Band-tailed Pigeon Update, London, 2004-03-21 The Band-tailed pigeon that arrived in London last November, survived crashing into a house and at least 4 separate attacks by neighbourhood accipiters has survived the winter. He has been seldom seen at the original feeder at 120 Lynngate Place. With the deep snows of January often covering its food on the feeder, the bird found other feeders that were more sheltered and less often snowbound. It has been frequently, but irregularly, seen by Denzil and Shirley D'Mello in the neighbourhood of the intersection of Commissioners Road West and Cranbrook Road from mid-January on.
The band-tailed pigeon lost all but 1 or 2 of its tail-feathers in escaping a hawk on January 5, 2004. Its tail has completely grown in now. The damage to its right wing from another attack has also just about healed. While another hawk attack has not been witnessed recently, it still attracts considerable attention from the local accipiters. It has been seen outdistancing pursuing hawks and is able to turn much more quickly than the pursuing raptors. It has also become more wary and is varying its schedule constantly. With the recent warm spells, it has become even less predictable and has been seen perching out in the open in the tops of trees. Perhaps it is looking for others of its kind or is beginning to feel an urge to migrate. Unfortunately, I cannot provide an easy location to come to see the band-tailed pigeon. We do not know where it roosts during the day or night. It is still in this neighbourhood but it is not reliably in one place at a regular time. The blind and tape has been removed from the house on Lynngate Place hosting the viewing before. The best advice I can give is to centre the search area on the intersection of Commissioner's Road West and Cranbrook. However, be aware the Commissioners is a heavily used and dangerous road with no parking. Hugh Casbourn Directions to access the area... If from Toronto...come west on 401, and take the 402 towards Sarnia, exiting very soon at the Wonderland exit (100) to London, and head north. Or if coming from west, come east on 401 to Highway 4, and head north to the 402, then east to Wonderland exit (100), turning north . About 3-4km north on Wonderland is the Westmount Mall, a large sprawling mall on the west side of the road. Keep going north just past the mall to the second traffic signal at Commissioners Road. Turn left, to the west and proceed for about 1 km on Commissioners to the next traffic lights. This intersection of Commissioners with Cranbrook Road heading south and Westmount Dr. heading north is the centre of the area of recent sightings. Safe parking is difficult to find in this area but please do so because it may take some time to find the Band-tailed pigeon. PLEASE STAY OUT OF YARDS.
