Three Pigeons

Before radio, there were…homing pigeons. As the earliest ships departed Mare Island, they brought with them three birds from the pigeon coop maintained on the highest point on the Island. Ships would then communicate—one way, mind you—by releasing a pigeon (message tied to its leg) at the mouth of the SF Bay, a second bird from 20 miles out to sea, and a third as needed (the record for a pigeon’s return was 452 miles!). Weather, waves, enemies, emergencies…all these critical communications were carried by three pigeons. We dedicate this three-hop IPA to those heroic messengers.