War is Over!
Trafalguar square in the early 40's Eleanors grandfather, a New Zealand serviceman is admired by some pigeons. Remember a dove is a fancy pigeon. Peace xxx

Cher Ami

The mission of my visit to the Smithsonian institute was to find this famous stuffed bird and get my photo taken with it. So many great things in there, like muppets, guitars and dresses of all the first ladies. But time was running out, security guards were herding us through the maze of American relics  and finally i found this little bird tucked in the front of a world war 1 communications exhibition window. In 1918 this bird flew through a shower of bullets carrying a message that would help save 200 American soldiers, it read "We are along the road parallel to 276.4. Our own artillery is dropping a barrage directly on us. For heaven's sake, stop it!" The first two birds released from the bush were shot down but the lucky third bird managed to take flght again and deliver the information to a base over 25 miles away. Arriving with a missing eye, a leg hanging by a tendon and a shot through the breast, the bird was an instant hero and some taxidermist has kept it in very good nick for people like you and me to marvel at the strength of this homing instinct.

#4 Last gig at The Sporting Club

Tonight we will be missing Ross, bass player, but hopefully Darcy will fill the low end with the sleazy sound of his saxophone. We are planning to play a few new covers.

Record speed of 177km/h.

These days Pigeon Fancier Societies have seasonal shows where proud owners parade their pigeons who are judged on poise, tail, crest, size, feather texture and colour. There are certian rules in competition such as the Pigeon can't shake it's neck while being judged. I imagine that would be a real challenge for this prehistoric bird.

Here are some facts to show pigeons have been used for than just show:
The Egyptians and the Persians used carrier pigeons 3,000 years ago. They also were used to proclaim the winner of the Olympics. Messenger pigeons were used as early as 1150 in Baghdad and also later by Genghis Khan.
The homing pigeon is a variety of domestic pigeon derived from the Rock Pigeon selectively bred to find its way home over extremely long distances.The wild rock pigeon has an innate homing ability, meaning that it will generally return to its own nest and its own mate. This made it relatively easy to breed from the birds that repeatedly found their way home over long distances. Flights as long as 1800 km (1,118 miles) have been recorded by birds in competition pigeon racing. Their average flying speed over moderate distances 500 miles is around 80 km/h (50 mph), but speeds of up to 177 km/h (110 mph) have been observed in top racers for short distance 100 miles.
Lifted from Wikipedia. I love it.

The last Pigeon Strut at the 'Sporting Club'

The 'Wiggle Pigeon' finale. I made an excited drunken statement of dressing like a pigeon for the last instalment of the Sporting Club residency. My pigeon of the week (pictured above) has an exciting stance and great feathery feet. It's not the kind of costume you can make from scouring Savers, but i will make sure no birds are harmed in the creation of next weeks outfit. If anyone else comes with feathers i will be sure to give you something lovely.

Doin the Pigeon. An early infuence.

#3 Sporting Club - Thursday 11th

We were joined by Darcy McNolte last night and played the best set we've ever done. There was some real blues shaking in the'Wiggle Pigeon' song and the crowd seemed to enjoy the new 'Work Song'. The 'Prince' influence has been noted which is a nice departure from our usual late 50's sounds.
There were no dancers this week, perhaps due to the absence of local rebel rouser Gray Taylor, but the music was acknowledged, as in some people said they loved and it and someone people said they didn't like it.
Next week i hope to pull our our cover of 'The Coasters song "Shimmy" and maybe get some more of that low down dirty blues that would make a Pigeon Wiggle.