Pigeons

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Tuppence

Tuppence came to us from Northern Idaho and was found by a nice couple who drove him all the way to us. We suspect Tuppence had been used as a hunting pigeon, as his wings and tail had been trimmed way back, and he was found near a home that raises pigeons for hunting. It’s a very sad life for hunting pigeons. They are thought of as expendable to the people who raise them. The hunters will use these sweet, flightless birds as a training tool to teach their bird dogs how to hunt and catch prey. The pigeons are the birds they “practice” on. It’s a sad and barbaric practice. Pigeons are wonderful little birds, capable of complex behaviors and emotions. They don’t get near enough love in the world that they deserve. They form intense bonds with their friends and are very social. They have an extensive language. We have a pigeon aviary here, and Tuppence lives in it with his best girl, Nara, who he ADORES, and his other friends Angel and Lucky. Tuppence spends his days basking in the sun, running laps around Nara to tell her she’s beautiful, and cooing up a storm. He’s a gorgeous little bird and so very friendly.

Nara

Nara is a rescued racing pigeon who was way off her path. She had a leg band from Colorado and she got lost somewhere along the way. Racing pigeons often don’t make it to their destination due to high incidents of predation (because they can’t blend into the environment), or they simply get lost. They are domesticated pigeons and can’t be released. Nara loves her boyfriend Tuppence and he watches over her closely.