The 23,000 registered pigeon-petting Beijing residents have much to worry about but fortunately a wide network for help.

But unregistered pigeon fanciers, the number of whom remains unknown, could be exposed to the deadly bird flu virus, especially when they try to hide their pets from the government, China Daily has found.

More than 23,000 Beijing residents are registered with the Beijing Carrier Pigeon Lovers' Association, according to Lin, secretary general of the association, who refrained from telling his full name.

Unexpectedly, more of the registrants live in apartment buildings rather than hutongs, and more live in the Chaoyang District the capital's central business area than in older districts.

"We are far from panic, but we are being very, very careful," said Niu Furen, a registrant who feeds more than 60 pigeons in his apartment.

He has kept pigeons since 1983. They live in a large cage 24 hours a day, and Niu cleans the cage daily with free disinfectant from the government of Chongwen District, where he lives.

Niu's neat looks and tidy apartment reassure visitors about the hygiene of his pets' living space.

The retiree, in his 60s, keeps fit and appears younger than his years.

His small apartment in Beijing's old Qianmen quarters, neighboring Tian'anmen Square, is furnished with elegant and simple traditional wooden furniture and decorated with friends' calligraphy and ink paintings.

On one of his two tiny balconies he and his wife grow dozens of green plants and chrysanthemums. The other houses his pet birds.

None of Niu's neighbors has challenged him in face of the bird-flu threat, he says.

"Those who pet pigeons have been known for centuries for pursuing the pleasures of life and being friendly. We do as much as we can to take care of the birds, ourselves and those around us," said Niu.

However, many pigeon lovers are also famous for being "hun bu lin," according to Niu.

The phrase that can be found only in the Beijing dialect refers to a stubborn personality who rarely obeys orders from others.

"Even today I often hear of pigeon lovers, especially those who live in hutong alleys, having fierce fights over one bird," he said.

Government officials have to exercise tact when they attempt to prevent the spread of bird flu via pet pigeons.

Niu himself was happy about the visit of a deputy chief of the hygiene bureau of Chongwen District last spring, when bird flu cases were reported in other parts of China.

The official persuaded him to "play the leading role," by becoming actively involved in bird flu prevention among the more than 30 pigeon lovers in the Qianmen quarters.

Niu has checked that the neighborhood's pigeon lovers still have stocks of disinfectant, which officials from the district hygiene bureau sent door to door last year.

"The hygiene bureau has made calls to remind us to watch the birds' health. I am sure that it will take further action if necessary," he said.

The Beijing Carrier Pigeon Lovers' Association also is providing disinfectant and free consulting to its members, according to secretary-general Lin.

But unregistered pigeon owners may not have the necessary sources for help, according to scholar and historian Wang Shixiang.

Wang has worked for decades to promote the feeding of native Chinese pigeons instead of popular carrier pigeons, which were imported from countries like Germany.

"The pigeons that have been regarded as a symbol of the lifestyle of Old Beijing were Chinese pigeons, not the German variety. But sadly the number of people raising Chinese pigeons has declined rapidly because the carriers can win their owners money in contests," he said.

Those who raise Chinese pigeons cannot register with the Beijing Carrier Pigeon Lovers' Association, and they don't have an organization of their own.

"Though regulations require that all pigeon owners be registered, government officials used to turn a blind eye toward those who feed Chinese pigeons and have no place to register," said the scholar.

"They are in a difficult situation at present because they need help but do not dare to ask for it," he added.

(China Daily November 24, 2005)