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Mark Rhein of Cornucopia Farm says he lost about half a dozen birds in 160 releases last year. |
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.
Rhein taught fifth grade for three years in Fairfax County and later was involved in hiring teachers. His wife is an elementary school principal in Fairfax. The couple have three children--11, 18 and 24. They bought their current home in 1999.
The Rheins tried their hand at a number of commercial endeavors on the farm before settling on white doves. They raised goats and chickens and had beehives. They've home-schooled their children and wanted to have activities for them.
Rhein discovered white doves in 2000 while taking their goats to the Virginia State Fair. He started doing some research and learned that the area was under-served. He saw white doves as a way to produce some income at the farm.
Rhein built the barn into a home for doves. He bought 17 birds in 2001, added 10 more and started breeding. Now he has 210 and is aiming for 250. Healthy birds can live to be about 15.
Rhein said he did 160 events last year. Business has grown every year. About half of his business is at funerals, for which he charges $275. Weddings are the next most common; those start at $399 for the release of 20 doves.
Before an event, Rhein heads into the doves' loft, catches the right number of mildly protesting birds, puts them into a stretched-cane case and loads them into a black Ford pickup with "DOVES4U" plates. A small door into the loft is left open so the birds can get back inside afterward.
At the end of a funeral, Rhein allows someone, often the spouse of the deceased, to hold a single dove. Rhein reads a poem, and then the bird is released into the air. Then the other birds, usually 16, are let go, symbolizing the spirit being escorted to heaven. Reunited, the doves get their bearings and head for home. Weddings work the same, with the bride and groom each releasing one.
"Everybody just loves it," Rhein said. "It's a huge crowd pleaser."
Rhein said he lost about a half-dozen birds during last year's 160 releases. Hawks are a predator, and he has had birds hit power lines and die. But the vast majority make it safely home to their comfortable loft and food.
"This is the place they want to be," Rhein said. "They live a life of luxury."
As Dorothy said, there's no place like home.
Bill Freehling: 540/374-5405
Email: bfreehling@freelancestar.com
Call 540/675-2336 or go to virginiadoves.com. |
