I'm racing pigeons since I was twelve years old and I have been in many national events and other gatherings related to our pigeon sport. I've met hundreds of fancier and faced dozens of interesting situation alongside with my friends in my country, Portugal. I always have this idea of fanciers as one big happy family getting together in one big space sharing experiences. We have done and still doing this in our local club and many conventions that I have attended in the past. I met many fanciers around the world via internet communication. I have exchanged insights with a couple of well known hobbyist from North pole to South pole. I received invitations to visit their respective countries as I offered to receive them as my guests given a chance they could travel to Portugal. But still, I had this feeling something amiss to make a whole picture complete.
Last week (November 7-11, 2003), I attended the 14th Kassel pigeon market, an international scene in motion. I observed and experienced how fanciers from all parts of the world come together to exhibit their passion, expression and enthusiasm toward our sport. Net communication has given me a small window to look out and survey the scenes of pigeonsport abroad, but its always incomplete. The distance has always been a hindrance to complete the whole picture of what I had in mind. This leads me to pack my bags to travel to Kassel along with my friends and took part of the most important and biggest pigeon fair of the world - The International Pigeon Market - Kassel / Germany. I thought about all the people in our sport around the world come alive and real for 2 exciting days. I've seen hundreds of stands located in several halls, I've seen thousands of pigeons, thousands of fanciers, hundreds of new medicines, dozens of innovations, I've mingled and touched elbows with countless of foreign flyers. I even made acquaintances with a couple of people that will surely become good friends in the days to come. We are indeed a distinct society if I may say.
Personally, meeting fanciers around the world has given me a better perspective of our pigeon sport. We are everywhere around the globe and there are episodes in our lives that would connect us to pigeons and our sport. I have this one good experience coming back from Kassel that made me think we are still multiplying and everywhere.
Here is my side story:
Coming back to Portugal from Kassel, Germany, my friends and I bought some birds and decided to take them with us in the airplane. We bought small baskets and our plan was to try to check them in as luggage. We thought it may be possible depending on the flexibility of the personnel assigned to the "Airport check-ins" and boarding gates. One of my friends checked in his basket through an "X-Ray" machine and immediately the inspector stopped him. He looked at us and said: "You should have declared that you are checking in live birds because we cannot allow to transport them with you." Another personnel possibly a supervisor approached and spoke with the first personnel and then turned to us to ask: "Is this a basket of pigeons?". I answered in soft spoken and friendly tone: "Yes, you are right, we bought them from Kassel show...". A sign of approval and he responded: "It's ok then, you and your friends can bring the baskets in with you . I am a pigeon fancier myself". He smiled at us while giving out his calling card. I believe that this experience is a good reflection of our pigeon sport. We are interconnected to one other with a pigeon holding us together… AS ONE BIG FAMILY.