History of Carrier Pigeons

[JMCx4]

From: Forbes.com > Innovation > Science

The First ‘Air Mail Delivery’ Occurred In 900 A.D.—A Biologist Describes The Package Sent (Hint: It Was A Food) And The Animals Who Delivered It

Scott Travers - Contributor
Feb 8, 2025, 02:30pm EST

Long before the invention of modern aviation technology, societies relied on homing pigeons to send messages across long distances. A trained homing pigeon, for instance, could deliver a message over a distance of 100 miles in about two hours.

A skilled horse rider might take a day or longer to cover the same distance—and that assumes there were no waterways or mountains to traverse.

Homing pigeons were primarily used to transmit handwritten messages, taped to their legs and inscribed on rice paper, parchment or vellum. The messages were typically sent in waterproof capsules to ensure they were delivered intact. ...


Read more at: The First ‘Air Mail Delivery’ Occurred In 900 A.D.—A Biologist Describes The Package Sent (Hint: It Was A Food) And The Animals Who Delivered It | Forbes

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[Hippasus]

It sounds like their success rate is pretty good since they are domestic animals that have been trained for this purpose for generations. Still, I imagine there would have been hiccups along the way. In the days before photocopiers, valuable blueprints and such could be lost forever.

Artic terns are also noteworthy for migrating incredibly long distances. Around 40,000 km!

 

[JMCx4]

It sounds like their success rate is pretty good since they are domestic animals that have been trained for this purpose for generations. Still, I imagine there would have been hiccups along the way. In the days before photocopiers, valuable blueprints and such could be lost forever. ...

Not unlike the current-day risks presented by relying on the U..S. Postal Service. I'd rather trust the birds.