http://cptv.vo.llnwd.net/o2/ypmwebcontent/2011/2011_11_09_ps%20111114%20pigeon%20racing.mp3
So, what do you need to get into pigeon racing? Well, first - you have to have a lot of pigeons. In Bill Desmarais' case, 300 in his backyard. Then you tag the birds, load them onto a truck and ship them hundreds of miles away - where they get released all at once.
The bird that flies home fastest, wins.
Bill Desmaris explains, "We call it racing, they call it flying home."
In a typical race, birds fly anywhere from 200 to 600 miles. Nobody knows how pigeons navigate. Most scientists think the birds pick up on many cues - landmarks, smells and magnetic sensitivity.
Desmarais thinks it’s something internal, like the radar in a submarine.
"Beep! Beep. There's like, there must be something that tells them - ok, Beep. Beep. Through taking off ... yow! They go home."
Now, racing pigeons aren't like pigeons you see in the park. They're stronger, bred for their endurance and brains.
"See what I mean? See, look at that right there," Desmaris says. "That's one of my best ones right there. See it? Looking around, very intelligent. Seeing what's going on. Strong - big chest, big wings. Like thoroughbreds of the sky. Like racehorses of the sky. You know? ... See him crowing and strutting? He's a cock. He's crowing at that hen. He's putting a show on. I'm the boss, I'm the big guy, you know? I'm in charge, I'm in charge."
These tough birds are also built for speed. With a favorable wind - or hawk - on their tail, racing pigeons can fly as fast as 90-miles-per-hour.
Pigeon racers come from all walks of life - lawyers, doctors and ex-Marines like Bill. But, they all have one thing in common.
"They're all characters. Every one of them. A pigeon flyer is a character," Desmaris says. "Just by the nature of what he does. Flying pigeons - how many people fly pigeons?"
Tony Wiadrski is one of those characters. He used to play soccer in Poland, but for 33 years, he's raced pigeons in America. I'm with him at a pigeon club in Connecticut. It's in a barn right next to his house.
(PS) So did you build the coop yourself? (TW)Yup. (PS) How long did it take to build? The coop was building 2 or 3 months before the house. (PS) What did your wife think of that? Oh, she don't complain because she know I like it. ... they know the pigeons is my life.
Tony sometimes bets on races, but other pigeon flyers like Wayne and Tina Spakowski say the sport is about other things, like caring for your birds. Pigeon racing isn't without risk - Hawks, power lines and surprise weather can all keep the birds from coming home. So the Spakowskis are careful not to get too attached.
"Once you name them it seems something happens to them," Wayne says.
"Yeah, we had ... always had one that would always chase my Feet so we called her Feets for the longest time," Tina says. "And, of course, one race and she never came home. Feet! We lost Feet."
Today, the Spakowski's pigeons are getting loaded onto a truck bound for Toledo.
Ralph DuPree is their driver. He's driven pigeons for nearly a decade. Ralph will drive all night, releasing dozens of birds the following morning. He says he'll find a nice spot - a place with good visibility and no power lines and then, it's just a matter of getting out of the way.
"Sometimes yeah, you get crapped on," DuPree says.
And for the Spakowskis ... the race results weren't great either. But with competition nearly every weekend, they'll have plenty of opportunities. And when winter comes, they'll begin mating their best pigeons ... continuing on the never-ending quest to breed the perfect super pigeon for next season.
