Carrier pigeons are a variety of the Rock Pigeon that are selectively bred for their innate homing abilities. Their innate homing ability made them very useful for carrying messages. However, because they can effectively only store one memory of their home, they can only really send messages one way: the sender of the message must have the receiver's carrier pigeon with him/her and release it when ready to deliver a message. However, it is possible to train them to fly back and forth, reliably, between two locations (home and where its food is) up to twice a day.

Cher Ami

Carrier pigeons were used fairly extensively throughout both World Wars. Of the 64 Dickin Medals given since 1943, 32 were awarded to pigeons. One particularly famous pigeon, Cher Ami, was responsible for saving the Lost Battalion of the 77th Division in the battle of the Argonne during World War I. The 77th Division were trapped in a small depression behind enemy lines without food or ammunition. They had already lost a lot of lives to the Germans and were being shot at by allies who did not know where they were. The first two birds they tried to send out were quickly shot down. Cher Ami, their last homing pigeon, was sent out with their location and a plea for help. As she first begin to take flight, Germans began to shoot her down and bullets flew all around. She was eventually shot down, but was soon able to fly again. She survived the 25 mile flight to the division headquarters despite being shot through the breast, being blinded in one eye, and having one leg held on with just tendon. The doctors worked very hard to save her life and even carved a new small wooden leg for her. She went on to receive the Croix de Guerre medal and the Oak Leaf Cluster for her service. She eventually died at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey on June 13, 1919 from her battle wounds.

Carrier pigeons have all but gone entirely out of use with the advent of telephony. Is there any room left for the carrier pigeon in a place and time where the postal service is dying a slow death? Is there any interest left in a way of communicating that doesn't rely on the immediacy we have come to expect?