In the quiet corners of Erzurum, amidst the bustling routine of municipal work, a lifelong passion unfolds behind steel doors and 24-hour security cameras. For roughly 37 years, a local resident employed by the Erzurum Metropolitan Municipality has dedicated his life to an extraordinary avian hobby: breeding elite Şebap Turkish pigeons. Affiliated with the official Şebap Pigeon Federation, his meticulously managed loft houses a small, highly prized flock whose total market value is estimated to rival luxury automobiles, yet to their owner, their worth transcends mere currency.
The collection, consisting of between 25 and 30 birds at any given time, represents the pinnacle of Şebap pigeon breeding. Within this carefully curated flock, individual birds command staggering valuations based on their genetic traits, physical conformation, and adherence to the strict standards of the federation. While entry-level or younger birds in the loft may be valued between 15,000 and 20,000 Turkish Liras, the crown jewels of the collection can reach astonishing prices of up to 200,000 Turkish Liras per bird. Taken together, the modest loft houses an avian collection worth an estimated 700,000 to 800,000 Turkish Liras, transforming an ordinary backyard hobby into a high-stakes endeavor that requires extraordinary precautions.
Yet, for the breeder, these figures are secondary to a deep-seated emotional attachment that began in early childhood. Recalling the roots of his lifelong dedication, the owner reflects on days before he had even started elementary school, growing up in Erzurum’s Dere Mahallesi neighborhood. In those formative years, older neighborhood youths would regularly fly their birds into the open skies above the streets, creating a captivating spectacle for the neighborhood children. Captivated by the elegance and grace of the soaring birds, he began watching local pigeon enthusiasts from the sidelines, a pastime that slowly blossomed into a profound obsession. What started as innocent childhood wonder evolved over nearly four decades into a disciplined, specialized aviculture centered around the distinctively marked Şebap breed.
The evolution of pigeon breeding from a casual neighborhood pastime into a specialized, high-value hobby has brought unique challenges, particularly regarding security. Because individual Şebap pigeons can carry monumental financial value, the risk of theft or loss has necessitated security measures more commonly associated with high-end commercial properties or residential vaults rather than backyard bird lofts. To protect his prized flock from potential intruders, the breeder has implemented a comprehensive multi-layered security strategy.
The entrance to the loft is fortified with a heavy-duty steel door, designed to deter unauthorized access effectively. Inside and outside the perimeter, high-resolution security cameras operate around the clock, providing continuous monitoring 24 hours a day to record any suspicious activity. Adding another layer of physical deterrence on the property is a trained Belgian Shepherd dog, which patrols the grounds and provides an active defense for the enclosure. These precautions ensure that the delicate and expensive birds remain secure against the growing vulnerabilities associated with housing livestock of such immense monetary worth.
In addition to physical security infrastructure at the loft, the birds themselves are individually identified and protected through official federation protocols. As a member of the Şebap Pigeon Federation, the breeder ensures that every qualifying bird in his care is fitted with a specialized steel band around its leg. These durable metal rings serve as permanent, unalterable identification markers, proving ownership regardless of where a bird might travel or end up. The bands are engineered so that they cannot be removed without causing permanent injury to the bird’s leg, effectively deterring illicit trafficking and providing a foolproof method of verification for federation members and authorities alike.
Despite the heavy investments in security, infrastructure, and the high market valuations attached to his birds, the breeder maintains that commerce is entirely incidental to his motivation. Viewing the hobby through the lens of a lifelong enthusiast rather than an entrepreneur, he emphasizes that the pigeons are not treated as mere commodities or financial assets to be traded for profit. While acknowledging that the animals he loves happen to command significant market prices due to their superior breed characteristics and rarity, he insists that his primary driver remains the sheer joy of breeding, raising, and caring for them. For him, the substantial financial worth is simply a byproduct of preserving and nurturing a magnificent living art form, allowing a childhood passion born in the streets of Dere Mahallesi to endure through decades of dedicated stewardship.
