08/10/2026
what is a ceremonial dove release?
for decades now, people have been sold the romanticized idea that releasing doves at their event is a beautiful, loving way to commemorate a milestone or event in one's life. in reality, the truth about dove releases reveals a sordid practice. these fully domesticated birds, bred en masse in captivity, raised until just old enough to fly, are released without any training or "homing" capabilities (a learned skill, NOT an inherent trait in pigeons), and will almost certainly die a horrible death.
these birds will try and assimilate into feral flocks, usually unsuccessfully. they are a magnet for predators and have zero survival instincts, so they are bullied out. often, they come across humans who will gawk and record their desperate, silent plea to be saved. it's only the very luckiest who manage to find help and are rescued in time to save their lives. if you ever find an all white-pigeon, you can usually convince them to walk into a wire dog kennel or carrier of their own volition with a bribe of some seeds. these birds are truly so desperate to be rescued, they will directly seek out humans, despite being too terrified to fully trust us.
you can become a pigeon hero today and learn how to help feral flocks, by monitoring them for stringfoot, and feeding them proper, nutritious foods. join our Pætreon and check out the FREE flock feeding guide, and other available chapters of the continuously-expanding pigeon care guides. pigeons need and deserve our help and respect, and we can each do our part to protect them 🕊️🕊️
