If you’ve ever attended a wedding or memorial tribute with a bird release, you may have wondered how the animals knew how to get home after the event. The ability of doves and other members of the pigeon family to return to their roost from various locations has been observed throughout history. The art of specifically training these birds has endured from Genghis Khan’s 12th-century pigeon relay posts all the way to modern-day fanciers. This article explains how trainers ensure their feathered friends always make it home safely.

How Trainers Work With Homing Pigeons

1. Start Them Young

Chicks begin imprinting on their homes as soon as they hatch, and by the time they’re 8 weeks old, they form an attachment to their loft. Relocating the birds after this point makes training trickier. Fanciers prefer to begin with young, flightless pigeons. By the time their feathers come in, they already view the nesting area as their home base. 

2. Make Their Loft Comfortable

A dove’s needs are relatively simple. It requires an area that’s safe from predators and protected from bad weather, and it also needs ample food and water. These birds mate for life, and breeders will provide each pair with its own nesting area. Professionals make sure these conditions are always met, so the pigeons have no reason to search out alternate habitats.

3. Practice at Feeding Time

Food incentives are a common way to encourage young birds to return home, especially during their first few releases. Professional trainers will start by establishing regular feeding hours. They will also transport the pigeons outside the coop and release them just before they expect their food to arrive. The desire to reach their dinner inspires the animals to return promptly.

4. Build Distance Gradually

While pigeons do have a natural homing instinct, young birds don’t have the strength or experience to fly long distances during their first releases. Their earliest training exercises are conducted within sight of the loft so it’s easy for the pigeons to realize where they are and learn how to reach their roost from the outside. With daily training flights, fanciers can gradually increase the distance between a release and the loft. Thoroughly trained doves are able to cover hundreds of miles in a day.

If you’re interested in enhancing an upcoming occasion with a bird release, reach out to A Sign of Peace White Dove Releases in Erlanger, KY. Their professionally trained birds are available as single doves or in a full flock. These winged creatures add a positive symbol of kindness, peace, and fidelity to any event. They follow a careful program to ensure the animals know how to return home, so you can enjoy the display without worrying about the doves’ well-being or safety. Call (859) 727-3254 to ask about availability, or visit them online to learn more about their birds.