Racing pigeons wear a life ring which is put on when they are about five days old. Thereafter, it is un-removable. The information on that ring facilitates the identification of the owner.

Each country issues its own racing pigeon rings and keeps records of ownership of each racing pigeon ring issued. It puts its own identification code on the racing pigeon rings, so no matter where it turns up, it will be traced, first of all, to its country of origin.  When ownership of a racing pigeon changes, records are updated, usually in its country of origin. Apart from the identification, all organisations do insist that racing  pigeons being raced are the legitimate property of the persons  racing them!

That said,  because of the large numbers of Belgian and Netherland pigeons imported for racing and breeding purposes, the Irish Homing Union (IHU) does keep a record of these racing pigeon imports. So if you find a pigeon with "BELG" or "NL" on its ring, chances are it has not flown all the way from the continent, and you should check if the IHU has its owner recorded.

The following is not the complete list of international codes - just the ones you are most likely to come across. In red is the code as it appears on the racing pigeon ring, and under that, its origin and contact details. But remember, IHU members will assist you with any of these.

IHU  "N", on its own, or  with "EDC" or "UF"   
Jimmy Hughes, 44 Ashbourn Park, Lambeg, Lisburn, Co. Antrim. BT 27 4NS
                                             Tel. 02892-583725 email jameshughes681@btinternet.com

IHU "S"                                
Seamus Lehane, 69 Lorcan Crescent, Santry, Dublin 9. Tel. 01-8421016.  Fax. 01-8621962. Email slehane@eircom.net and info@irishhomingunion.com

GB                                       
Royal Pigeon Racing Association, The Reddings, Nr. Cheltenham, Glos. GL51 6RN Tel. 01452-713529. For people in Ireland it is better to contact the Royal Pigeon Racing Association secretary for Ireland - Robert Reid, 131 North Road, Carrickfergus, Co. Antrim. BT 38 7QS. Tel. 02893-362051

SU                                       
Scottish Homing Union, 231a Low Water Road, Hamilton, ML3 7QN, Scotland. Tel. 01698-286983

NEHU                          
 North of England Homing Union, Mr. D. Power, 58 Ennerdale Rd., Walker Dene, Newcastle-Upon Tyne, England NE6 4DG. Tel. 0191-2625440. Email: NEHU@nehu.co.uk

WHU or WALES
The Secretary, Old Timothy's Yard, Llanfoist St., Ton Pentre, Rhondda, Wales. CF41 7EE. Email: gail@whpu.org.uk

NWHU
North West Homing Union, Terry Dawber, 279 Mossy Lea Rd., Wrightington, Nr. Wigan, Lancs., England WN6 9RN. Tel. 01257-421271

BELG
Royale Federation Colombophile Belge, 39 Rue de Livourne, Ixelles, 1050 Burxelles, Belgique. Tel. 00 32 25376211. Email: national@kbdb.be

FRANCE
Union des Federations Regionales des Associations des Colombophiles de France, 54 Boulevard Carnot, Lille 59042 (Nord), France. Tel. 00333-20068287. Email: fcf@nordnet.fr

DV
Verband Deutscher Brieftauben Liebhaber, Katernberger Strasse 115, 45327 Essen, Germany. Tel. 0039-201872240. Email: m.nowaczy@brieftaubenverband.de

NL or NP
Bureau PNO, Landjuweel 38, 3905 PH Veenendaal, Holland. Tel. 0031-31859700. Email: bureau@npo.nl

ESP
Real Federacion Colombofilia Espanola, 34 Eloy Gonzalo, Piso 7, Madrid, Spain.

LUXEMBOURG
Federation Colombophile Luxembourgeoise, Rue des Champs 16a, Bertrange, Luxembourg.

NORGE
Norges, Brevdueforbund, Per-Kristian Hansen, Fuglevik Indre 3, 1600 Fredriksdad, Norway.

DAN
Industrivej 19, DK3320 Skaevinge, Denmark

PORTUGAL
Federacao Portuguesa de Colombophile, Rua Artur Paiva 30, 1100 Lisboa, Portugal.

PORT
Federacao Portuguesa de Colombophile, Rue Padre Estevao Cabral No. 79, Salas 214/215, 3000 Colmbra, Portugal.

SWEDEN
M Tage Eriksson, Pl 4394 Bjarlov, 291 90 Kristianstad, Sweden.

 REMEMBER! Through the Irish Homing Union is the best way to get a lost racing pigeon back to its owner. Most pigeons bearing rings any of the above ring markings are likely to be registered with the Irish Homing Union.