About Our Doves

Our birds are solid-white homing pigeons, members of the Rock Dove family, and are bred and trained to safely return home after release to their loft in Kitty Hawk village. They are a member of the bird family Columbidae (doves and pigeons).

Homing pigeons are the preferred type of bird for ceremonial releases because of their innate ability to fly home from up to hundreds of miles away. Ring neck doves lack homing ability and may not be able survive in the wild; therefore releasing them is not considered a humane or ethical practice.

Our birds are domesticated birds of pure-bred lineage that are well-fed, healthy, humanely kept, well-loved and named. Though their ability to return home on their own is instinct, we practice with them to ensure they will get home safely.

No release shall be done at such a time in the afternoon that the birds would not have time to return home before dark. Should bad weather such as rain or heavy wind prevent a release, we will gladly refund all monies. The safety of our birds always comes first.