Large-scale pigeon racing set to return to island

Large-scale pigeon racing is set to resume in Guernsey after new aviation safety procedures have been approved.

The practice was stopped in April after concerns were expressed about the size and scale of releases posing a hazard to aircraft.

Guernsey Ports said that revised risk assessments and operational procedures drawn up after "positive talks" with the Royal Pigeon Racing Association (RPRA) cleared the way for it to resume.

The organisation's airport director Richard Thomasson said: "These steps should ensure the safe integration of larger scale pigeon racing activities with the island's air space."

He said they had worked closely with the RPRA to reach a practical solution that upheld aviation safety while enabling the resumption of larger scale pigeon racing activities.

The new safety measures included enhanced planning and the introduction of a new permit scheme coordinated by the RPRA, Mr Thomasson said.

They also included greater coordination and oversight of race timings to avoid conflicts with air traffic and real-time communication protocols between race organisers and air traffic control, he added.

A Guernsey Ports spokesperson said requests for large-scale pigeon releases had risen from three in 2022 to 17 in 2023, 29 in 2024, and 13 in the first four months of 2025.

In April, members of pigeon racing clubs told the BBC of their concerns about the restriction.

Clare Norman, secretary for several pigeon racing clubs including The British International Championship Club, said it was "another nail in the coffin for pigeon fanciers".

Welcoming the new agreement, Chris Sutton, CEO of the RPRA, said it "reflects a collaborative effort to ensure that all necessary protocols and safety measures are in place, allowing the continuation of this valued tradition under carefully controlled conditions".

The agreement has been supported by the Office of the Director of Civil Aviation (ODCA) for the Channel Islands.

The existing protocols for smaller, local releases of pigeons remains the same, Guernsey Ports said.

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