Racing pigeon breeding is being revived in Dnipropetrovsk region

There was a time when pigeon lofts, rising high above buildings’ roofs, graced almost every urban courtyard and rural house’s yard. The fad died out, but true pigeon aficionados continued with their hobby. Regional pigeon racing federation was organized in Dnipropetrovsk several years ago, following other Ukrainian regions’ lead. Its members’ pets compete in speed and endurance. The birds must overcome almost 4,500 kilometers during competitions, crisscrossing our country. The racing pigeon’s maximum speed is 80 to 90 kilometers per hour, allowing it to fly from Volyn to the Dnipro between sunrise and sunset. The pigeon breeders are eagerly awaiting the arrival of spring now.

“This is a very expensive sport, because pigeons need to be transported over long distances, fed 14 kinds of grain, given vitamins, taken everyday care and vaccinated,” says deputy head of the Dnipropetrovsk Regional Pigeon Racing Federation Mykola Baran. Adult pigeons are capable of long-distance flights for just five to six years. The main secret of their “upbringing” is frequent exercise, proper nutrition and timely medical examination. “Medical care is the weakest point not only for our club, but for clubs throughout Ukraine,” Baran remarks. “Every Western European club has its own veterinarian, while our doctors can only treat cats and dogs, never pigeons, so we still have not addressed this issue. All avian disease specialists are welcome to contact us, we need such people badly.”

Every pigeon is marked at birth with a leg ring carrying its name, country code, year of birth and number. This information comprises a bird’s ID and is entered in a computer database. Only the strongest pigeons have chance to win a competition, while the rest just gain experience. Long-distance pigeon flights are risky events, for the contestants are attacked by birds of prey sometimes. It also happens that the birds fly home blackened by soot and oil, because Ukraine’s ecological situation is far from perfect. Pigeon breeders say that pigeon flight, involving not just racers, but high-flying birds which can somersault in the air, too, offers an unparalleled spectacle.