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How to Sabotage Military Pigeons: A Primer
Since the Siege of Paris (1870-71), armies have tried to neutralize military pigeons. The reasons for this are easy to understand—pigeons allow the enemy to request aid and to receive confidential information from spies. To put a stop to these birds, militaries have recruited sharpshooters and hawks to dispatch them, or released intercepted pigeons with…
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The Swedish Military’s Pigeon Service: 1886 – 1949 A.D.
A lot of ink has been spilled about military pigeons and their heroic actions during wartime. But what about those in peacetime armies? This blog is part of an occasional series examining military pigeon services in countries with strong traditions of neutrality. This week, we look at Sweden’s former military pigeon service. Like most European…
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Braddock: The Newspaper Pigeon Who Joined The Army
At Pigeons of War, we’ve devoted several articles to famous war pigeons. We’ve written about Gustav and President Wilson, for instance, both of whom spent their formative years in the military. However, thousands of pigeons from all walks of life were donated to the military during both World Wars. This week, we take a look…
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Birds of Prey vs. Pigeons of War
Pigeons and birds of prey have had a troubled relationship since the beginning. As nations rushed to set up military pigeon services in the 19th century, officials devoted ample resources to preventing bird-on-bird attacks. This was a serious concern for militaries. Hawks, falcons, and even owls could quickly annihilate an entire flock of pigeons during…
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“You’re in the Army Now!”: When Pigeons Get Drafted
In discussions about military pigeons, little attention has been paid to how the birds even entered the armed forces. Typically, there were two routes. Some pigeons were like professional servicemembers—born and raised in government lofts, all they knew was a life of military camps and discipline. Others were like draftees—prize-winning racing birds in civilian life,…
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Gustav: D-Day’s Finest Pigeon
This past Monday was the 78th anniversary of the Allied invasion of Normandy, popularly known as D-Day. A monumental achievement, the invasion changed the course of World War II, laying the groundwork for the liberation of France. An often ignored aspect of that day is the role pigeons played in the landings. Today, we look…
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Military Pigeons in the 21st Century, Part III: China
Since the end of the Second World War, most of the world’s militaries have decommissioned their pigeon services. A few, however, have held onto their birds. In this ongoing series, we’ll take a closer look at these holdouts. For the past two weeks, we’ve explored the world’s last military pigeon services. So far, we’ve learned…
Pigeons of War 