They helped honor the birth of Christ. They are the same birds as the pigeon that Noah released, which returned with the olive branch to signify the end of the Great Flood. Nearly all religions revere pigeons as holy birds. Pigeons are mans oldest domesticated bird. New evidence shows that pigeons have been domesticated for more than twelve millennia.
Pigeons save lives.
To this day, pigeons deliver lifesaving medications and provide valuable messenger service in remote areas, as they have for thousands of years.