The Handler

With just a box, stick, string and some corn 6 year old Charlie captured his heart’s desire. Nuisance to most in New Orleans’ Oil District a small street pigeon held a silent beauty for Charlie. 50 years later Charlie races pigeons with the Atlanta racing pigeon club. A member of the American Racing Pigeon Union he trains his thoughbreds as a sport against other thoughbreds from 50 to 500 miles. Racing pigeons is an international sport that produces birds worth thousands of dollars. He feeds, medicates, vaccinates and administers vitamins and minerals.
Like a marathon racer, he builds the birds up with proteins and carbohydrates during the fall and feeds them whole wheat in the summer.
He spends his summers hand feeding and training and his autumns racing.

Charlie also has a passion for the white rock dove which are white homers, we use in the dove release business. They are a gentler breed and more laid back then the racers. They don’t care how long it takes to come home, as long as there home for dinner. They fly with a sense of peace and tranquility their white flights glow in the sky like an Angle from the hevens.They land on their loft with a slow soft flutter not like the racers who hit their loft with great pride and power and dive into the entrance.

The white doves are cared for in a little different way. These birds are all hand fed. Keeping them white is the biggest challenge. Everyday Charlie cleans and sanitizers the lofts. The rock doves get a bath 3 times a week with special bath salts that cleanse, condition and soften the bird’s feathers they not only perform in release baskets but many times in hand held releases. So the softness and gentleness of the bird is very important.
The health, happiness and safety of the birds are Charlie’s number one priority.

The Loft

These birds live in a loft with sky lights classical music a great ventilation system and a aviary so they can enjoy their baths and surroundings. They have a simulated stained glass window and door that allows the colors from the sun radiates there home. There loft is landscaped with lilies and roses and off to the side a fountain with doves kissing welcome the sounds of water and nature.

They are well protected from the animals that prey on birds such as cats, snakes and raccoons. The hawk is a predator that only the birds can protect them selves against. With the screaming sounds of the blue jays the doves will make a run for it. Some days staying inside is safer.
50 years of caring for Doves is a passion Charlie lives with everyday. They give him a Spiritual lift as they do for many others.

So many asked how they return Home. All I can say is
If you were loved and cared for so much and had a home like Charlie gives to them I think you would come home again and again and again…..

Charlie also cares for the small white ring necks doves which we use in our dove displays. The purity of these little doves is heart warming. They are very domesticated and are not for release.
Charlie is a member of the American Racing Pigeon Union
And The American Dove Association.

Our Doves Love being Loved and
We Love, Loving them.