Love with Doves: Laurens man lifts hobby of raising birds to new height

Jason Gustafson has been raising birds for many years. He has turned his hobby into a business by sharing his well trained rock doves -homing pigeons - for special events such as weddings and funerals. He was on hand at the recent SL Bridal Fair and allowed Riley Miller, Alta, and Evie Alsaffar, Storm Lake, the opportunity to get a close look at the birds. / Photo by Lorri Glawe [Click to enlarge]

The Laurens man shared his ideas during the recent bridal show in Storm Lake.

Gustafson, 21, began raising birds for 4-H and FFA when he was young. From exotic pheasants to ducks to homing pigeons, he earned many awards for his presentations, and handling and care provided the birds.

When his grandfather died this summer, he choreographed a very moving presentation at the funeral by releasing a dove at the cemetery, wooing everyone's attention as the bird circled above.

The dove, symbolizing love and peace, joy and hope, made the celebration of his grandfather's life unique and special.

It was soon after that Gustafson made an equally impressive presentation at a wedding when he released doves following the ceremony symbolizing the soaring love that the couple shared.

Friends and family encouraged him to turn the hobby into a business and hire the birds out for weddings, funerals and other special occasions.

With their support, he turned an unused hog confinement building into a gigantic bird house and has eight mated pairs of the snow white doves and 20 of their young to this date. The doves share the building with many other exotic birds he enjoys raising. Training of the doves is constant but a slow process. He has done a great deal of research and has come up with many ideas for people to use in their special ceremonies though he is willing to consider suggestions. Among the suggestions for weddings include simply displaying the birds; standard release - the bride and groom each releasing a bird; quad release - incorporating the maid of honor and best man into the picture; family release - bringing in the parents of the couple; and even a wedding party release - each of the members of the party having the opportunity to release a bird.

The birds can be released from the hand or for those who do not want to touch them, the bird can be released from decorative wicker baskets.

No matter which method is selected, it is bound to create some Kodak picture moments.

Equally as touching are the ideas that he has come up with for the release of the birds at funeral services.

Many people wonder what happens to the birds after the release.

" All the doves that I use for the releases are well trained rock doves -homing pigeons," Gustafson said. "This species of doves have the natural and remarkable ability, after being trained, to return home. This breed of doves have been known to be able to find their way back home from more than 600 miles away."

The doves already posses the natural instinct and the ability to return home. It is his job to teach them how to use this ability.

"I start out by just releasing them from a couple feet from their loft. I begin to increase the distance as the days go on and changing the angle of the release spot. It takes a lot of time and many weeks for the birds to be ready for an event release," he shared.

They are very smart birds indeed. Gustafson laughs saying that no matter what the distance, the birds, no matter what distance they have to travel, reach home sooner than he does. The birds fly 50-60 miles per hour.

Gustafson has purchased white bird cages and embellished them himself, much to the surprise of his mom, with white lace. The cages, and birds, are taken to ceremonies and displayed, becoming quite a conversation piece.

He takes great pride in his birds and enjoys sharing them.

For anyone wishing to get into contact with Gustafson, check out his website - Love with Doves - email him at jg2007@hotmail.com or phone him at (515) 570-9098.