How Far Can A Pigeon Travel and Return Home?

The amazing, well-trained homing pigeon has been known to travel more than 1,500 miles from its home over strange territory, yet it always returns to its home loft.

The pigeon has a natural homing instinct, but it does get special training from the time it is three months old. Its keeper releases it a short distance from its home and the pigeon quickly flies back. That distance is gradually increased as the pigeon grows.

Messages are placed in small metal containers attached to the pigeon's foot, and unless the pigeon is shot down, that message is always received.

Man began breeding pigeons for racing and for carrying messages thousands of years ago!