Worker Adopts Young Pigeon

Here's a story about Homer. Not the Greek poet, rather Homer the pigeon. News On 6's Rick Wells got an e-mail from a viewer who said her son had adopted an orphaned pigeon at his work site. Rick checked it out and sure enough, a few sunflower seeds and Homer will eat right out of your hand.

Homer is a young pigeon who lives in the Mayo Building downtown. Jason Kelley works on the crew that's prepping the Mayo for some extensive remodeling. The crew was clearing the building of the hundreds of pigeons that had moved in, but one little baby wouldn't leave.

"He was little, couldn't really fly. He was about half this size," said Jason Kelley, Jason's Dad.

So, Jason sort of adopted Homer. Jason will shake a sunflower seed bag and Homer will come flying in. Bill Odermann is the project supervisor.

"We've been making all kinds of interesting discoveries," said site supervisor, Bill Odermann.

In addition to Homer, there have been old newspapers found stuffed between the walls. Was newspaper is September of 1921. In it crews found an article about Tulsa's youngest bootlegger, a 12-year-old.

An elevator is about 100-years-old and still works. Down in the basement is a coal-fired boiler installed in 1917.

Also found was a Truman/Barkley campaign button from 1948. On the 10th floor is where most of the pigeons were living.

When the renovation is complete there will be housing for people, not pigeons. They've been evicted. All except Homer; when Jason shakes the bag of sunflower seeds, Homer figures it's snack time.

Jason says he hopes Homer will fly off someday, but he's gotten pretty fond of those seeds.