This morning I checked out the reported sighting of a Band-tailed Pigeon in Mead, Wa. It was reported to Joyce Alonzo by Irene Jameson who lives at 4007 E. Peone Rd in Mead, Wa.

It was indeed a good report. It has been coming and going for at least a week according to Irene and husband Bud. After about an hour of waiting, Irene spotted it in a treetop a block to the north. I drove around the block a couple times looking for it. In the meantime, it came back and landed in their large evergreen tree on the east side of their garage. They feed birds beneath the tree where there is a large trash bin.

If you go to look for the bird, park out in the road and scan from your car. It is very spooky and will fly if you try to approach on foot. Their home is located one block east of Market and you must approach from that side because they are preparing to pave Peone Rd. between there and Bruce Rd. You may have to park in Mead and walk down the road. If you don't see the bird in the treetops or on the ground around the tree and trash bin, you may go to the front door and knock to ask them if it's still around. They were very cordial and excited to have someone pay attention to their sighting.

The bird seems to forage one or two blocks north of their home. It normally perches high in tree tops.

Ron Dexter
Spokane, Wa.
Email: (Ronpatdexter at msn.com)