Expert: Chrys Meatyard - 1/6/2008

Question
I am travelling through Tampa, FL and I just found a pet dove on the side of the
road.  he doesn't seem to fly and he has a band on his left foot.  is there a way I
can track where he came from or find where he belongs?
Thanks!

Answer
Hi, Meagan,

Hi, Meagan,

What a wonderful person you are for coming to the aid of this bird!  

I'm wondering if you haven't found a pigeon versus a dove.  There is the American Dove Association that issues leg bands for doves.  Find them on the internet by Googling the name or search other possibilities by searching using the string "dove leg bands."    

There are bird organizations that issue bird leg bands and there are bird supply companies that issue leg bands.  You can do a Google search to find most of these, however, I'll give you a few places to start.  You will need to look at the printing on the leg band.  Usually, the year of the bird's hatching will be printed in the opposite direction than other printing, i.e., vertically vs horizontally on the band.  Other printing can be a Club's initials, the breeder's initials, etc., and numbers can be the individual bird's identification number.  If you aren't successful finding information via the American Dove Association, go to www.pigeon.org, which is the ARPU and issues bands to Club members who race homing pigeons.  Look under the heading "lost birds" I think it is, find the year if printed on the band, and look for the initials on the band in order to help you find the person/Club for which issued the band.  There are 2 others organizations also on this site, i.e., the IF and a Canadian organization.  You may need to look under these, too, depending on what is on the band.  Some companies also issue bird leg bands, such as Siegals, Foy's.  You'd have to visit their websites and/or phone them.  If this is a dove and someone's pet, the band may have been issued by a company that issues parrot bands.  You'd have to Google using the search string "parrot leg bands" or something similar in order to find companies that issue parrot leg bands.  You'd then have to call the company and give them the leg band info in order for them to assist.

Good luck in your search and I hope you find the owner.  

Chrys