WE SHARE A LOVE AND FASCINATION FOR THESE AMAZING BIRDS

The new owners of FLOCK, Gary and Paula Evershed, and their daughter Sarah Penna, have joined together to keep the FLOCK tradition strong and thriving.  Daniel Carpenter, the previous owner, is a second generation breeder of white doves.  He, his wife and daughters worked to help people create truly special events.  Gary had read about the White Dove Releases and hired Daniel to release doves at a birthday celebration.  Paula was awed and delighted by the beauty of these birds.  So, for her birthday, he arranged another release.  And then, another….and another.  

Gary visited Daniel and learned more about the doves and their origins and attributes.  Paula offered to help care for the doves if they ever needed assistance.  So, when Daniel needed someone to take over the business, he approached Gary and Paula.  Within a few days, the lofts and aviary had been moved to their house and with great joy and excitement they began to learn about caring for the “lovelies,” as Paula calls them.

As a child, Daniel spent time with his dad, Mel Carpenter, gathering their 300 white doves and transporting them to Disneyland for release in the Lion King Parade and other events. They would enter the back lots of the Park and Mel would unlock the gate and place the birds into position. That iconic key continues to hang on the door of our loft as a reminder of Mel’s and Daniel’s legacy. The pure white birds became a fixture at Disneyland for 13 years, and can still be seen in countless videos and photos to this day. Many of our doves are related to the Disney doves.

In addition to this esteemed role, Mel’s white birds were noted for announcing the opening and closing ceremonies of the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, the FIFA World Cup Ceremony, Pope John Paul II’s United States visit, numerous television show and movie appearances, countless weddings, including Elizabeth Taylor’s nuptials at Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch, to name only a few. Upon Mel’s passing, his renowned pure white doves were handed down to Daniel.

 Daniel, his wife, Erin, and their three daughters truly enjoyed working with these amazing birds. Gary, Paula and Sarah are excited to carry on Mel and Daniel’s legacy and to help celebrate the important milestones that mark people’s lives.