 THE
SCANDAROONby Mike Lerp. Drawing by Diane Jacky used by her permission. This article may be reprinted with permission, please do not used Jacky's artwork with her express permission. |
| THE
SCANDAROON by Mike Lerp. Drawing by Diane Jacky used by her permission. This article may be reprinted with permission, please do not used Jacky's artwork with her express permission. |
|
ORIGIN |
| The original member of
the "Bagdad Family" is thought to have originated in
Iraq centuries ago. The ancient city of Bagdad was located on a major
trade route that served the Mediterranean region, and these pigeons were
readily found in this area. These pigeons are still referred to as
Bagdads, and were used as a means of communication. Upon introduction
into Europe the Bagdad was developed into at least eight distinctive
breeds, one of which is the Nuremburg Bagdad, that as the name implies originated
in the city of Nuremburg Germany. Here in the United States these
pigeons are commonly called Scandaroon, a name given to them by the
British.
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| Beauty it is often said is in
the eye of the beholder. That adage seems to be the stock answer given
by fanciers of the Scandaroon when they are asked why they raise them.
During the past eight years or so the breed has gained in popularity,
but in general they are still fairly rare in America. This popularity or
rather the lack of it is due to one over riding factor - the majority of
fanciers who I've come in contact consider them to be downright
unattractive in appearance. While everyone has the right to form their
own opinion, Nuremburg Bagdad fanciers will tend to disagree. They see
the beauty of the breed in the challenges that it offers. Producing an
exceptional Scandaroon isn't easy, and when one is seen in the showroom
both the bird and the apparent skill of the breeder is admired by
fanciers of the breed, and by others who are familiar with the challenge
these pigeons represent. As mentioned, this breed is rare in our country, but thanks to the on going efforts of fanciers there are some exceptional Scandaroons residing in the lofts of American fanciers. The Scandaroon is a "form" or "structure", pigeon. The body, especially the shape of the neck, head and beak combination is of key importance. Coloration and proper markings are also important, but it is the shape of the bird that will tend to influence a knowledgeable judge. While the highlights outlined in the standard of perfection for the Scandaroon are easily understood, producing a bird that matches these defined features is an entirely different matter.
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