{"id":56901,"title":"In Praise of the Pigeon: World Pigeon Day with Flapping Frank","description":"Celebrate World Pigeon Day with 'Woody' the wood pigeon. Pigeon t-shirts, jumpers, prints and gifts for pigeon lovers, only at Flapping Frank.","content":"<p><img src=\"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/ucuees4ojt983abrc98lkahbb00z1zyhdw3ysntfkanrr1ap.jpg.jpg?w=1140&amp;project=flapping-frank-136721&amp;v=2\" alt=\"ucuees4ojt983abrc98lkahbb00z1zyhdw3ysntfkanrr1ap.jpg.jpg?w=1140&amp;project=flapping-frank-136721&amp;v=2\" \/>It\u2019s <strong>World Pigeon Day on 13 June<\/strong>, one that we\u2019ll certainly be celebrating at Flapping Frank HQ.<\/p><p>The date marks the death of Cher Ami, the homing pigeon who flew through gunfire in 1918 to carry a message that helped save a stranded American battalion. A leg badly wounded, a bullet through the chest, and the bird kept going.<\/p><p>Need more convincing? Here\u2019s five pigeon facts...<\/p><h3>Pigeon facts<\/h3><ul><li><p>It was the first bird people ever domesticated, thousands of years before the chicken got its big break.<\/p><\/li><li><p>A homing pigeon can find its way back from over 1,000 miles away, with no map and no signal.<\/p><\/li><li><p>Thirty-two pigeons have been awarded the Dickin Medal, the animal equivalent of the Victoria Cross.<\/p><\/li><li><p>They mate for life, which is more than can be said for most of us.<\/p><\/li><li><p>Racing pigeons can hit 90 mph. Your garden visitor simply chooses not to.<\/p><p><\/p><\/li><\/ul><h3>Meet our 'Woody'<\/h3><p>Not every pigeon is a war hero.<\/p><p>Our 'Woody' the wood pigeon is more the local heavyweight of the bird table, possessing the spatial awareness of a bowling ball and spending his days in a blissful, bread-induced trance.<\/p><p>You can find him on <a target=\"_blank\" class=\"underline underline-offset-2 decoration-1 decoration-current\/40 hover:decoration-current focus:decoration-current\" href=\"\/collection\/pigeon-clothing\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>pigeon t-shirts, clothing and gifts<\/strong><\/a>, only at Flapping Frank.<\/p><p><img src=\"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/db46d5bde148c21c0dac56f46e5b5f3b82d0a91adf287254.png.png?w=1140&amp;z=1.2000000000000002&amp;fx=0.5056222828956025&amp;fy=0.49771394611277026&amp;v=2\" alt=\"Men's pigeon t-shirt featuring 'Woody' the Wood Pigeon, an original character designed by Flapping Frank\" title=\"Men's pigeon t-shirt featuring 'Woody' the Wood Pigeon, an original character designed by Flapping Frank\" \/>He\u2019s also one of our gang of <a target=\"_blank\" class=\"underline underline-offset-2 decoration-1 decoration-current\/40 hover:decoration-current focus:decoration-current\" href=\"\/collection\/british-garden-birds\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>British garden birds<\/strong><\/a>, including <strong>Gus the great tit <\/strong>and <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"\/collection\/blackbird-clothing\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong><u>Brian the blackbird<\/u><\/strong><\/a>.<\/p><h3>Wood pigeon or city pigeon?<\/h3><p>A quick one for the bird-curious.<\/p><p>The pigeon strutting round a city square is a feral rock dove. The wood pigeon, on the other hand, is the plump, pinkish-grey one hogging your garden feeder and clattering out of the trees like it forgot how wings work.<\/p><p>Same family. Different postcode.<\/p><p><img src=\"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/8ghhsfmpxnegczvr4q23moro58a0aekmknoaqnruvqztdpnu.jpeg.jpeg?w=1140&amp;project=flapping-frank-136721&amp;v=2\" alt=\"8ghhsfmpxnegczvr4q23moro58a0aekmknoaqnruvqztdpnu.jpeg.jpeg?w=1140&amp;project=flapping-frank-136721&amp;v=2\" \/><\/p><h3>World Pigeon Day FAQs<\/h3><p><strong>When is World Pigeon Day?<\/strong> 13 June, every year.<\/p><p><strong>Why 13 June?<\/strong> It marks the day Cher Ami, the WWI hero pigeon, died of those wounds in 1919.<\/p><p><strong>What is a good gift for a pigeon lover?<\/strong> A pigeon t-shirt, art print or <a target=\"_blank\" class=\"underline underline-offset-2 decoration-1 decoration-current\/40 hover:decoration-current focus:decoration-current\" href=\"\/collection\/wildlife-mugs\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Woody mug<\/strong><\/a> does the job nicely.<img src=\"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/mkczkhk8y9szml3t6fhgbuii3stw6q2ghfbk7guwar1b9kse.png.png?w=1140&amp;z=1.2000000000000002&amp;fx=0.5528987546398978&amp;fy=0.5528987546398981&amp;v=2\" alt=\"Pigeon white ceramic mug by Flapping Frank\" title=\"Pigeon white ceramic mug by Flapping Frank\" \/>Shop  <a target=\"_blank\" class=\"underline underline-offset-2 decoration-1 decoration-current\/40 hover:decoration-current focus:decoration-current\" href=\"\/collection\/pigeon-clothing\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>pigeon t-shirts, jumpers and gifts<\/strong><\/a> at Flapping Frank. Pigeon clobber to coo over!<\/p><p>#worldpigeonday #pigeon #pigeontshirt #pigeonclothing<\/p>","urlTitle":"world-pigeon-day-with-flapping-frank","url":"\/blog\/world-pigeon-day-with-flapping-frank\/","editListUrl":"\/my-blogs","editUrl":"\/my-blogs\/edit\/world-pigeon-day-with-flapping-frank\/","fullUrl":"https:\/\/flappingfrank.com\/blog\/world-pigeon-day-with-flapping-frank\/","featured":false,"published":true,"showOnSitemap":true,"hidden":false,"visibility":null,"createdAt":1781216373,"updatedAt":1781221032,"publishedAt":1781221032,"lastReadAt":null,"division":{"id":135713,"name":"Flapping Frank"},"tags":[],"metaImage":{"original":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/s2g0cfiez4mtxcfcijjoms2sjltmslbg9kjeuvadwfbbnh7o.jpeg?z=1.4&fx=0.56390759204427&fy=0.41944080324302","thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/s2g0cfiez4mtxcfcijjoms2sjltmslbg9kjeuvadwfbbnh7o.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855&z=1.4&fx=0.56390759204427&fy=0.41944080324302","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/s2g0cfiez4mtxcfcijjoms2sjltmslbg9kjeuvadwfbbnh7o.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440&z=1.4&fx=0.56390759204427&fy=0.41944080324302"},"metaTitle":"World Pigeon Day with Flapping Frank","metaDescription":"Celebrate World Pigeon Day with 'Woody' the wood pigeon. Pigeon t-shirts, jumpers, prints and gifts for pigeon lovers, only at Flapping Frank.","keyPhraseCampaignId":null,"series":[],"similarReads":[{"id":49178,"title":"Rules for Flapping Frank sweepstakes contest May 2025","url":"\/blog\/rules-for-flapping-frank-sweepstakes-contest-may-2025\/","urlTitle":"rules-for-flapping-frank-sweepstakes-contest-may-2025","division":135713,"description":"In honour of our fourth birthday, Flapping Frank is  giving away some clobber. Here are the rules for the sweepstakes. 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