If you consider pigeon mail an archaic method, then you are mistaken. These birds are endowed with the rarest instinct that scientists have called "homing." It is he who allows the birds to be good postmen. How does pigeon mail work, what types of carrier pigeons are there, how are they trained? You will learn all this from our article. We also offer you photos of pigeon mail, interesting videos and facts. Come with us on an interesting journey ...
The history of the pigeon mail from Antiquity and the Middle Ages
5,000 years already has a dove mail. These smart birds brought millions of letters, saved thousands of people, completed dozens of feats. Pigeons were awarded orders, showered with various honors. Even the ancient Romans, Greeks, Jews, Persians noticed the amazing ability of these birds to find exactly the way from their home to anywhere in the world. Trained birds managed to return home, even after being transported in anesthesia for hundreds of kilometers. That is why many contemporaries are interested in pigeon mail, how pigeons were trained, the principle of work.
The amazing ability to return from distant lands to their native nest was noticed long ago. Pigeon mail is considered the oldest form of transmission of news over distances using birds. The first mention of such a method of transmitting information was found in the Old Testament. It was Noah that a pigeon was released from the ark in order to check the presence of land on the globe.
The principle of pigeon mail was used by the Chinese, Gauls, Germans. During the Gallic War, Caesar sent messages to his supporters in Rome. For this, mail with pigeons was used. Pigeon mail at the state level was created in Egypt and Syria by decree of the Sultan Nureddin. In 1167, he ordered the construction of many post-pigeon towers. It was the bluegram that informed the Sultan in 1249 that the crusaders had invaded Egypt.
Many written sources state that these birds were used for commercial and military purposes. The Greeks reported the winners of the Olympic Games to different cities using pigeons. There was a time when a pair of good pigeons cost 1,000 dinars.
Until the telegraph was invented, the principle of the pigeon mail was used by securities brokers and financiers. They say that the Rothschilds owe much to the carrier pigeons. It was this bird that brought the news to the representative of the family about the outcome of the Battle of Waterloo.
When Paris was besieged by Prussian troops during the Franco-Prussian war, 73 pigeons betrayed over 150,000 important dispatches. In 1870, the Parisians even built a pigeon post office in the form of a reading room, where encrypted pigeongrams were read. The Germans even tried to exterminate the Paris mail with the help of trained hawks.
Many years have passed from pigeon mail to the Internet. Many countries in Europe before the advent of radio and newspapers used pigeons to disseminate information about yacht racing. Many trained birds could cover a distance of 800 miles. The flight speed of the pigeon is 80-100 km per hour. At special stations of the pigeon mail there were two types of birds: "friends" and "strangers." “Own” pigeons lived directly at this station, and “strangers” were brought from others. From time to time, their pigeons were transported by special vehicles to other post offices. Thus, it was achieved that at each station with pigeons there were several birds wishing to return to their native nests and at the same time transfer the prepared message.
How does pigeon mail work?
So, the dove, which is tied to a permanent habitat, always returns to its nest as soon as such a case appears. Such an unusual desire of birds to return home is called homing. A pigeon can fly only in one direction - home. That is, if someone needs to go on a trip and he decided to send letters from pigeons from a new place of stay, then he needs to take the birds with him from home.
Many are interested in pigeon mail, how pigeons were trained, where letters were tied. It should be noted that for flights strong and hardy birds were used, which were well oriented on the ground. Sometimes even miniature cameras were attached to pigeons for filming. The life span of this feathered is about 20 years. Safe and sound they returned with correspondence in 90% of cases.
How does pigeon mail work? The fact is that from birth, the chick's brain remembers the magnetic tension near the nest. This is possible because a special internal magnet is located at the base of the chick's beak. This magnetic level is the starting point for all its flights. Many attributed the pigeons orientation on the sun and stars, but this theory was not confirmed. After all, even blind individuals often returned home. There was also a theory that they can move by smell, but this is also not true. Most of all today, the version of finding the road with pigeons in infrasound has been proven. Sound vibrations with a frequency of less than 10 Hertz are captured very well by birds. Each area on the planet has its own unique infrasound. So, pigeons use this particular trick with an infrasound card.
Breeds of postman pigeons
Homing pigeons are a fairly old breed. They are distinguished by a thick powerful beak and a large body size. Around the eyes of these birds, a wax and a special ring are well developed. This breed is very hardy, has a high flight speed. A carrier pigeon can fly more than 1000 km. There are many breeds of postmen, and each of them has its own distinctive features, which we will describe below.
Carrier pigeons in Russia
Russian carrier pigeons have a very elegant head and a sharp beak. Birds have strong wings with a bend, which are tightly pressed against the body. The long legs of this breed have no plumage. These handsome men are distinguished by orange-red eyes with white rings around them. Most often, Russian carrier pigeons are white, but sometimes there is a colorful plumage.
German representatives
As a result of long work, German breeders bred their breed of postmen. The breeding of the German breed was based on Dutch and English pigeons. Scientists wanted to bring out the early-looking, handsome and able to fly fast handsome. The result was a compact bird with a short beak and a long neck. Her legs are long, her tail is shortened, and her eyes are wide. This breed has a different color of plumage - from white to brown, gray, yellow, red. Such pigeons can be seen at various exhibitions in Germany.
English breed of postmen
English postmen are descendants of quarries that were previously bred by the Egyptians and the inhabitants of the East. English breeders improved the breed and got a bird with excellent looks and excellent physical qualities. The English pigeon has a large body, stiff feathers, a small head, large brown eyes, large eyelids. They are distinguished by a thick long straight beak with growths similar to warts. The plumage of this breed is colorful: from gray to black, chestnut, yellow, white.
Belgian and Czech breeds
The Belgian pigeon is considered to be a sufficient old breed. This postman has a rounded body, well-formed chest, round head and a medium-sized neck. His eyes are dark and his eyelids are pale. The Belgian tightly presses the wings to the body, has a narrow tail. The plumage color is motley: gray, red, gray, yellow, brown, black.
The Czech postman lends himself very well to training. This breed participates in contests, competitions, exhibitions. These birds have a long neck, huge eyes and a small soft growth on the beak. Czech pigeons with a small tail, smooth plumage and harmonious physique. It is important to note that this breed does not fly long distances.
Dragon pigeons
This breed flies well and focuses on the terrain. Dragons are characterized by a dense body, a round head, an extension on the neck, large red-yellow eyes. These clerks are distinguished by a long, tightly closed beak, a short neck and a raised rounded chest. Birds have strong and long wings, tail down. The activity of these pigeons is increased, and feeding and conditions are normal.
Interesting evidence and facts.
In the interests of the reconnaissance units of the army during World War II, pigeon- "signalmen" were used. A special pigeon station was created on the basis of the nursery of the Central School of Communications. Pigeons brought reports during the battle of Moscow. Up to 100 pigeongrams were transported by postmen per day. Many birds were seized from local residents for the needs of the army. German commanders regarded pigeons as potential "spies."
Nowadays, the pigeon mail is almost disbanded. Only some countries use it sometimes. In hard-to-reach areas of India, postmen deliver notices during elections. For emergency messages, birds are used in Switzerland. Blood samples are delivered to the laboratory by pigeons in the English city of Plymouth. Still pigeon mail is used by some criminal authorities. Sometimes the police even managed to intercept pigeons with bags of drugs. Sometimes the post offices were given various ranks and honored at the funeral.