EPISODE · Nov 26, 2025 · 32 MIN
122. Pigeon Whistles with Nathaniel Mann
from All About Pigeons · host Word On The Wire Productions
On this episode of All About Pigeons, we talk with UK sound artist and composer Nathaniel Mann about one of the most captivating corners of the pigeon world: pigeon whistles. For centuries—long before modern art experiments—pigeon lovers in Beijing, China have been releasing birds with tiny gourd or bamboo whistles tied to their tails. When these pigeons take to the sky in close-knit flocks, the air rushing past creates an eerie, magical symphony above the city. Families have handed down their whistle designs for generations, crafting and tuning each one with the precision and care of a master instrument maker. Nathaniel’s modern whistle project — attaching ultra-light whistles to trained Birmingham Rollers and creating live “sky compositions” — draws inspiration from these traditions, but it’s just one chapter in a much larger global story.https://www.windmusik.com/html/pigflut.htm#Carriedhttps://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08ynyk5https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08ynyk5https://www.prm.ox.ac.uk/event/pigeon-whistleshttps://pittrivers-object.blogspot.com/2015/02/new-acquisitions-pigeon-whistles.htmlpigeonpod.com#PigeonWhistles#FlyingInstruments#PigeonHistory#BeijingPigeons#AsianPigeonCulture#PigeonTraditions#PigeonFanciers#PigeonPodcast#AllAboutPigeons#SkyMusic#BirminghamRollers#PigeonSounds#PigeonHeritage#BirdCulture#PigeonCommunity
What this episode covers
On this episode of All About Pigeons, we talk with UK sound artist and composer Nathaniel Mann about one of the most captivating corners of the pigeon world: pigeon whistles. For centuries—long before modern art experiments—pigeon lovers in Beijing, China have been releasing birds with tiny gourd or bamboo whistles tied to their tails. When these pigeons take to the sky in close-knit flocks, the air rushing past creates an eerie, magical symphony above the city. Families have handed down their whistle designs for generations, crafting and tuning each one with the precision and care of a master instrument maker. Nathaniel’s modern whistle project — attaching ultra-light whistles to trained Birmingham Rollers and creating live “sky compositions” — draws inspiration from these traditions, but it’s just one chapter in a much larger global story.https://www.windmusik.com/html/pigflut.htm#Carriedhttps://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08ynyk5https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08ynyk5https://www.prm.ox.ac.uk/event/pigeon-whistleshttps://pittrivers-object.blogspot.com/2015/02/new-acquisitions-pigeon-whistles.htmlpigeonpod.com#PigeonWhistles#FlyingInstruments#PigeonHistory#BeijingPigeons#AsianPigeonCulture#PigeonTraditions#PigeonFanciers#PigeonPodcast#AllAboutPigeons#SkyMusic#BirminghamRollers#PigeonSounds#PigeonHeritage#BirdCulture#PigeonCommunity
NOW PLAYING
122. Pigeon Whistles with Nathaniel Mann
No transcript for this episode yet
Similar Episodes
No similar episodes found.
Similar Podcasts
No similar podcasts found.