At-Risk Kids Soar with "Roller Pigeons"

(CBS)  First thing Bobby Wilson tells visitors is please, do not pre-judge his pigeons.

"These are not rats with wings," Wilson said. "That's why I want you guys to see 'em perform."

CBS News correspondent Steve Hartman reports they're called Roller Pigeons - because once airborne, they roll like gymnasts in the Cirque du Poulet.

No one knows why they do it. They just do it. Roller Pigeon buffs like Wilson breed them to roll better and longer. They even have competitions. But that's a story for another day. Today we're focusing on how these birds are getting people to turn over - a new leaf.

"Once you get into these pigeons, man, it can save you," Wilson said. "I think it's better than religion."

Web Extra: Pricey Pigeon

He speaks from experience. He's now a Los Angeles music producer but once he was a gang member. He spent five years in prison and when he got out in 2007, he had two goals in mind - find something that would keep him out of trouble, and do something to make up for his crimes: two goals and one solution.

Bobby's Roller Pigeon Magazine

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"I just love helping kids and with the pigeons I can get through to little young guys like him," Wilson said.

Before Wilson got him into pigeons, young Taisean was in freefall himself -- rolling headlong into the gang lifestyle.

"I was getting close to it, but with the help of Bobby, I avoided it," Taisean said.

Now he's planning on college instead.

How can a pigeon save a kid?

"Once you get in with these pigeons, feeding, watering and seeing to them, it's going to be too late to get into some trouble," Wilson said.

It just may be the most unconventional gang-prevention program in the country. Using donations and the some of the money he makes from selling his pigeon magazine, Wilson provides kids with the food, the pens, even the birds.

Each starter set comes with lessons and lifetime 24 hour assistance.

So far Wilson, now a music producer, has taken about 20 kids under his proverbial wing.

"Twenty kids that would be doing something else," Wilson said.

Wilson really thinks his pigeons have that much potential for change. Of course, what he doesn't realize is that the birds are inconsequential. It could be snakes or stamps and kids would still respond to the real catalyst for change here - a human being who's been there and cares.

[slysloft2]

Just to add a note to my first comment: Hybrids are, for the most part, produced by artificial insemination. Another reason for hybridization, especially in the U.S.A., is that there are less stringent regulations regarding import/export of hybrids compared to pure bred birds. They can also ship over eggs easier than the live birds.

[slysloft2]

Go Bobby GO, The kids really do need all the help they can get! My hat is off to you! These kids can learn alot using NATURE to develop all the beautiful colors that come along with these Rollers. And also the Love and Friendship they will develop with their birds. Sure beats a video game! I also agree with the retired homicide officer who is now raising Birds of Peace. I assume he is tired of violence. My hat goes off to him too.

[8ballpro]

I am a retired homicide detective who now lives the quiet life raising various fancy pigeon's. I would like to commend Mr. Wilson and all that he is doing. I sometimes have various breeds of birds I could donate to his cause. I would love to help Mr. Wilson in helping these kids to stay out of gangs. My hat is off to you sir. Please get in touch at: [e-mail] Mike

[outlaw3455]

Lets see....1250 hawks a year and there are still thousands...can somebody say overpopulation of Certain Hawks. Is it normal for hawks to have no fear of humans and attack song birds and pigeons alike....with a human standing right next to the feeder....nope ...that is because they are STARVING...why are they starving....to many hawks not enough food. should there be that many hawks in a city environment....there are not even that many hawks in a country environment with enough food. I wish all these pigeon guys would not fly there birds for like three months straight and watch all the hawks fall out of the sky from starvation...so the natural balance can go back to normal. I think hawks are a beautiful animal as well as all animals...but coopers have recovered and then some....dont let the facts get in the way of a good story..

Second....so you would rather see our youth kill humans over an animal....that is why our society is messed up..we spend to much time and money protecting over populated animals or hugging a tree instead of education and taking care of our youth....what a retarded statement.

[mojoro23]

Joe, the Liberals have nothing better to do then sit around and ***** and complain, that's all I ever here, all words and no action.

SR

[JMUrbon]

You guys keep consistantly lumping the entire roller hobby into one neat and tidy package to fit your agenda. I guess we should lump all police officers together as bad cops because the few and same as attorneys and doctors. I want you to address the question as to were all of the song birds are going and dont dispute the fact that studies show a large decline in the song birds. I would also ask the you just take a peak out you car window sometime while traveling down a country road. I have counted more than 100 birds of prey in just a few miles. There will come a time when they will be killing each other off due to overpopulation. Please dont get me wrong here as I enjoy watching the birds of prey and dont feel they should be harmed in any way. I just dont feel all of the roller breeders need to be dragged through the mud because of the few.

[BXBDUX]

Oh ya, well YOU GUYS keep consistently lumping any person you don't agree with into some secret mystery group that has an AGENDA.
I'll tell you whos killing all the song birds. It's my cat. Your cat. Millions of cats.
Birds of prey kill song birds and pigeons because that's a function of nature. We shouldn't fight it.
A high population of domesticated cats in a small area is not natural. A concentration of expensive hobby birds is not natural.
And your overpopulation theory of BoP's is greatly flawed.
As for roller hobbyists, I wouldn't make a big deal if I believed there WERE just a FEW bad apples. But in every blog, website, etc made by rollers, they'll say they don't condone killing of birds of prey, and then immediately launch into an emotional tirade about how there are too many birds of prey. Like it's a prevalent underlying belief. You did it yourself! So that's my question. What do the majority of rollers REALLY think about birds of prey?

[evilloft]

keep up the good work bobby

[BXBDUX]

Here is a link to the dark history of roller pigeon enthusiasts.
http://wildbirdonthefly.blogspot.com/2007/06/pigeon-breeders-charged-with-killing.html

[evilloft]

CHECK THIS OUT
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikDpYwDKQ_A

[BXBDUX]

You can't blame a hawk for being a hawk.

[BXBDUX]

Good for this gentleman getting kids out of trouble and all, but roller pigeon hobbyists have a dark underside. They naturally hate the sight of their expensive pigeons getting plucked out of the sky by their natural enemies -- federally protected hawks and falcons.
Their love for these beautiful pigeons turns them into killers of beautiful birds of prey. They've even had websites with "how-to" instructions for trapping and killing them.
Oregon and Washington have struggled with these sick and twisted "bird lovers" as well.

[outlaw3455]

Hey Falcon guys does this ring a bell from your dark side....http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Falcon_(USFWS_operation)

Falconers have a deep dark underside too....how soon we forget about the sting operation on falconers and raptor lovers whom were selling the birds to foreign countries for big bucks and claiming the birds had died or were lost...or using there permits as Raptor lovers and trapping Falcons and BOP and shipping them over seas.....my point being..there are sick and twisted people in every sport, hobby, job etc etc....hell most serial killers are white males....maybe we are all serial killers...give me a break....Not all people are like that.

BOP are federally protected because of the DDT back in the 70's and the protection was put on so the numbers could be brought back up....studies have shown that the numbers have recovered far more then the targets set by the protection....usually the protection is lifted so as to not upset the balance of predator and prey.....how many hawks do people need in the CITY....there are plenty out in the country...I know I live in the country....lets these guys fly there pigeons...why always a negative in anything positive....I guess that is the American way now right....I say salute the man for taking kids off the streets....

What happened to innocent until proving guilty....or how about just because there is one bad apple..it does not mean the whole bushel is ruined....man...tree huggers are such jack *****...those who live in glass houses shall not cast stones.

[8ballpro]

What many people don't know is the Roller Pigeon by instinct, rolls as their only defense to predators and it often works. But the balance of nature dictates that some will lose their life despite their rolling.

[criticalthought]

Unfortunately, the children brought into this movement may be trading violence against humans for violence against the natural world. For the May-June 2008 issue of Audubon Magazine, Ted Williams discussed an undercover operation that proved roller pigeon clubs were killing large numbers of hawks and falcons. Williams quotes the federal wildlife officer: "If we conservatively say that 50 percent of the 250 roller members in L.A. are killing 10 hawks a year, you?re talking 1,250 hawks in L.A. alone." This practice casts quite a shadow on this hobby.

[evilloft]

CHECK THIS OUT
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikDpYwDKQ_A