Tuesday, April 06, 1999
Going, gone, gone! Pigeons make fast stadium exit
BY CLIFF RADEL
The Cincinnati Enquirer
You'd think the bird woman of Sharonville would be worried about her pigeons coming home to roost. After all, for one brief moment Monday afternoon, her birds were the stars of the Reds' Opening Day show at Cinergy Field.
Right at the end of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” the pigeons took flight. The crowd cheered as the birds circled the playing field.
The pigeons could become addicted to applause. They might want to stick around for an encore or sign some autographs.
Then there's all that bird feed in view. On Opening Day, the stadium is a snack bowl of peanuts, popcorn and Cracker Jack. The birds might dive-bomb someone gulping down a tub o' popcorn. “Not a chance,” the bird woman, Rita Flege, told me.
“These are homing racers. Their breed's the Cadillac of pigeons. They're refined and smart. They can find their way home from as far away as 500 miles. They'll beat us home.”
On a clear day, as the pigeon flies, Rita's birds can leave downtown and be home in their Sharonville nests within 20 minutes.
“They don't have to stop for lights like we do,” Rita explained.
The birds fly on empty stomachs. Rita said this is done not out of cruelty to the pigeons, but out of kindness to the Reds' customers.
“We don't want the birds to drop any presents on anybody in the stands.”
At Monday's game, 200 of the gray-and-white birds flew their coops from spots along the warning track in center field.
Three pure white birds, with long streamers dangling from their feet, were released near home plate.
“They don't care much for the streamers,” Rita told me. “By the time the birds get home, the streamers are either gone or just a short piece of crepe paper.”
Rita raises and races pigeons with her husband, George. For 11 Opening Days, their birds have been a part of the Reds' pre-game festivities.
For the first time in 11 Opening Days, Rita was working without George. He was home, recuperating from a bout of bronchitis. So, Rita had help carrying the pigeon coops onto the field from her daughter, Patty Osner, and grandson, Tim.
“The line, "Land of the free,' at the end of "The Star-Spangled Banner,' is our cue,” Rita said as she put a pigeon coop into position.
“When we hear that line, we let 'em go.”
Loretta Lynn was singing the National Anthem. When the county star and one-time cooking-oil saleswoman sang the words, “And the land of the free ...,” Rita pulled open the door. Four hundred pairs of flapping wings created a whooshing backwash of air, dust, dirt and feathers. But no droppings.
“Go home babies,” Patty Osner called out.
The gray-and-white birds followed her orders. So did two of the white pigeons.
The third white bird nervously circled the field. Then he landed on the scoreboard.
Patty figured the pigeon would stick around to watch the game.
“Might as well,” she said, “He has a bird's eye view.”
Columnist Cliff Radel can be reached at 768-8379; fax 768-8340.
Columnist Cliff Radel can be reached at 768-8379; fax 768-8340.
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