Meet Jeff Nichols

For years now, I have driven my kids up Canyon Road to school and have watched with fascination these Homing Pigeons being released.  And I have always wondered about them.  Who would have Homing Pigeons and why?  
I was introduced to Jeff and Julie Nichols and now have the answers to my questions.  

Jeff Nichols

Jeff raises English Setters for the purpose of hunting.  Jeff is semi-retired but one of his spare-time "hobbies" is being a guide for pheasant hunting parties.  He uses his trained dogs on these hunts.  And how does he train these mighty hunting dogs?
Homing Pigeons of course.

Jeff uses a trap (which I should've taken a picture of but was so fascinated I forgot) to place the bird in.  Then the dogs sniffs at it, "points" it, and is supposed to hold still.  If the dog doesn't, the trap releases FLINGING the bird in the air and the pigeon flies away.  A good bird dog points out the birds but doesn't chase it.  

So this brings us to the pigeons. Jeff got the pigeons to train his dogs.  Julie told me pigeons are like rats.  She said they started with about 6 birds and now they have about 47...thousand.  They breed like crazy.  Once the Homing Pigeons are released, they fly around looking for food and such then they return home.  

Jeff said he takes the birds and the dogs down to Utah Lake two or three times a week for training.  I was surprised the birds could find their way back clear from Utah Lake.  Jeff said some people race pigeons.  They release them at the West Coast and see how long it takes them to come back to their homes.  They travel 500-600 miles.  This is pretty amazing to me.

Jeff offered me a squeaker (young baby pigeon) so I could start my own little homing pigeon brood.  But with 2 adult sons, 2 teenage sons, an engaged daughter and a completely untrained Airedale, I politely declined.  For now, I will just enjoy the Nichols' pigeons.  

Intro

I know what you're thinking...Another blog, Denise?  Yes.  Another blog.  But this one is different.  For once, I decided that it isn't really All About Me.  This is about people around me.  Ordinary people.  But here's the thing.  Most ordinary people are pretty extraordinary.  I hope to find the little zing in people's life and share it with you...my incredibly vast audience.  Or maybe just my mom.