Beauty, money and feathers

Beauty, money and feathers

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As night-time approaches in Sanliurfa, southeastern Turkey, most of the alleyways of the city's old bazaar are emptying out, except for one.

The bustle of daytime trading has died down, but on this little street, a stream of men carry cardboard boxes filled with pigeons to a cluster of three teahouses.

. Sanliurfa, TURKEY. Reuters/Umit Bektas

Here, they sell the birds at Sanliurfa's famed auctions to a dedicated band of pigeon keepers and breeders, a pastime that has been thriving for hundreds of years across the region and over the nearby border into war-torn Syria.

In a country where the minimum wage is about 1,400 Liras ($367) a month, enthusiasts regularly easily spend hundreds of dollars for one bird.

. Sanliurfa, TURKEY. Reuters/Umit Bektas

"I once sold a pair of pigeons for 35,000 Turkish Lira," says auctioneer Imam Dildas. "This is a passion, a hobby you cannot quit. I've been known to sell the fridge and my wife's gold bracelets to pay for pigeons."

. Sanliurfa, TURKEY. Reuters/Umit Bektas

Sanliurfa sits just 50km (30 miles) from Syria, in a southeastern region rocked by its own clashes between government troops and Kurdish insurgents. But the trade has taken the turmoil in its stride and carried on.

In the early days of the conflict next door, there was a glut of birds on the market as enthusiasts from northern Syria fled into Turkey with their pigeons.

. Sanliurfa, TURKEY. Reuters/Umit Bektas

"Prices fell due to oversupply but as the conflict escalated and there were no more pigeons coming from Syria, prices rose again," says 23-year-old breeder Ismail Ozbek.

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Slideshow:

Pigeons bred by Ismail Ozbek

A pigeon named Sari Alaca has an approximate market value of 2500 Turkish Lira ($659).
. Sanliurfa, TURKEY. Reuters/Umit Bektas

A pigeon named Sari Alaca has an approximate market value of 2500 Turkish Lira ($659).

A pigeon named Kara Alaca has an approximate market value of 1500 Turkish Lira ($395).
. Sanliurfa, TURKEY. Reuters/Umit Bektas

A pigeon named Kara Alaca has an approximate market value of 1500 Turkish Lira ($395).

A pigeon named Ispir has an approximate market value of 1500 Turkish Lira ($395).
. Sanliurfa, TURKEY. Reuters/Umit Bektas

A pigeon named Ispir has an approximate market value of 1500 Turkish Lira ($395).

A pigeon named Kirmizi Akkuyruk has an approximate market value of 1500 Turkish Lira ($395).
. Sanliurfa, TURKEY. Reuters/Umit Bektas

A pigeon named Kirmizi Akkuyruk has an approximate market value of 1500 Turkish Lira ($395).

A pigeon named Zirhli has an approximate market value of 1000 Turkish Lira ($263).
. Sanliurfa, TURKEY. Reuters/Umit Bektas

A pigeon named Zirhli has an approximate market value of 1000 Turkish Lira ($263).

A pigeon named Abali has an approximate market value of 1000 Turkish Lira ($263).
. Sanliurfa, TURKEY. Reuters/Umit Bektas

A pigeon named Abali has an approximate market value of 1000 Turkish Lira ($263).

A pigeon named Siyah Aynali has an approximate market value of 1000 Turkish Lira ($263).
. Sanliurfa, TURKEY. Reuters/Umit Bektas

A pigeon named Siyah Aynali has an approximate market value of 1000 Turkish Lira ($263).

A pigeon, named Platin, has an approximate market value of 750 Turkish Lira ($198).
. Sanliurfa, TURKEY. Reuters/Umit Bektas

A pigeon, named Platin, has an approximate market value of 750 Turkish Lira ($198).

A pigeon, named Kirmizi Hollanda, has an approximate market value of 750 Turkish Lira ($198).
. Sanliurfa, TURKEY. Reuters/Umit Bektas

A pigeon, named Kirmizi Hollanda, has an approximate market value of 750 Turkish Lira ($198).

A pigeon, named Kara Alaca Kirk Telli, has an approximate market value of 500 Turkish Lira ($132).
. Sanliurfa, TURKEY. Reuters/Umit Bektas

A pigeon, named Kara Alaca Kirk Telli, has an approximate market value of 500 Turkish Lira ($132).

A pigeon, named Sari Aynali, has an approximate market value of 500 Turkish Lira ($132).
. Sanliurfa, TURKEY. Reuters/Umit Bektas

A pigeon, named Sari Aynali, has an approximate market value of 500 Turkish Lira ($132).

He keeps about 200 pigeons - together worth about 50,000 lira - in lofts fitted with alarms and closed circuit TV cameras.

. Sanliurfa, TURKEY. Reuters/Umit Bektas

At the auction, men sip tea and smoke cigarettes as Dildas picks up a bird and shows it to the crowd. He gives a starting bid price and buyers shout out their offers.

. Sanliurfa, TURKEY. Reuters/Umit Bektas

Prices vary from 30 to 3,500 Lira. Some birds wear silver adornments on their feathers or feet to boost their value.

At the end of the night, Dildas has sold around 13,000 Lira worth of birds. His commission is 10 percent.

. Sanliurfa, TURKEY. Reuters/Umit Bektas

When they are not trading, most of the city's pigeon fanciers head to the rooftops at sunset and let their birds stretch their wings. Hundreds fill the sky - a familiar sight in the city - before following their training and heading home.

"The birds are my friends. They give me peace," says 55-year-old enthusiast Resit Guzel.

He gives his 70 birds quality feed and regular vitamins.

"Upkeep ... costs 5 Lira a day, which is not much. Even if it cost me more, I wouldn't mind," he says.

"They have been my hobby for the last 40 years ... You can only understand if you keep pigeons."

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Slideshow

. Sanliurfa, TURKEY. Reuters/Umit Bektas
. Sanliurfa, TURKEY. Reuters/Umit Bektas
. Sanliurfa, TURKEY. Reuters/Umit Bektas
. Sanliurfa, TURKEY. Reuters/Umit Bektas
. Sanliurfa, TURKEY. Reuters/Umit Bektas
. Sanliurfa, TURKEY. Reuters/Umit Bektas