For centuries, birds have served humanity in remarkable ways, none more fascinating than their ability to carry messages. This practice, known as pigeon post or avian communication, is a testament to the incredible homing instincts and trainability of these feathered creatures. While the advent of modern technology has largely supplanted this method, understanding how birds are trained to carry messages offers a captivating glimpse into history and the remarkable bond between humans and animals. This guide delves into the intricacies of training birds for message delivery, exploring the breeds, techniques, and dedication required.
The Science Behind Bird Communication
The ability of birds, particularly homing pigeons, to find their way back to their home loft over vast distances is not magic, but a complex interplay of senses and innate navigation skills. Scientists believe a combination of factors contributes to this remarkable feat:
- Geomagnetism: Birds possess a magnetic sense, allowing them to perceive the Earth’s magnetic field. This acts like a built-in compass, guiding them in the right direction.
- Sense of Smell: Research suggests that pigeons also use their sense of smell to navigate. They can detect faint odors carried on the wind, creating a “scent map” of their surroundings.
- Visual Cues: Familiar landmarks, such as coastlines, rivers, and mountain ranges, also play a role in their navigation, especially over shorter distances or in familiar territory.
- Infrasound: Some studies indicate that birds may be able to detect low-frequency sounds (infrasound) produced by natural phenomena like ocean waves or wind, which can travel long distances and provide directional cues.
Understanding these innate abilities is the first step in harnessing them for message delivery. The training process essentially reinforces these natural instincts and associates a specific loft with “home.”
Choosing the Right Bird for the Job
Not all birds are created equal when it comes to carrying messages. The most common and historically significant species used for this purpose is the homing pigeon (also known as the rock dove or Columba livia domestica). These birds have been selectively bred for generations for their strong homing instinct, stamina, and intelligence.
When selecting birds for message training, breeders look for specific traits:
- Strong Homing Instinct: This is paramount. Birds with a natural drive to return to their home loft are essential.
- Stamina and Endurance: Message carrying can involve long flights, so birds need the physical capacity to cover significant distances.
- Intelligence and Trainability: While their homing instinct is natural, the association of carrying a message and the reward of returning home requires a degree of learning and responsiveness.
- Good Health and Condition: Healthy birds are more likely to complete their journeys successfully. This includes good eyesight, strong wings, and overall robust health.
Other bird species, like doves, can also be trained, but homing pigeons remain the most reliable and widely recognized for this task due to their specialized breeding.
The Training Process: A Step-by-Step Approach
Training birds to carry messages is a gradual process that requires patience, consistency, and a deep understanding of avian behavior. It’s crucial to start young, ideally with young birds that have not yet fully developed their independent homing instincts.
Step 1: Loft Familiarization
The first and most critical step is to establish a strong bond between the bird and its home loft.
- Early Days: Young birds (squabs) are kept in the loft until they are old enough to fly. This ensures their primary association is with their home.
- First Flights: Once they begin flying, they are encouraged to fly around the loft. This helps them familiarize themselves with the immediate surroundings and strengthens their attachment to the loft.
- Short-Distance Releases: After a period of free flight around the loft, birds are ready for their first training tosses.
Step 2: Short-Distance Training Tosses
This is where the actual message-carrying training begins, albeit without a physical message initially.
- The Toss: The bird is taken a short distance from the loft (e.g., 1-2 miles) and released. The goal is for the bird to immediately turn and fly back to its home.
- Gradual Increase: As the bird successfully returns from short distances, the distance of the tosses is gradually increased. This might be done in stages: 5 miles, 10 miles, 20 miles, and so on.
- Consistency is Key: These training tosses should be done regularly, ideally daily or several times a week, to reinforce the bird’s navigational skills and its return-to-home instinct.
- Varying Locations: It’s important to vary the release points to ensure the bird isn’t just learning a single route but is developing its general navigation ability. Releasing from different directions (north, south, east, west) is also beneficial.
Step 3: Introducing the Message (and Harness)
Once the bird is reliably returning from distances of 20-30 miles or more, the next step is to introduce the concept of carrying something.
- Lightweight Containers: Initially, a very lightweight capsule or container is attached to the bird’s leg. This container will eventually hold the message.
- Harness Training: A specialized, lightweight harness is used to attach the message capsule. The bird needs to become accustomed to wearing this harness without distress. This is done gradually, allowing the bird to wear it for short periods.
- Attaching the Capsule: Once comfortable with the harness, a small, empty capsule is attached. The bird is then given short tosses to get used to the added weight and drag.
- Attaching a Dummy Message: A very light, rolled-up piece of paper or similar material is then placed inside the capsule. The bird is tossed short distances to acclimatize to this.
Step 4: Actual Message Carrying
With the bird accustomed to the harness and capsule, and reliably returning from significant distances, it’s ready for its first real message-carrying flights.
- Short Distances First: Begin with short tosses (e.g., 10-15 miles) with a real, lightweight message inside the capsule.
- Gradual Increase: As the bird succeeds, the distances are gradually increased, mirroring the progression of the earlier training tosses.
- Weather Considerations: It’s crucial to only fly birds in good weather conditions. Strong winds, heavy rain, fog, or extreme temperatures can disorient birds and put them at risk. Experienced pigeon fanciers closely monitor weather patterns.
- Health Checks: Before sending a bird on a long journey, a thorough health check is essential. Any signs of illness or weakness should be a deterrent.
Step 5: Loft Management and Care
Proper loft management is as crucial as the training itself.
- Cleanliness: A clean loft prevents the spread of diseases and keeps the birds healthy.
- Nutrition: A balanced diet of high-quality grains, seeds, and grit is vital for maintaining their energy and health. Access to fresh water at all times is non-negotiable.
- Health Monitoring: Regular observation for any signs of illness, parasites, or injuries is necessary. Prompt treatment is key to preventing outbreaks.
- Breeding: Maintaining a healthy breeding program ensures a continuous supply of young birds for training.
Advanced Techniques and Considerations
Beyond the basic training, several advanced techniques and considerations come into play:
Race Training
Many pigeon fanciers go beyond simple message carrying and engage in competitive racing. This involves releasing birds from increasingly longer distances, sometimes hundreds of miles, and timing their return. This rigorous training sharpens their navigational skills and endurance to peak performance.
Understanding “True” Homing
It’s important to note that homing pigeons are trained to return to their specific loft. They don’t “deliver” messages in the sense of going to a recipient’s location unless that recipient’s location is their home loft. To send a message to someone else, the bird would need to be released from a location closer to the recipient, with the bird flying to its home loft, where the message could then be retrieved. Alternatively, a bird could be trained to fly from point A to point B if point B is its home loft, and the message is retrieved there.
Ethical Considerations
When training any animal, ethical treatment is paramount. This includes:
- Gradual Acclimation: Never rush the training process. Birds should be gradually accustomed to the harness and capsule.
- Appropriate Weight: The message capsule and its contents should be as light as possible, never exceeding a safe percentage of the bird’s body weight (typically no more than 5-10%).
- Safe Release Conditions: Only release birds in favorable weather conditions.
- Health and Welfare: Ensure the birds are always in optimal health and well-cared for.
The Legacy of Avian Communication
While we now rely on smartphones and email, the history of birds carrying messages is a rich tapestry woven into human civilization. From ancient empires using pigeons for military and administrative communication to their use in wartime espionage and even early stock market information dissemination, birds have been indispensable couriers.
The dedication and skill required to train these birds highlight a profound connection between humans and the natural world. Learning How Do You Train Birds To Carry Messages involves understanding their innate abilities, employing patient and consistent training methods, and ensuring their well-being throughout the process. It’s a practice that, though largely historical, continues to inspire awe and respect for the remarkable capabilities of birds. The story of avian communication is a enduring testament to ingenuity and the silent, feathered messengers that once bridged distances and connected people across vast landscapes.
