Found a bird?

Have you found an injured or tame-looking pigeon?
If a pigeon is on the ground and easy to approach or catch, it’s not just being friendly—it’s in serious trouble. Domestic pigeons (often all white, unusually colored, having "fancy" features, or with bands on their legs) aren’t equipped to survive outside. Injured or lost, they depend entirely on humans to survive. If you’ve found one, you may be its only chance at life, and time is critical.

First: get the bird somewhere safe.
You can safely contain a pigeon without much fuss. Grab an old towel or shirt, gently drape it over the bird, and scoop it up using both hands, keeping its wings snug against its body. Then place the bird into a cardboard box or even a paper grocery bag and close it securely. This keeps them calm and protected.

Bring the bird indoors—somewhere safe, quiet, and enclosed like a bathroom, laundry room, or garage with the door closed.

Have cats or other pets? That's ok! Just keep the bird in a room away from them.

🚫 Do NOT leave the bird outside.

Next, contact us right away.
Once the bird is secured, please message or call with your contact info and the exact location where you found the pigeon (street, city, and state). We’ll guide you through the next steps and ensure the bird gets the care it needs.

For urgent pigeon or dove inquiries, reach us via Facebook!

What if the bird has racing bands?
Pigeons with racing bands are often not pets, but survivors of the racing or release industries. Sadly, most racers don’t want birds back if they’re lost or injured. In all our time doing rescue, we have never a racer want their bird back. Releasing them again could be a death sentence. If you’re unsure about the bands or the bird’s background, reach out to us or a nearby rescue—we’re here to help identify and guide.

Want to learn more? You can read about the reality of pigeon racing on Palomacy's website [here] and ceremonial releases [here].