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September 14, 2012 |
Britain's Pigeon Fanciers
Pigeons were once briefly used to carry stock market price reports between Paris and Berlin in the early beginnings of the Reuters news agency. Now, with a world connected by fiber optics and satellite beams, aficionados still train, keep and race pigeons for sport. The membership of Britain's Royal Pigeon Racing Associated is declining, but tens of thousands remain. This year, the 40th annual British Homing World Show of the Year, held in Blackpool, had 2,500 pigeon entries from around the world. -- Paula Nelson ( 27 photos total)

Steward Brian Harrison examines entries at the annual Homing Pigeon World Show at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool, northern England, January 21, 2012. The show which is in its 40th year has 4,000 entries from around the world including the U.S. and China, and expects 35,000 visitors over the weekend. (Nigel Roddis/Reuters) #

Tony Meek poses for photographs after releasing 2,500 racing pigeons from their racing boxes on a flight from Alnwick to their home lofts across Yorkshire and Humberside, April 21, 2012. Meek, a former racehorse jockey, believes pigeons find their way using the sun and will sometimes wait several days for the right weather conditions before releasing his pigeons for a race. (Nigel Roddis/Reuters)#

A racing pigeon is being loaded for the One Loft race at Birtsmorton, central England, August 25, 2012. Twelve hundred pigeons are entered in the loft during March for £100 ($160) each and then trained by loft keeper Jeremy Davies. The race from Hexham to Birtsmorton is 203 miles (327 km), taking the winning bird around 4 to 5 hours with prize money totaling £55,000 ($87,000), with the winner receiving £20,000 ($31,600). (Nigel Roddis/Reuters)#

Boxed racing pigeons are prepared for loading for the One Loft race at Birtsmorton, central England, August 25, 2012. Twelve hundred pigeons are entered in the loft during March for £100 ($160) each and then trained by loft keeper Jeremy Davies. The race from Hexham to Birtsmorton is 203 miles (327 km), taking the winning bird around 4 to 5 hours to complete. (Nigel Roddis/Reuters) #

A racing pigeon is being loaded for the One Loft race at Birtsmorton, central England, August 25, 2012. The race from Hexham to Birtsmorton is 203 miles (327 km), taking the winning bird around 4 to 5 hours with prize money totalling £55,000 ($87,000), with the winner receiving £20,000 ($31,600). (Nigel Roddis/Reuters)#
More links and information
Reuters/Photographers blog - Reuters 8/30/12
Pigeon keeping - Wikipedia entry