Beirut's Unexpected Sanctuary: How One Woman Found Peace on a Rooftop with Her Pigeons

The ritual itself is a visual spectacle and a deeply personal moment for Hamdan. With a gentle, habitual whistle, she calls her pigeons back to their roost. Soon after, the air is filled with the simultaneous, harmonious flutter of dozens of wings—a symphony of sound created by a diverse collection of white, speckled, chestnut, and black pigeons returning from their daily flight. This collective movement, visible against the fading light of the Beirut sky, represents not just a chore, but a spiritual anchoring for the pigeon fancier.