Nestled between the high-rise blocks of Skopje, dozens of speckled pigeons burst from their pigeon lofts for their morning exercise. Below, Ahmet Ogun and Bonco Lazarevski watch their birds jab and dive before landing on a square shaded by the buildings. “The pigeons bring us peace of mind. A tranquility that relaxes us in this jungle of buildings and cars”, Lazarevski, a 76-year-old retiree and former steelworker, explains to AFP.
Unfazed by the cars and pedestrians crowding the morning rush hour, Ogun scatters food for the birds. “It’s a way to calm my nerves”, says the 67-year-old jeweler.
Among his racing pigeons, he seems to favor the Macedonian Spinner, famed for its aerial acrobatics — it can tumble almost to the ground in a spin before landing softly. “I love them like my children”, he says, admiring the birds.
A Moment of Sharing
Pigeon breeding is a tradition that goes back several centuries in North Macedonia, and today’s fanciers have often inherited this passion from previous generations.
Renowned for their ability to cover long distances and their keen sense of direction, these birds, whose lifespans can reach up to 15 years, are also well-suited to the Balkan summers, explain breeders. “They simply need more water and more time with the cages open”, explains Mr. Ogun.
While his birds soothe the nerves of their owners, they also offer them a true family of enthusiasts. All remember the day when a breeder from another neighborhood, or even another city, phoned to report a lost bird that had arrived by mistake in his loft.
The neighbors of Ahmet and Bonco commend a passion that binds the community together. “It’s our relaxation, somewhat like our antidepressant”, explains Dejan Gjosev, a 52-year-old civil servant who lives in the neighboring buildings and stops by to chat with the two men. “People from different neighborhoods come by; we meet, we talk, we share.”
