The Plight Of The Underrated Pigeons

The Birds, Experts Say, Are Unique And Smarter Than Many Think

(CBS)  This story originally aired on March 18, 2007.

Pigeon trainers and breeders take seriously their birds' reputation very seriously because know that many people don't like pigeons and call them flying rats.

"Street pigeons are kind of like homeless people," Bill Cox said. "They look the same in appearance. But if you were to take those pigeons and domesticate them, give them a bath everyday, they would materialize into a much more attractive bird."

Pigeons are bred not only for show, but also for speed. Pigeon racing is an international sport. Birds, all brought to a specific site, are released together. Sometimes flying at speeds of more than 60 miles an hour, they travel hundreds of miles back to their homes, called coops or lofts.

Tony Borelli of Staten Island, N.Y., has owned racing or homing pigeons since 1951. He says keeping the pigeons helps keep him sane.

"When things get too much I can come out in the coop and just sit in here," he said.

But when Braver caught up with him, Borelli was getting his birds ready for a 340 mile race — making sure they are well fed and rested.

"Thoroughbreds of the sky — this is poor man's horseracing," he said.

Borelli packed up his aspiring champions and drove downtown to the Staten Island Pigeon Club where racing pals are gathering, too. Each bird was electronically registered via a small band on its foot. The prize money came to about $3,000, but Borelli said that's not why he races. It's the suspense they love.

Pigeons' ability to always find their way home is legendary. It is what's called the homing instincts. But how it actually works is still a mystery.

"Well, some of the top minds can't really quite figure it out," Andrew Blechman, author of the book "Pigeons," said. "But they seem to be able to sense the Earth's magnetic field so that'll bring 'em home. They can also use the sun and the moon and the stars, and they also have ultrasonic hearing. They can hear the wind over the Rockies, you know, blowing across it about 2,000 miles away."

Blechman says pigeons have an important place in history. A pigeon delivered word of the first Olympics.

"776 B.C. and it was a lot better than a runner — it took the runner all day, and he died afterwards," Blechman said. "Noah's dove was actually a pigeon. In fact, a pigeon and a dove are just the same thing. People think that it's if its white and small it's gotta be a dove, but a pigeon is a dove."

Pigeons and doves are actually both descendents of the same species.

Pigeons have long been used by the military, carrying messages for the allies in both World Wars. Even Queen Elizabeth fields racing pigeons and has her own royal loft.

That hasn't stopped London and many other cities from trying to reduce its pigeon population. Blechman says he's all for humane pigeon control but he insists the pigeons' "dirty bird" reputation is undeserved.

"They don't carry any more disease than you or me," he said. "They really don't. In fact they seem to be immune to avian flu."

And Blechman says he has come to admire these birds. They are sociable and gentle, monogamous, good parents and great athletes.

"They're an unusual creature and they deserve a second chance, at least another look," he said.

Tony Borelli couldn't agree more. His birds and the others in the race were released early that morning and now he was waiting, worried about unexpectedly high winds.

"The stronger the wind, the less chance they have of flying a straight line and so it takes them longer," he said.

Finally he spotted a few in the air. As each crossed into a coop, its foot ring registered on a hidden sensor, which records the bird's arrival time. Borelli's best bird placed fourth in this race.

"His mother was a 400-mile winner," he said. "She'd be proud."

But win or lose, Borelli says there is nothing like participating in a race.

"You get a rush," he said. "It's like hitting a jackpot in Atlantic City. Even if you don't win, you know, these are like your pet children and look, 'Hey, look, my pet came!'"

[fhtfire]

Now you...with the put the birds in the trunk...well unless he put the birds in the trunk of an old 75 model car...there may be a risk of gas fumes...but in this day and age because of smog rules your gas tank does NOT leak fumes. The tanks are sealed and the vents are far from the trunk and even pass through charcoal or other filter systems before it reaches the atmosphere. Your tank is sealed! that is why you open your gas cap on your car and it goes chhh..it would not make that sound if fumes were aloud to escape . If the fumes are in the trunk..trust me they are in the car too. Second, so the birds don''t get sunlight for an hour or two..oh my gosh how inhumane...these pigeon racers feed there birds the best feed, the lofts are so clean you could eat off of them, they get the best medications, sun cages...and guess what.THEY GET TO FLY! How about your parrots..do they get to fly around or do they get there wings clipped and sit in a cage all day. SOme of these lofts are walk in lofts and the birds get to fly around. So get your facts straight before you toot your horn. Pigeons are not parrots ..get my point. WOuld you put your prize pigeon at risk of dying..oh hell no..that bird can make you a lot of money..how about a horse crammed into a horse trailer on a hot day..that must suck. Gas fumes, darkness, man, these racing pigeon guys spend more money and time keeping there birds it TIP TOP shape with the best of everything

rock and ROLL

Paul

[fhtfire]

Both of you have to much time on your hands. He was not saying that homeless people are like pigeons. Geez...he was just saying that street pigeons well, do not have a home or loft. Man he was just stating facts, I don''t know about you but alot of the homeless people I see kind of look the same in what they wear etc. Just like most rich people look the same in what they wear 1000.00 purses.LOL He was just saying that you take a street pigeon and feed them and house them and give them love and care and they look a lot different. I would imagine that if you take a homeless person, fed them, give them a job, and love and care they would look different. Read between the lines. I volunteer at a homeless shelter and I have friends that were homeless at one time and they read the piece and were not offended. They said...see if you give them love and care and a good meal they can look and feel a lot better.

Paul

[viewer15]

I''m offended by Bill Cox saying "Street pigeons are kind of like homeless people. They look the same in appearance..." Even taken in context, it''s a careless thing to say & should have been edited out. I work in downtown LA & see homeless people everyday--I never think of the " they all look alike" reference to refer to them. It''s sad that people don''t want to "see" other people less fortunate individuals & are de-humanized, almost as pigeons, as Bill Cox said they remind him of. It''s just plain bad journalism to broadcast this out, making it an acceptable way to consider a specific group of people as almost pigeons.

[abirdlover]

I was watching this program this morning and I was apalled at the footage of Mr. Borelli carrying the crates out to his car and placing them in the trunk and closing the trunk lid trapping the pigeons inside with no light and very little air not to mention the temperature of a closed trunk. Add to the mix the leakage of gas fumes since the birds are sitting right above the gas tank. Anyone who loves their birds does research on them and knows how delicate their respiratory systems are. Mr. Borelli professed how they are like his "children" so apparently this is also how he travelled with his own "real" kids. If I ever, ever even think of doing this to my birds (six parrots), someone please take me out and shoot me because I definitely don''t deserve to have the pleasure of their company. When I need to travel with my feathered brood, not only are they in safety carriers in the back seat of the car but those same carriers are also buckled in using the cars seatbelts. I also belong to many bird clubs throughout the US and have forwarded this show of mistreatment onto them to use a wake-up call for "stupid and uneducated" bird owners like Mr. Borelli. Hopefully, since they''re are alot of people out there like me who love their birds, maybe we can cause enough of a stir to get Mr. Borelli and others like him, the bird education they are lacking.