Our Handler, Loft and Gardens We Have I.D. Leg Bands On All Doves
Congratulations!! Charlie
ARPU proudly recognizes Charles Cole as having A Dove's Nest loft officially certified with the National Loft Certification Program.Certification #000655.
Having your loft certified with the AU illustrates that you offer the birds the most humane care possible.
Karen Llifton / AU Executive Direct
ARPU proudly recognizes Charles Cole as having A Dove's Nest loft officially certified with the National Loft Certification Program.Certification #000655.
Having your loft certified with the AU illustrates that you offer the birds the most humane care possible.
Karen Llifton / AU Executive Direct
Charlie Cole
Handler
With just a box, stick, string and some corn, 6 year old Charlie captured his heart’s desire. A nuisance to most in the New Orleans Oil District, a small street
pigeon held a silent beauty for Charlie.
For over 60 years Charlie has been dedicated to breeding and training of racing pigeons to return home from distances of one hundred to over 500 miles.
Although he does not train our release doves for that distance,
he uses the same skills in the care and training of the them.
Charlie breeds,trains, hand feeds, medicates, vaccinates and administers vitamins and minerals to these amazing birds on a regular,and precise schedule. Caring for doves is a passion Charlie enjoys every day, this has to be a true passion ,there are no days off for the dove handler.
With just a box, stick, string and some corn, 6 year old Charlie captured his heart’s desire. A nuisance to most in the New Orleans Oil District, a small street
pigeon held a silent beauty for Charlie.
For over 60 years Charlie has been dedicated to breeding and training of racing pigeons to return home from distances of one hundred to over 500 miles.
Although he does not train our release doves for that distance,
he uses the same skills in the care and training of the them.
Charlie breeds,trains, hand feeds, medicates, vaccinates and administers vitamins and minerals to these amazing birds on a regular,and precise schedule. Caring for doves is a passion Charlie enjoys every day, this has to be a true passion ,there are no days off for the dove handler.
Doves Enjoying a Bath
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Coming Home From A Training Toss
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Charlie Hand Feeding The Doves
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Loft
These birds live in a loft that allows plenty of light, it has a great ventilation system for their health and our handlers.The main loft has four separate rooms with a hallway in the middle. Two sections are for our flyers and their mates and the other two are for young birds in training. All the sections have an aviary so they can enjoy a bath and their surrounding. Their loft is landscaped and off to the side is a fountain that creates the sounds of water and nature.
They are well protected from the animals that prey on our birds such as cats, snakes and raccoons. The hawk is a predator that only the birds can protect themselves against. With the warning sounds of the blue jays,and crows the doves will make a run for it. Some days staying inside is safer.
These birds live in a loft that allows plenty of light, it has a great ventilation system for their health and our handlers.The main loft has four separate rooms with a hallway in the middle. Two sections are for our flyers and their mates and the other two are for young birds in training. All the sections have an aviary so they can enjoy a bath and their surrounding. Their loft is landscaped and off to the side is a fountain that creates the sounds of water and nature.
They are well protected from the animals that prey on our birds such as cats, snakes and raccoons. The hawk is a predator that only the birds can protect themselves against. With the warning sounds of the blue jays,and crows the doves will make a run for it. Some days staying inside is safer.
So many people asked, Why do they return home? All I can say is, if you had a home like Charlie gives them; I think you would come home again and again and again.
Doves in Training
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Doves On Their Perches
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Doves Enjoying Their Aviary
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Ready for the Road
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 Ring neck dove
Charlie also cares for the small Ringnecks which we
use in our dove displays cages. The purity of these little doves is heart warming. They are very domesticated and are not for release. Our doves love being loved and we love, loving them. |
The Family in Their Nest
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Our Gardens
Nancy Cole
A Love for flowers came at a very early age. I enjoyed the colors and sweet fragrance of flowers. My Mama wasn't too much on yard work but she loved flowers and having rose gardens.
My Dad and I would make little flower gardens throughout the yard for her to enjoy. A few roses , some azaleas around the fence line and some small flowers that she could cut for a vase on the kitchen table.
We always had flowers around the mailbox, lamp post and hanging baskets on the carport.
My Dad and I would make little flower gardens throughout the yard for her to enjoy. A few roses , some azaleas around the fence line and some small flowers that she could cut for a vase on the kitchen table.
We always had flowers around the mailbox, lamp post and hanging baskets on the carport.
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When I planned my own garden I started with a few different elements.
The first was color , lots and lots of color. I wanted to have some movement in the yard, so I planted flowers that would attract butterflies and birds, I wanted fragrance, so the jasmine, roses and honeysuckle were planted. The last element was sound , birds singing, soft wind chimes and the sounds of a water garden was created.
When Charlie and I come home from a long day we go straight to the back yard and
sit on our swing by the fish pond. Our gardens are a peaceful place.
