05/09/2026
" Why can your birds fly in some rain, but not all? Wild birds do."
❔️This was a question we were asked recently by a funeral director we are working with for the first time next week.
🫂It was asked so politely, not as a challenge, but because they genuinely wanted to understand. And it’s a really good question.
🌹When we are asked to bring our birds to a funeral, memorial or celebration of life, we know how important that moment is for our families.
🕊For a family saying goodbye to someone they love, every little detail matters. The journey, the flowers, the music, the time for reflection, the time even for laughter when funny stories are told, and, for some families, the sight of our birds taking to the sky. This can become a very special part of that final farewell, an acceptance, and some cases, to involve children with a positive moment.
So we will always do everything we can to make that moment possible.
But only when it is right for the birds. ❤️
Our birds can fly in some light rain depending on distance. A shower doesn’t automatically mean a flight is cancelled.
We look at the whole picture.
If the rain is heavy, visibility is poor, or the wind is strong, we are very cautious.
We look to nature. If the only wild birds we can see are flitting from tree to tree, keeping low and looking for shelter, that is a very good indication to us that our birds should be going home by road instead of air.
In lighter rain, with good visibility and suitable conditions, we watch the wild birds around us.
Are they flying confidently?
Are they out in the open sky?
Are they carrying on as normal?
Then we consider the distance our birds need to travel, the route, any wind, the visibility and what the weather is doing en route.
If the weather is being unpredictable, and we are over 10 flying miles away, Rod will get a call asking what the weather is doing around Pontypridd
There isn't a simple rule that says "rain means no flying". And its not a simple decision to make.
It is about experience, observation and making the right decision for pur flock on the day.
This is one of many reasons why we won't leave our doves with anyone. 2 weeks ago we had a "gent" wanting to book and we were full.
He offered to collect we refused. He offered to buy birds, we refused that too. We would never sell birds, we would never leave them unsupervised by us - and one reason is, this decision making on flying, or no flying.
But sometimes the right decision is to fly.
Sometimes it is to wait.
And sometimes, even though we know how much the family would love to see that beautiful final flight, our birds get a lift home.
That can be a difficult decision, but it is one we will always make without hesitation if we believe the conditions aren't right.
Because the family has entrusted us with something incredibly precious; not only helping to create a meaningful farewell, but also caring for the birds who make it possible.
We have been very lucky over the years to have understanding, compassionate customers.
The welfare of our flock will always come first, and we cant express that more clearly. Its documented in our bio, and on our website.
We hope families understand that when we say no to a flight, it isn't because we don't want to do it.
It is because we care enough to put our birds first.
We always give 2 options for funeral services.
1) if its raining at the time we would need to leave to collect our birds, we can cancel and a full refund is issued.
2) if its raining at the time we need to leave, we will make our way to you, set up, read our poem. But if its still too bad for flying: 15 mile round trip, you get a full refund, over 15 miles we charge for our time and travel, the rest is refunded.
I don't think we can be fairer than this when it comes to circumstances (weather) beyond our control.
And when the conditions are right, there is something incredibly special about watching our birds rise into the sky, whether its 1, 2 or 20 birds, knowing that they have played their part in giving someone a truly beautiful farewell. 🕊️🤍
Thank you to those that have been affected by the weather for your understanding. Its never a comfortable moment for us saying "sorry, our birds cant fly" but the vast majority of you have made that easy for us, on a difficult day for you.
Thank you for reading.
Lynne
