Brad on Sun Jun 22, 2008 10:28 amCheck out this incredible story of a pigeon that returned to her owner 10 years after she was given away, what a bird!
http://www.sundaysun.co.uk/news/north-east-news/2008/06/22/pigeon-returns-on-fathers-day-after-10-year-absence-79310-21130861/
Jun 22 2008 by Coreena Ford, Sunday Sun
BOOMERANG the pigeon has lived up to her name by flying home . . . 10 years after her breeder gave her away.
Dino Donnini couldn’t believe his eyes when he opened his door on Fathers’ Day to find the bedraggled bird lying on his doormat, a decade after he retired from breeding and had given her to a pal in Lancashire.
It’s not the first time Boomerang has returned to the man who raised her . . . and she’s not even a racing pigeon.
The 13-year-old bird — who is now legendary among pigeon fanciers worldwide — first hit the headlines back in 1998, when Dino, of Skipton, North Yorkshire, gave her to a friend in southern Spain.
Back then, the loyal bird was called Diana, but she was given her more apt name after flying 1200 miles back to her North home.
Dino, 76, promptly gave her to another breeder in Filey, North Yorkshire, but she escaped and flew home yet again. Later that year, he gave her to his friend, Alf Pennington, in Lancashire, only for her to use her homing instinct once more by returning to Skipton.
The little feathered friend wasn’t in the best condition when she was found, so it’s possible she’s been roosting rough for some time as Mr Pennington died five years ago.
Dino — who bred pigeons for the RAF to use as carrier birds during World War Two — initially thought Boomerang was a stray.
He said: “She’s the world’s greatest pigeon, there’s no two ways about it.
“When I checked her tag I nearly collapsed when I saw who it was.
“And for her to come back on Father’s Day. I couldn’t get a better present.
I was up most of the night feeding her glucose to help her get her energy back and she’s fine now.
“I haven’t got a clue where she’s been since Alf died but I’m very glad she’s home, and she’s stopping here now. She’s already paired up with a mate.
“I’ve had calls from pigeon fanciers in Australia and South Africa, all wanting to hear about her.
“We’ve had pigeons in my family for more than 200 years and I’ve got about 300 spread around the country, including in lofts in Sunderland and Blyth in Northumberland.”
Boomerang — a breeding bird — clearly takes after her father Champion Blue, who won 17 national titles in his lifetime.
Champion Blue was once “birdnapped” and had his wings clipped by thieves to stop him from flying away.
But the plucky pigeon managed to escape and walked the 60 mile journey back to Dino’s home, which he shares with his wife Olive.
Dino added: “I’m going to treat her with lots of love and attention, just like I treat my wife, for whom I buy a box of chocolates and a bunch of flowers every Friday.
http://www.sundaysun.co.uk/news/north-east-news/2008/06/22/pigeon-returns-on-fathers-day-after-10-year-absence-79310-21130861/
Jun 22 2008 by Coreena Ford, Sunday Sun
BOOMERANG the pigeon has lived up to her name by flying home . . . 10 years after her breeder gave her away.
Dino Donnini couldn’t believe his eyes when he opened his door on Fathers’ Day to find the bedraggled bird lying on his doormat, a decade after he retired from breeding and had given her to a pal in Lancashire.
It’s not the first time Boomerang has returned to the man who raised her . . . and she’s not even a racing pigeon.
The 13-year-old bird — who is now legendary among pigeon fanciers worldwide — first hit the headlines back in 1998, when Dino, of Skipton, North Yorkshire, gave her to a friend in southern Spain.
Back then, the loyal bird was called Diana, but she was given her more apt name after flying 1200 miles back to her North home.
Dino, 76, promptly gave her to another breeder in Filey, North Yorkshire, but she escaped and flew home yet again. Later that year, he gave her to his friend, Alf Pennington, in Lancashire, only for her to use her homing instinct once more by returning to Skipton.
The little feathered friend wasn’t in the best condition when she was found, so it’s possible she’s been roosting rough for some time as Mr Pennington died five years ago.
Dino — who bred pigeons for the RAF to use as carrier birds during World War Two — initially thought Boomerang was a stray.
He said: “She’s the world’s greatest pigeon, there’s no two ways about it.
“When I checked her tag I nearly collapsed when I saw who it was.
“And for her to come back on Father’s Day. I couldn’t get a better present.
I was up most of the night feeding her glucose to help her get her energy back and she’s fine now.
“I haven’t got a clue where she’s been since Alf died but I’m very glad she’s home, and she’s stopping here now. She’s already paired up with a mate.
“I’ve had calls from pigeon fanciers in Australia and South Africa, all wanting to hear about her.
“We’ve had pigeons in my family for more than 200 years and I’ve got about 300 spread around the country, including in lofts in Sunderland and Blyth in Northumberland.”
Boomerang — a breeding bird — clearly takes after her father Champion Blue, who won 17 national titles in his lifetime.
Champion Blue was once “birdnapped” and had his wings clipped by thieves to stop him from flying away.
But the plucky pigeon managed to escape and walked the 60 mile journey back to Dino’s home, which he shares with his wife Olive.
Dino added: “I’m going to treat her with lots of love and attention, just like I treat my wife, for whom I buy a box of chocolates and a bunch of flowers every Friday.
she was for sure one smart bird,
I'm a bit of a stickler for facts and figures so this number seems fairly accurate to me.
