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Doves Over The Majestic Giza Pyramids

Published March 10th, 2021 - 08:12 GMT

An Egyptian man has a  hobby that keeps him busy while he is at home and keeps him on the straight and narrow. He inherited his deep love for pigeons from his grandfather and uncle.

Along with his younger brother, they keep about 40 pigeons on the roof of their family building in Nazlet al-Samman, in western Cairo.

The Egyptian Federation for Homing Pigeons states the ancient tradition dates back to the time of the pharaohs. Handed down through the generations, the practice of domesticating pigeons stretches across borders from the banks of the Nile across north Africa and beyond, with people not only training birds for competitions but also serving them up as a dining delicacy.

Neither regional instability nor the Covid-19 pandemic has dampened enthusiasm for keeping the birds and popular pigeon races still draw crowds.

At the auction, racing pigeons can fetch from tens of dollars to several thousand for the most prized. Racing pigeons can reach speeds of up to 100 kilometers per hour and can cover distances of hundreds of kilometers.

Others prefer a more culinary experience when it comes to pigeons, opting for stuffed or grilled choices served up in dishes from Morocco to the Gulf.

In Egypt, rice or a green grain made from wheat is masterfully stuffed into the birds' diminutive bodies.

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Pigeons hover over the rooftops of Giza

Pigeons hover above a coop on a rooftop in the Egyptian capital's twin city of Giza on February 21, 2021, with the Pyramid Khafre (Chephren) seen in the background. An ancient tradition handed down through the generations, the practice of domesticating pigeons stretches across borders from the banks of the Nile to north Africa and beyond, with people not only training birds for competitions, but also serving them up as a dining delicacy. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP

Omar Gamal, a 28-year-old pigeon keeper, releases his pigeon

Omar Gamal, a 28-year-old pigeon keeper, releases his pigeon from a coop on a rooftop in the Egyptian capital's twin city of Giza on February 21, 2021, with the Pyramids of (R to L) Khufu (Cheops), Khafre (Chephren), and Menkaure (Menkheres) in the background. An ancient tradition handed down through the generations, the practice of domesticating pigeons stretches across borders from the banks of the Nile to north Africa and beyond, with people not only training birds for competitions, but also serving them up as a dining delicacy. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP

Pigeons above the skies of the Egyptian capital twin city of Giza

Pigeons fly in the sky above the Egyptian capital's twin city of Giza on February 21, 2021, with the Pyramid of Khafre (Chephren, C) in the background. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP

Pigeons look on

Pigeons look on while perching on a coop atop a rooftop in the Egyptian capital's twin city of Giza on February 21, 2021. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP

A pigeon perches on a coop atop a rooftop Giza

A pigeon perches on a coop atop a rooftop in the Egyptian capital's twin city of Giza on February 21, 2021. An ancient tradition handed down through the generations, the practice of domesticating pigeons stretches across borders from the banks of the Nile to north Africa and beyond, with people not only training birds for competitions, but also serving them up as a dining delicacy. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP

Omar Gamal, a 28-year-old pigeon keeper, tends to pigeons in a coop atop his rooftop in the Egyptian capital's twin city of Giza

Omar Gamal, a 28-year-old pigeon keeper, tends to pigeons in a coop atop his rooftop in the Egyptian capital's twin city of Giza on February 21, 2021. An ancient tradition handed down through the generations, the practice of domesticating pigeons stretches across borders from the banks of the Nile to north Africa and beyond, with people not only training birds for competitions, but also serving them up as a dining delicacy. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP

A keeper tends to a pigeon in a coop atop a building

A keeper tends to a pigeon in a coop atop a building in the Egyptian capital's twin city of Giza on February 21, 2021. An ancient tradition handed down through the generations, the practice of domesticating pigeons stretches across borders from the banks of the Nile to north Africa and beyond, with people not only training birds for competitions, but also serving them up as a dining delicacy. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP

Omar Gamal, a 28-year-old pigeon keeper, tends to pigeons in a coop atop his rooftop

Omar Gamal, a 28-year-old pigeon keeper, tends to pigeons in a coop atop his rooftop in the Egyptian capital's twin city of Giza on February 21, 2021. An ancient tradition handed down through the generations, the practice of domesticating pigeons stretches across borders from the banks of the Nile to north Africa and beyond, with people not only training birds for competitions, but also serving them up as a dining delicacy. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP

Pigeons perch on a rooftop in the Egyptian capital

Pigeons perch on a rooftop in the Egyptian capital's twin city of Giza on February 21, 2021, with the Pyramids of (R to L) Khufu (Cheops), Khafre (Chephren), and Menkaure (Menkheres) in the background. An ancient tradition handed down through the generations, the practice of domesticating pigeons stretches across borders from the banks of the Nile to north Africa and beyond, with people not only training birds for competitions, but also serving them up as a dining delicacy. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP

Pigeons hover over the rooftops of Giza
Omar Gamal, a 28-year-old pigeon keeper, releases his pigeon
Pigeons above the skies of the Egyptian capital twin city of Giza
Pigeons look on
A pigeon perches on a coop atop a rooftop Giza
Omar Gamal, a 28-year-old pigeon keeper, tends to pigeons in a coop atop his rooftop in the Egyptian capital's twin city of Giza
A keeper tends to a pigeon in a coop atop a building
Omar Gamal, a 28-year-old pigeon keeper, tends to pigeons in a coop atop his rooftop
Pigeons perch on a rooftop in the Egyptian capital
Pigeons hover over the rooftops of Giza
Pigeons hover above a coop on a rooftop in the Egyptian capital's twin city of Giza on February 21, 2021, with the Pyramid Khafre (Chephren) seen in the background. An ancient tradition handed down through the generations, the practice of domesticating pigeons stretches across borders from the banks of the Nile to north Africa and beyond, with people not only training birds for competitions, but also serving them up as a dining delicacy. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP
Omar Gamal, a 28-year-old pigeon keeper, releases his pigeon
Omar Gamal, a 28-year-old pigeon keeper, releases his pigeon from a coop on a rooftop in the Egyptian capital's twin city of Giza on February 21, 2021, with the Pyramids of (R to L) Khufu (Cheops), Khafre (Chephren), and Menkaure (Menkheres) in the background. An ancient tradition handed down through the generations, the practice of domesticating pigeons stretches across borders from the banks of the Nile to north Africa and beyond, with people not only training birds for competitions, but also serving them up as a dining delicacy. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP
Pigeons above the skies of the Egyptian capital twin city of Giza
Pigeons fly in the sky above the Egyptian capital's twin city of Giza on February 21, 2021, with the Pyramid of Khafre (Chephren, C) in the background. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP
Pigeons look on
Pigeons look on while perching on a coop atop a rooftop in the Egyptian capital's twin city of Giza on February 21, 2021. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP
A pigeon perches on a coop atop a rooftop Giza
A pigeon perches on a coop atop a rooftop in the Egyptian capital's twin city of Giza on February 21, 2021. An ancient tradition handed down through the generations, the practice of domesticating pigeons stretches across borders from the banks of the Nile to north Africa and beyond, with people not only training birds for competitions, but also serving them up as a dining delicacy. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP
Omar Gamal, a 28-year-old pigeon keeper, tends to pigeons in a coop atop his rooftop in the Egyptian capital's twin city of Giza
Omar Gamal, a 28-year-old pigeon keeper, tends to pigeons in a coop atop his rooftop in the Egyptian capital's twin city of Giza on February 21, 2021. An ancient tradition handed down through the generations, the practice of domesticating pigeons stretches across borders from the banks of the Nile to north Africa and beyond, with people not only training birds for competitions, but also serving them up as a dining delicacy. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP
A keeper tends to a pigeon in a coop atop a building
A keeper tends to a pigeon in a coop atop a building in the Egyptian capital's twin city of Giza on February 21, 2021. An ancient tradition handed down through the generations, the practice of domesticating pigeons stretches across borders from the banks of the Nile to north Africa and beyond, with people not only training birds for competitions, but also serving them up as a dining delicacy. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP
Omar Gamal, a 28-year-old pigeon keeper, tends to pigeons in a coop atop his rooftop
Omar Gamal, a 28-year-old pigeon keeper, tends to pigeons in a coop atop his rooftop in the Egyptian capital's twin city of Giza on February 21, 2021. An ancient tradition handed down through the generations, the practice of domesticating pigeons stretches across borders from the banks of the Nile to north Africa and beyond, with people not only training birds for competitions, but also serving them up as a dining delicacy. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP
Pigeons perch on a rooftop in the Egyptian capital
Pigeons perch on a rooftop in the Egyptian capital's twin city of Giza on February 21, 2021, with the Pyramids of (R to L) Khufu (Cheops), Khafre (Chephren), and Menkaure (Menkheres) in the background. An ancient tradition handed down through the generations, the practice of domesticating pigeons stretches across borders from the banks of the Nile to north Africa and beyond, with people not only training birds for competitions, but also serving them up as a dining delicacy. Khaled DESOUKI / AFP

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