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High-flying 'staff' always comes back
Mark Rhein runs a white dove release business in Rappahannock County
Date published: 6/26/2008
BY BILL FREEHLING
Mark Rhein's business depends on his ability to convince his flock of white doves that there's no place like home.
Rhein owns and manages Cornucopia Farm, a 9-acre property near Sperryville in Rappahannock County that is home to goats, guineas and horses. But the breadwinners are the 210 white rock doves that Rhein breeds, raises and trains.
Rhein releases his white doves at weddings, funerals and various special events. The doves, which have long been considered a peace symbol, fly directly back to Cornucopia Farm afterward.
"They want to get home," Rhein said. "And they have the ability to do it."
A big part of Rhein's job is training his doves to use that innate ability. A small ID tag is placed on the leg of each bird after birth. Rhein puts them in a training box outside the red loft he built. The birds are released and return to the landing boards on the loft. Rhein does this farther and farther from the loft until the birds are trained.
The birds can fly about 500 miles, but Rhein won't do ceremonies farther than 70 miles away. The birds fly about 55 miles per hour when conditions are right. Rhein won't release them in heavy rain or at night.
Rhein has done weddings and funerals in Fredericksburg. Last month he released 100 doves before the start of the city's Marine Corps Historic Half road race. He said all but three were home by the time he returned after the race; those three later got back.
The birds typically fly around in circles for a short time after being released at an event, Rhein said. They get their bearings and then head straight home, where their food, water, shelter, safety and mates remain.
"They actually can feel where they are in relation to where they need to be," Rhein said.
Rhein said the birds can fly to the right place blindfolded. But research has shown that placing magnets on their bodies messes up their sense of direction, indicating that they're using magnetic fields for navigation.
Rhein and his wife, Liz, grew up in the Los Angeles area. They both attended the University of Southern California. Seeking a change, the couple moved to Virginia in 1994. They lived in Centreville for five years.
CORNUCOPIA FARMCall 540/675-2336 or go to virginiadoves.com.
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Date published: 6/26/2008
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