Did Pigeons Really Carry Mail?

The use of carrier pigeons to deliver messages is recorded in ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics that indicate the birds were domesticated more than 5,000 years ago. Descendants of rock pigeons native to Europe, North Africa and South Asia, carrier pigeons were also used in ancient India, China and Greece, and were considered the fastest mode of communication from the Dark Ages and Middle Ages. Carrier pigeons remained the most efficient means of delivering messages and information for centuries, with bankers and stockbrokers relying heavily on pigeon post until the invention of the telegraph in the mid 19th century.

Long used as a means of relaying military information, carrier pigeons continued to be used in military operations even after the invention of the telegraph and radio. Because telegraph communications could be easily intercepted or cut off, pigeon post played a critical part in the military operations of World War I. Pigeons continued to deliver military messages during World War II during times of radio silence. Pigeons served in aerial reconnaissance missions, carrying small cameras over enemy lines to capture photos. Pigeons continued to serve the military in Europe through the late 20th century, A 2008 "New York Times" article says the use of pigeons continues in Middle East war zones, where pigeons serve to signal the presence of military troops.

Today’s methods for training racing pigeons are much the same as those used in training the messenger pigeon of years gone by. Birds begin training when they are 6 to 12 weeks old. When placed in a new loft, the young birds are confined for a few days to allow it to become used to its new home. They are allowed to venture out in a confined area at the same time each day, going a bit further each time before they return on their own to the loft to be fed. This conditions the birds to associate feeding time with returning home to the loft. Once the young birds are conditioned to return to the loft for food, they are taken with older, trained birds away from the loft a short distance and released to fly back. Over time, distance is increased and older birds no longer accompany the younger birds.

Carrier pigeons are famous for finding their way home over great distances, covering hundreds of miles to get back to the loft from an unfamiliar point of release. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology publication "BirdScope," in Laura Erickson's 2008 article “Bird of Paradox: Rock Pigeon May Be More Helpful Than We Realize,” explains that pigeons use the earth’s magnetic field, along with several other cues, for orientation. Pigeons also use their sense of smell, Erickson adds, along with star patterns, the angle of the sun and polarized light as clues to finding their way home. If it can be helped, pigeons are not to be released in bad weather conditions including rain, fog or snow, which can cause the birds disorientation.