Eye of the…Pigeon? A Look at Mike Tyson’s Pet Pigeons

The first installation of “Taking on Tyson” airs on Animal Planet Sunday, March 6, kicking off a six-part series about the lesser-known side of former heavy-weight boxing champion Mike Tyson.

The tender side.

The pigeon-loving side.

Whether you’re tuning in to explore another facet of Tyson’s complex personality or you’re a pigeon fancier yourself, it’s hard to look away from this one.

The merits of feral pigeons have been hotly debated, yet raising pigeons for sport has quite literally been a hobby of kings and queens for centuries. The Queen of England herself raises racing pigeons, just like Mike.

Just like Burt’s Sesame Street relationship with pigeon Bernice in the 1970’s, I predict that Mike’s story will spark a renaissance of interest in raising pigeons.

If you feel drawn to the lifestyle of a pigeon fancier, here’s a little information to help you spread your wings:

• It takes a lot of space and a lot of patience. Your neighbors may not be pleased, but if you explain that it was pigeons or roosters, they may be a bit more empathetic to your pets (at least on Sunday mornings).

• Most pigeon fanciers recommend beginners start with the Birmingham Roller.

• Purchase a mated pair of pigeons no more than three years old that are proven breeders. Pigeons mate for life.

• In warm climates, they’ll mate up to six times in a year, but if you experience all four seasons, expect the birds to nest in the spring and summer.

• The birds are housed in “lofts,” with an indoor area equipped with perches, and a wire aviary outside so they can flutter without flying away.

• The only way to determine the sex of most pigeons is by behavior. Mature males will bow and coo and strut with fanned tails around their object of affection. They are quite vocal. Females are more demure.

If you don’t have the space and other resources available to you that Iron Mike and the Queen have at their disposal, but you still have a fascination with pigeons, you may want to get involved with Cornell University’s Project Pigeon Watch. The program provides educational materials on all topics pigeon. It’s a very cool and fun resource for aspiring urban bird watchers who aren’t quite ready for a pet pigeon of their own.