Pigeon post

For the book by Arthur Ransome, see Pigeon Post.
Pigeons with messages attached.
Young lady in oriental clothing with a homing pigeon (19th century painting)

Pigeon post is the use of homing pigeons to carry messages. Pigeons are effective as messengers due to their natural homing abilities. The pigeons are transported to a destination in cages, where they are attached with messages, then the pigeon naturally flies back to its home where the recipient could read the message. They have been used in many places around the world. Pigeons have also been used to great effect in military situations, and are in this case referred to as war pigeons.[1]

  1. ^ Clarke, Carter W. (1933). "Signal Corps Pigeons". The Military Engineer. 25 (140). Society of American Military Engineers: 133–138. ISSN 0026-3982. JSTOR 44563742.