Racing dogs, racing pigeon!

We washed our windows last week and ended up attracting this homing pigeon that day.

We didn't know s/he was a pigeon in training until we did some sleuthing to find its owner.
S/he took up residence on top of a dog crate under our deck (next to the deer corn can).

Now each day, s/he shows up for breakfast and supper. We located the owner just yesterday.

He knows this is his bird by the coloration of the leg bandings... green for his young pigeons, newly in training; orange for another i.d. The owner suspects this bird was derailed (possibly slightly injured) by a hawk. Yes, we have a frequenting of hawks, including today. The owner is about twenty miles from us. The coyote was here yesterday morning too.

So, we have instructions to capture the pigeon for its owner. These, so far, are not working.
We are awaiting further instructions. In the meantime, we are enjoying this entertaining bird

(while Skinny licks his chops, literally, since it seems to have an affinity for him).

Can you imagine doing this with racing dogs? Take them thirty miles away; release them and meet them at home. Pigeons do it (if no interference). They wear a band that effects a recording of its time of return. No, not for my huskies would this ever work. But the birds are amazing.

We hope s/he gets to go home, but if not, a new leader? Think not, but s/he surely is fun.

Back to business tomorrow, hooking up teams . First team out tomorrow is: Buffy, Ruthie,

Medio, Sherpa, Herman and Kiddo. Second team out: Buffy, Matilda, Zoom, Sherpa and Copper. Such is the plan for now.