TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — An annual pigeon whistle festival began Tuesday in Chiayi County, marking the start of 20 days of pigeon racing competitions across eight adjacent villages, per CNA.
According to the Chiayi County Cultural and Tourism Bureau, pigeon whistle racing is a century-old folk tradition primarily practiced in Chiayi and Tainan. The activity combines pigeon breeding with traditional craftsmanship by equipping homing pigeons with lightweight bamboo or wooden whistles of varying weights as they fly back to their home lofts.
Races typically involve more than 100 pigeons released from a neighboring village about 1 kilometer away. The village that retrieves the most whistles within four hours is declared the winner, with additional points awarded based on the weight of each whistle.
Participants are also allowed to catch or trap pigeons to prevent them from returning home. As the birds fly, air passing through the whistles produces a distinct humming or whistling sound, drawing the attention of spectators.
Chiayi County Magistrate Weng Chang-liang (翁章梁), a native of Yizhu Township, presided over the opening ceremony, which included pigeon displays and a demonstration race. He also released a pigeon to signal the start of the competition.
Weng told local media that villages typically hold the competitions, adjusting the number of race days based on weather conditions. Pigeons are fitted with whistles of different sizes and released from fixed locations in opposing villages, with the expectation that they will return to their home base.
He added that as pigeons fly with the whistles attached, airflow creates a distinctive and pleasant sound.
County officials said the sport requires long-term training, with pigeon owners closely monitoring nutrition, feather care, and overall health. Training begins with lighter whistles, gradually increasing in size and weight to build endurance.
Officials said the tradition helps foster interaction and friendship among villages, and the county government encourages teachers and students to take part in preserving the cultural heritage.
