John Taillon and his wife, Lillian, raise pigeons from eggs for racing. Their birds are released as far as 500 kilometres away and are timed until they return to their coop on Taillon property. The couple spends 5000 dollars a year on food and medications for their flock of 40.
There are half a dozen people doing the same thing in the Cornwall area.
Recently, the flock was accused of pooping around Cornwall. The Taillon’s cried foul. “They come home for food and water, they come home and do their dirty work, “ says Taillon. “When the birds are flying their claws hook up over their behind so they literally can't go. Their feet have to touching to go, so they can't go.’
Some pigeon racers feared there might be a cull. The Taillon's thought their team might be targetted too, lumped in with the wild population. “Some people thought of pigeons as nasty, “says Lillian Taillon.
Cornwall has debated what to do about nuisance pigeons for more than a year. Last year, the City considered banning pigeons completely. One councillor suggested the birds should be ‘gassed.’ The pro-pigeon movement slowly pecked away at the proposed bylaw, teaching the difference between wild pigeons and racing birds.
After 14 months city council decided the couple can keep their pigeons. The new bylaw sets a maximum of 80 birds per property.
