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Troy Shantz
The judge paces back and forth, eyeing a row of cages, making observations.
John DeCarlo Jr. has come from California to Sarnia to examine some of the finest fancy pigeons around.
Judge John DeCarlo Jr. came from California where he is president of the U.S. National Pigeon Association.
Troy Shantz
A lump of tobacco wedged in his cheek, the president of the U.S. National Pigeon Association notes the wings of one, points out feathers on another.
The assembled breeders and owners are on the edge of their folding seats, hanging on every word.
DeCarlo selects the winners and spits in a cup. Assistants in lab coats decorated with club patches whisk away the birds that don't make the grade.
'It's really about competitiveness,' explained Gary Parsons, president of the Sarnia Pigeon, Poultry and Pet Stock Association.
The small but active club hosts an international pigeon show each year, one that draws breeders from across Canada and the U.S.
After determining this Jacobin didn't quite make the grade, judge John Manckia offers feedback to Quebec pigeon breeders Terry and Kerry Lapointe, right.
Troy Shantz
It's the feathered equivalent of classic dog or cat show competition, Parsons said.
The last one in December at DeGroot's Nurseries showcased more than 700 decorative birds with fancy breed names like Jacobins, fantails and trumpeters.
Unlike racing pigeons, fancy pigeons are raised exclusively for their exotic looks, with the desired characteristics of ideal specimens delineated in the Encyclopedia of Pigeon Standards.
Parsons keeps 40 in a backyard coop, where he enjoys watching them go about their business.
'I just love looking at the birds,' he said.
Master breeder and event judge John Manckia examines a trio of Jacobins.
Troy Shantz
DID YOU KNOW?
* Pigeons are the world's oldest domesticated bird. Domestication, noted in Egyptian hieroglyphics, may have occurred as early as 10,000 years ago, research suggests.
A breed of fancy pigeon known as a ‘Helmet' was one of 700 birds on display at the Sarnia Pigeon, Poultry and Petstock Association's most recent international show.
Troy Shantz
* Pigeon navigation is equally mysterious and amazing. Trained homing pigeon have flown home from 1,000 kilometres away, even when transported, covered, in isolation and their cages rotated.
* Sports fan in ancient Greece reportedly used pigeons to spread the news from the Olympic games, and Genghis Khan had a pigeon-based postal network to stay in touch.
* Combating nations used large numbers of pigeons during both World Wars. France awarded a medal, the Croix de Guerre, to one bird named Cher Ami, which completed a 1918 mission that led to the rescue of 194 U.S. soldiers.
Fancy pigeon refers to any breed of domestic pigeon, which is a domesticated form of the wild rock dove (Columba livia). They are bred by pigeon fanciers for various traits relating to size, shape, color, and behavior,[1] and often exhibited at pigeon shows, fairs and other livestock exhibits.[2]
There are about 800 pigeon breeds; considering all regional varieties all over the world there may be 1100 breeds.[3] The European list of fancy pigeons alone names about 500 breeds.[4] No other domestic animal has branched out into such a variety of forms and colours.[5]
Charles Darwin is known to have crossbred fancy pigeons, particularly the Ice Pigeon, to study variation within species,[6] this work coming three years before his groundbreaking publication, On the Origin of Species.
Pigeon showing[edit]
Pigeon fanciers from many different countries exhibit their birds at local, inter-state or national shows and compete against one another for prizes.[1] One typical country show in Australia in 2008 had hundreds of pigeons on display and prizes for the winners.[7] In England, the Philoperisteron Society conducted annual shows in the mid 1800s. There were also a London Columbarian Society. The extensive variations in the breeds attracted the attention of Charles Darwin and played a major role in developing ideas on evolution.[8][9]
Some fanciers organize exhibitions exclusively for pigeons; one held in Blackpool run by the Royal Pigeon Racing Association is annually attended by about 25,000 people and generates around £80,000 profit, which is donated to charity.[10]
The largest pigeon show is held in Nuremberg: the German National Pigeon Show, which had over 33,500 pigeons at the 2006 show.[11]
In the United States, there are hundreds of local, state and national pigeon clubs that sponsor shows. The largest shows are the National Young Bird Show, held in Louisville, Kentucky in October, and the National Pigeon Association's Grand National, held in a different city each year and usually in January.
Major breed families[edit]
This grouping system is adapted from Australian Fancy Pigeons National Book of Standards.[12] Consideration was given to the new UK standards book which followed the German and European grouping. This version differs slightly from that of the European grouping; the following system is arbitrary and used solely for organizing breed articles until a grouping can be accepted worldwide.
Asian feather and voice pigeons[edit]
This group includes breeds developed for extensive feathering that originated in the Asian region, as well as breeds cultivated for their trumpeting, or laughing, voice.
- English Trumpeter
Colour pigeons[edit]
Most of these pigeons originate in Germany, and are sometimes listed as German Toys. There are many different varieties, with a wide selection of colours and markings.
Frills and Owls[edit]
A lump of tobacco wedged in his cheek, the president of the U.S. National Pigeon Association notes the wings of one, points out feathers on another.
The assembled breeders and owners are on the edge of their folding seats, hanging on every word.
DeCarlo selects the winners and spits in a cup. Assistants in lab coats decorated with club patches whisk away the birds that don't make the grade.
'It's really about competitiveness,' explained Gary Parsons, president of the Sarnia Pigeon, Poultry and Pet Stock Association.
The small but active club hosts an international pigeon show each year, one that draws breeders from across Canada and the U.S.
After determining this Jacobin didn't quite make the grade, judge John Manckia offers feedback to Quebec pigeon breeders Terry and Kerry Lapointe, right.
Troy Shantz
It's the feathered equivalent of classic dog or cat show competition, Parsons said.
The last one in December at DeGroot's Nurseries showcased more than 700 decorative birds with fancy breed names like Jacobins, fantails and trumpeters.
Unlike racing pigeons, fancy pigeons are raised exclusively for their exotic looks, with the desired characteristics of ideal specimens delineated in the Encyclopedia of Pigeon Standards.
Parsons keeps 40 in a backyard coop, where he enjoys watching them go about their business.
'I just love looking at the birds,' he said.
Master breeder and event judge John Manckia examines a trio of Jacobins.
Troy Shantz
DID YOU KNOW?
* Pigeons are the world's oldest domesticated bird. Domestication, noted in Egyptian hieroglyphics, may have occurred as early as 10,000 years ago, research suggests.
A breed of fancy pigeon known as a ‘Helmet' was one of 700 birds on display at the Sarnia Pigeon, Poultry and Petstock Association's most recent international show.
Troy Shantz
* Pigeon navigation is equally mysterious and amazing. Trained homing pigeon have flown home from 1,000 kilometres away, even when transported, covered, in isolation and their cages rotated.
* Sports fan in ancient Greece reportedly used pigeons to spread the news from the Olympic games, and Genghis Khan had a pigeon-based postal network to stay in touch.
* Combating nations used large numbers of pigeons during both World Wars. France awarded a medal, the Croix de Guerre, to one bird named Cher Ami, which completed a 1918 mission that led to the rescue of 194 U.S. soldiers.
Fancy pigeon refers to any breed of domestic pigeon, which is a domesticated form of the wild rock dove (Columba livia). They are bred by pigeon fanciers for various traits relating to size, shape, color, and behavior,[1] and often exhibited at pigeon shows, fairs and other livestock exhibits.[2]
There are about 800 pigeon breeds; considering all regional varieties all over the world there may be 1100 breeds.[3] The European list of fancy pigeons alone names about 500 breeds.[4] No other domestic animal has branched out into such a variety of forms and colours.[5]
Charles Darwin is known to have crossbred fancy pigeons, particularly the Ice Pigeon, to study variation within species,[6] this work coming three years before his groundbreaking publication, On the Origin of Species.
Pigeon showing[edit]
Pigeon fanciers from many different countries exhibit their birds at local, inter-state or national shows and compete against one another for prizes.[1] One typical country show in Australia in 2008 had hundreds of pigeons on display and prizes for the winners.[7] In England, the Philoperisteron Society conducted annual shows in the mid 1800s. There were also a London Columbarian Society. The extensive variations in the breeds attracted the attention of Charles Darwin and played a major role in developing ideas on evolution.[8][9]
Some fanciers organize exhibitions exclusively for pigeons; one held in Blackpool run by the Royal Pigeon Racing Association is annually attended by about 25,000 people and generates around £80,000 profit, which is donated to charity.[10]
The largest pigeon show is held in Nuremberg: the German National Pigeon Show, which had over 33,500 pigeons at the 2006 show.[11]
In the United States, there are hundreds of local, state and national pigeon clubs that sponsor shows. The largest shows are the National Young Bird Show, held in Louisville, Kentucky in October, and the National Pigeon Association's Grand National, held in a different city each year and usually in January.
Major breed families[edit]
This grouping system is adapted from Australian Fancy Pigeons National Book of Standards.[12] Consideration was given to the new UK standards book which followed the German and European grouping. This version differs slightly from that of the European grouping; the following system is arbitrary and used solely for organizing breed articles until a grouping can be accepted worldwide.
Asian feather and voice pigeons[edit]
This group includes breeds developed for extensive feathering that originated in the Asian region, as well as breeds cultivated for their trumpeting, or laughing, voice.
- English Trumpeter
Colour pigeons[edit]
Most of these pigeons originate in Germany, and are sometimes listed as German Toys. There are many different varieties, with a wide selection of colours and markings.
Frills and Owls[edit]
The word 'frill' here relates to the reversed feathering on the chest of these varieties. Arcades with rhythm games pigeon forge. This group is also noted for having short beaks.
Homer and Hen Pigeons[edit]
Homing pigeons[edit]
This group includes breeds originally developed for their homing ability, and includes show-type racing pigeons.
Pouters and Croppers[edit]
This group includes breeds developed for the ability to inflate their crops.
- Horseman Pouter
- Old German Croppers
- Magpi pouter
Exhibition Tumblers[edit]
This group originally consisted of flying/tumbler breeds, but has now been refined to include only purely ornamental/exhibition breeds.
Flying Tumblers and Highfliers[edit]
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This group is dual purpose in that its members can be shown, but also retain acrobatic or sporting ability and can therefore be used in flying competitions. Flying tumbler varieties belong in this group. Although many varieties in this grouping have become primarily show varieties, they are still expected to display characteristics of performing birds.[12]
Utility pigeons[edit]
This group includes breeds originally developed as sources of meat.
See also[edit]
| Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fancy pigeons. |
Fancy Pigeon Breeds
References[edit]
Fancy Pigeon Photo Download App
- ^ abLevi, Wendell (1977). The Pigeon. Sumter, South Carolina: Levi Publishing Co, Inc. ISBN0-85390-013-2.
- ^Blechman, Andrew (2007). Pigeons-The fascinating saga of the world's most revered and reviled bird. St Lucia, Queensland: University of Queensland Press. ISBN978-0-7022-3641-9.
- ^Schütte, Joachim (1971). 'EINLEITUNG'. Handbuch der Taubenrassen (in German). Melsungen, Berlin, Basel, Wien: Neumann-Neudamm. ISBN9783788800116. OCLC74047160.
- ^'EE-list of fancy pigeons (ELFP)'(PDF). Entente Européenne d'Aviculture et de Cuniculture. Archived from the original(PDF) on 2013-04-15.
- ^Lyell, James C. (1881). Fancy Pigeons. London: Barnes & Noble. OCLC8005808.
- ^Ross, John. 'Darwin's Pigeons'.
- ^'Bird lovers flock to pigeon show'. Wauchope Gazette. Archived from the original(Web article) on May 22, 2008. Retrieved 2008-05-22.
- ^'Darwin's Pigeons'. darwinspigeons.com. Retrieved 2019-09-11.
- ^Secord, James A. (1981) Nature's Fancy: Charles Darwin and the Breeding of Pigeons Isis 72(262):162-186.
- ^'Fanciers flock to fund foundation'. Bebden Bridge Times. Archived from the original(Web article) on 2008-07-04. Retrieved 2008-05-24.
- ^Child, Brad (2007). ''Pigeon Pals Tour' Part II'. Purebred Pigeon (March/April 2007). pp. 71, 72..
- ^ abSeymour, Rev. Colin (Ed)(2006) Australian Fancy Pigeons National Book of Standards.
External links[edit]
- Egypt Swifts - Pigeon News[permanent dead link]
