Feathered Fiends or Fowl Friends? Your Hilariously Helpful Guide to Pigeons and Rare Birds in RDR2
So, you wander the Wild West in Red Dead Redemption 2. You have a hankering for bird watching? You might also seek perfect pelts. Those tiny feathered critters may be more elusive than a politician’s promise. Either way, you’re in the right place, partner. Let’s dive into RDR2’s avian world, focusing on pigeons and rare birds.
Pigeon Paradise: Where to Find These Feathered City Slickers
Pigeons, those plump little city dwellers, are the ninjas of the bird world. They appear everywhere yet nowhere all at once. In RDR2, just like in real life, these birds flock to civilization like moths to a flickering gas lamp.
- General Rule of Thumb: Rocks and Respawning. Keep your eyes peeled on rocks in open areas. Birds have a strange fondness for perching on them. Here’s a tip: if you don’t see birds on a rock, look away and back again. Poof! Bird respawn magic occurs. It’s like they play hide and seek.
- Urban Hotspots: City Slicker Pigeons. Think cities and towns. Saint Denis? Valentine? Blackwater? These are pigeon playgrounds. Picture any bustling urban center and you’ll likely spot pigeons strutting around. They are the avian version of sidewalk superintendents.
- Specific Pigeon Hangouts: The Pigeon Penthouse Suite. Want specifics? Parks, city buildings, feed mills, and average neighborhoods are prime pigeon real estate. Anywhere they find food, shelter, or a spot to contemplate life, you’ll spot them. Grain elevators are pigeon magnets—it’s an all-you-can-eat buffet.
Pigeon Pursuit: The Art of the Hunt (Yes, for Pigeons)
You’ve located some pigeons, but how do you transition from bird watcher to bird hunter? Don’t worry. We don’t suggest becoming a pigeon predator extraordinaire, but sometimes a perfect pelt is just that.
Finding Your Feathered Target: The Pigeon GPS (Kind Of)
The burning question: “Where are these darn pigeons when I need to find them?” One helpful soul over at Outlaw Frank on YouTube seems to have cracked the code. Their video titled “Best Area For Bird Hunting” can point you in the right direction. It involves crafting special arrows and knowing where to aim your virtual binoculars.
Pigeon Persuasion: Become a Bird Buffet Baron
Want to bring the pigeons to you? Smart thinking. Why chase when you can attract? It’s like hosting a pigeon party, and you’re the VIP with snacks.
- Pigeon Palate Pleasers: Food, Glorious Food. Pigeons don’t dine gourmet. They enjoy seeds, grains, and forgotten bread crumbs in your pockets. Even stray fries work in a pinch. They are not picky eaters.
- Menu Suggestions for Maximum Pigeon Attraction:
- Cracked corn, wheat, millet, sunflower seeds, dried peas, or sorghum: Think of this as the five-star pigeon meal, a balanced diet.
- Chicken scratch grain: Affordable and loved by pigeons. Buy this at any feed store—it’s pigeon fast food in a good way.
- Setting the Scene: Feeder Feng Shui for Pigeons. It’s about ambiance too.
- Open Platform or Tray Feeder: This is a pigeon-friendly picnic table. They need space.
- Location, Location, Location: Low and Lush. Hang feeders low near plants or trees. About 5 feet high keeps out ground critters but is accessible for pigeons.
- Dinner Time, Pigeon Time: Routine is Key. Feed them at the same time daily, ideally morning and evening. Set a pigeon alarm clock—they’ll know when to feast.
- Sound and Scent: Pigeon ASMR. Pigeons are social. They are attracted to cooing and sounds of seeds scattering. Water dripping sounds can also draw them in—they get thirsty too!
Pigeon Pinning (The Old-Fashioned Way): Trapping 101
Feeling hands-on? Want to try trapping a pigeon the old-fashioned way? There’s a method with a box, a stick, and a string that sounds like a cartoon but works (sometimes).
- The Box Trap Tango: Find a box, stick, and string. Prop a box side with the stick, bait it with tasty pigeon treats, and tie string to the stick. Hide nearby, patience engaged. When a pigeon wanders under the box for a snack, yank that string! Box falls; pigeon potentially trapped. Success! (Maybe.)
Weapon of Choice: Small Game Arrows – Pigeon Precision
If you aim for a perfect pigeon pelt, you need the right tool. Forget fancy rifles; for pigeons, finesse matters.
- Small Game Arrows: The Pigeon Plinker’s Best Friend. These are your go-to for ethical (as ethical as virtual hunting can be) pigeon takedowns. Equip them for pigeon pelt perfection.
Rare Bird Bonanza: Chasing the Avian Unicorns of RDR2
Pigeons are plentiful, but what about the elusive legends that offer bragging rights? Let’s discuss rare birds, specifically the Carolina Parakeet—RDR2’s feathered enigma.
Carolina Parakeets: Legends of the Bayou
The Carolina Parakeet sounds mythical. Sadly extinct in real life, these vibrant birds live on in the digital Wild West. Finding them is like seeking a four-leaf clover in a digital haystack, but oh-so-rewarding.
- Location, Location, Rare Bird Location: Bayou Nwa Beckons. The swamps of Bayou Nwa are your hunting grounds. Think Shady Belle, Crawdad Willie’s, Bayall Edge, Hagen Orchards, and Lakay. Keep your eyes peeled near swamp edges; you might spot these colorful ghosts.
Hardest Bird Hustle: The Feathered Foes That Test Your Skills
What’s the Mount Everest of RDR2 bird hunting? Which feathered fiends will test your patience and aim?
Hardest to Find? Maybe Not a Bird… But Moose!
The hardest animal to spawn in RDR2 isn’t a bird at all. It’s the Moose, specifically the Western Bull Moose. These majestic beasts are rarer than a polite Lemoyne Raider. But we’re discussing birds here, right?
Hardest Game Bird to Shoot? Pheasants – Those Flighty Fiends.
For genuinely tough birds to shoot, look at pheasants. These birds are fast and erratic. When they fly away from you? Forget about it. Taking down a pheasant cleanly tests your sharpshooting skills. Consider it the pheasant shooting PhD of RDR2.
Bonus Bird Bits: Avian Assorted Awesomeness
Before we flap away, let’s share more avian facts to round out your RDR2 bird knowledge.
- Condors: The Big Bird Bosses. In size matters, condors win. They are the largest birds in RDR2, avian titans of the skies.
- Bald Eagles: American Icons, Everywhere (Mostly). Want to spot a Bald Eagle? Good news! They’re widespread except for Hennigan’s Stead, Great Plains, and Bayou Nwa. Scarlett Meadows and Cholla Springs are also sandy for eagles. Everywhere else? Eagle-palooza!
- Great Green Macaws: South of the Border Spectacle.For vibrant color, head south to Arroyo De La Vibora. Great Green Macaws hold parties alongside their cousins.
- Blue Jays: Dakota River Darlings. Need bluebird cheer? The Dakota River area, between New Hanover and West Elizabeth is Blue Jay territory. Horseshoe Overlook and Painted Sky are particularly blue jay-blessed.
There you have it, partner. Your comprehensive, silly guide to pigeons and rare birds in Red Dead Redemption 2. Go forth, explore the avian wonders of the Wild West, and may your bird hunting adventures be filled with feathers, fun, and maybe just a hint of fowl play. Happy hunting!
