White Bird Release

Dove Release Traditionally, couple were showered with grain or nuts as a wish for a large harvest or family. This custom evolved into the throwing of rice. But hurled rice can sting and is harmful to birds if eaten.

The newest addition to Bay Area weddings comes from another old European custom of dove releases. In France and Italy, these live doves are sometimes released from cages placed atop the wedding cake.

In the American adaptation, doves, which symbolize peace, innocence, gentleness, and conjugal affection, are now released outdoors when the couple leaves the church or wedding site. The trained white doves, ranging in number from two to thirty, circle the couple, then fly away, denoting the newlyweds departure from their families.

Dove trainers welcome your inquiries and may invite you to watch as they train or exercise their birds.

from: www.toledoweddingguide.com

The 19th Annual One Sky One World Kite Fly for Peace takes place October 10.
SEPTEMBER 27, 2004 — Spend a Sunday at Sloan’s Lake Park flying a kite – or just watching the wind lift beautiful kites in the air – at the One Sky One World Kite Fly for Peace. This annual international festival takes place October 10 from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. This day of fun has only one purpose: to promote the concept of global harmony and understanding through the universality of kites.

One Sky One World kite Whether you decide to fly a kite or not, expect to be thoroughly entertained at the event. Tina Marx and the Millionaires, a well-known Colorado variety dance band, will be performing on the D-Note Show Wagon Stage. Also appearing will be the seniors dance group “A Step Above,” as well as blues, jazz and brass musical groups. A second stage will feature the Balinese Gamelan musicians, Tunas Mekar, the Ethnic JukeBox, the Edgewater Band, and the Mumbles.

At noon, hundreds of Peace Doves will be released over the park, sponsored by White Birds Unlimited. Following the dove release, many schools, organizations and individuals will participate in a special One Sky One World project, to wrap Sloan’s Lake with fabric. Sloan’s Lake is Denver’s largest lake, and this undertaking will require an astounding 2.7 miles of fabric!

If the wind cooperates, kites will fly all day. But be sure and take a break to enjoy the many booths that will be open to share children’s activities, kite making lessons, food, arts and crafts, community organizations, and much, much more.

One Sky One World Kite Fly for Peace is an international event that will be taking place across the world on October 10. Kite flying is the chosen festivity because the wind, acting as the kite’s ocean of air, favors no dividing boundaries, ideologies, or human conflicts.

Doves and Pigeons as Pets
By PH Budgie

Doves and pigeons, domesticated for thousands of years, have been used in the past as sacrifices to gods, raised for food and kept as pets. Pigeons have carried messages across battlefields and from town to town, been couriers of news from distant relatives or reporters, and transported vital medications to dying people. Nowadays tame pigeons are still used to carry messages, but more commonly are raised for racing, meat, scientific experimentation and “white dove” releases at weddings. A few species of doves are raised as pets and the white Ringneck Doves are often used in magic shows. Wild dove and pigeon hunting is still a popular sport. Over 300 species of the family Columbidae, the classification name for doves and pigeons, exist in the world. The United States has nine native and four introduced species of doves or pigeons.

The difference between doves and pigeons is mostly size. Doves are generally sleeker and smaller with pointed tails, while pigeons are larger and stockier with rounded tails. The common urban pigeon is also known as a “Rock Dove.” The popular white dove releases at various celebrations are billed as “dove” releases, but ethical companies always use white homing pigeons, as they return home.

Doves and pigeons make excellent pets. They are attractive, quiet, unobtrusive, have a calming, gentle voice, are fairly easy to tame, generally healthy and hardy, active but not demanding, require little maintenance and are usually inexpensive. They are easy to breed and make excellent parents. (more…)

White Dove Releases, Facts and Fiction
by WhiteWings NY Dove Releases

Doves are symbolic of celebration, new beginnings, peace, love, serenity and the Holy Spirit. They have been used in ceremonies throughout the world for centuries. Their beauty, as they soar into the sky and circle overhead is truly breathtaking.

Doves can represent eternal life, love, happiness and unity. They signify the celebration of the beginning of your new marriage together. This is a unique way to express that special love and joy you are feeling on your wedding day and really “wow” your family and guests. Something about them just tugs at our hearts! But it must be performed by professionals.

Most professionals, as we are, proudly belong to an association such as The White Dove Release Professionals www.white-dove-releases.com. They are a group of liked-minded business people that share a very high standard of ethics in business practices and the treatment of birds. They clearly post their release policy on their websites so you know what to expect. (more…)

Dove Release Tips for your Wedding Articles Ceremony Dove & Butterfly Releases 2become1weddings Gowns Gifts Planning
Dove Release Tips for your Wedding

1. After you have reserved your white dove release, write down the way you envision your dove release. Give a copy of this to your dove release company. A White Dove Release can be very flexible! They should do everything they can to make it come as close to your dreams as possible.

2. Choose a beautiful poem to read before your dove release. Either have your officiant read it or choose a close friend or family member. This will make it extra special. (more…)

“Dove Release Information”
Written by Kristel Simmonds-Cobb Kristel Simmonds-Cobb Brooklyn, NY

It has been said that if doves are seen on your wedding day, a happy home is assured. Therefore as a spectacular addition to your wedding, you may wish to consider a white dove release.

Doves have traditionally symbolized love, fidelity, peace and prosperity; therefore they are the perfect symbol for the union of a bride and groom. However before you decide to arrange for a dove release, you should keep the following things in mind:

A dove release should only be performed by a professional release company. A reputable dove release company will raise, train and care for their birds properly. Do not use a company who offers to mail the doves to you for a self-release. Also, a knowledgeable and properly attired representative of the company should be present at your wedding to ensure a beautiful and safe release of the doves. The Association of White Dove Release Professionals has established a set of standards that reputable member companies adhere to.

A dove release company should only use white racing homing pigeons in their releases. The doves that are typically sold in pet stores (ring neck doves) should not be used for releases as they are ill equipped to deal with the hazards of the wild and predators. Homing pigeons are related to the dove species but they are larger and are specially bred and trained to fly long distances. However, it is generally recommended that a release be done within 50 miles of their loft.

A dove release should be done at least two hours prior to sunset. This is to give the birds the chance to return to their loft since they will lose their navigational ability after the sun sets.

A dove release should not be done during inclement weather.

A dove release should only be done outdoors. If your wedding ceremony is held in a house of worship, a release can be done on the steps of the site at the conclusion of the ceremony.

To minimize the chance of an �accident� during a release, the doves should be on a special feeding program. During your interview with the release company you can ask for further details.

When properly done, a white dove release can add a special touch to your wedding; making it one that you and your guests will never forget.

Wedding Planning Articles
# 4 – After-Ceremony “Releases”
Many wedding properties do not allow the guests to throw rice after the ceremony (it’s an inconvenient chore to clean up). You have many options to get the same affect. One option is to give bubble containers to the guests to blow bubbles outside the ceremony. This makes a beautiful scene and it’s fun to do. Butterfly releases is another option. Legend has it that butterflies are good luck and they make a spectacular moment! Dove releases is yet another popular option. Doves are released by the Bride and Groom after the ceremony, or many doves can be released right after the ceremony. Contact the local yellow pages, regional bridal magazines or Internet sites for the vendors near your wedding site. Your property may already have relationships with these service providers.

News Articles: Lauril’s Loft White Dove Release in Bellingham, WA
Twinkle lost his toe in an unfortunate garage door accident and now lives at the neighbor’s house. Ghio’s children suspect he ran away because he couldn’t attract a mate as an amputee.

Ghio, owner of Lauril’s Loft White Dove Release, still has 28 more homing pigeons (rock doves), which are trained to return to Ghio’s farm.

Real white ring-neck doves do not have a homing instinct and are not used in releases.

Ghio, 37, named her business after her two children, Lauren, 7, and Riley, 9. She involves both kids in the business and plans to turn it over to them when they reach high school age.

(read full article here)

Auburn Journal : Top Stories
Kathy Dusart of Doves of White releases several feathered friends after the river blessing ceremony at the Confluence Festival Sunday. The doves return home to Colfax.

…What happens to them?
Click here to go to article’s link 

By: Daniel Engber

Huge crowds turned out in Hiroshima Saturday on the anniversary of America’s nuclear attack in World War II. A bell rang at 8:15 a.m., exactly 60 years after the bombing, and 1,000 doves were released into the sky. What happens to the doves after they fly away?

It depends on what kind of birds they are and how they’re raised. Newspaper accounts don’t identify the species released in Hiroshima, but white “peace” doves—the kind pictured in Picasso’s famous poster—fare very badly in the wild. After centuries of domestic breeding, the white ring-neck dove is ill-equipped for urban survival. Bird rescue workers say that a ring-neck dove released in a city will likely starve—if it doesn’t get hit by a car or eaten by another bird first. (more…)