Born to fly

Born to fly

Pigeons are the oldest domesticated bird in history. Racing Pigeon were used until Second World War as couriers for messages but several military corps as the Portuguese one still keep them. Racing pigeon are mainly used today for sport purposes.  In Europe pigeon race is very popular in several countries such as Germany, Belgium, England, Holland and Portugal where the pigeon race sport is second only to soccer in number of participant and followers. Pigeon race is a particular sport that involves all the different social class of society because everybody has the possibility to win. Even if in Europe bet are not officially allowed, there are several European and international contests such as the European and the World championship or the Golden Race in Portugal where the winner cash 75000 euros.  If pigeon breeding can be simple and relatively cheap but it could be also involve considerable amount of money; Pipa (a Belgium society that organize online auction) some years ago sold to a Chinese buyer a pigeon for around 300000 euros and a Portuguese buyers last year bought from Pipa 2 pigeons for 150000 euros. On Pipa’s site while it is possible to find pigeons for around 400 euros very often the prices reach 5000 euros.  While in some European countries there are not so many young and new breeder that adhere to the sport in other countries like Brazil, South Africa, Turkey, India, Japan, China and Taiwan pigeon racing is becoming increasingly popular possibly because of the incredible bet that is possible to do and the money cash for the winners of the tournaments. Despite the critics relatively to the treatment of the animals in Taiwan a tournament can count even 2-­‐3 millions of birds, 500000 people participating and the prize money for races reaches the billions of NT dollars.

 

by contributor Tommaso Rada

Pigeons are the oldest domesticated bird in history. Racing Pigeon were used until Second World War as couriers for messages but several military corps as the Portuguese one still keep them. Racing pigeon are mainly used today for sport purposes.  In Europe pigeon race is very popular in several countries such as Germany, Belgium, England, Holland and Portugal where the pigeon race sport is second only to soccer in number of participant and followers. Pigeon race is a particular sport that involves all the different social class of society because everybody has the possibility to win. Even if in Europe bet are not officially allowed, there are several European and international contests such as the European and the World championship or the Golden Race in Portugal where the winner cash 75000 euros.  If pigeon breeding can be simple and relatively cheap but it could be also involve considerable amount of money; Pipa (a Belgium society that organize online auction) some years ago sold to a Chinese buyer a pigeon for around 300000 euros and a Portuguese buyers last year bought from Pipa 2 pigeons for 150000 euros. On Pipa’s site while it is possible to find pigeons for around 400 euros very often the prices reach 5000 euros.  While in some European countries there are not so many young and new breeder that adhere to the sport in other countries like Brazil, South Africa, Turkey, India, Japan, China and Taiwan pigeon racing is becoming increasingly popular possibly because of the incredible bet that is possible to do and the money cash for the winners of the tournaments. Despite the critics relatively to the treatment of the animals in Taiwan a tournament can count even 2-­‐3 millions of birds, 500000 people participating and the prize money for races reaches the billions of NT dollars.

 

Piggeons start to fly at the beginning of a race. A pigeon breeder insert a cage full of pigeon in a truck that will drive the pigeons to the release location of a race. A portrait of a Racing Piggeon. Three pigeon breeders chat on the headquarter of pigeon club of Aveiro Pigeon breeders look the sky waiting for the arrival of their racing pigeons The soldier that take care of the military pigeon check the loft. The Portuguese army still keep pigeons in case of necessity, however they are not use since the first war world. A portrait of a Racing Piggeon. A truck drivers checks the cages full of racing pigeons before driving to the releasing location. A pigeon breeder shows his winning race pigeon after a race. 15000 racing piceon are realesed in the south of Portugal for a speed race. The podium of the Porto association for the annual winning pigeon breeders. A portrait of a Racing Piggeon. A pigeon breeder tag the legs of one of his pigeons before a race. Despite today most of the tagsconsist in a micro chip there are still breeders that tag the birds with small pieces of papers. Miss Isa, a pigeon breeder, check her make up before entering in the pigeon loft. She developed pigeon related allergy that complicated her life as breeder. The symbol of a pigeon club of the province of Porto A pigeon have been mark for the European Championship. Racing Pigeons fly in the sky during a speed race. Mr Vasco shows his bigger trophy in his trophy room. Truck drivers prepare the cages for the simultaneus relase of 15000 pigeons for a race. A portrait of a Racing Piggeon. Mr Paulo Campos feed his pigeons. Mr Campos is the representant of PIpa in Portugal. Pipa, a company that do online auction, sell piggeon for an average price of 5000 euro each. Mr Sebastião Freitas Martins prepare the daily ration for his pigeons. Mr Martins has around 300 pigeons located in a 200 meter square loft and he contracted a person to do the daily maintenance of the istallations. A pigeon breeder walks in fron of his pigeons ready for a race. Pigeon breeders check the pigeons before an auction. The pigeon prices in this local auction can reach 1500 euros per pigeon. In 2013 Pipa, a company that organize online pigeon auctions, sold 2 pigeons for 150000 euros to a Portuguese breeder. A portrait of a Racing Piggeon.