My family moved to Yonkers when I was eight years old. Prior to that we lived on the sixth floor of an apartment building in Jackson Heights, Queens. One of the few things I remember from those days was staring out my living room window to watch as lofts of pigeons were released from the various coops that seemed to exist on practically every rooftop in the neighborhood. The hobby of pigeon keeping, like many once popular pastimes, has dwindled over the years. I never would have thought that one of its champions could be found living in Scarsdale and that its biggest New York show is held in White Plains.
When I learned that the Westchester County Center was hosting The 2nd Annual Big Apple Invitational Classic, what was billed as an “all-variety pigeon extravaganza,” I knew that this was an event that would enjoy documenting. Upon further research, I found the link to the shows host, the New York Combine. It was here that I learned of the impressive pigeon breeding credentials of the shows chairman, and Scarsdale native, Sal Gigante.
The New York Combine is the premier club in the world for showing the American Domestic Show Flight, which I later found out was a particular breed of pigeon. There are also NY Flying Flights, S.F. Tumbler Breeds, Show Tipplers, Flying Baldheads, Bronze Tipplers, Danish Tipplers, Rollers, Pouters, Croppers, the list apparently goes on. Sal is President and Chairman of the Board of the New York Combine and a multiple Breeder of the Year award winner. When I contacted Sal and explained my desire to attend the show he could not have been more accommodating. He allowed me full access to shoot and interview wherever and whoever I wished. Here’s the result.
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