Irkutsk Family Keeps Pigeons for Three Generations
On the property of Irkutsk resident Nikolai Novikov stands a pigeon loft, which his father built 25 years ago.
“I personally have been involved with pigeons since I was about six, as long as I can remember. And so we have been keeping pigeons for three generations already,” he says.
Watch the story about love and birds in the video above.
Nikolai left his business and became a taxi driver to adjust his schedule to the needs of the birds. Carrier pigeons can fly 500–600 kilometers a day, so they need to be taken far from home to train endurance and orientation.
“A chick, for example, doesn«t show itself, just sits on the roof, some pigeon fanciers say: »We«ll remove it, sell it, or something else.» No, my policy is that I raise it. I took it farther away — it flew home, I took it — it flew. That«s it, now it has such indicators,” shares Nikolai.
In Europe and Asia, there is a crazy demand for pigeons, birds are sold for big money, competitions are held, bets are made. But Nikolai fundamentally does not sell his feathered ones. All one and a half hundred live with him for the soul.
“You just sit, watch, they beat, tumble — beauty. In the evening, you go to feed them, they all run, flock to you — some on the head, some on the neck. They eat from the hand,” comments the pigeon fancier.
