Yes, releasing raised in captivity white doves would be deadly to the birds- however, we don’t release doves, we release trained white homing pigeons that fly back to our coop.

If you are planning a wedding in Dayton Ohio and want to have a spectacular release of white birds in your ceremony, our birds will give you that effect- and all of them will return safely home.

If releasing white pigeons doesn’t sound as sexy as releasing white doves, realize that the two birds are almost identical.

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, 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.

DOVES

The most common doves kept as pets are the Ringneck and Diamond Doves. The Ringneck Dove has been bred in over 40 color mutations: white, peach, fawn, pied and apricot, to name a few. It is also known as the laughing dove, collared dove, Barbary dove or turtledove, and the white mutation is sometimes called the Java dove, peace dove, or sacred dove.

Color mutations of Diamond Doves include cinnamon, pied, brown, brilliant, yellow, snow white, white tailed, and silver. The Diamond Dove, sometimes called the Little Dove or Little Turtledove, belongs to the genus Geopelia that includes five small, long-tailed doves that eat grains and live in the relatively open savanna and semi-arid regions in Australia. One of the five species, the Zebra Dove, has a range that extends into Southeast Asia and have been imported into and become feral in Hawaii and parts of the continental USA. Four of the species have barred plumage while the Diamond Dove has spotted plumage.

Diamond Doves

Diamond Doves (Geopelia cuneata) were imported to Europe in the late 1800s. They were raised in the London Zoological Garden as early as 1868. They have become one of the most popular of aviary birds and are an excellent choice for beginners. They rarely get sick and can be kept with other small, peaceful, birds such as finches. They also do well inside and are best kept in pairs. They can live up to fifteen years in captivity, with an average life expectancy of ten years.

The Diamond Dove is one of the smallest of the Australian doves, weighing less than an ounce (23 to 27 grams) and about 7-1/2 to 8-1/3 inches long. Adults have a gray body, creamy-white abdomen, blue gray and chestnut wing feathers with white diamond specks on the wings, a long tail with white tipped outer tail feathers and dark gray bill. The legs and feet are pink. The adult birds’ eyes are have orange irises with a pronounced orange-red orbital ring and can often be sexed by the thickness of the eye ring and the color of the wing feathers. At maturity (about one year), the males have a silver gray color and a wide eye ring (about 2-3 mm). The females tend toward a brown gray color and have a thinner eye ring (about 1 mm thick).

Diamond Doves have a variety of cooing calls. Birds in captivity will sometimes imitate human coos, too. They are very affectionate — when one bird of a pair returns to a nest they often greet each other with very low, raspy coos. At night, if they are not nesting, they cuddle with each other and give their mate a series of very rapid light pecks around the neck and head while slightly shaking their wings. When mated birds become separated they will make a two-note call until they become reunited.

As with all birds, Diamond Doves need enough cage room to move around, roost and exercise comfortably. A pair can be kept in as small as an 18 inch square cage but should be allowed free indoor flight every day. Minimum flight cage size should be 3′x 4′x 6′. They should never be allowed outdoor free flight as they lack the “homing” instinct of pigeons. They eat small whole seeds such as millet, canary grass, milo and wheat (a vitamin-fortified finch mix would work well) and are primarily ground feeders so should be provided separate seed, water and grit containers on or close to the floor. Also provide a cuttlebone, at least two natural-type perches of varying height, size and spacing, a small canary-type nest and dried grasses for nest building. Millet seed sprays, fresh greens, an occasional piece of whole wheat bread, hard boiled egg yolk and small meal worms are welcome treats. Grit should include crushed eggshells or oyster shells for calcium, sand for food grinding purposes, and tiny bits of charcoal as a digestion aid. Clean, fresh water is essential. Water bowls should be open and fairly deep as doves suck water into their bills. Offer a bathing dish once or twice a week with about 1/2 to 3/4 inch of luke-warm water, or mist the birds with a clean spray bottle. Cages should be located in a draft free area away from heating and cooling outlets, open windows, fireplaces and kitchen cooking fumes. If the cage is in a dark room or if the area becomes very cool, add a light attached to a timer. Vitalites, although expensive, provide a healthy light spectrum.

These birds are happiest kept in mated pairs, but unless you want a lot of birds, you should remove the eggs once laid. Males can become territorial and may fight, especially if there is a female present. Females usually get along well together. Courting behavior is charming. The male dove usually begins the mating sequence by flying to the nesting site and incessantly calling for the female to join him. Once she is interested, they both fly to the ground where the male will display his tail feathers like a fan, while touching his beak to the ground. Sometimes he will puff up his feathers and strut around the female, stop, puff his feathers up further, then repeat the cycle. Sometimes separately or at the end of this display, the female will open her beak and the male will feed her like he would a baby, but the actions are much more violent and often end with the male violently slapping his wings against the ground. After mating the male will give a series of very short coos for a minute or so while both remain very still.

Diamonds are devoted and very affectionate birds. When one bird of a pair returns to a nest they often greet each other with very low, raspy coos. At night, if they are not nesting, they often cuddle with each other and exchange very rapid light pecks around the neck and head while slightly shaking their wings. When separated, the birds give a two-note call until they become reunited.

Two small white eggs are usually laid one day apart. Incubation is 13 to 14 days. The male will sit on the eggs during the day and the female at night. Sometimes both birds will brood together, especially toward the end of the incubation period. The young are hatched without feathers but are fully feathered within a week and are flying within two weeks. Both parents feed the young regurgitated food until they able to peck sufficient food for themselves. Before the babies are weaned, the parents may start a new brood. Diamond Doves are charming birds and make a wonderful addition to any aviary. They are particularly suited to apartment living, as they are fairly quiet, clean and non-destructive. They can be tamed with gentle and persistent handling, but will be friendliest if purchased young from a small breeder who has handled the babies from the time they are hatched. Although they will never talk and most likely won’t learn “tricks”, they are beautiful and will provide hours of quiet entertainment and pleasure.

Ringneck Doves

The domestic Ringneck Dove, Streptopelia risoria, is a cross between the wild species of Ringneck Doves, S.decaocto and S.roesogrisea. These are the doves of the Bible. They are not native to the USA, but probably originated in northeast Africa and Arabia. Raised as pets for over 2,000 years, they are now the most commonly kept doves in the world.

The most familiar colors are beige-pink and pure white, but many other mutations have been bred, including a silky-feathered variety. The original wild colored bird has smooth brown and gray feathers on the back and wings with a rich rose-colored head and breast. The bird is named for its collar of black feathers about 3/16′ wide around the neck, or in the white variety, a collar of white feathers growing horizontally against the grain of the neck feathers. These doves measure approximately 10 to 12 inches in length from beak to tail tip, and have a wingspread of approximately 15 inches. Males and females look alike and about the only way to tell the difference is by observation. Only males perform bow coos under ordinary conditions. This is the fastest coo in courting behavior, and is always directed at a particular bird with an accompanying head bow. The feet often alternate in “stamping”. However, females long isolated from males may bow coo when presented with another bird. Perch coos and nest coos are slower and softer and the nest coo is always accompanied by wing “flipping.” Perch coos and nest coos may be given by both sexes. Other characteristic male behaviors can also be taken on by long-isolated females, so are not as reliable. Some of their vocalizations sound like rippling laughter, thus the common name, “laughing dove.”

Ringnecks can be kept and bred in cages as small as two feet square, although a more appropriate size for a pair would be 36 x 24 x 30 inches high. A single bird can be housed in a smaller cage, but should be let out every day for indoor exercise. They should never be allowed outdoor free flight as they lack the “homing” instinct of pigeons. Ringnecks can be kept alone and tame quite easily, even as adults, with lots of patience. Let the bird see you often, always use gentle, slow movements, talk softly, and offer treats from your open palm, and within a few weeks the bird should trust you enough to step up onto your finger. If a bird raises its wing vertically over its shoulder and backs away, withdraw and try again later. Frightened doves can bash against the cage bars with enough force to injure themselves. When cornered, a terrified dove will “slap” you with its wing, although most doves won’t bite or peck. Males tend to be quarrelsome with other males so it is best to keep them singly or in mated pairs.

Provide separate food, water and grit dishes. Ringneck Doves eat seeds whole and suck water, as do all columbiaforms. They are ground-feeders, so are most comfortable with dishes placed near the bottom of the cage. Favorite seeds include wheat, milo or kaffir, rice, millet, cracked corn, vetch, chopped peanuts, safflower and tiny black sunflower. Commercial “Dove and Quail Mix” seed is available, but sometimes hard to find. Pigeon pellets or the smaller game-bird pellets (20 percent protein), or “crumbled” poultry feed, if reasonably fresh, are good for supplementing grain. The pellets will supply vitamins A and D3. The D3 is necessary if direct sun is not available. Some birds sweep their beaks through the seed looking for choice tidbits, so be prepared to vacuum under the cage often. Change the food and water every day, and keep the cage bottom clean. Soiled feed on the ground may spoil and cause illness. Doves also like extra calcium (crushed eggshell, or oyster shell) in their grit. Doves appreciate deep green leaves, such as dandelion, but they are not necessary if pellets are given. Welcome treats include crumbled whole wheat bread, millet sprays, crumbled hardboiled egg yolks, fresh greens, small pieces of grapes and watermelon. Some birds are pickier than others, so keep experimenting. If you have white birds, don’t line the cage with newspaper or you will soon have birds with gray tails. Brown wrapping paper or paper towels work best, or use a cage with a wire bottom and under-tray. Provide a large shallow bathing dish two or three times a week, or mist the birds with a spray bottle.

If you let your doves out, be prepared for them to fly up to the highest curtain rod and down to the floor to walk around the room looking for tidbits or nesting materials. They will return to their cage in time. Their droppings are well formed and harden quickly, so are easy to pick up with a vacuum cleaner. Don’t be alarmed if your doves spend a few moments each day lounging on the bottom of their cage or on the floor, as long as they get up and go back to their perches within about an hour or so. Doves all exhibit this ‘couch-potato’ lounging posture, particularly in the afternoon, which is ‘dove rest-period.’

Perches in the birds cage can either be made of natural wood such as apple branches (be sure no pesticides have been used), or of hardwood, about 1/2 to 3/4 in diameter. Place three or four perches at least eight inches from the sides of the cage, so that they will not damage their tail feathers by banging them against the bars, and at least fifteen inches apart to give flying room.

If the birds are kept inside, protect them from cold drafts and breezes, cooking fumes, fireplace smoke and other hazards. However, these are hardy birds that can take below freezing weather. They do well in outside aviaries if slowly acclimated and protected from the elements.

A mated pair of birds will produce young on a regular basis, all year round. Unless you plan on a huge flock, or on giving away birds, it is best to remove the eggs. Sadly, some people still use white Ringneck Doves for celebratory “dove releases.” Ringneck Doves released to the wild are fated to die horrible deaths. They are not equipped to live wild in most of our climates, have no natural fear of predators, and have never learned to distinguish “natural” foods.

Ringneck Dove hens will probably start to lay eggs at about 8 months of age, sometimes even without a male present. Often the hen will sit in the food dish to lay her eggs. When you notice this behavior, place an 8 to 10-inch basket on the floor of the cage, away from the perches so droppings will not foul it, and provide clean straw or small sticks. You can line the nest first with paper towels and a little alfalfa straw for easy cleaning. If you do not want baby birds, remove the eggs when the second egg appears or four days after the first egg is laid, since some hens reabsorb an egg from time to time. When you remove eggs, distract your birds with a stalk of fresh millet seeds or some other treat. You can substitute marble eggs for the real ones to prevent immediate re-laying. Hens lay eggs approximately every three to four weeks in the spring breeding season, and if kept in warm rooms they will lay year-round, so be prepared to take away about a dozen eggs per hen per year. If you want baby birds, they will hatch in approximately two weeks. Both parents will take turns sitting on the eggs and feeding the babies, and when the babies perch on the side of the nest and get ready to try their wings, about 2 weeks after hatching, you can start finger-taming them.

Ringneck Doves can be sweet and loving pets, given time and patience. Purchasing hand-raised babies will assure a tame bird. Their gentle ways and laughing coos offer an interesting and entertaining atmosphere to any home.

PIGEONS

Pigeons are not often viewed as pets. Most pigeons are bred to race, to show or to be used for food. Urban feral pigeon populations are considered nuisances or health hazards and are often exterminated in large quantities. But the pigeon has a noble history, is one of the most loyal and devoted of birds, and, when raised with love and attention, can be a faithful and treasured companion.

Columbia livia, most familiar in the form of street pigeons, is a Mediterranean native. The French settlers at Port Royal, Nova Scotia first introduced the pigeon into North America in 1606 and European settlers imported them into the Colonies for food and message carrying in the 1700′s, but man’s relationship with pigeons predates written history.

Long associated with peace, the dove symbol first appeared around 4500 B.C. and combined the attributes of all pigeons and doves. Historians speculate the birds clustered in early temples, as they do on modern buildings, so became linked with fertility goddesses like Venus, Astarte, and Aphrodite. These deities symbolized love, peace and harmony. Adding to the “love” connection is the pigeons endearing loyalty and devotion to the same mate year after year.

By biblical times, the dove/pigeon had become a familiar image and symbol. According to biblical flood legend Noah sent out a raven that didn’t come back and later a pigeon that returned with the olive branch, a sign of dry land – and of peace. In 1150, the Sultan of Baghdad launched a pigeon postal service that functioned until about 1258. Pigeons were used as messengers in Julius Caesar’s times as well as during the siege of Paris in 1870-1871 and in both World Wars. During World War II at least 32 pigeons received the Dickin Medal for brave service. By the late 1800s, every US Naval station had a pigeon loft, and some maintained them well into the 1950s.

Pigeons are a parrot’s close avian relatives. They share such traits such as mating for life, producing a crop milk to feed their young, having a fleshy cere covering their nostrils and producing a powdery down in their feathers. The Rock Dove, the only domesticated variety of over 250 species of pigeons worldwide, has been selectively bred for various traits for about 3000 years. Some of the current varieties of the over 200 different modern breeds include Homing or Carrier Pigeons, Tumbling Pigeons and Exhibition or Fancy pigeons. Pigeons come in every imaginable color and variety, from gray barred (like urban pigeons) to red to silver, from petite to huge (The “Giant Runt” can weigh over 2-1/2 pounds), from frilly feathered to feathered feet. Raising a pigeon as a pet is not much different than raising a dove. Although it is possible to hand feed the young squab, it is not necessary. Pigeons are excellent parents and will continue feeding their youngsters well after they fledge. Once a baby comes out of the nest it is hardly distinguishable from its parents, thus the myth of “you never see a baby pigeon.” Look for a local pigeon breeder who handles his birds daily. Pigeons bond easily with humans, especially those that feed them, and a tamed pigeon, kept alone, will become a faithful and loyal companion to its human. Maintaining a mated pair is not necessary, and unless you are racing or showing them, you probably don’t want any extra birds.

Pigeon droppings are messier than doves’, so keeping one inside means constant clean-ups. Pigeons live to fly. Allow for at least some free-flight time, either inside or out. Birds that have bonded with a mate or with a location will generally always come home. (This may not be the case in the “fancy” pigeons, so consider clipping their wings if allowed outside). The risks of outdoor flight, though, may outweigh the advantages – free flying pigeons run a gauntlet of hawks, cats, cars, windows, kids with BB guns and pigeon-hating or practice-shooting adults with rifles. Caging needs to be large enough to allow the bird wing-flapping room and to avoid striking tail or wing feathers on the sides. Just like with doves, these birds are ground feeders, so provide their seed, water and grit on or near the floor of the cage. Install at least two natural-wood perches or a shelf and a perch. The shelf should be at least 6 inches deep and be the highest of the perches. Pigeons enjoy fresh seed gasses and other greens, whole wheat bread snacks and whole seeds such as safflower, popcorn, peas and other grains. Commercial pigeon seeds or pellets are available at most feed stores. They need larger grit than doves and also should have some eggshell or oyster shell available for calcium. Fresh daily water in a 2″ deep dish is essential. Pigeons love to bathe, to provide a large, flat 1-2″ deep dish of water at least twice a week.

The only way to determine the sex of most pigeons is by behavior. At maturity, males tend to bow and coo and strut with fanned tails around their object of affection. They are quite vocal. Females are more demure.

A pet pigeon can be a true delight for the enlightened and informed.

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.

A professional will strive to educate the general public about the ins and outs of dove releases. Always use a reputable company and ask a lot of questions!

Untrained homing pigeons, ring neck doves, like magicians use or any other type of white bird should never be used for releases. Untrained birds will not create the beautiful display you desire. These birds will most likely land on trees, rooftops or the ground. Not the picture you were looking for, right!

Some people may offer to ship birds hundreds of miles telling you they will return home, or make a new home in your area! UNTRUE! They are not used to surviving in the wild and will most likely perish or become prey. Even homing pigeons will not fly hundreds of miles home if they were not trained to do so. White doves are usually released up to a 50 mile radius.

There are many things about birds you may find surprising! White doves used for releases are specially trained white rock doves but are also a type of white homing pigeon. They have an inborn ability to find their way home if properly trained to use it. The scientific world is still unsure of exactly how they do it!

This is the only reason they can be released at celebrations and will find their way home. Most times they will be home before the professionals that released them! Well-trained white homing pigeons are the ONLY type of bird that should ever be used for releases.

Professionals spend countless hours in the handling, caring and training of their birds. They are healthy, well fed and well trained. They have their own houses or lofts with special one- way doors to let them in when they get home. They know there is fresh food and water awaiting them when they come back from a release. This feeding schedule is also one way to control a chance of an “accident”. Their feeding after the release helps insure a release without incident.

As babies, when they are ready to begin training, the birds are driven about one half mile and released from special training baskets. When they are in their loft before their handler gets there, it’s time to go further! This teaches them where home is, the surrounding countryside, how to fly out of the baskets and how to fly as a group. The handler will continue driving and training until they have been in all directions from their coop within the release area. They are continually trained even as adults to keep them in good flying condition.

A qualified handler is a vital part of every release. A trained (well dressed handler will bring your birds to your wedding site in beautifully decorated release baskets. They will set up the equipment before your guests arrive in an area that is safe to perform the release. It is important the birds are not released into people, traffic, or wires and they have a clear flight path to the sky. A handler will guide you and coordinate the release with your photographer so he or she can get the best possible pictures.

Under certain weather conditions a release may have to be cancelled for the safety of the birds. Doves will not fly in rain, fog, extreme wind or the dark. It affects their homing ability and puts them at risk of getting lost or hurt. Professionals care too much for their birds to let that happen. A release must also take place with enough time for the birds to get home before sunset. This time varies, depending on how far they have to fly home, but is generally 2 hours or less before sunset.

A professionally done white dove release is a very beautiful, special addition to your wedding day. Every release is a happy experience that all professionals thoroughly enjoy! The “oohs and aahhs” of the guests says it all!

You can visit our website at www.WhiteWingsNYDoveReleases.com to view pictures of events we have done in our area and read our release policy and FAQs page. I hope this article was enlightening! Consider adding a very special dove release to your very special event!

Macy
WhiteWings NY Dove Releases

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.

3. Make sure your officiant knows you will be having a dove release and give a copy of the poem to whomever will be reading it. This will help your guests understand the beautiful symbolism the White Dove Release represents to you and your spouse – the promise of a peaceful marriage,
everlasting love and devotion, two people going home to begin their life as a couple.

4. Make sure your photographer knows you will be having a dove release before the day of your wedding. Do some research on the Internet under
“dove releases” to see all the different styles of dove release photos – send the links of these photographs to your photographer. Show him or her
your favorite photos. This will help in capturing the perfect photos of your spectacular event!!

5. It all boils down to open communication to get exactly what you want!

Author Name: Wings Of White
Site URL: www.wingsofwhite.com
Email Address: info@wingsofwhite.com

White Bird Release has helped make special moments at weddings for over a year.  It is an impressive symbol of two individual’s love to release these wonderful birds into the air.

White Bird Release also releases their white homing pigeons at other special events like funerals and memorials in the Dayton area.

If you have a special occasion coming up and are interested in having a dove (white homing pigeon) release please contact George at (937) 224-3447.

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.

In order to ensure that the birds arrive safely home they require on site training prior to the event. Different birds will take flight in different directions and can only travel a certain distance, so the location of the event is important when requesting the birds.

On the day of the event the birds will be released at any desired time in any safe location. The number of white birds is in the discretion of the customer. The cost depends on distance the white homing pigeons will need to travel and the number of birds desired.

It is truly a beautiful site when white birds fly up into the air at once at the opportune time.