In the early 20th century a British aristocrat named Lord Berners dyed his estate pigeons in vibrant colors. Born Gerald Hugh Tyrwhitt-Wilson in 1883 he became the 14th Baron Berners in 1918 and became known as an eccentric. Living at Faringdon House in Oxfordshire he also kept a giraffe as a pet and posted unusual warning signs on his property. Despite his quirks he was a serious artist and composer who mingled with creative giants of his time. His witty legacy endures after his death in 1950.