Pigeons (2006)

Pigeons is the first in a set of three documentaries in The Preservation Project series beginning with the letter “P”: Pigeons, Picnic, and Papermaking. Eventually, the project will span the alphabet, chronically the interesting, the ephemeral, and the unnoticed.

Though you might have heard them referred to “flying rats” or pests, in the world of pigeon keepers, these birds are often called “race horses of the sky” or “thoroughbreds of the air.” Often underestimated by the uninitiated, pigeons have saved lives in wartime, been used to detect pollution levels in the atmosphere, and bring joy to the owners of the 15,000 registered lofts in the American Racing Pigeon Union.

Homing pigeons can race anywhere from 80 to 600 miles in a day at speeds of 40 to 60 miles per hour. The tradition of racing pigeons and using them to carry messages, dates as far back as 5,000 years ago to the ancient Greeks.

Raising homing pigeons was once a popular American hobby, especially for those living in and around the city of Philadelphia. Tom Swan, a resident of Landenberg, PA, is one resident hanging on to the tradition. With four large pigeon coups in his backyard that house dozens of homing pigeons and a few “rollers,” Tom has an impressive racing record that includes winning the largest race in American pigeon racing history.

In this short HDV documentary, we spend a day with him and his birds. With none of his children or grandchildren interested in carrying on his tradition, the fate of Tom’s pigeon coup is unknown. In an on-camera interview, Tom expresses his hopes for a hobby in threat of extinction. To view Pigeons, the documentary, click on the video below:

Pigeons from Ashley Maynor on Vimeo.

The goal of this project is not only to create an archive about ideas, traditions, and things in threat of disappearing but also to spark renewed interest in them and preserve their continued presence in the world. To find out more about the sport and hobby of racing pigeons, contact the American Racing Pigeon Union or your local pigeon club.