Did you know there's actually a national championship for pigeon breeding? And did you know that one such national champion roosts in Stewartville?
If you answered "no" to both questions you're not alone. But one local man is hoping to change that and possibly rekindle an interest in the little known hobby.
Inside this small building, along the side of I-90, Jerry Burgr literally tends to his flock.
"Lot of people don't realize... that this hobby exists," said Jerry Burgr.
Burgr raises pigeons... national championship pigeons to be exact. This one is the current national champion in the "Medina" class. But unlike his birds, Burgr isn't one to coo about himself. Especially in front of a tv camera.
"I ah... yes I am uncomfortable, but it's not me. I always let my birds do the talking for me."
Burgr is so good at breeding pigeons, he was awarded the title of "master breeder" at the national championships in San Diego earlier this month. Since coming home, he's also been approached by several buyers from the middle east. And while normal pigeons may be a dime a dozen... these as they say "are not."
"I sold one is Salt Lake last year for $1,000," said Burgr. "The person that offered me that money, I didn't want to sell it, but I figured if I turned it down two fools had met."
But what's most important to Burgr is the hobby itself. He doesn't want to see it die out.
"My wife Carol says you owe it to the pigeon hobby to get it out there and let people know that there is this hobby. It's a good hobby, it's a fun thing..."
(So you've probably heard of the Bird Man of Alcatraz... are you the Bird Man of Stewartville?) "Since I'm the only one in Stewartville, yeah!"
Jerry Burgr has nearly 200 Medina pigeons, but raises close to 400 different pigeons in all.
Source: ABC 6 NEWS KAALTV
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