FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS What is a white-dove release?  Our experienced professional dove handlers release the birds from a specially-designed basket, either during or after the ceremony. If it's at a wedding, the newly-married couple may release one or two of the doves and have their guests release the rest from a basket.  In a funeral, family members may choose to release some of the doves followed by the rest of the flock.  In a birthday or anniversary celebration, the guests of honor may release one or all the doves.  In other celebrations, a select group of participants each holds and releases the doves at a given signal. How long does the dove release last?  As soon as the doves are released, they fly high into the sky, then circle several times to get their bearings.  As soon as they know where they are, they begin their journey home.  This can take up to several minutes while you and your guests watch with awe and delight. How do the doves find their way home?  Our birds for release are White Rock Doves, also known as homing pigeons. They have a highly-developed homing instinct and if trained can find their way home from several hundred miles.  We start to train our birds when they're about two months old.  First they learn to go into their loft without help through a trap door.  Then we release them a short distance from their loft and gradually increase the distance by a few miles from different directions until they know the release area.  We do not release White Ringneck Doves, which do not have a homing instinct.  They should NEVER be released or their safety will be jeopardized.  We do have these lovely birds for display in decorative cages.   Can you release the doves after dark?  No.  Our birds need the sun to navigate. That's why the releases must be done at least two hours before sunset (local time). Can you release the doves indoors?  No.   They can fly into windows and injure themselves if released indoors.  Can I release white Ringneck Doves, white squab, or untrained white homers?  No.  The smaller Ringneck Doves and white squab have no homing instinct whatsoever, and untrained white homers won't know where their home is. If released outdoors, they will likely fly into car windshields or building windows, and if they survive, they will likely fall pray to cats, hawks, owls, or dogs. Can I release the doves without the assistance of a professional dove handler?   No.  We do not allow self-releases because of the high potential for injury to our birds.  We will do everything we can to ensure that they are not harmed and your event is as beautiful as you expect it to be. Please contact us with any other questions you may have or to discuss a dove release for your special occasion.