Pigeon Bazaar in Turkey
In the troubled southeastern Turkish region of Sanliurfa, pigeon auctions are a welcome distraction. Enthusiasts regularly spend hundreds of euros on a single bird.
Pigeon auction in the Turkish city of Sanliurfa
A stream of men carrying cardboard boxes filled with pigeons heads to three tea-houses. Here, they sell the birds to a dedicated band of pigeon keepers and breeders at Sanliurfa's famed auctions. It's a pastime that has been thriving for hundreds of years across the region, as well as across the nearby border in war-torn Syria.
Troubled region
Sanliurfa is situated just 50km (30 miles) from Syria, in the southeastern region that has been rocked by clashes between government troops and Kurdish insurgents. But despite this, trade in the region has carried on.
Passion for Pigeons
On closer inspection, you can see that the birds are adorned with little jewelled piercings. This specimen is known as "Siyah Kinifirli" and is worth 1000 Turkish Lira (243 €).
Precious hobby
Auctioneer Dildas proudly reports: "I once sold a pair of pigeons for 35,000 Lira (8,500 €). This is a passion you cannot stop. I've been known to sell the fridge and my wife's gold bracelets to pay for pigeons."
Peaceful friends
When they are not trading, most of the city's pigeon enthusiasts head to the rooftops at sunset and let their birds stretch their wings. Hundreds fill the sky before following their training and heading home. "The birds are my friends. They give me peace," says 55-year-old aficionado Resit Guzel.
Doping for healthy birds
Vitamins and antibiotics for pigeons are also sold at auction. Guzel gives his 70 birds quality feed and regular vitamins. "Upkeep costs 5 Lira (1,20 €) a day, which is not much. Even if it cost me more, I wouldn't mind," he says.
Too many pigeons
In the early days of the conflict in neighboring Syria, there was an oversupply of birds on the market. Enthusiasts from northern Syria fled to Turkey bringing their pigeons with them. "Prices fell, but as the conflict escalated and there were no more pigeons coming from Syria, prices rose again," says 23-year-old breeder Ismail Ozbek.