 |
 |
|
|
|
I
S S U E 2
|
|
|
|
Racing homers, descended from the common pigeon, Columba livia, are bred by enthusiasts throughout the country. New York City has long been home to pigeon fanciers. Even today, flocks seen flying at dawn or dusk may well be domesticated. The birds are trained to fly free and return to the coop on command. Before they are one year old, they may be raced against other birds. Homing pigeons have been domesticated for more than 3000 years; prior to the introduction of the telegraph, the carrier pigeon was an important means of communication. Pigeons hatch after 17 days in the egg, and become full-fledged in 28 days. An active enthusiast can cross adults from several generations in the course of a single year. As a result, each breeder, over time, creates his own unique strain. "I made them the way I wanted," Bonisisio says of his pigeons. "The bloodlines are from long-distance birds. I have a breed of my own." Maintaining the flock is not expensive: about the cost of feed, or $30 a month. However, there are fixed costs associated with getting started, such as the pigeon loft itself. Transporting the birds to races is expensive. In addition, cleaning the loft and maintaining the birds properly is no small task. Breeding pairs themselves can often be obtained for free from keepers who enjoy introducing newcomers to the sport. Bonisisio was given his first pair of racing homers by his uncle when he was 17. "The best pigeon I ever got I got for nothing," he says. "She was a silver hen. Honey, I called her." In fact, many enthusiasts develop their bloodlines from birds given to them by friends or relatives. Pigeon sites on the Web list genetic variants and discuss common problems with breeding, such as the emergence of undesirable recessive traits. But the big question remains unanswered. What sense allows the birds to return home, sometimes hundreds of miles distant, over territory they have never encountered? Bonisisio, who looks much younger than his age, says the sport helps keep him going. He admires pigeons for their constancy. "You don't lose 'em," he says. "They always come home. It's just a matter of who comes home the fastest. That's the wonder of the birds-—what makes them come back." |
Exotic Imports Affect Natives The importation of exotic animals, whether as pets or by accident, places pressure on native species and can adversely affect whole ecosystems. "Exotics are something that give us all a big headache," said Marcelo Del Puerto, senior regional biologist at the New York State Department of Conservation. "Worldwide, there is an onslaught of species moving around." In New York City, said Del Puerto, there are a number of ecologically sensitive areas: barrier islands in Queens, for example, or wetlands on Staten Island. Non-native species, animals or plants, can do a great deal of damage to protected natural areas as well as to crops and other industries. Florida, said Del Puerto, has been "decimated" by the importation of exotic pests. "The one thing that protects us from a lot of the pet species is our climate," he noted. "If not for our winters there would be a lot more things running around out there." |
