of seeds on the ground, my head almost level with Bandy’s as he tucked in, I squinted at the numbers and letters on his turquoise band, indicating he was only a few months old. As instructed, I texted the ring number to the RPRA and swiftly received the owner’s phone number.
