News Digest

Pigeon pageant allows ‘pest birds’ from all over the world to strut their stuff

Hundreds of breeds of pigeons competed in their own show recently, strutting their legs or fluttering curly, lacy feathers. These pigeons aren’t the nuisance flocks that swarm for food but genetically rich birds, including variations bred to look like turkeys or sound like trumpets. Around 7,800 birds and thousands of enthusiasts - including ex-boxer and pigeon lover Mike Tyson - attended the National Pigeon Association’s 93rd annual Grand National Pigeon Show.

All these pigeons are man-made. None of them occur in nature like this. All of these breeds have evolved from man’s creative genius.

Bob Nolan, 60-year member of LA Pigeon Club, who raises English trumpeters, known for their acoustic sound of distant trumpets

The well-behaved show birds wouldn’t let one drop of waste fall on a judge’s shoe as they were examined for build, colour and weight. Showing pigeons is one of the oldest and largest hobbies in the world. Nearly a thousand different breeds of pigeons exist. Not only can these birds become pampered pets, they can be raised for racing and stunt performances. Racing pigeons can fly for hundreds of miles a day and flap as fast as 80 mph.

Racing pigeons are the Ben Johnsons of the world and fancy pigeons are the Naomi Campbells of the world.

Fadiel Hendricks, president of the National Fancy Pigeon Association of South Africa