Currently, with our sophisticated communication systems that allow us to send messages immediately to anywhere in the world, it is very difficult to think that at some point one of the fastest means of transmitting communications was through the use of carrier pigeons. However, we owe a lot to the ability of these birds, which for centuries traveled long distances to transport messages that did not give wait.
The pigeons are different from the others, because they have an excellent sense of direction and have a more athletic physical complexion, being able to travel up to a thousand kilometers in a single day at a speed of 90 kilometers per hour.
Use of the carrier pigeon in history
Historically, the use of carrier pigeons has been very varied. For example, it was of vital importance during the periods of wars in the Middle Ages, where mail was regulated through these animals, although its history goes back many years.
There are records that there was already an email through carrier pigeons since 2,800 BC. From mythology and literature we get multiple stories where their work is appreciated, for example in The Thousand and One Nights is referred to as a possession of great importance, let's look at this fragment: "... you have to take over, in addition, the forty caliph messenger pigeons, put them in a cage and bring them to me too! "
They have been a significant symbol to represent the delivery of messages, if we review texts such as the Bible, we see that the Holy Spirit through a dove, made Mary known of the birth of Jesus, is also a pigeon that gives him Noah a twig of olive tree as a message that there was land nearby.
Likewise, within the Greco-Roman structures we find references to the use of pigeons for communication purposes. For example, it was they who made known in the confines of the empire the names of the winners of the Olympic Games. The Roman troops in turn had portable lofts transported in their different campaigns of war.
However, its use is not exclusive to classical history. During the First World War it was a real privilege to have these feathered friends, and even during World War II they were used to prevent conversations from being intercepted. In both wars it was important to train different animals, such as dogs, cats, and even think about training bats.
Although they did not carry messages exclusively, they were also used to send small items that were needed elsewhere urgently, for example, tubes with blood samples between hospitals or laboratories.
Some modern armies continue to maintain and train carrier pigeons, this in order to have a contingency plan in case of a warlike conflict that involves a collapse of modern communication systems.
The carrier pigeons nowadays
Despite the fact that pigeon racing is still being implemented (which is what is called the breeding and training of carrier pigeons), they are used mainly in a sporting way, being an activity deeply rooted in Spain.
There are a large number of fanciers clubs, in order to maintain the tradition of training carrier pigeons, as well as promoting sports and healthy competition.
The sport consists of accustoming a pigeon to return to its loft, so that after a while flying, they will return to it. The idea is that two or more pigeons are released and they must take the other to their pigeon house, either conquering or dragging it (this is why they are known as thieving pigeons). The owner of the winning pigeon may keep the copy of the rival.
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Thanks for the attention, I hope this post about carrier pigeons has been of your liking.
