We pulled into the driveway Wednesday evening and there he was, sitting right in front of the garage door. I saw that he was banded so I knew he belong to someone, mostly likely someone who raced pigeons. So I gave him a little food and water and wished he would fly back home, wherever that might be.
Next morning he was under the wheels of the car. He had eaten some of the food. Since the weather forecast was calling for several days of heavy rains, I decided to leave the garage open for him to shelter in. He liked that idea and moved right in.
Later that evening, he was still around, so we I decided to begin trying to track down the owner. We picked him up and read the band and started searching the internet for info. I was able to make contact with the secretary of a local pigeon club who identified the club and pointed me in the right direction. Meanwhile I decided to crate the little guy so he wouldn't end up as hawk food - we have a lot of them, as well as many other predators.
After many calls, texts and voicemails, I finally got a call on Saturday morning from the right pigeon club member. He knew the bird, knew the owner and what had happened. Apparently the bird was in a race last weekend and got off course. He was just plain tuckered out and could not fly any longer, ending up in my driveway, only about 20 miles from home. I kept him dry and safe, fed and watered, but he was still a bit under the weather when his owner showed up on Sunday. He assured me that in two weeks the pigeon would be just fine; he just needed to get home to his own loft again. I hope the man is right.
I have to say, that pigeon made a divine landing at our house. None of my neighbors know about pigeon racing and the banding of birds, nor would they bother to care for a pigeon. Jesus said that our Father knows even when a sparrow falls to the ground. And he cares. It was an act of kindness ... a thing of no consequence, but my Father is pleased.
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