Step 1: Spot a Pigeon. Standard feral pigeons are a popular pick. Followed by American Show Racers and Antwerp Smerles. But of course you may choose to set your eyes on rarer ones if you’d like to. Just make sure it’s something feasible or achievable. Good luck finding a Birmingham Roller, or a Lahore. You are more than lucky if you spot one resting on remnants of local docks or piers. Even luckier when they are somewhere in a Camphor tree located in your area. Only set your eyes on one pigeon - Even professionals aren’t able to catch a flock in one go. Your target should be clear in sight and needless to say, it should possess the qualities of a pigeon which you personally desire, say, flamboyant feathers, brown remiges, or a hard beak.

Precaution: Know your pigeon. Don’t make the rookie mistake of muddling up a dove with a pigeon. The bird on the left is a dove. The bird on the right is a pigeon.

Step 2: Slowly advance towards your target pigeon - Don’t panic when there is a pebble in your way. If you do notice one, slowly bend over to pick it up and remove the tripping hazard later by tossing it away, or carefully step over it without letting the small stone change your route in the slightest. Resume your steady pace towards your pigeon. Stop when you are within a radius of around 3 to 4 meters of your target or when the bird is visibly frightened.

Why this step is foolproof: If you do trip on a pebble and make a loud noise which causes your target to fly away, that’s fine too. Just find a new pigeon at a new spot and start over from step 1 and try not to trip next time.

Step 3: For this step there are plenty of variations from which you should choose the most suitable. You should try out other approaches or alter an approach depending on the specific situation. Remember, your goal here is to catch a pigeon. Reviewing and fine-tuning the process is a significant step to ensure that you succeed in doing so.

Variation A: A Swift Scoop

From the waist down, swiftly scoop up the pigeon in front of you while wearing a glove. Place your other hand on top of the pigeon’s back to cover its wings and prevent it from flying away. At this stage, the pigeon will begin anxiously struggling for an escape, which is why you should comfort it with slow, gentle strokes on its head along its feathers. You can freely carry the bird around wherever you want to once it has calmed down.

Variation B: Baiting

Lightly position a cage or a crate baited with bread crumbs or seeds next to the pigeon. The pigeon will likely first appear confused, then perhaps slightly delighted upon realizing the presence of food. It is then that you have to guide the bird towards the trap by pointing at your set-up or waving your hands. Wait patiently before its meanders turn into dedicated strides into the cage, and quickly shut the trap once the bird is in. Your trap must be big enough to accommodate your pigeon - it may be claustrophobic too.

Variation C: Crouch and Communicate

Adopt a position where your knees are bent and your upper body is brought forward and down. In a light-hearted manner, talk to the pigeon in front of you about socioeconomic matters it may be interested in, to wit, the rise of bread prices, or deforestation in your local area, and wait for a response. If it bobs its head it probably understands and would like to proceed further into the discourse with you. This is when you can confidently pick the bird up and announce to the world that you have successfully caught a pigeon.

Step 4: Bring it home by bringing it home. Make sure your pigeon understands that it has been caught and captured by inviting it to your sleeping quarters. Familiarize it with your apartment’s layout, talk it through the meal arrangements, introduce it to your roommates and your siblings… and there you have it - You have successfully domesticated one of the descendents of a domesticated animal. Now don’t you feel accomplished.

Jokes aside, you do have to appreciate both the magnitude of your achievement and the implications of what you have done. You have successfully reached your goal of pigeon-catching, something very few can do. The reality is, most of us aren’t able to continue the pursuit of an objective when facing obstacles in the process. Difficulties are famous for their ability to make people surrender.

Conclusion: So congratulations. Keep in mind that there isn’t an absolute right way to accomplish this and these are just common steps professional pigeon-catchers use, listed as a recommendation. The best way to do so is your way - The way that you are familiar or comfortable with. As long as your method allows you to reach your goal and does not involve unscrupulous criminal activity like animal abuse, it’s a viable one. Oh - and here’s one last tip for you coming from an expert -

Don’t wait until you’ve caught a pigeon to be proud of yourself. Be proud of every step you take towards catching a pigeon. Always believe that you can and you're halfway there - Even when your pigeon seemed to have flown away.

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