We all see pigeons and don’t give them much thought. A street photographer once cajoled my parents into buying a picture of me as a youngster with one embarrassingly sitting on my head, and to Londoners, they are just Flying Rats. A nuisance. People put spikes on window sills to deter them from landing and making a mess, and they will feed on anything they can find. Their poop will coat everything and anything – even statues, and pavements will be christened with their messes wherever they hang out, and even here in Portugal, they are widely considered a nuisance. Culling in London hasn’t happened yet, but they keep hawks around as a non-lethal deterrent, and have banned the feeding of them in tourist spots.
But some are Racers
Last year, I came across an enormous open-sided truck with metal cages, and in a moment of controlled chaos, it seemed hundreds of pigeons were released in a flurry of grey flapping wings. I hadn’t realised up until that point that pigeon racing is a healthy sport in Portugal, second only to football, with around 18,000 registered ‘fanciers’- those who breed, raise and care for an estimated 4 million pigeons. Organised under the Portuguese Racing Pigeon Federation (FPCOL) through over 500 clubs and 14 regional associations, it makes this a significant national hobby, attracting thousands of participants and events, despite global trends of declining participation in some areas.
How to become a Fancier
First step would seem to be to find a pigeon, and costs vary enormously, from a few hundred euros to potentially thousands, or even millions, for champion bloodlines. If you are interested, they say start small with quality birds from a local expert, build a loft – the space where they will live, and establish daily routines for feeding and cleaning. These structures can range from simple backyard coops to elaborate, custom-built aviaries, but ventilation, dryness, light, and security are prioritised. Space is crucial – a large aviary or loft is essential, allowing each bird or pair their own nesting/perch area to prevent overcrowding and stress. Feeding is another story, with each expert recommending their own recipe, especially where actual racing is concerned.
How do you know your pigeon will be a successful racer?
You will know a pigeon might be a racer through a combination of a strong pedigree (this is where your local expert comes in handy) and actual performance in training. Both males and females can become racers and will need to be in good physical condition with high energy/alertness, possessing a natural homing instinct. The true test is consistent performance in training ‘tosses’ and races, as physical traits only suggest potential. ‘Tossing’ is a training term, where they are literally tossed in the air at increasingly further distances to see if they can find their way back home.
Ringing
Pigeons are actively ringed in Portugal by dedicated amateur fanciers and members of numerous local pigeon clubs (Colombofilia clubs) who register birds primarily for the extensive pigeon racing and showing community, with official rings used for identification in national events and for owners to track their birds for races. These rings bear numbers, years, and sometimes club codes and phone numbers, allowing for owner contact or database tracking through the national federation if a bird is found.
Key Aspects of Collective Pigeon Training Lofts
Pigeons learn from each other; flocks navigate more efficiently as groups, using leader-follower patterns to pool navigational information, which is crucial for training. Clubs often provide training trucks, allowing members to release birds together, reducing costs and preparing birds for race conditions by releasing them in varied locations.
Join a club
Join a local pigeon club or association to learn the ropes, find mentors, and participate in races. It seems pigeon racing in Portugal is a vibrant sport, centred around national federations like the Federação Portuguesa de Columbofilia (FPC), which organises major events such as the Mira International Championships, featuring large competitions and auctions for high-quality birds, focusing on patience, observation, and consistent care for a rewarding hobby.