Edinburgh's pigeon-fanciers - in pictures

Sinead Wilson is one of the few doowomen and girls Photograph: Robert Ormerod

Dooman Paul Smith lost his love of flying pigeons after his son was stabbed to death six years ago, but it has now returned Photograph: Robert Ormerod

Paul Casment, 19, with one of his doos at his house in Niddrie, Edinburgh. Paul is a father of a six-week-old baby and trying to move out of his parents house. He admits to stealing motorbikes for fun before getting into flying doos: ' We used to steal motorbikes and take them to the police station car park so we could get a chase. The pigeons take you away from that and remind you that theres more to life.' Photograph: Robert Ormerod

Anton Barclay prepares to release one of his male pigeons, in order to in entice a female pigeon back to his hut in the Lochend area of Edinburgh. Twenty-one-year-old Anton has flown doos for 12 years. Anton previously worked as a labourer but recently has been unable to find any work. He has a 18 month old daughter and currently works collecting rubbish for the council Photograph: Robert Ormerod

A baby pigeon Photograph: Robert Ormerod

Billy Pryde, 52, at his home in Niddrie, Edinburgh. Billy worked as a trackman for British Rail until his wife was diagnosed with MS. He is now a full time carer and flies pigeons as a means of escape Photograph: Robert Ormerod

Ex-builder, Dan Dawson, 61, has kept horsman thief pigeons for 50 years. Dan lives alone, with his pigeons, since his wife left after Dan developed a drink problem Photograph: Robert Ormerod

'You want your children to have some sort of thing, because there is nothing for children to do here.' Ian Wilson inside his hut in the Southhouse area of Edinburgh Photograph: Robert Ormerod

An unidentified doomen stands with one of his birds in Niddrie, Edinburgh Photograph: Robert Ormerod

John proudfoot, 19, stands for a portrait in his friends living room in Southhouse, Edinburgh Photograph: Robert Ormerod

Finger marks on a doocot door. Over time the dust produced by pigeons can make its way into the lungs, which can scar the lungs in extreme cases Photograph: Robert Ormerod

Father and son Ian and Mark Wilson dye their newest pigeons yellow in Southhouse, Edinburgh. The yellow colour helps the bird attract members of the opposite sex Photograph: Robert Ormerod