| Carrier Pigeons DiscoveredPigeons were used during | | | | Recent studies also indicate that olfactory senses help |
| the Roman Empire and by the Egyptians as far back | | | | the birds navigate. Once they get close to their home |
| as 2900 B.C., when incoming ships released pigeons to | | | | destination, it is hypothesized that carrier pigeons also |
| carry news of important guests arriving. Ancient | | | | navigate by sight, recognizing familiar landmarks. |
| Greece used homing pigeons to carry news of | | | | Modern Uses of Carrier PigeonsHoming pigeons are |
| winners of Olympic competitions back to hometowns. | | | | no longer routinely used for message delivery, with the |
| During the 11th century in Baghdad, the one-way | | | | last official military regiments in India retiring a few |
| message system of carrier pigeons was developed. | | | | years ago due to the rise of internet communications. |
| Until 1844, upon the invention of the telegraph, carrier | | | | Carrier pigeons first lost their jobs with the invention of |
| pigeons were the fastest and most reliable form of | | | | the telegraph, but were widely used again for about 75 |
| message-transmission. Pigeons can reach top speeds | | | | years in military services around the world. |
| of 45 miles per hour. | | | | Carrier pigeons have even been used to transmit |
| Carrier Pigeons Save the Day | | | | internet signals! The IP address IPoAC (Internet |
| During the Franco-Prussian war of 1870-1871, | | | | Protocol over Avian Carrier) was created in the late |
| occupying forces cut the telegraph wires of Paris. City | | | | 1990s. Until April 28, 2001, nobody had used this IP. The |
| residents sent carrier pigeons out of the city via hot-air | | | | Bergen Linux User Group decided to transmit data via |
| balloon, releasing one pigeon after the balloon made it | | | | the IPoAC and, with the help of a local Carrier Pigeon |
| safely out of the city, to alert residents that the | | | | enthusiasts club, successfully transmitted several |
| pigeons had made it out. The pigeons, with messages | | | | packets of data. Unfortunately, some of the data was |
| attached, were released back into the city, carrying | | | | lost, as some of the pigeons did not return to their |
| their messages between dwellings. From that war, on, | | | | home lofts! |
| military commanders were outfitted with regiments of | | | | Now that the internet has taken over as the fastest |
| carrier pigeons, trained to fly back to lofts beyond the | | | | means of communication, homing pigeons are mainly |
| war front. The messages they carried could then be | | | | used for pigeon racing. The sport is huge in Belgium, |
| read and utilized by military commanders. | | | | with daily pigeon weather reports broadcast over radio |
| During World War I, the most famous homing pigeon | | | | stations. In the United States, the American Racing |
| of all, Cher Ami which is French for 'My Friend', saved | | | | Pigeon Union regulates pigeon racing, and keeps a |
| the lost battalion of American soldiers from being | | | | registry of pigeon band numbers. All domesticated |
| surrounded by the Germans, and fired upon by friendly | | | | homing pigeons are outfitted with a band at the age of |
| fire of fellow American soldiers aiming for the | | | | five weeks, which contains a number and a chip that is |
| Germans and missing them. The pigeon flew through a | | | | scanned when the pigeons return home during pigeon |
| torrent of bullets to deliver its message to a military | | | | races. |
| post away from the front, alerting commanders that | | | | Raising and Training Carrier PigeonsTo raise a |
| the battalion needed help. For its honorable and brave | | | | successful flock of carrier pigeons, you must create a |
| deed, Cher Ami was awarded the French Cross of | | | | pigeon loft. The loft should be composed of indoor and |
| War medal. Upon its' passing, the bird was stuffed, and | | | | outdoor space. Pigeons need places to rest or roost, |
| put on display at the Smithsonian Institute. Military | | | | food and sources of water to drink and bathe in. |
| personnel also used carrier pigeons during World War II | | | | Pigeons mate for life. When pigeons are born, they are |
| and the Korean War. Many pigeons from each war | | | | covered in yellow down. They grow their grey-colored |
| earned military honors for their contribution. | | | | feathers soon after birth. At the age of four weeks, |
| Carrier Pigeons are One-Way Messengers | | | | the chicks will begin flying around the pigeon loft. At six |
| Carrier pigeons, or homing pigeons, are trained to | | | | weeks, they can fly outside of the loft, and at two |
| return back to a specific pigeon loft. Therefore, | | | | months can begin road training. Pigeons fly one way, |
| message sending and receiving only works in one | | | | and that is home. When training a homing pigeon, take |
| direction. The message sender must have a pigeon | | | | it further away each time you release it. Once it has |
| that will fly back to the message receiver. Messages | | | | successfully returned home 40 times, it is ready to |
| are written on very light paper (cigarette paper), and | | | | race. |
| rolled into tiny canisters affixed to the birds legs. This | | | | Carrier pigeons are the unsung heroes of military |
| method of communication is called Pigeon Post. | | | | conflicts past. They were the first official sports |
| Research indicates that these birds use a variety of | | | | announcers, and kept war-weary citizens in touch with |
| mechanisms in order to home in on their destination. | | | | each other. Now used for racing, and, in some parts of |
| Magnetite, a substance in the birds beak, works via the | | | | the world, message-sending for special occasions, |
| trigeminal nerve to sense magnetic fields in the earth. | | | | pigeons continue to be part of world culture. |