In April of last year, I took on the project of creating an application for the 911 Pigeon Alert group to keep track of all reported found pigeons while, in the process of facilitating the birds return, assisting them in direct contact with both the finder and the breeder/owner of the bird, as well as keeping accurate information on the birds registration band. This went from rather simple to a complex project and has been successful in accomplishing the goals of the Group. Anyway, I thought it would be cool to blog about the 911 Pigeon Alert Group.

About The 911 Pigeon Alert Group

Mission

To assist in the rescue, recovery and return of lost/found pigeons to their breeder/owners. To educate the public on pigeons, reducing or eliminating any misconceptions and myths they may hold about pigeons. To track and make available recovery and return statistics to those organizations affiliated with the group.

Who are the 911 Pigeon Alert Group? 
 
The 911 Pigeon Alert Group is made up of dedicated individuals including racing and show pigeon hobbyists, pigeon rehabilitators, and volunteers who are members of the public. Group Moderators and recovery & return Facilitators include members from the AU, IF, NPA, NBRC and other organizations.

What does the 911 Pigeon Alert Group Do?

Volunteers assist with as many as 50 lost pigeons per week that are reported found. Many times the finders are members of the general public who have no clue as to how to care for pigeons, or how to get them back home to their owners. These birds, when banded, are traced back to their breeders/owners and the finders and owners are put in contact with each other. This allows the birds to be returned to their home lofts easily.
 
How does the 911 Pigeon Alert Group work?
 
The 911 Pigeon Alert Group uses Web (internet) based tools to allow the finders to indicate they have found a bird, as well as share the information about the birds’ condition, appearance, and registration band numbers.

The Groups main access point on the Web is http://groups.yahoo.com/group/911PigeonAlert/.

The Groups primary email address is 911PigeonAlert-owner@yahoogroups.com where any contact info can be passed on to Group Moderators.

When someone finds a lost pigeon, the information about the bird and the finder can be best passed on via an online contact form on the Web. This form, found at http://www.teranetsystems.com/911PAContact/  is the most efficient means of getting a quick response about the lost / found bird. This is a user friendly form used to share all of the information regarding the found pigeon and send a message to the moderators of the 911 Pigeon Alert Group. The finder will receive information back in less than a day providing them with information on caring for the found pigeon as well as assistance in tracing the birds’ breeder/owner (when the bird is banded with a National Organizations band).
 
What type of information is provided the public?
 
The 911 Pigeon Alert Group provides instructions on feeding, housing, and caring for an injured pigeon while its home is being located. The Group also provides contact information on the various National Pigeon Organizations and on local pigeon enthusiasts who can assist with caring for the lost / found bird.

What is the Goal of the 911 Pigeon Alert Group?
 
The primary goal of the Group is to assist the public in returning found pigeons to their breeder/owner whenever possible. When the breeder/owner cannot be located, or when the breeder/owner is willing, the pigeon is adopted out to either the finder or an existing pigeon fancier nearby.

Ancillary goals include; 1) To educate the public by providing informational material on pigeons to reduce or eliminate any misconceptions and myths they may have about pigeons. 2) To assist with misplaced and injured pigeons when ever possible, including those without bands. 3) To bridge the gap between misinformation and ideas held by the public and the truth about pigeons, their habits, health, and effects on humans.
 
What is the 911 Pigeon Alert Group expecting from the Pigeon Enthusiast?
 
Those pigeon fanciers who breed and band pigeons with traceable registered bands are expected to be responsible for the birds they breed and own. When one of these birds is lost, and subsequently found and reported to the 911Pigeon Alert Group, the band will be traced back to the breeder/owner. When the breeder/owner is contacted, they are expected to willing accept the return of their lost bird. We need them to occasionally interact with members of the public who may have found their bird, and to interact in a politically correct manner.

This means they are polite and cooperate with the return of their banded bird, and provide only the best image of pigeon fanciers to those members of the public.
 
What is the 911 Pigeon Alert Group expecting from the National Organizations?
 
The 911 Pigeon Alert Group expects the National (banding) Organizations to require their members to act in a responsible fashion when retrieving their pigeons and when dealing with others. We expect these same organizations to take action when an organization member is unwilling to accept the return of one of their own banded pigeons. We ask that all National banding organizations support the concept that there is an implied responsibility when breeding and banding pigeons, and that this responsibility includes retrieval of found birds.
 
Why was the 911 Pigeon Alert Group founded?
 
The 911 Pigeon Alert Group began as a coordinating effort to bring together the many individuals who were performing the rescue, recovery and return function with lost/found pigeons on their own. It was viewed as a method to consolidate resources and enhance the efforts to get lost/found pigeons (especially performing pigeons) back to their home lofts.

Today the Groups goals include promoting a positive public image of pigeon fanciers, encouraging pigeon breeders to continue to be responsible about the return of their birds, and to facilitate the placement of those birds when returning them to their original homes is no longer an option.
 
High points of the Group so far?
 
The 911 Pigeon Alert Group has been able to assist with the rescue, recovery and return (or adoption) of nearly 1000 pigeons since its inception. We have aided in enhancing the image of pigeon fanciers with many local and regional government bodies and agencies. We have helped return birds (including Racers, Rollers, Tipplers, Kings, Fantails, Highfliers, Modenas, Runts, and doves) to homes throughout the world. The Group has assisted pigeons, in Europe, Canada, Poland, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, Russia, Scotland, and the United States.