It would be an understatement to say that sanctions and war have made it difficult and dangerous for pigeon fanciers in Iraq to pursue their hobby, but with the improving security of the area things are now looking up. Pigeon breeding in Iraq gained in popularity with the British invasion of the early 1900s when birds were imported from India and Iran. But under Saddam Hussein the country's closed borders and sanctions imposed by the international community hampered the importation of birds. More recently Shiite Muslim military activity, particularly in the southern cities, made it risky for a fancier just to be on a rooftop with their birds.

For Thair abu Yousif, one of the most respected bird breeders in Iraq, nothing is too good for his birds. He has rebuilt his rooftop loft, where at one time lingering was an invitation to be shot at by a sniper, he buys ice each day to cool their water and has hired a guard to stand outside. Abu Yousif , who runs a real estate business in his hometown of Zubayr, outside Basra in southern Iraq, has turned down offers as high as $4,000 for his prized rollers. While both racing and fancy pigeons are kept in Iraq, rollers are the most popular and expensive. A bird with a sterling pedigree costs as much as $1,000 straight from the egg.

During the winter Iraq's roller fanciers gather in the south for competitions where dozens of breeders fly their birds for a few minutes before a panel who judge them on style, conformity and the difficulty of their manoeuvres. Breeders use whistles and sticks banged on iron sheets to steer their charges. These competitions are very popular with the spectators and it seems both the image and outlook for the pigeon fancy in Iraq is definitely improving.

I often scan newspaper articles on the internet for information to include in bulletin articles. I have found pigeon related news in various newspaper sections such as sports, business and human interest but recently found one in an unexpected location - the obituaries. The obituary was for the late Anthony Spero, a high ranking member of the Bonanno crime family in New York, who died recently in Federal custody where he was serving a life sentence for racketeering. For over thirty years the late Mr. Spero served the Bonanno family, one of five Mafia clans in NYC, where he rose to the position of consigliore. He was described as a reserved man , an old-time gangster not known for his flashy wardrobe or presence in society but for his hobby, breeding racing pigeons. For much of his life he lived in the Bensonhurst neighbourhood of Brooklyn where he tended to his birds on the roof of the Bath Building. He held business meetings not only at the West End Social Club, but among the rooftop pigeon coops. Nobody can say that pigeon fanciers aren't a diverse group!

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