In this episode of Play Saves the World, the hosts Daniel and Kevin are joined by Thomas Jones, also known as the Birdman, to discuss the love of homing pigeons. They talk about the different types of pigeons, the special abilities of homing pigeons, and the bond between humans and these birds. Thomas shares his personal journey with pigeons and how they saved his life by keeping him away from negative influences. The conversation also touches on the intelligence of crows and the role of nature in providing a sense of freedom and calm. Thomas shares how he got into raising and racing pigeons, including a story about hatching a pigeon from an egg found by his son. He talks about different types of pigeons and their abilities, as well as the process of racing pigeons. Thomas also discusses his ministry of releasing pigeons at funerals and weddings, explaining the symbolism behind it. He shares some fun facts about pigeons and surprises the hosts with a live pigeon named Wolf. The conversation ends with Thomas sharing his YouTube channel and the impact his videos have had on viewers. Takeaways Homing pigeons have a special ability to find their way back home no matter where they are released. Pigeons can form a strong bond with their owners and provide a sense of companionship and dependability. Nature and animals, like pigeons, can bring a sense of calm, joy, and connection to something greater. Hobbies and playful activities, such as keeping pigeons, can have a profound impact on one's life and provide a sense of purpose and meaning. Pigeon racing involves training and racing homing pigeons over long distances. Releasing pigeons at funerals and weddings symbolizes the release of the spirit and brings comfort to grieving families. Keeping pigeons requires regular cleaning and protection from predators. Pigeons can live up to 20 years in captivity. Pigeons have a heart rate of 600 beats per minute while flying. Different breeds of pigeons have different abilities and characteristics. Sound Bites "The birds actually were good for me and kept me away from a lot of things that I could have gotten involved in as a youth." "We can find calm and love in things that aren't actually affectionate." "Hello, Slater. Thank you. I think Slater is the first non-human guest we've had on this podcast." "I got one more surprise here thought I'd share before we go and this is Wolf" "Say hello to Wolf" "I'm embarrassed that I, I showed my ignorance in front of the bird man" Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Welcome 02:40 The Special Abilities of Homing Pigeons 07:58 The Bond Between Humans and Pigeons 13:23 The Calming and Freeing Power of Nature 20:52 Rediscovering Childhood Hobbies 24:49 Thomas's Journey into Raising and Racing Pigeons 32:40 The Symbolism of Releasing Pigeons at Funerals and Weddings 35:41 Fun Facts About Pigeons: Heart Rates and Training 41:01 The Challenges of Raising Pigeons: Cleaning and Care 43:37 The Longevity of Pigeons: Up to 20 Years in Captivity 45:51 Thomas's YouTube Channel: Sharing the Love for Pigeons CALL TO ACTION: Subscribe to our newsletter (https://buttondown.email/BoardGameFaith) Support us on Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/boardgamefaith/) Interact with us on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/boardgamefaith/) Discord us Discord (https://discord.gg/MRqDXEJZ)
