Hello Tweeters,

We are so fortune to have Band-tailed Pigeon all year long for the past 15 years.At one time there where 50 of this birds in our yard,sitting high in the trees to wait there turn to get to the feeder.Right now there been coming up to 10 of this birds on a regular basis feeding on crushed unsalted peanuts and cracked corn.With all the many birds we feeding this birds got there one place on our big patio on the railing.This birds are kind of spooky if we get too close to the window. they fly off in to the tall trees and wait for another opportunity to return for more food. Today I noticed a strange Band-tailed Pigeon sitting on my neighbor's roof being all alone. I watched this bird and he didn't look right.For one think it have not the right field marks and is all one color,he keeps the bill some time open.But than I was thinking that maybe a young bird trying to learn how to fly.But than we usual getting young Pigeon in the summer and there also don't have a yellow bill.What is really strange that an adult pigeon coming to this bird right next to this bird,as it looked he was maybe trying to mate this Pigeon,since he was extending his chest all puffed up.Or was this really a young pigeon what got in the wrong place.The Adult was staying around for a while trying to look out for this bird because this bird was sick. When I came home this afternoon both birds was going.We put some photos which I took of both bird this morning, and I like to get some input what birders think of this incident,consider all option.I looked around here in both yards and I can not find this Pigeon around,so he had to flying off.

Photos of 2 Band-tailed Pigeons taken from yesterday from our neighbor's roof can be seen at the following link:

http://www.pbase.com/godwit/yardbirds/



Cheers,

Ruth Sullivan
Fircrest,WA
godwit513 at msn.com