Article In The Tribune - SLO County
Newspaper of the Central Coast - San Luis Obispo County
The Tribune
PROFITABLE
PIGEONS
WORK SPACES: GARRETT ANDERSON, SNOW DOVES.
MAN TURNS HOBBY INTO BEAUTIFUL BUSINESS VENTURE
Published:
Tuesday, January 20, 2004
Section: Business
Page: D1
Lines: 79
By AnnMarie
Cornejo
The Tribune
Garrett Anderson has turned a boyhood hobby of racing homing pigeons with his father into a business of releasing birds at ceremonies such as weddings and funerals.
Anderson, also an ordained nondenominational minister, officiates services in addition to releasing the birds at events around the county through his business, called Snow Doves.
"People are drawn to the Central Coast for its beautiful outdoor attractions like the beach and wineries," said Anderson, 38, who recently conducted a wedding at the Inn at Morro Bay.
Prices range from $150 for a pair release to $400 for a flock of 40. The money he earns helps cover the cost of training and caring for his 70 birds.
What you see: Snowy white birds soaring against a blue sky. As the homing pigeons, which closely resemble white doves, take flight, they quickly and quietly ascend upward, and circle their release site before heading home.
The birds are trained to fly as far as 300 miles back to their home destination. Anderson's aviators have been released as far away as Sacramento, starting their journey at 7 a.m. and returning safely to Paso Robles by 5 p.m.
Many customers choose to release a pair of birds from a small white basket after wedding vows have been exchanged. Others choose to release an entire flock for gatherings as diverse as funerals, grand openings, graduations and holiday celebrations.
What he sees: Anderson cares for more than 40 homing pigeons housed in a white, wooden-planked storage shed converted into a loft in his Paso Robles backyard. He also has an additional set of 30 trained homing pigeons at his parents' house on York Mountain in Templeton. He learned a valuable lesson last year of keeping the birds at two locations after a predator, most likely a raccoon, broke into the cage at his Paso Robles home and decimated his flock.
Anderson begins training the birds soon after birth. The parents, which are lifelong partners, alternate caring for the egg, but the infant bird - once hatched -- quickly learns from its environment. Anderson places the youngsters in a separate cage on the roof of the loft to let them get their bearings and become familiar with the natural surroundings they will use to navigate their way home. He releases the birds daily, allowing them to spread their soft white wings, and explore the immediate area. He also routinely releases them from various spots throughout the county, training them to make their way home.
What he likes: Anderson enjoys working with the customers as they plan their ceremonies. He also enjoys taking part in the event. "Weddings are a special day when people are generally having a good time -- it's like going to an enjoyable party every weekend," he said.
What he would change: Anderson would like to replace the loft where he now keeps the birds. "The loft was an old garage/workspace that my grandfather used. I put in a new wood floor and sectioned off half of the space for the cage, but I really haven't done too much else with the building. I would like to eventually build a new loft with running water and an updated electrical system," he said.
AnnMarie Cornejo writes about business for The Tribune. Reach her at acornejo@ thetribunenews.com or 805-781-7923.
What's the difference?
* The common homing pigeon is a type of dove known as the rock dove.
* White homing pigeons, which are bred to be colorless, closely resemble doves and are used for release for a variety of reasons -- particularly for their ability to navigate their way home. Homing pigeons can fly home from distances of 600 miles or more.
* Doves are not able to track their route home and are likely to be killed by predators once released into the wild.
Snow Doves
Name: Garrett Anderson
Job: Minister and dove releaser
Information: www.snowdoves.com
TRIBUNE PHOTOS BY JOE JOHNSTON - Garrett Anderson of Snow Doves.
Caption: (1) - lets his homing pigeons out of their coop for an afternoon flight. (2) - Anderson's birds have allowed him to turn a boyhood hobby into a viable business.
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