- What happens to the doves when they are released?
- How do they know where "home" is?
- Do all doves know how to fly home?
- How do you prevent the birds from making a mess?
- At what point in the celebration should the birds be released?
- What time of day is best for a release?
- What if it rains on the day of our event?
- I'm planning an evening wedding, can I still use the doves in a release?
What happens to the doves when they are released?
We start training our doves at a very early age to return to their loft.How do they know where "home" is?
Nobody really knows. A well-trained dove appears to use many senses to "navigate". Although not clearly understood, their ability depends on breeding, good health, and extensive training with a knowledgeable handler.Do all doves know how to fly home?
No! We refer to our racing hybrids that have the ability to home as pigeons. However, the turtledoves (also referred to sometimes as ringnecks or mourning doves) are poor flyers and should never be released into the wild! The smaller doves are not homing pigeons.The birds we use are expensive and require experienced handlers. You spend a few extra dollars hiring us, but you get peace of mind knowing you are providing guests with the proper enjoyment of a professional bird release.
How do you prevent the birds from making a mess?
Just like human athletes, our birds have a special diet before big events so they can perform at top levels without "messing up".At what point in the celebration should the birds be released?
This is entirely up to you! There can be a lot of creativity in the timing and location of your release. One popular way is to release your birds on a specific cue as the couple is introduced as "Mr. & Mrs." to attending guests.What time of day is best for a release?
The specific time of day is flexible, but we never release birds less than one hour prior to sunset: (1) to ensure enough time for the birds to safely reach home, and (2) a flock of white birds airborne is very dramatic. The more sunlight, the better the viewing!What if it rains on the day of our event?
For 'Acts of God' such as rain, snow, high winds we reserve the right to cancel the event. As we will not jeopardize the health and well being of our beloved doves. In this event all deposits are fully refundable.I'm planning an evening wedding, can I still use the doves in a release?
No the birds need at least one hour of daylight in order to return home. However you can still use smaller caged doves in your wedding or reception ceremonies.
