After the Release

Take-off

The release may involve a pause after the basket is opened while the white doves appear to consider their options. Then with a flurry of flashing wings the birds take flight. If you listen, you may hear a clapping noise from their wings. Are they applauding your ceremony?

Flight

After their release, the white doves may circle a number of times before they leave the area. During this circling, they are using many clues to "get their bearings". Our birds navigate home from various locations using a number of techniques.

Birds with homing ability can fly hundreds of miles back to their home loft. Common domesticated doves, like the ring-neck or turtle dove, do not have that ability. If released, domesticated doves would have a poor chance of surviving in the wild-- especially in here in northeast Iowa. For that reason, our release birds are well-trained white homing pigeons.

Once oriented, the birds will head for home. They can fly 60 miles an hour, but 45 mph is typical. They often beat me home from our events.

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