This is one of those ideas that might be a total train wreck, but might be a train wreck that one would want to watch. I’m generally not a fan of pigeon racing, especially because losing birds are often abandoned or killed, but at least they are domesticated animals and not wild birds being captured and caged. Thoughts?
Corey is a New Yorker who lived most of his life in upstate New York but has lived in Queens since 2008. He's only been birding since 2005 but has garnered a respectable life list by birding whenever he wasn't working as a union representative or spending time with his family. He lives in Forest Hills with Daisy and Desmond Shearwater. His bird photographs have appeared on the Today Show, in Birding, Living Bird Magazine, Bird Watcher's Digest, and many other fine publications. He is also the author of the American Birding Association Field Guide to the Birds of New York.
Wow! It will be hard NOT to watch this just to see how insane Tyson is.
The only way I’ll watch this show is if Tyson is working as an undercover FWS agent to implicate hawk-killers in the pigeon “fancier” community.
Otherwise, I’m a little disappointed Animal Planet would give them a platform.
Oh god, Tyson is The Anti-Vick. I’m almost disappointed we won’t see it over here, coming as I do, from a long line of pigeon-keepers. By ‘eck, Oop North, eckythump etc.
“losing birds are abandoned or killed…” I’m a wildlife rehabilitator, and we often get calls about abandoned racing pigeons. Even if we can trace them, the owners usually don’t want them back. The birds can’t fend for themselves in the wild, so somebody is stuck trying to find a home for them or they’ll starve to death. Whether they’re domesticated or wild, this is animal abuse in my book and I can’t believe Animal Planet is buying into it. Unless they expose this aspect of the “sport” their credibility is shot for me.
In the article, Tyson is quoted as saying this: “I want people to see why we love these birds. It feels good returning to the rooftops of the city where it all started for me — New York.” Reading this, my heart was warmed. The image of a roof-top NY coop has long been a magical one for me. “Naive romance!” some may say, and I can’t defend myself because I’m basically ignorant about the practice. I admit to never having heard of pigeon racing before, but what I read here about abandoned/killed “losers” does not surprise me whatsoever. I find it typical and very, very sad. I am a staunch anti-breeder when it comes to companion animals … but raising pigeons is a grey area … you can’t point to the obvious overpopulation problems that cats, dogs, and rabbits encounter; and while I don’t doubt that the abandoned pigeons, as individuals, are unequipped for a life outside, you can’t deny the success which domesticated pigeons have met with in the wild (after all, as I’m sure everyone here knows, the pigeons we see in North American cities are not wild, but feral – or are descended from feral ancestors, anyway – and look how they proliferate). There’s the question of the activity itself: do the pigeons enjoy the training? I mean, can they enjoy it? Certainly, dogs can enjoy training. That doesn’t mean there isn’t a wrong way to do it – but, done right (with respect, kindness, patience, love, and a sense of humour), they can and do enjoy it. Can and do these pigeons? Can this be – in its best possible form – a mutually beneficial activity? I don’t know. I just know that pigeons are my favourite bird and I yearn to know them up close. Humankind’s interaction with its environment is always a troubling subject, and I’m not at all an advocate of thoughtlessness… I think easy answers are rare, in this messed up world… well, you asked for thoughts, not conclusions! 😉
The fact that these birds ARE domesticated – and then abandoned does stink. In fact it sucks, societies’ mentality will never evolve 🙁
I own white racing homers and use them for releases at special events such as 911 ceremonies, honoring our police and fire departments, patriotic ceremonies, weddings, funerals, and other special events. My birds are from champion racing lines and are well fed, flown regularly, kept in a loft that is cleaned daily, and cared for when sick (which they seldom are sick). It is special to see an entire flock circling overhead and brings joy and peace to those observing. They love to fly and they will live for 15 years as compared to feral pigeons that have a life span of 2 years. If it were not for pigeon racing and showing we would not have the quality of birds we have to day, birds that people enjoy watching and raising.