The pigeon is the oldest domestic bird. There are many variations of where and when pigeons where first used as carrier pigeons and racing pigeons. Some research shows the Egyptians using them over 3,000 years ago. In the 1800s pigeon racing as we know it began— Belgium is considered the founding country of pigeon racing and today is still considered pigeon central with over 90,000 flyers (people that race pigeons) in a country with approximately 16 million people. Holland and Germany have about around 90,000 flyers as well. England about 100,000 flyers. Here in the United States we teeter around 20,000 flyers.
This sport has a rich history of dedication and love to the pigeon. Racing pigeons have pedigrees just like purebred working dogs and horses do. Different families of birds specialize at different distances— just as there are sprinters and marathon runners in people there are the same in pigeons. As the decades continue to roll by, breeding has become such a focus and science that more and more birds are proving to be capable champions at all distances flown, commonly 100 to 500 miles.
Some breeds have remained over the decades while others fade and new ones emerge. Years ago there was a strong support for long distance races— 400 to 600 miles. Nowadays, with the cost of shipping the birds to these places the majority of races are up to 400 miles.
Racing pigeons are enjoyed by families, retired individuals, birders, people that love race horses, people looking for some animal therapy and those of us who simply love the pigeon for its beauty and capabilities that us mere humans lack.
I’m a third generation pigeon racer in my family and I hope that the sport is alive and well through all my years.
Fly High!
By Kyle Warren
