Utah's Wings of Love - Dove Release Faq's

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. How much does a dove release cost?
We can completely customize your package around your needs. We offer very competitive pricing. A white dove release can cost as little as $59.00. Please contact us for a quote.

Q. Where do the doves go after they are released?
The birds circle above to get their bearings and then they fly to their home. They return back to their loft and to their nesting boxes, food and water. The birds are trained in stages from their loft to assure they are able to return home safely.

Q. How do they know to return to their home loft?
The type of Doves (also known as Rock Dove's) that we use have been studied for many years. It is thought that they navigate by being able to sense the earths magnetic field (They can tell their North and South), as well as by landmarks. Racing Doves can locate their home and return 600 miles away, sometimes more!! Some racing doves have been recorded flying distances of 1,000 miles.

Q. What type of training do the doves have?
Although it is the doves natural instinct to return to their home, just like a bird dog will point without being trained. Training the doves in different directions and taking them out from short to longer distances improves there navigational skills.

Q. How long does it take them to get home?
Under excellent conditions they fly between 50 - 60 mph, and usually fly non-stop until they get home.

Q. Why won't you release at night?
They cannot see well at night. If they have to seek shelter in a tree overnight they may fall prey to an owl, or other night predator. Being white, they stick out like a sore thumb in the night to hunters.

Q. Can't I just use the doves I find in a pet store?
The turtledoves (also referred to sometimes as ringnecks or mourning doves) are poor fliers and should never be released into the wild! They will fall prey to dogs, cats, and hawks. More embarrassing though is that they won't fly more then a few feet from where you released them. They have almost NO homing instinct and it is considered cruel to release these types of doves. Our birds are vaccinated, wormed and fed healthy diets. They are expensive and require a lot of time and training by experienced handlers. You may spend a few extra dollars hiring us, but you get peace of mind knowing you are providing guests with the unforgettable memory of a professional bird release.

Q. How do you prevent the birds from making a mess on our guests?
Just like human athletes, our doves have a special diet before your big event so they can perform at top levels without 'messing up.' They also fly with their feet tucked up underneath so they won't soil themselves. While we can never 100% guarantee that a mess may not happen, 'accidents' are extremely rare.

Q. At what point in the ceremony should the birds be released?
This is entirely up to you! There are a lot of creative designs in the timing and location of your release. We will work closely with your photographer and coordinator of your event to ensure the best possible results.

Q. What time of day is best for a release?
The specific time of day is flexible, but we never release birds later than one hour prior to sunset: (1) to ensure enough time for the birds to safely reach home, and (2) a flock of white birds airborne is very dramatic. The more sunlight, the better the viewing! To learn more about our release policies, Click Here!