Birds Become A Family Business

When someone mentions pigeons, your first thought is probably not a pleasant one.  But, pigeons have played a significant role in American history; they've saved lives and have helped build fortunes. The News On 6's Rick Wells reports a Broken Arrow family hopes the pigeons they are raising will someday help their children, all of whom have autism.

Tina and Derik Webster operate a pigeon loft they call Websters Wings.  They have 100 or so homing pigeons that they race and they have other white homing pigeons.

They feature white dove releases for weddings funerals and special occasions.  Pigeons and doves are at the least cousins, but pigeons are smarter, according to Tina Webster.

"A dove will fly to the nearest tree and sit down," said Tina Webster.

The pigeons, she says, will fly around for a few minutes to get their bearings, and then fly home.  It takes a couple of months of training to teach them where home is.

"The more we researched it, the more we thought it would be a good fit for our family, as a sport, as a business," said Tina Webster.

The Websters have three children all of whom have been diagnosed with autism, and the kids have begun to get involved with the pigeons, particularly Zack who is 16.

"Good helper.  Zack a good helper.  Zack have chores," said Zack Webster.

His mother, Tina, says there's not much associated with the birds that Zack can't do.  He goes along on presentations and he likes race days.

"It's gotten him to talk to some of the other racers," said Tina Webster.

So, he's more outgoing socially now.  His mom hopes one day he can, along with his brother, take on almost full-time responsibility for the project. 

The Websters' children are learning respect for other living things, accepting responsibility, and improved social interaction all because of working with the pigeons. 

The Websters specialize in white dove releases for weddings, funerals and other occasions.