Pigeon fanciers flock to Puyallup

Associated Press

PUYALLUP — Thousands of pigeons were on display for the Grand Nationals at the fairgrounds here — and few of them resembled their proletariat cousins that beg for crumbs in city streets.

The 80th National Pigeon Association Grand Nationals wrapped up Saturday after three days. Nearly 300 people from around the world showed 200 breeds of pigeons.

"This is like the Olympics for us. This is our club’s big year," said John Verburg, a member of the Puget Sound Pigeon Club, which hosted the event.

Verburg, a computer network administrator for state government, owns 46 Old German Owl pigeons, which have snowy feathers and big brown eyes.

Gordon Tyndall brought six Old German Owls and six Damascenes, a Middle Eastern pigeon that is one of the oldest breeds around, from his home coop in Bay Shore, N.Y.

Tyndall, 62, a retired construction worker, has been raising pigeons for 50 years.

In New York City, "My dad was an ironworker, and he had three large coops on platforms," he said.

"I learned respect from people like him that had birds. It’s an honorable hobby. It’s not for the competition. It’s for the birds and the people and the friendships you make all over the damn place. My wife (Barbara) and I take the pigeons places you never heard of."

And the next generation is lining up to participate, as Meaghan Sanford, 11, of Normandy Park can testify. The sixth-grader was smitten two years ago in downtown Seattle.

"My mom was taking us to Irish dancing," she recalled. "It was dark out, and there was a baby pigeon on the steps.

"We fed her. We named her Tracy, after the Trace Building," where she was found.

"But she died."

Meaghan’s mom, Kathy Sanford, has a friend who raises called ring-necked doves. The friend, Mark Hugo, gave Meaghan two birds. Mated for life, they’ve produced two offspring, a male named Fizzy, and a female named Soda Pop.

Now Meaghan has seven Giant American Homers, another popular breed of pigeon. She is junior representative of the Puget Sound Pigeon Club.

"The only thing I didn’t like at first was cleaning the coops," Meaghan said. "But I do it every Sunday, and it’s OK.

"I like being with the pigeons. I really like that. Sometimes, I dream about them. I dream I have millions of pigeons. That makes me wake up happy."

Associated Press