Cher Ami "Dear Friend"

 Between California and Colorado, I met a man.

Jimmy, and Skydog.

Skydog is named after Duane Allman, a famous guitarist.

Jude, the prettiest and sweetest bird he knows. She is named after Jimmy's favorite Duane Allman song "Hey Jude".

Baby Butt,

Johnson, who is missing a toe,

Major Bennett Marco, referencing Frank Sinatra's character from the 1962 film "the Manchurian Candidate".

Brownie, was one half of a pair of twins. Her sister left with a mate a few years ago.

Hot Rod, is thought to have been related to racing pigeons.

He told me a story of how a messenger pigeon named Cher Ami saved 194 U.S. soldiers in WWI in 1918. Even though it had lost a leg, an eye, and had been shot through the chest. After her lifes duties were done, a shrine was created in the Smithsonian and now resides nect to Sergeant Stubby in the National Museum of American History's "Price of Freedom" exhibit.

I then asked him to tell me a story of his life.

"Chapter one" he stated cheerfully, 

I was working for a temp service and I was sent to Durango. I had been there for two days and I went on a break. I grabbed a bag of Cracker jacks, which I wasn't too excited about. but, I dropped one and a pigeon ran over and snatched it. Now I thought to myself, that is the cleanest pigeon, why is that? The next morning i brought peanuts and bird seed, and these pigeons were all so damn clean, I couldn't figure it out, and none of them had bands on their legs. *goes on tangent about Mike Tysons 500 racing pigeons"

Anyways, at 9:30 the sprinklers came on. It seemed as if every dad gum bird came out to bathe in the sprinklers. "There's your answer!" After about a week they started landing on my shoulders

I have been feeding these birds for about 7 years, and the man I took over from had fed them for 20 years before me. They make me so happy and it's my life's meaning. These birds seem to really understand and get along with humans, now that's not to say they aren't looking for food. Because that's their number one priority, but they know people. 

Jimmy is a great man with just as great stories.