Lost pigeon turns up 4,000 miles away from home

By Laura Elvin via SWNS

A pigeon has turned up 4,000 miles away from home in the US after getting lost racing back to Tyneside, England.

Bob the racing pigeon set off from Guernsey in the Channel Islands three weeks ago and was supposed to race back to his home in the north east of England.

The journey should have taken around 10 hours, but the bird went missing.

Until an elderly man found the plucky bird in his garden in Mexia, Alabama on Wednesday, June 29.

He said it "would not leave" so he called Monroe County Alabama Animal Shelter, and they used the bird's bands and microchip to find the astonished owner, back in the UK.

A spokesperson for the charity said: "He is doing good. Enjoying his food for sure."

They added: "We had a elderly gentleman ask us for help.

"He had a pigeon with bands show up at his Mexia home.

"The pigeon would not leave he decided to seek help.

"Crew member Monica Leigh Morris followed the man to his home and was able to safely catch this beautiful bird.

"After arriving back at the shelter both Monica and another crew member Megan Bryan started working on tracking down the owner.

"They were able to get the numbers off the band, but also used our microchip scanner to help track down a webpage called North of England Homing Union.

"The ladies follow the instructions and were immediately contacted back by the owner - 4000 miles away in North East of England!

"We are currently working on a game plan to return this champion pigeon to its owner, which was extremely happy to hear from us."

They said the bird was a little underweight, and had oil marks on its feathers, but was otherwise healthy.

The bird is understood to be worth £1,000 ($1,205) and the BBC reported it belongs to Alan Todd, from Winlaton, Tyne and Wear.

Alan reckons Bob landed on a ship which crossed the Atlantic, reports said.

He has been reunited with Bob via webcam and plans to go the US to bring him back, the BBC said.