Hi Arty, I just checked on little Abigail (named the bird) and she is still on the canopy...it is dark here now,,,,,she did not fly off at dusk....her first night here. I guess she is mine for now.....should I build something for her temporary? Will she stay on that canopy now all night now that it is dark? My dogs might freak her out later when they go out. I have outside lights that go on also, will that interupt her sleep? Now I am worried about her.
YIKES!
Kindly, Donna

Geeeeee Donna, Your winning my heart here!
Thank you for all you are doing for this wayward Pigeon!
The bird came to you for a reason, now seems to have adopted you.
No, Abigail can't live on the Canopy forever....hmmmmmm....Do you have a large cage?
If you have means to care for the bird you can box trap Abigail.
Knowing Rescue work, I guess it would be best to ask yourself "what do I want to happen for this bird?" and go from there.
"Follow your heart" and let us all know what you have decided to do....

Arty/BrokenWing
The dogs and Lights shouldn't startle Abigail to badly, the Pigeon is usually stead fast at night and something will have to come fairly close to cause the bird to Up-Roost.

Hi Arty, I will send you a pic of a spare cage I have. When I moved from Jersey to here I shipped my huge parrot cage to here. I keep it outside for my Mollucan Cockatoo to occasionally perch and stretch his wings on when the temps are right for him down here. I could use it temporarily for the pigeon if you give me the ok on it, but the pigeon will have to stay outside. If I trap her does that make her an inside bird then? So many questions! If I let the situation be, would she come here everyday for the rest of her life? I worry about her now.
She has not shown up yet today and I hope she is ok. Is there any difference in appearance on these birds to distinguish their sex? I know on my bird his eyes stayed black brown at 6 years old so he is a male.
I truly appreciate your help Arty..you are a kind person. I also know you are busy and have your hands full with many other things in the animal world. I will try to limit my questions.
Thanx again my kind new friend, Donna

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Donna, that is perfect. If you are going to keep him outside, I would build an enclosed area within the cage toward the top and a platform on the outside for him to land on. Also, (thank you Camille) a litter box to put seed in and as Arty said, a container that is at least 2" deep for water.
This looks like it could be a perfect safehaven for him.

Where in Florida are you?

Hi....I am in Deltona. About 23 miles inland from New Smyrna Beach. About 45 min. East of Orlando.
I put some fresh corn I had from last night in a bowl with some fruit and put it in a small bowl on the awning where he stays all day but he would not go near it. He then went up on the roof. That seems to be the only place he will eat. I had to throw the food lose up there. He also won't let me get too close...he is still a little cautious. I guess he is feral. If he is, would he ever become tame? I am afraid to bother him too much. He seems to like to be left alone. Right now he is laying flat like a duck and sleeping on that awning.
Thanx again....kindly, Donna

You have a visitor there, They are pretty birds.
Abi feels safe, you are feeding and offering water.
Is this bird sleeping there?
You mentioned the bird might have left during the night.
If you feel the bird is Feral he/she will move on, Abi has been hanging around for 2 weeks now, Your kind feedings.
I sense this is a loft bird, Lost.
Not banded, noway to trace, but a bird that has had limited contact but (contact nevertheless) with a human "hense the return visits".This is the life of the "loft Pigeon"
A feral would simply move on, we wouldn't be discussing this right now if that bird was feral.
But anyway one looks at this it would be best to allow Abi to tell us more.
BrokenWing

Abi is visiting you Donna for a reason, why?, thats between you and Abi.
Best to view this from afar for right now and see what AbiGails intentions are.
"Love the name".
I'm off the clean my loft.....Talk soon.....
Peace
Arty

I've been sort of withholding my opinion on this. So...here it is. I think that you should just continue as you are right now. This pigeon is obviously doing well in the wild, and along with some extra food from you is probably thriving. I feel that caging the bird at this point would be unfair. If the bird was injured, then caging it and getting it vet care would be the proper thing to do. Perhaps try putting the cage close to where the bird typically roosts. Put some food, water, straw in there. If the bird wants to go in the cage he is able to, but I feel that "locking" him up would be wrong.

Yes, I agree with you 100%. I will take care of her as long as she is here. She was born to be free as all birds were..I would never want to take that freedom away from her. Only if I had no other choice. If I see any changes in the future that do not look good I will build her a loft. She will always have a place here with me if she choices too. My heart and my doors are open to any of Gods creatures in need. They are always welcome! Thanx for your opinion, I totally appreciate them all.
Kindly, Donna

I also feel the same way, You have a visitor, best to leave it that way...