Aloft: A Meditation on Pigeons & Pigeon-Flying

by Stephen Bodio, Sy Montgomery (Introduction)

The humble pigeon is anything but “common” to those who know the true nature of these birds. This bird is so enamored by some that, for over six thousand years, people have devoted themselves to the art of pigeon flying and pigeon breeding. Across the world, from the cities of America to China, enthusiasts have lovingly nurtured their flocks, creating thousands of breeds from small to large, and admired their beauty in every shape and pigeons with crests and frills, those who fly and those who can’t.

Stephen Bodio draws readers in with resounding prose and a captivating portrayal of one of the most overlooked birds in the world. Aloft stunningly brings to light the incredible feats accomplished by homing pigeons, capable of flying thousands of miles back home, often twenty-four hours at a time, as well as the innate natural beauty and grace that each breed has in its own right.

Aloft reveals fascinating insight that will ensure no one will look upon the “common pigeon” the same way again.

Genres: Nonfiction, Birds

96 pages, Hardcover

First published July 1, 2014

Reviews

[Sher · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pigeon flyer's memoir. Well written and should be of interest to those who keep pigeons. Its long been know that keeping pigeons grounds restless souls. And the rest of us who are not criminals, royalty, famous scientists, and rough-necks can also benefit from keeping performance pigeons - like I have the past 13 years. This story covers some lesser known and interesting birds such as Catalonian Tumblers and Thief Pouters and the men who keep, fly, and breed these birds. Plus it is one man's tale about he became interested in pigeons as a boy and how this passion for the birds kept with him throughout his adult life despite great personal change.

[RKanimalkingdom · Rating 1 out of 5]

This books was not for me because I dislike any sport related to animals: horse racing, dog racing, beauty contests, bird-hunting, falconry etc. I really dislike it and was stupid to not properly read the title of the book. Okay, Sy Montgomery recommended the book and I didn't look twice.

I was more interested in the biology, history of pigeons over a personal narrative of pigeon-flying.

[E · Rating 4 out of 5]

- Arruixada, a pigeon-vs-falcon bloodsport which the pigeon normally won
- La Guerra, the game of stealing as many pigeons from rival flocks as possible by having your pigeons carry them home
- tho, insane: "They would attach a powerful firecracker-like glass bottle to a captured bird, wait for the enemy to fly his birds, then send up the flying bomb to blow the whole flock out of the sky."
- I appreciate that Bodio loves the experiential, the pigeon itself, the biophilic rather than the raw eugenics, the instrumentalization of a living thing, BUT there's still absolutely instrumentalization, eugenics in his colombiculture
- love the history

[Kevin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read as a recommendation from someone that was raising Birmingham Rollers and was very involved in that community. Very light. But fairly interesting. Tells the story of how the author got interested in raising pigeons. While the details would be more appreciated by a fellow pigeon-raising fanatic, I was most interested in just the idea that there is this whole sub-culture of bird racers and breeders out there right under our noses.

[Admjohnj · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting trip into a world that is completely unknown to me. Short enough to read it just for the sake of expanding one's horizons.

[Mary Mccullough · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was actually kind of interesting. Who knew there was so much to know about pigeons? I have a whole new respect for them now.