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61 – Purebred PIGEON
— Fins and Feathers —
By Danny Revolinsky
Growing up in a small town on the Great Lakes I always
dreamed of going out on the water.
So I left the pigeons and the family behind to go off in the
Coast Guard to earn my Aircrew Rescue Swimmer wings. Having
already attended the National Young Bird Show for years and the
NPA Grand Nationals, getting back into pigeons was easy. For
several years I could not keep birds but showed up and reconnect-
ed with old friends. A lot of great memories and stories have been
told along the way.
Many of my mentors and friends have passed away often
leaving me to ponder how long will I keep going. Having served
our country for almost 25 years I was faced with getting out of
pigeons or giving up my fins. My neighbor behind us sold their
house and the new occupant was not making our lives easy at all.
We had made sure everything was legal before we bought the
place but never thought about a noise complaint. She repeatedly
complained about noise and whatever she could to have the birds
gone. I had somehow managed to keep the birds all those years
and just wasn’t ready to let go. Just like that I put in for retirement
and had to give up my dream job and hung up my fins.
Many years later I still watch the weather and swim countless
miles at the pool, but I really truly miss the action. The day will
come when birds will no longer be in the Loft. This past here has
made me think about when should I stop raising birds? What will
my family do with them? And of course, why do I have so many?
I have been tasked with dispersing a fellow fanciers’ birds due to
age or untimely death or just that one neighbor who won’t stop.
Vic Eshpeter passed just before the Grand National this year. He
had a good run in the hobby attending 60 plus NPA Grand Nation-
als. Another long-time friend in the Hobby had to give up his birds
due to health.
I can’t imagine not having pigeons anymore but after this past
year, arrangements have been discussed. •