As I head to the pool
every morning, there’s a large flock of pigeons being flown right
overhead. As one, they circle round and
round…a thousand or more of them. I’m mesmerized,
and I’m fascinated by the thought that we have a pigeon man here in this very urban
neighborhood.
It’s like the buffalo on
the hill, unless you stop and think about what you are seeing, you won’t see
beyond the surface. I’d never thought
about the Catalina buffalos. Nor, for
the last fifteen or so years, did I realize that the pigeons going around and
around over my head were guided by a human hand.
Pigeon flying and racing
is a New York subculture that I’d never considered. Now here it was, right over my head. Brought over from the old countries, pigeon
flying has been adopted by the African American and Hispanic subcultures mainly
in New York. Someone had brought their
flock here. I often wonder who now.
LINKS:
http://www.messynessychic.com/2013/09/11/the-rooftop-pigeon-men-of-new-york/>Rooftop Pigeon Men
http://www.messynessychic.com/2013/09/11/the-rooftop-pigeon-men-of-new-york/>Rooftop Pigeon Men
At one time we had a man nearby who trained birds for weddings, etc, and we would see them circling and returning. A friend of mine had doves at her father's funeral that flew out and away (but returned surreptitiously to their trainer after we walked away).
ReplyDeleteWhat a memorable touch to such a sad occasion. Lovely...
DeleteSo interesting. I would never imagine that the pigeons were under someone's control.
ReplyDeleteGlad I read carefully this post (a bit Yoda)...because I was going to ask you about he phrase "being flown.' in the early part of your post. It is a fascinating hobby.
ReplyDeleteI wish I could let my parrots fly like that.
ReplyDeletePigeon flying may be over your head, but many things are over my head.
ReplyDeleteWow, guided sewer falcons!
ReplyDeleteWhen the pigeons invaded my back yard, I had to stop feeding the finches. Sad.
ReplyDeleteUmmmmm.... a thousand pigeons overhead would not make us happy since they often leave things behind.
ReplyDelete