By One of the stranger items of news I heard this week was that someone paid a million pounds for a pigeon! Apparently, it’s not just any old flea-ridden pidgeon, but a real champion among the feathered racing community.
Armando
Named ‘Armando’, this feathery bundle of cooing has been bought by a Chinese businessman. A million pounds though? I know in the past, I’ve paid about nine quid (£9) for a budgie when the children were growing up. That died after a couple of weeks and left me bemoaning my financial loss. So why would someone who lives on the other side of the world pay £1,000,000 for a pigeon? Seeking answers from the internet, it seems the Chinese are avid lovers of pigeon racing. Armando seems to be the aviarian equivalent to Pele or Usain Bolt and is very much coveted by the Chinese.
Online Auction
There was an online auction for the bird, I don’t think it was ebay though. The Belgian sellers obviously knew they had a cash cow or cash coo-coo on their hands. So it started and the competition at the outset was fierce, culminating with the final million squid bid. I had visions of a cloth-capped Belgian wearing hobnailed boots, sat in his garden shed watching the bids come in on his old Nokia phone. However, it turns out to be a professional setup, similar to horse breeding stables. The Chinese have purchased Armando to breed from him.
Racing Pigeons
Now, I know very little about racing pigeons or racing any other animals. My understanding is that you take Armando together with another lot of pigeons to a place away from their homes. Once released, they somehow make their way back, Armando usually being first. How they do that is way beyond my comprehension. However, it does raise a question or two. When this bird arrives in China, will he want to make his way straight back to Belgium? Surely, that’s what the bird will think is happening, they’re taking him to a place to fly back from, albeit on the other side of the world?
You can see the guy who sold it being woken one morning by tapping on his bedroom window. There on the window sill is Armando, recently arrived from China! It’s going to happen, isn’t it? Have a great weekend.
The original story broke here: Armando
Sue W
March 23, 2019Poor Armando, taken away from his friends and family. I hope he does make it back 🙂
admin
March 23, 2019Thank you, Sue. I hope so too.
Peter's pondering
March 23, 2019That sounds like a good business to be in. You could sell multiple times. Perhaps he has to wear a lead until he knows his new name and address?
admin
March 23, 2019Yes, I bet there’ll be a few pigeons sold for big sums but aren’t the bird the buyer thinks they are
smzang
March 23, 2019Super!!
admin
March 23, 2019Thank you. 🙂
Invisibly Me
March 23, 2019Hahah this is ridiculous! I hate pigeons, they have a tendency to fly for your face, unless it’s just me they make a beeline for. A million quid? That’s a few houses you could buy right there.x
admin
March 23, 2019Thank you, Caz. The pigeons I’ve seen in the cities are usually manky looking things with only one foot. I think this one is a bit more than your average pigeon. 🙂
rugby843
March 23, 2019I saw this movie, a true story about a racing pigeon. “Racing Hearts” . I thought it was quite good.
admin
March 23, 2019Cool, I think I’ve heard of that movie. I shall keep an eye out for it
zumpoems
March 31, 2019So very well written!
I guess when people don’t have to worry about food, clothing and shelter. there money is free to fly in any direction available.
admin
March 31, 2019Thank you, zumpoems, very kind of you.