Delhi, a city with extensive history and an populace of over 28 million (second largest after Tokyo), is a place for about twenty-four thousand birds of 159 species. For generations, pigeons have lived here. Pigeon rearing started in the Mughal period, which commenced in the 1500s. When they learned pigeons were the best way to send messages – almost every noble started building a kabutarkhana (home for pigeons). The pigeon's owners bathed them in scented water to differentiate them and also tie small coloured bands on their thin legs, this assists them to be identified. Pigeon use sun direction and magnetic field to find different places and fly home. Even when they're left 1000km away, the birds will still return home.
These pigeons live in the city, in the trees, in the buildings and in Delhi’s heart.