It's Spring And Love Is In The Air!
Apparently, the Saugatuck seawall at Jesup Green is place to mingle if you are a single pigeon.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge.
Perhaps it is the season, the romantic ambience of the Saugatuck River or just kismet, but whatever the reason these two pigeons clearly fell in love last week on the seawall near Jesup Green.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge.
After a little flirting and then canoodling for some time these two birds realized that this was the real thing and decided to step up to the next level.
While telling a male pigeon (cock) from a female pigeon (hen) is notoriously difficult just by looking at them, that was not an issue at this encounter. While both share identical plumage, males are generally larger and more muscular, with thicker necks and rounder heads. Females are usually slightly smaller, sleeker, and have flatter heads.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge.
On a more serious note, never, ever feed bread to birds:
Probably well-meaning people regularly feed pigeons and ducks on the path alongside the river from the Post Rd. to Levitt Pavilion. First of all, while there is no public ordinance in town prohibiting the feeding of wild birds, the practice is strongly discouraged by the CT DEEP. What's more people feed birds bread which is about the worst thing one can do. Bread is very bad for birds. It acts like "junk food", offering empty calories and filling their small stomachs without providing the essential proteins, fats, and vitamins they need to survive.
Why Bread Is Dangerous For Birds:
Malnutrition: Because bread makes them feel full, birds stop foraging for natural, nutrient-rich foods. Over time, this leads to severe dietary deficiencies and health issues like metabolic bone disease.
Physical Deformities: A high-carbohydrate diet, especially for growing waterfowl like ducks and geese, causes a permanent wing deformity called "angel wing," which leaves them unable to fly or migrate.
Toxic Mold: Leftover bread in parks or on the ground quickly grows mold, which causes dangerous lung infections (Aspergillosis) in birds.
If you want to feed backyard birds or waterfowl, experts recommend skipping bread entirely. Instead, offer nutritious alternatives like birdseed, cracked corn, oats, or small pieces of leafy greens.
Ever See A Million Dollar Pigeon?
Actually, a $1.9 million pigeon to be exact. Here she is: New Kim Pigeon from Belgium
We recently were astounded to learn that there is a multi-million dollar industry for racing pigeons. In November 2020, a two-year-old Belgian racing pigeon named "New Kim" set the world record after being sold at auction for $1.9 million. The record-breaking transaction made global headlines and highlighted the booming, high-stakes world of elite pigeon racing. A fierce bidding war broke out on the online auction site PIPA, known as the Sotheby's of the pigeon world. It was largely driven by two wealthy, anonymous Chinese buyers operating under the usernames "Hitman" and "Super Duper"
This industry is based in large part in Belgium, The sport of pigeon racing took root in Belgium in 1818 with the modern racing system involving five distance categories, ranging from short sprints up to 750 km. Belgium based Pigeon Paradise, (PIPA) is the world's leading racing pigeon auction house, handling roughly $46 million in sales annually.
The biggest payouts in the sport come from international "One Loft Races" (OLRs), where birds from all competitors are raised together to test the bird's true genetics rather than the trainer's local loft location. The biggest prizes in pigeon racing are found in "One Loft Races" (OLRs), where prize pools range from $100,000 to over $2,000,000.
This CBS 60 Minutes story (link below) is eye-opening to say the least, and describes the "pigeon mafia" in Belgium, an international organized crime rings that target elite racing pigeons worth millions of dollars to sell them or their offspring on the global black market. These criminal networks have turned the traditional sport of pigeon racing into a high-stakes arena for theft and smuggling, primarily driven by skyrocketing demand from wealthy buyers in China. Their tactics are likened to "Mission Impossible", cutting holes in roofs or fences to infiltrate high-security lofts. Belgian breeders are fighting back, using laser sensors, motion detectors, and biometric tracking. Veterinarian Ruben Lanckriet maintains a genetic database of over 100,000 birds to verify parentage and identify stolen stock. Owners now plant microchips and use DNA profiling to verify bird identities.Loft security: Breeders install military-grade surveillance, motion sensors, and guard dogs.
Learn more by clicking the links below:
60 Minutes: Making $46 Million selling pigeons or millions racing them.
60 Minutes - The Pigeon Mafia: How high-priced pigeons became an organized crime target.
Kids Of All Ages Loved Westport-Weston Touch-A-Truck 2026
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
On Saturday, May 2nd Westport kids had an opportunity to not just look at all kinds of trucks, cranes, earth moving machines, police cars etc., but to climb onto or into them and give the levers, steering wheels, horns & sirens a workout.
The 19th annual family event, is a fundraiser for Westport-Weston Cooperative Nursery School, located at 10 Lyons Plain Road in Westport and has been in operation since 1955. Guests enjoyed beautiful weather and Touch-A-Truck was busy from morning into the early afternoon with kids with parents and eager kids getting up close and personal with all kinds of trucks, cranes, earth moving machines, police cars etc. Vehicles were provided by 15 organizations and another 15 both sponsored and brought vehicles. The event continues to enjoy broad community support and this year they had 8 new exhibitor trucks.
Lead sponsor again this year was Westport's INTERSTATE Premier Building Products which has a 2 story Design Center with the finest in luxury home building products at 800 Post Rd. East and their store and their full service lumber yard just nearby at 760 Post Rd. East. Westport's Touch-A-Truck continues to enjoy excellent attendance, with 340 family tickets purchased this year and raising nearly $29,000 in ticket sales and sponsorships.
Five companies reached the sponsorship level this year for which they bring tents to the event. which has a 2 story Design Center with the finest in luxury home products at 800 Post Rd. East and their store and their full service lumber yard just nearby at 760 Post Rd. East.
The Co-Chairs of the event told Westport Local Press, "Interstate Premier Building Products has been a wonderful title sponsor two years in a row and a great supporter of our event! This is an annual event organized and run completely by parent volunteers to directly benefit the children's programs at WWCNS.”
In addition to a standard patrol car, Westport PD also brought their “Bearcat” (above, right) which is used by the regional emergency response team.
One very popular spot was the “color it” car from SoNo Collision in Norwalk which gave kids an opportunity to engage their artistic talents to the max.
The team of Pete & Chris had a big crowd for their entire show with their great entertainment, magic and comedy.
The WWCNS tent (above) offered the kids a chance to get their faces painted and to express their inner arts & crafts skills.
Face painters this year were comprised of both parent volunteers and the great kids of SLOGS, the Staples Service League Of Girls, who support and give back to the community along with SLOBS, the Staples Service League Of Boys.
A food trucks from Alina’s Bakery and Skip’s Ice Cream made sure there were plenty of treats.
Midway through the event Westport Fire Department Engine 4 came to relieve the crew on Engine 2
As always, parents and children enjoyed one of the show highlights, the Roaming Railroad train which took its passengers for a very cool and exciting ride around the site.
One of Westport’s dedicated contributors to events of all kinds, the Gault companies gave out souvenirs to the kids.
Lead sponsor Interstate Premier Building Materials gave out very coo, very colorful l tie-dyed t-shirts to all the kids who visited their tent.
The Weather Deals Disappointment To Westport, Cancelling The Parade We Love
Rain forced the cancellation of the Westport Memorial Day Parade on Monday according to a town announcement on Sunday.
Other area towns have also cancelled as rain is as close to a certainty as it usually gets.
The Memorial Day Ceremony will be held at Town Hall at 10:00 AM.
A scene from the 2025 Ceremony at Veterans Green
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress
Click Here To See Our Coverage Of The 2025 Memorial Ceremony
Westport Library Book Sale Offered Great Books And More!
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge.
The four-day Spring Book Sale welcomed over 2,500 shoppers and was powered by a dedicated crew of more than 150 volunteers who kept the event organized and fun. The proceeds of the Book Sale fund Westport Book Sale Ventures’ nonprofit mission, which is to provide meaningful, competitive employment and workplace skills training for adults with disabilities, while raising support for The Westport Library.
The biannual Book Sale offers something for everyone, with thousands of gently used books in more than 50 categories, including books for children from infants to teens; literature and classics; fiction, mystery, and SciFi and fantasy; graphic novels and manga; art, photography, history, math, science, psychology, religion, biography, business, cooking, gardening, performing arts, travel, foreign language, education, reference, and more, including Noteworthy, especially antiquarian books. Plus vintage vinyl records, DVDs and CDs.
Jocelyn Barandiarán, President of Westport Book Sale Ventures, Inc., the nonprofit that operates the semi-annual Westport Library book sale events notes, "We were also very moved by how many shoppers want to get closer to our cause and asked about volunteering with us. This town doesn’t just love books, it deeply cares about its neighbors." Barandiarán added, "We are so grateful to the community and our volunteers for making our Big Spring Book Sale a success – and for their support all year ‘round.”
Community care thrives year 'round at the Company’s nonprofit used bookstore, the Westport Book Shop, located right across from the Library at 23 Jesup Road. "Our book sale events and our year ‘round book shop are spaces where inclusivity and a love of reading, learning and growth intersect," Barandiarán explains. "Every single book purchased directly helps us create a more accessible, supportive, and rewarding workplace."
Since opening the Westport Book Shop in January 2021, the nonprofit has provided over 12,250 hours of meaningful, competitive employment and workplace skills training for 15 adults with disabilities, including neurodivergent individuals, and has raised over $350,000 of support for The Westport Library.
This dedication to the community ripples out through an active calendar of events. In addition to collaborations with local groups, the nonprofit Westport Book Shop brings people together through regular events like its monthly short story book club, and a monthly art show and reception highlighting local creators. “We love hosting spaces where neighbors can connect.”
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge.
The Westport Book Shop’s next big event is scheduled for Saturday, May 30 from 11am to 2pm, on Jesup Green, when the shop presents “Stories in Bloom: a Local Author Showcase” featuring more than 30 local authors for children and adults. Visitors will be able to chat with authors, learn about their writing processes, and purchase signed copies of their books. The event is designed for the whole family, with plenty of activities to keep kids entertained, including spring tattoos, bubbles, corn hole games, and a festive Maypole.
“We are honored to be so deeply woven into the daily life of this town, and we are profoundly grateful to our patrons, volunteers, and donors for helping our nonprofit mission grow, one book at a time," says Barandiarán.
To learn more about Westport Book Sale Ventures, visit their website at www.westportbooksaleventures.org