Customer Reviews

Extraordinary Pigeons

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3 star:		(1)
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Author and photographer Stephen Green-Armytage delicately captures the essence of the pigeon with incredible fortitude and devoted pigeonship. This is, by far, the best book I have ever purchased, read, stolen, borrowed, checked out, or found. In my professional opinion, this fowl genius deserves the American Association of Unappreciated Birds Award of Excellence. I have yet to research his age and citizenship status, but if I find he is eligible for Presidency, I will gung-hoingly fund his campaign myself. Hats off to you, Sir Green-Armytage, for an exquisite portrayal of these noble creatures we call pigeons, and their brave contributions to our corrupt society as majestic distractions from the hustle and bustle of our daily lives. Cherry-O!

I never in my wildest days had any idea there were pigeons out there that looked like this!!!!Amazing birds in all different shapes and sizes.Some I never would have even guessed were pigeons.Totally intertaining,educational and wonderful book.

This is not an important book, but it is very enjoyable. It is a wonderful tribute to the variety and beauty that can be developed by either natural selection or selective breeding. Or, if you are creationist in your outlook, it is a wonderful example of the Creator's whimsy. The book is mostly photographs; there are some some brief descriptions of the types photographed, and a little general background text - but basically, it is a photography book.

Wow!! The photography in this book is stunning! You will be amazed at the beauty of Pigeons and you will have a whole new appreciation for the breed. The word "beautiful" usually doesn't come to mind when you mention the word Pigeons to most people....but after you see this book, you might just change your mind.

Stephen Green-Armytage is a photographer who worked for LIFE, Fortune and Sports Illustrated, amongst others. He has published several artistic photo books about birds, including "Extraordinary Chickens", the sequel "Extra Extraordinary Chickens" and "Extraordinary Pheasants".

As the name suggests, this one is about pigeons! The first part of the book shows ornamental pigeons, photographed at various pigeon shows. The second part deals with wild, exotic pigeons. There are about 200 color photographs in the book. As usual, Stephen Green-Armytage is particularly drawn to bizarre breeds and specimens. Many of the extraordinary pigeons look unnatural, as if they stepped out of a bad zombie movie. There are pigeons that look like crosses between doves and roosters, others look like lizards, miniature vultures or gigantic swifts. There's even a pigeon that looks vaguely like a flamingo (I think). I must admit that I don't really liked it. Are these birds really healthy?

But yes, the photos are exquisite, and the book is an excellent birthday or Christmas gift. Personally, however, I'm not going to place the Pigeons from the Black Lagoon on my coffee table. They just look to spaced out, LOL!

I wanted a book so my grandson could identify his pigeons it is a great book for this ,wonderful pictures I bought extraordinary chickens for my other grandson they are wonderful books the. author is good. I would recomend these books to everybody for indenity and good reading thanks.

The cover of this book has a marvelous picture of an extraordinary pigeon. All liveing beings need adequate amounts of food containing a balanced measure of ingredients if they are to function successfully. As do people. Pigeons are vegetarians and if ovrefed it reduces their mental alertness. At the Episcopal Church across from that awful noise maker used to keep the pigeons off one certain building in town, they put out the grain. I come along and give them my bread and crackers, biscuits when I can and rolls. Anything to keep these beautiful creatures alive. After all, they are God's creatures.

Correct feeding is necessary for growth, release of energy so that the body can function properly, and for the production of eggs to reproduce and to replace old tissue with new. Each year, thousands of eggs fail to hatch and that is due to vitamin deficiency. The mourning dove, a favorite of mine, so gentle and pretty, has a lovely singing sound, but some mean people use them as skeet targets. When a neighbor cat ate one which took up residence on my porch, I would throw things at that mean, nasty cat. And I love cats. I've owned cats for 27 years consistently but I also love the beautiful birds. The mournful "oooahh, ooh, ooh, ooh" sound is the song of the South. There were some in the attic of an apartment house right over my bedroom and their scurrying around with that sound of theirs had me concerned. I thought that the old man who lived in the place below mine was wheezing and about to die.

Urban pigeons have highly developed scavenging skills, raiding trrashcans and fast food litter. However, in Knoxville, we have enough bus riders who feed the pigeons wherever and whenever we can. The rock pigeon originated in northern Europe, Africa and India, but migrated to cities and towns worldwide some five thousand years ago. A flock may contain birds in every color from pure white to reddish purple, gray to solid black. They are a delight to they eye and heart as they are so appreciative.