Pigeon lofts are a part of Poland’s landscape especially in the mining region of Silesia, where pigeon breeding has historic roots and the birds enjoy near-mythic status. Now, he hopes the sky’s the limit for Polish pigeon-enthusiasts who, he believes, will rise to rival their Belgian and Dutch counterparts within a decade. “He’s provided us with a lot of satisfaction and money,” the ex-army captain tells AFP. Together, they bought Belgian pigeons with prestigious pedigrees, investing thousands of euros, including 11,000 euros ($12,400) alone for the progeny of a bird called Porsche 911. Poland boasts Europe’s biggest community of homing pigeon breeders-and a string of international competition trophies-but trails other countries in the breeding of pedigree birds that command a higher value.Īs one of those who has decided to do something about that, Trojczak said he had turned professional after retiring from the army a few years ago and teamed up with a friend. “My birds are athletes,” says the 42-year-old pigeon fancier, who inherited his passion for breeding the birds from his father and grandfather.
Opening one of his many cages, Michal Trojczak watches proudly as more than 70 dusty-blue pigeons take flight, soaring high above snow-covered fields in eastern Poland.
