I just recieved a Christmas card from Donna and Abi.
I am very touched by what I have read and seen, Donna enclosed several pictures of Abi.
I think of both you and Abi a great deal Donna.
Your relationship with Abi has touched me so.
You are trully a very special person Donna, Abi and I want you to know this.
Instead of a ROCK, you have thrown much needed Seed!
Instead of HATE, you have offered unconditional Love!
Instead of PERSECUTION, you have offered Shelter!
Abi has a thirst, not only for the fresh drink of water you provide him each and everyday, he thirsts for you and your kind ways towards him.
You have won Abi's heart, and also mine...
Peace to you and your Family.
Sending my love along this wire.
Arty Tovar aka BrokenWing

Wonderfully written and so true Arty. I agree!

That was beautiful Arty! Well said, and so right!

Hi Arty, Thanx for your kind reply. On Dec. 6th, early that morning I looked out the door by the pond here and there was Abi resting like a little duck on the stone racoon statue. I grabbed my camera and he just stayed so I could get some nice pics of him. When I saw him at first there I had then decided one of those pics would go on my Xmas card. It was like he was just posing for it! Abi loves the camera and always stays still. Yesterday was a very exciting day for me. I sat on the patio while Abi was parading around and cooing and I put my hand down to his level...well he stepped up onto my hand and let me hold and cuddle him and pet his head and under his wings. I even carried him to that shed and put him inside but he was quick to fly out! He lets me handle and hold him all the time now. I also noticed he is here at sunbreak in the morning now everyday..by 7am and coos by my bedroom window for his breakfast. He eats, drinks and is on his way around the neighborhood here high in the pine trees chasing away all those Mourning Doves. I call to him and he now flies to me! He is truly amazing.
Each day is different with Abi now. His ways have changed. I think he is very comfortable with himself here and he is venturing off a little. Abi arrived early this morning...ate his seed and never returned... this was a first for him not to return before dusk. Hope he is ok! Maybe he found a girlfriend?
Arty, you are as amazing as the Bird of Peace! You have such compassion for animals. This is a trait to behold. It does not come around very often. Again, I am soooo glad I found Parrotchatter, you and all the wonderful people in here.
Abi led me here! There is a reason for everything that happens. And I am sure glad that a beautiful pigeon named Abi landed on a small branch of the tree outside my bedroom window that July day!
Again, Peace be with you my kindhearted friend....and "Happy Holidays" to you and your family.
Hugs and a Peck, Donna & Abi

A few pics!



Abi steps on my hand...click pic!

He sure is big and handsome!!! Your yard looks nice too
What a special bond you 2 have!

Donna, Abi is so striking and beautiful! And what an achievement to have him step up! Animals know good people and Abi chose you, so awesome. I wish I could see him in person.

Abi is HUGE, he is definately a cross breed and human bred, you will not find such a bird within the Feral world.
What has happened in Abi's past is a mystery, but what ever happened brought Abi to Donna.
These birds are extremely loyal, whatever has happened where Abi originated from will not deter the bird from returning there every sunset, recently the person that is in that mysterious world tried to catch Abi and ended up with a handfull of tail feathers, while Abi tried to fly away he hit something and injured his wing, so this tells me possibly a loft is involved, close quarters.
Donna's progress with Abi is extremely remarkable, as Leigh has said "these birds know whom to trust".
These birds (if free flown to learn there surroundings) will always return to there birth place, this is why they are called (HOMING Pigeons).
Donna is obviously winning Abi's heart and loyalty, I pray for the day when Abi begins to use the shed and never leaves Donna at sunset.
Just as Abi knows what window to go to the find Donna is how Abi should be taught to use the safety of the shed, maybe a trail of seed leading to the shed and then a bowl of seed within the shed, just as was used to try and lure Abi into the box trap, this may work to train Abi to use the shed.
Abi's mysterious leavings at night has me so very worried, but I thrive on the relationship between Abi and Donna, I pray and pray hard that oneday Abi stays with Donna and the safety the shed has to offer.
Donna and her Abi, trully a highly remarkable relationship.

Yes Arty, Abi is huge! Well day two now Abi showed up at 7am only to graze the grass, chase some Mourning Doves and off he went until tomorrow morning. I guess he did find a girlfriend. He had been flying back and forth from the pine trees here to a neighbors pine trees the last week but not anymore. He seems to have flown off somewhere else now and not returning before dusk. I think he might have freaked when I carried him and put him in that shed the other day!

What a handsome fellow - not only lucky with the girl Pigeons but lucky with the human girls as well.

You are really blessed to have such a lovely fellow offer his friendship & I wouldn't be surprise if he doesn't bring his 'love' to your place ..... once he has one.

Do you feed him? Or is he living the feral life-style & using your place as a haven?

When I first noticed Abi here in the tree the first thing I offered him was seed and fresh water...that was this past July. I still leave seed for him and water in his dishes everyday. I do throw seed on the ground for the other birds and he also forages with the other birds too sometimes while chasing them all away!