Egypt's pigeons soar above wooden towers, away from the dinner plate

A flock of pigeons fly across the sky in Cairo, Egypt, March 13, 2017. Picture taken March 13, 2017. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany

CAIRO (Reuters) - Pigeons are a delicacy in Egypt, traditionally served roasted and stuffed with fragrant rice. But for Cairo's pigeon fanciers, their prized birds are nobody's next meal.

Pigeon lofts, towering structures made of wood, balance atop hundreds of buildings in poorer neighbourhoods across the city. They house thousands of highly trained birds that would have otherwise found a home at a butcher's.