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In the modern age of advanced technology, when a person is able to receive an almost instant message from an addressee located several thousand kilometers away, few people are able to take pigeon mail seriously. However, communication through electronic communications is also not without weaknesses, because even with a simple power outage, it will be inaccessible. Yes, and the confidentiality of such messages causes many complaints. Therefore, although pigeon mail is considered hopelessly outdated and unclaimed today, it should not be completely written off.
History of carrier pigeons
Birds that are capable of carrying information messages over many hundreds and even thousands of kilometers have been mentioned in historical documents since ancient times. Even in the Old Testament, Noah released a dove for reconnaissance, and he returned back with an olive branch – a symbol of the fact that the earth is somewhere nearby. Therefore, the history of the appearance of carrier pigeons is rooted in antiquity.
In ancient Egypt and in the countries of the Ancient East, pigeons were actively used as postmen. The Roman historian Pliny the Elder also mentions a similar method of delivering mail. It is known that Caesar during the Gallic War communicated with his Roman supporters with the help of doves.
Among ordinary people, carrier pigeons were used to deliver love and business messages in all countries known at that time. Typically, letters were written on sheets of papyrus or fabric patches and securely attached to the leg or neck of the pigeons. Already in those days, pigeon mail worked over long distances, the birds were able to cover a thousand or more kilometers.
In the Middle Ages, pigeon mail developed especially intensively in European countries. Not without reason, almost all modern carrier pigeons are descended from the oldest Belgian breed. Carrier pigeons were actively used in various armed conflicts, during sieges, as well as in public and private correspondence. After all, not a single messenger was able to compare with a dove in the speed of delivery of the necessary information.
In the history of Our Country, the first official mention of pigeon mail dates back to 1854, when Prince Golitsyn established a similar message between his Moscow home and his country residence. Soon the use of pigeons to transmit a variety of correspondence gained great popularity. The ” Society of Pigeon Sports” was organized. The idea of pigeon mail was adopted with pleasure by the military. Since 1891, several official pigeon communication lines began to operate in Our Country. First between the two capitals, later in the south and west.
Pigeon mail played an important role during the First and Second World Wars. Carrier pigeons successfully overcame all obstacles and conveyed important information, for which some individuals were even awarded various awards.
After the war, pigeon mail was gradually forgotten, since the rapid development of telecommunications made the work of birds in this direction irrelevant. Nevertheless, pigeon lovers are still breeding them, but more for sport and aesthetic pleasure. Currently, carrier pigeons are increasingly called sports pigeons. Competitions are regularly held in which pigeons demonstrate their beauty, strength and endurance in flight.
But, despite the fact that pigeon mail is considered obsolete, many countries still use the unique abilities of these birds to this day. So, in some European countries, carrier pigeons are trusted to deliver particularly urgent or confidential information. In India and New Zealand, homing pigeons are still used to deliver letters to hard-to-reach areas. And in some cities (for example, in Plymouth, England), pigeons are used as the fastest way to transfer blood samples from hospitals to laboratories. Since traffic jams on the roads do not always allow you to do this quickly using conventional transport.
What does a carrier pigeon look like?
The carrier pigeon is not exactly a breed, but rather a bird with a set of specific qualities that allow them to best cope with the task of reliably transporting messages in the most difficult conditions over long distances at maximum speed. These qualities have been developed and trained by carrier pigeons for a long time. Some of them are congenital.
Carrier pigeons are most often larger in size than ordinary poultry. But the main thing is that they are almost a solid lump of muscles and muscles in order to easily overcome all possible obstacles. Their color can be almost anything. The wings are always long and strong, the tail and legs are usually short. The beak is most often quite thick, sometimes with large growths.
The most interesting of the dove are the eyes. In carrier pigeons, they are surrounded by bare eyelids, which can be quite wide, as in the photo.
The eyes themselves occupy a significant part of the inside of the skull and determine the amazing visual acuity of pigeons. In addition, they have the property of selective focusing. That is, they are able to concentrate their eyes on the most important things, completely ignoring everything else. And to determine the difference between light and darkness, they do not need eyes at all, they feel it with their skin.
The flight of postal individuals is more rapid and direct, and they stretch their neck more than other domestic pigeons.
On average, the life expectancy of carrier pigeons is about 20 years, of which they devote at least 15 years to their service.
How pigeon mail works
Pigeon mail can only work in one direction, and is based on the ability of birds to find the place where they were raised, at almost any distance and in the most difficult conditions. A person who wants to send a message to any point must pick up a carrier pigeon from there and take it with him in a cage or container. When, after some time, he needs to send a letter, he attaches it to the foot of a dove and releases it to freedom. The dove always returns to its native dovecote. But it is impossible to send a response using the same bird, and it is also difficult to make sure that the message has been received. Therefore, usually in certain places they built large dovecotes, in which they kept both their own birds and those that were grown in other settlements. Of course, pigeon mail had other drawbacks: on the road, predators or hunters could watch the bird, sometimes severe weather conditions did not allow the pigeon to complete its mission. However, before the invention of radio, pigeon mail was the fastest way to send a message.
How carrier pigeons determine where to fly
Despite the fact that the carrier pigeon, released to freedom, only has to return home, this is not always easy to do. After all, birds were sometimes taken away in closed containers thousands of kilometers from their home and even injected into deep anesthesia along the way. Despite this, the pigeons still found their way home safely. Scientists have long been interested in how carrier pigeons determine the right direction in a distant and completely unfamiliar area and find their way to the addressee.
First, they are guided by a deeply rooted instinct, akin to that which leads migratory flocks of birds to move south in the fall and return back in the spring. Only carrier pigeons return either to the place where they were born, or to where their partner or partner remained. This instinct even received a special name – homing (from the English word “home”, which means home in translation).
The mechanism of orientation of carrier pigeons in space has not yet been fully elucidated. There are only many hypotheses, each of which has one or another confirmation. Most likely, there is a simultaneous influence of several factors at once that help carrier pigeons correctly determine the direction.
First of all, carrier pigeons are distinguished by a high degree of development of the brain and memory, as well as sharp eyesight. The combination of these factors helps to capture a huge amount of information associated with many kilometers of routes. Pigeons are able to use the sun or other celestial bodies as a guide, and it seems that this ability is innate in them.
The presence of the so-called “natural magnet” was also revealed in birds. It allows you to determine the degree of magnetic field strength at the place of birth and stay of a pigeon. And then, referring to the magnetic lines of the entire planet, find out the correct direction of the path.
Not so long ago, a version appeared and has already been confirmed that the infrasound system helps the orientation of pigeons in space. These vibrations, inaudible to the human ear, with a frequency of less than 10 Hz, are perfectly perceived by pigeons. They can be transmitted over considerable distances and serve as landmarks for birds. There is also a version that carrier pigeons find their way home thanks to smells. At the very least, the birds, which lacked the sense of smell, went astray and often did not reach home.
An experiment was set up when a tiny radio transmitter with an antenna was placed on the back of the birds. According to the data received from him, it was possible to understand that the pigeons, returning home, do not fly in a straight line, but periodically change direction. Although the general vector of their movement remains correct. This suggests that with each deviation from the route, some currently most convenient way of orientation is triggered.
carrier pigeon speed
It was not in vain that pigeon mail was considered one of the fastest before the development of modern telecommunications. After all, a carrier pigeon flies at an average speed of 50-70 km / h. Often its flight speed reaches 90-100 km / h. And this is already more than the speed of the mail train. Depending on weather conditions, pigeons fly at an altitude of 110-150 m.
How far can a carrier pigeon fly
Until some time, it was believed that the maximum distance that a carrier pigeon could cover was about 1100 km. But later facts were recorded and longer trips, 1800 km, and even more than 2000 km.
What do carrier pigeons usually deliver?
In former times, carrier pigeons carried mainly informational messages on fabric, papyrus or paper. They played a special role during various military conflicts, when it was necessary to keep in touch with besieged cities or deliver important orders.
Subsequently, it turned out that these birds are able to carry a load of about 1/3 of their weight, that is, about 85-90 g. As a result, carrier pigeons began to be used not only for transmitting paper messages, but also for all kinds of experiments. Mini cameras were attached to them, and the birds played the role of scouts and photojournalists. In criminal circles, pigeons are still used to transfer small valuable items or even drug packets.
Carrier pigeon breeds with photos and names
Breeds of carrier pigeons were bred rather with the aim of selecting the strongest and most enduring individuals capable of overcoming long distances and numerous obstacles. Their distinctive feature is considered to be pronounced circles around the eyes.
English
One of the oldest breeds are English postmen. Their rich pedigree, like that of the Belgian carrier pigeons, dates back to the countries of the Ancient East and Egypt. They have a beautiful appearance and excellent speed data. Birds have a large body size, medium head and large eyes with eyelids. The feathers are hard. The beak is thick, long and straight, with warty growths. Plumage color can be almost anything: white, gray, black, yellow, chestnut and variegated.
Belgian
Belgian carrier pigeons have also existed since ancient times. Their body shape is more rounded, and the chest is powerful and well formed. The legs and neck are rather short. The tail is narrow and small. Shortened wings are usually tightly pressed to the body. The eyes are dark with light eyelids. Color can be the most diverse.
carrier pigeons were bred by crossing European breeds with local birds. The result was rather large individuals with an elegant head shape and powerful wings, usually tightly pressed to the body and curving at the edges. The beak is sharp, of medium length. On long strong paws, plumage is completely absent. The eyes have a distinctive orange-red color. Most often, these carrier pigeons are white, but occasionally a gray-motley color is also found among them.
Dragons
The so-called dragons have also been known as carrier pigeons since ancient times. They are very active, have excellent spatial orientation, and are unpretentious in keeping. The body is dense, the head is large with large eyes. The bright orange color of the eyes goes well with the long beak. The wings are strong, the tail is usually lowered down.
German
German carrier pigeons were bred relatively recently using Dutch and English breeds. Breeders paid more attention to the external parameters of birds, such as rapid growth and beautiful appearance. However, the flight speed was also not ignored. The pigeons turned out to be quite compact in size with a long neck, large eyes and a small strong beak. Long legs and a short tail complete the overall picture of the bird’s appearance. Most often there is a white and gray color of plumage, although there are also reddish, yellowish, brown birds.
Features of sports pigeons
To date, the concept of carrier pigeon is considered obsolete. Such pigeons are usually called sports. After several years of keeping and training, the birds take part in sports competitions, where they demonstrate their flying qualities, beauty and endurance. Accordingly, all the above features of carrier pigeons are also inherent in sports individuals.
How much do carrier pigeons cost
Of course, an ordinary carrier pigeon can be bought quite inexpensively, on average for 800-1000 rubles. The Internet is replete with such offers. But no one will guarantee that such a bird can achieve great success and become a winner in competitions. In special clubs and nurseries, the price of a decent sports pigeon with a pedigree starts from 10000 rubles.
In European countries, breeders breeding elite breeds of sporting pigeons sell their birds for an average of 10-15 thousand euros. And one of the most expensive was a pigeon named “Dolce Vita”, sold for $ 330000.
But this is not the limit either. The most expensive carrier pigeon in history, listed in the Guinness Book of Records, was a bird named Armando, sold to China at an auction in East Flanders for 1,25 million euros.
How carrier pigeons are trained
It is desirable that the carrier pigeon be born in the place where it will subsequently return. In extreme cases, you can take on the upbringing of a 20-week-old chick, but not older. It is better to have your own pair of pigeons or lay eggs under your own dove.
If the chicks were born from their own pigeons, then at about the age of 3 weeks they are removed from their parents and taught to live independently.
At 2-3 months of age, the chicks begin to show interest in flying, and they can be released to fly near the dovecote. If there is a need to quickly train the bird, then after the release it is chased, not allowing it to land. Under normal conditions, you can just keep the aviary open all day.
At the same time, it is necessary to accustom the pigeon to a portable cage. First, just close it in it for the night, then ride in the car for short distances (up to 15-20 km) and let it out.
Gradually increase the distance, bringing it to 100 km. If at first the birds are released in flocks, then they do it one by one, so that the pigeons get used to navigating the terrain on their own.
When the pigeon returns home earlier than its owner, the exercises can be made more difficult by releasing the birds at dusk, in cloudy or rainy weather.
After long flights (about a day or more), pigeons must be given a good rest before being released for a new task.
Breeding carrier pigeons
Usually, new dovecotes are populated with chicks aged 20 to 30 days. Each bird is ringed or branded and information about it (number, gender, date of birth) is entered in a special book. Pigeons can be considered adults as early as 5 months old and are paired at 6 months old. A dove usually lays two eggs. So that they develop simultaneously, after the first egg is laid, it is removed for a day or two in a dark, warm place, and a plastic one is placed instead. And only after the second egg is laid, the first is returned to its place. The eggs are incubated alternately by both parents.
If by the time of hatching both eggs are not viable, then the parent pair of pigeons must be placed to feed at least one chick from another nest. After all, a special nutrient fluid accumulates in the goiter of the male and female, and if you do not give it an outlet, then the birds can get sick.
Chicks usually appear on the 17th day. They are blind and helpless, and their parents feed them for the first 10-12 days, first with nutritious juice from the goiter, then with swollen grains. On the 14th day, the pigeon chicks are covered with down, and the parents continue to warm them only at night.
Pigeons live in pairs and remain faithful to their half throughout their lives. In summer, they can make up to 3-4 clutches. In winter, in the cold, egg laying usually stops. The best pigeons usually appear from birds at the age of 3-4 years.
Pigeons are usually fed 3 times a day, feeding about 410 g of feed per bird per week. With enhanced training of carrier pigeons, the amount of feed is doubled. They also need more food during the molting period and on especially frosty days in order to warm themselves from the inside. The composition of the feed includes mainly yellow field peas and vetch. For a strong eggshell, chalk, sand and salt are needed. Additives of animal food contribute to the harmonious development of pigeon chicks and reproduction. Drinking water should be changed regularly. In addition, in summer, birds need water for bathing.
Interesting facts about carrier pigeons
Pigeons in the entire history of their existence with humans have shown themselves to be hardy and faithful creatures who have provided many invaluable services.
- In 1871, French Prince Carl Friedrich gave his mother a dove as a gift. 4 years later, in 1875, the bird broke free and returned to Paris to its dovecote.
- The Swedish scientist Andre was going to reach the North Pole in a balloon and took a pigeon with him on his trip. But the scientist was not destined to return home. While the bird flew back safely.
- There are cases when a Dutch carrier pigeon flew 2700 km in just 18 days.
- The White Guards, leaving Sevastopol for a foreign land, took carrier pigeons with them. But, the released birds gradually returned to their homeland, having covered more than 2000 km.
- Even the high snow-capped peaks of the mountains are not a real obstacle for carrier pigeons. Cases of their return home to Brussels from Rome through the Alps have been recorded.
- Pigeons transported precious stones under their wings from England to France on the personal orders of Napoleon.
- During the First World War, a carrier pigeon named Sher Ami, being himself wounded in the chest and paw, delivered a message about the missing battalion, which helped save 194 people from death. The bird was awarded a gold medal and a French Military Cross.
Conclusion
Pigeon mail is not as popular today as it was in years gone by. But the phenomenon of free orientation of pigeons in a completely unfamiliar area is so mysterious that the interest of scientists in deciphering it has not weakened to this day.
