Love and Pigeons: A Family's Three-Generation Bird-Keeping Tradition
On the property of Irkutsk resident Nikolai Novikov stands a pigeon loft, which his father built 25 years ago.
«Personally, I»ve been involved with pigeons since I was about six, as long as I can remember. And so we«ve kept pigeons for three generations now,» 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 their 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 to raise it. I took it far away — it flew home, I took it — it flew. That»s it, now it has such indicators,« shares Nikolai from experience.
In Europe and Asia, there is a high demand for pigeons; birds are sold for large sums, competitions are organized, and bets are placed. But Nikolai fundamentally does not sell his feathered friends. All one and a half hundred live with him for the pleasure of it.
«You just sit and watch as they flutter and tumble — it»s beautiful. In the evening when you go to feed them, they all run and flock to you — some landing on your head, some on your neck. They eat from your hand,« comments the pigeon fancier.
