Pigeon fanciers flock to New Ulm
By SERRA MUSCATELLO, Journal Staff WriterArticle Photos
NEW ULM - Arwyn Taugner of Marine On St. Croix, Minn. was 10 years old when he began loving pigeons.
When he was about that age, he remembers how he built a pigeon cage out of pallets in the middle of his father's garage.
"He almost killed me," said Taugner.
Ever since then, Taugner has had a "life-long affair" with pigeons.
"I enjoy the camaraderie - people I've known for the last 50 years (who are associated with pigeons)," said Taugner, "I've been raising pigeons since I was 10 years old. I've got probably 1,000 pigeons."
Taugner said he is a major player in breeding the Muffed Chinese Owl Pigeons. He has come up with three colors for the breed including an almond color, khaki check color and a brown - with many different patterns of brown.
"I'm a genetic nut," said Taugner, "I play with colors and create colors. I'm not so interested in having the champion bird, I'm more interested in color genetics.
He compared looking at the almond-colored pigeons in his loft to looking through a "kaleidoscope" of colors. Through the years, his pigeons will molt and change their colors. They begin with a lighter almond color and develop into having the darker shades and colors.
"You're continually crossing patterns," said Taugner, "All the different combinations are fascinating."
Taugner was one of the many people who made it Saturday to the 100th Anniversary Pigeon Show sponsored by the Brown County Poultry and Pigeon Association.
The "early birds," so to speak, began showing their birds at 7 a.m. inside the warmth of the youth coliseum at the Brown County Fairgrounds.
There were rows of pigeon cages lining the interior of the building. People milled about the bird cages talking about their pigeons and the breeding season with one another.
Another pigeon lover, Carlin Whisenhunt, had traveled from Lincoln, Neb. to be a participant in this year's show.
"It's an amazing hobby - it's the third largest hobby in the world next to coin collecting and stamp collecting," said Whisenhunt.
Just like Taugner, he got involved in the hobby when he was 10 years old. He has been showing pigeons for 51 years he said.
"I always liked birds as a kid," said Whisenhunt, "The teacher would complain I wasn't doing my work - I was drawing pigeons."
After going to the Nebraska State Fair with his father and seeing the pigeons he was hooked on pigeons.
"The Fantails just blew me away," said Whisenhunt.
He is involved in the National Chinese Owl Club and also the American Muffed Chinese Owl Club. He also raises both Chinese Owl and Muffed Chinese Owls (with the feathers on their feet).
"It's a lot of fun - it's a year-round hobby," said Whisenhunt, "When you're in this hobby, people are treated equally ... men, women and kids. Everybody helps each other out."
At this year's pigeon show there were 525 entries and 60 exhibitors coming from as far away as Nebraska, according to Trevor Nau who is the vice president of the Brown County Poultry and Pigeon Association.
"It's all pigeons today," said Nau, "I would think it's one of the oldest livestock organizations in the area (the Brown County Poultry and Pigeon Association). I like to compete and to see if you can make progress in your breeding program from year to year."
Nau said the relationshipsyou make with other people are important to him.
There were 40 different breeds and different color classes within the breeds that were judged at the show.
"Each color class is judged within that breed of bird," said Nau, "The most popular today at the show is the Chinese Owls. There's 120 entered today."
The pigeons were judged by seven people: Bill Berg, of Iowa, Jeff Butler, also of Iowa, Gary Swanson, of Minnesota, Maurice Durkee also of Minnesota, Wayne Fischer of South Dakota, Steve Oachs of Minnesota and Roger Besemer of New Ulm.
If anyone is interested in learning more about the organization or would like to get involved, call Trevor Nau at 507-375-4716.
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Gerlach
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11-23-08 8:53 AM
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This article remended me of the time make a fortune selling squabs
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