How pigeon mail works
Nowadays, pigeons are associated with beauty and are valued for their appearance. But not so long ago, people used them to convey information to each other. Can you imagine anything more romantic than receiving a letter sent with a winged one? The article just talks about what pigeon mail is and how it works.
How pigeon mail works
Story
The Old Testament testifies that pigeon mail existed even then. It was the dove that was released by Noah, and he was sure of his return. Later, this method of transmitting information spread to countries such as China and Greece. And in 1167, the first state pigeon post appeared in Egypt, for which it was ordered to build many special towers. The information was transmitted only in this way. The first breeds of carrier pigeons were Bagdets, Skanderuns and Quarries.
If we talk about the appearance of such a means of communication in Russia, then the beginning was laid by wars. Princess Olga, wishing to avenge her husband's death, took tribute from the Drevlyans with doves and sparrows. The opponents gladly agreed, and she ordered to tie dry branches to the paws of birds and set them on fire. Knowing that every pigeon would return home, she was able to destroy an entire settlement of enemies.
More romantic information about the first love letters from monasteries to their beloved still inspires refined natures to such actions.
Later, with the help of pigeon mail, they established communication between states. There was no other means of communication over long distances.
Operating principle
So how does pigeon mail work?
The pigeon has an instinct to return home, in addition, the birds are very hardy and can fly hundreds of kilometers. The maximum flight speed is 70 km / h. The birds are also perfectly oriented on the terrain and easily find their way back to the nest.
Facts indicate that birds have:
- acute vision;
- phenomenal memory, with the help of which the bird remembers a route based on visual perception.
Only certain breeds are used to convey information. It is easy to distinguish them from others by their size (they are larger than their counterparts) and a massive beak. The features of the appearance of the post office are clearly visible in the photo A carrier pigeon must be trainable, tough and able to fly quickly.
Postal birds are capable of flying about 1100 km. Among the many breeds, the German, Russian, Belgian and Hungarian are distinguished. Any of them is capable of working in a pigeon mail until 20 years old.
How is it going? The note is sealed in a capsule and attached to the bird's leg. Watching for predators such as a hawk, two pigeons are often sent at once with similar messages.
This form of communication existed even before the advent of the telephone and the Internet, but pigeon mail continues to be used today.
Training
It is important to understand that not every pigeon is capable of this. Yes, birds are also all different: there are capable and not very, fast and lazy.
As soon as the chick learns to fly by the third week of life, its training begins immediately.The first days of the winged are allowed to fly only under the supervision of an experienced adult male, who returns home without any problems. At first, training takes place at a close distance from the habitat.
Feeding immediately after the flight can stimulate the subsequent return home. You also need to solve the problem with the selection of a partner, otherwise there is a risk that the bird will choose itself and fly away to him.
Interesting Facts
The history of pigeon mail remembers special winged representatives, interesting stories about which they still remember:
- Smuggler pigeon. During the reign of Napoleon, jewelry was delivered from England to France by pigeon mail.
- Scout. So the winged was used in the Second World War, transmitting secret and important information.
- Companion. The Swedish scientist Andre decided to fly in a hot air balloon to the North Pole and took a pigeon with him. Only the second came back.
- Medical courier. In Plymouth, birds delivered blood to a laboratory far from the hospital. This method turned out to be faster than conventional transport.
The British distinguished themselves with an original idea: to transmit notes with the help of birds during traffic jams.
In general, no matter how much progress the modern world has reached, every woman in her soul will desire beautiful romantic deeds and exquisite gestures of attention. Delivering a love message in such an ancient and original way is one of the most effective ways to win the heart of your beloved.