DOCSLIB.ORG

Racing Pigeons Right from 100 Miles to 600 Miles for the Local Pigeons

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Racing Pigeons Right from 100 Miles to 600 Miles for the Local Pigeons placed in a module where an electronic SuperintendentAlHanson Breeds, scanner is used to identify the bird. The birds are then transported by trailer to a Raises and Trains RacingPigeons specific location and released all at the same time for each race. Each trailer can By DAVE KAZMIERCZAK hold about 2100 birds. The time it takes Golf course superintendents enjoy a and many messages the birds to fly back to their individual wide variety of hobbies when not tending throughout history house or "coop" is recorded by a scanner to their respective golf courses. Some have been delivered at the coop and a winner is crowned. The hunt, fish or snowmobile while others via "pigeon mail." basic measuring tool is yards per minute chase birdies on the courses they care for. "They were very since every coop is not of equal distance For A1 Hanson, Superintendent at Viking useful during World War II," Hanson said. to the release point. Meadows in Cedar, Minn. birdie chasing "They would release the birds to tell the The racing season in Minnesota par- has a completely different meaning. troops where other people were." allels the golf season. Races are anywhere Hansen breeds, raises and trains racing "They still use racing pigeons right from 100 miles to 600 miles for the local pigeons. The birds Hansen raises aren't now in remote countries to bring blood racing clubs. Some races can go up to your average pigeons often seen nesting samples back to hospitals. They bring the 1,000 miles nationally. The season is some- in the nooks of buildings or gathered in a pigeons with them, and they always go what divided into old bird races, roughly park for a free meal. They are a specific back to the hospital." from early May until July 4 and young type of pigeon with a keen homing ability Technology may have made the bird races that start in early August and that allows them to find their way back to pigeons' postal value obsolete but a group last through September. Distance of races their nests from hundreds and sometimes of individuals have found another way to varies within the season. Each race can be thousands of miles away. celebrate the birds1 unique ability. They number specific (five birds entered per "They're called homing pigeons. It's have formed flight clubs that race their person) or open to as many entries as a not like the ones you see on the railroad pigeons a variety of distances. There are racer wants to enter. tracks," Hanson said. "Those are what we six pigeon clubs in the metro area and The races Hansen enters have the pos- call scrubs. These are homing pigeons and many others across the country and the sibility of moderate monetary gain or they're bred for it and we pay a lot of world. money for them." The birds are raced by first banding the (Continued on Page 11) Man has found these birds very useful birds around their legs. The birds are then over the centuries for a variety of needs, brought to a central area on race day and Quality since 1971 distance races, some for sprint races." Hanson said. "I've been flying now since Racing Pigeons- Training is also critical for success. The the late 80s" (Continued from Page 10) birds are put through practice runs in the Like most hobbies, pigeon racing isn't spring and in season. They need to be cheap. The pigeons need daily care and a trophies but some races can command cared for properly, have good living quar- specialized coop to protect them from the some serious money. ters and even be prepared mentally to elements. Those elements include the Ron Des Lauriers, greens mower at race. weather and predators. Des Lauriers was Mississippi National Golf Club in Red "You're sending an athlete out there. bemoaning the loss of a bird that had won Wing also raises racing pigeons and won They have to be trained properly, fed significant races to a fox that had broken one of the 600-mile races worth $10,000. properly and there's ways of psyching the into his coop. There is~also the possibility Des Lauriers said that in the southern part birds up (to race)," Hanson said. that hawks or other natural causes can of the country the races are bigger, more Pigeons mate in pairs. The pair will prevent an expensive, well trained bird involved and worth a lot more money share a single coop and raise young. from returning on his or her journey. The biggest is put on by the American Hanson said one of the ways to psych up "Most of the time, they will make it Racing Pigeon Union which has a national the birds is to separate the pair a week back," Hanson said. race. The national was held in Minnesota before the race with the promise of being Nearly a quarter century of involve- in 1997 and again this year. reunited as a motivating force to fly faster ment in pigeon racing hasn't dampened Raising birds might seem elementary during the race. Hanson's desire, but he said he still treats to the outside observer but Hanson said a Hanson has known of racing pigeons it as a hobby. Hanson won one of the first lot of time, effort and money is put into from an early age. It wasn't until early races he entered for a decent amount of these birds. Pigeons can command any- adulthood that he started raising and fly- cash but he focuses on the relaxing aspect where from $25 to $1,000 per bird depend- ing pigeons himself. In a way, Hansen of having the birds around and watching ing on pedigree and race results. A typical seemed destined to be involved in the them come home to roost. racer will have from 50-100 birds in their sport. "For me it's tough because it's the holdings. The key to a successful program "A neighbor of mine when I was grow- busiest time of the year for superintend- is to continue to build better racing birds. ing up, about 12 years old used to fly. I ents, but when I retire I'm really going to "It's like horse racing," Hanson said. liked going over there and watching the get into it. For now, it's just for relaxation," "You want to genetically breed your bird birds. Then, as fate would have it, the girl Hanson said. to what races you want. Some fly for long I got married to- her dad raced pigeons," By the time you read this, your height-of-cut could have been adjusted. Greenlmage, LLC 1 2040 Point Douglas Dr S. | Hastings, MINI 651-4-37-774-7 www.greenimagellc.com NEW QUICK ADJUST REELS Yes it's now this easy to adjust the height-of-cut. Just click in a power drill on either side of the cutting unit, hit the trigger, watch the gauge, and you're done. No wrenches, and no need to double-check both sides. (Thanks to SpeedLink technology, Ask about Uptime Service Inspections they match perfectly every time.) But don't just read about these reels. Call your Call to schedule your service today! John Deere Golf distributor for a demo. Consider us part of your crew. "Where Customers Become Our Friends 99 John Deere's green aid yellow color scheme, the leaping deer image and JOHN DEERE are all trademarks of Deere & Company. 6&T-POL7X50401HCH.-4C JOHN DEERE Hole Notes April 2009 11 .
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Management of Racing Pigeons
    37_Racing Pigeons.qxd 8/24/2005 9:46 AM Page 849 CHAPTER 37 Management of Racing Pigeons JAN HOOIMEIJER, DVM Open flock management, which is used in racing pigeon medicine, assumes the individual pigeon is less impor- tant than the flock as a whole, even if that individual is monetarily very valuable. The goal when dealing with rac- ing pigeons is to create an overall healthy flock com- posed of viable individuals. This maximizes performance and profit. Under ideal circumstances, problems are pre- vented and infectious diseases are controlled. In contrast, poultry and (parrot) aviculture medicine is based on the principles of the closed flock concept. With this concept, prevention of disease relies on testing, vaccinating and a strict quarantine protocol — measures that are not inte- gral to racing pigeon management. This difference is due to the very nature of the sport of pigeon racing; contact among different pigeon lofts (pigeon houses) constantly occurs. Every week during the racing season, pigeons travel — confined with thou- sands of other pigeons in special trucks — to the release site. Pigeons from different lofts are put together in bas- kets. Confused pigeons frequently enter a strange loft. In addition, training birds may come into contact with wild birds during daily flight sessions. Thus, there is no way to prevent exposure to contagious diseases within the pop- ulation or to maintain a closed flock. The pigeon fancier also must be aware that once a disease is symptomatic, the contagious peak has often already occurred, so pre- ventive treatment is too late. Treatment at this point may be limited to minimizing morbidity and mortality.
    [Show full text]
  • Wonder Bag Depth 16" Handle 18" No
    AVIARY WEST fiird Neb No. AW-36 Diameter 11" Bag Depth 16" Handle 36" No. AW-18 Diameter 11" Wonder Bag Depth 16" Handle 18" No. AW-12 8" Win~8 ~~~mDe:;~h 11" i Handle 12" ~ by Weldell Phillips Call or write us~If' Playa del Rey, California forinformati;n.priCin~g.~...~~~~~~iir Our nets feature 100% ~~~if/.r:n,tlJ nylon netting, hardwood handles, and spring steel hoops. 3018 LA PLATA AVENUE HACIENDA HEIGHTS, CA 91745 Since the beginning of time, man's de­ In World War I homing pigeons were (213) 330-8700 sire to control his own destiny has been used when other forms of communication responsible for many ingenious methods were impossible to establish. The 77th of long distance communication. Division, famed 'Lost Battallion of Tireless marathon runners, throbbing Argonne,' was saved from total de­ drums and intricate smoke signals indicate struction by Cher Ami, last of the sticken :/A the age-old desperate human desire for group's seven homers. The doomed men rapidly received news. The Pharaohs of were being unintentionally pounded to Sunshine Egypt relied on the swiftest of dependable pieces by their own artillery. In despera­ creatures, the homing pigeon, whose abil­ tion, Cher Ami was released into the i'ish and Rtr ity to unerringly fly hundreds of miles to metal-strewn sky. Although grieviously their homes, helped them build a highly wounded in flight, the valiant bird finally eompany cultured civilization. fluttered down to the roof of his home loft SPECIALIZING IN The earliest record of homing pigeons, at Rampont.
    [Show full text]
  • Belgian Winners We Make the Difference
    TESTED AND APPROVED BY SUCCESSFUL PIGEON FANCIERS. 2021 - ENG ® OROVET WINNERS With Belgian Winners we make the difference. Thomas Lataire CEO Group Lataire bv Belgian Winners stands for Belgian top quality. The success with pigeons depends on a combina­ 1 n the product ion department of Orovet bv, a tion of factors: the experience of the fancier, the subsidiary of Groupe Lataire bv, high quality quality of the pigeons, the loft and the nutritional health products for racing pigeons are produced support. With the nutritional system of Belgian and developed. Winners, we make the difference. Precisely because the quality, the type of raw material and its application makes the differen­ ce, we have surrounded ourselves with a nutriti­ on expert from the sports world, a pigeon vet, a nutrition engineer and an experience expert. The "pigeon sport" evolves just as in all other sports. The "type" athlete and his guidance from the past, wouldn't even carne to work today. Why? Because in all branches of sport, the bar is being raised more and more. Every pigeon fancier has his own opinion and in­ terpretation concerning the use of supplements. But it's a good thing too. Ambachtenlaan 3-5 9880 Aalter Belgium group History in animal feed sales since 1947 Lata1re animal healthcare The Lataire family is ready for the third generati­ on as a trader in ani mal feed. 1 n 194 7 Gerard Lataire started a company in grains and feed in Beernem (Belgium) and served the farmers in the region with the brands Remy (Wijgmaal), Vanhove (Ledeberg), Buysse (1 ngelmunster), Talpe (Kortrijk) and Debaillie (Roeselare).
    [Show full text]
  • Since I Was 13 Years Old I Have Had Pigeons. First, for a Short Period Dutch High Flyers, Owls and Such, and Even a Racing Pigeon That Wandered In
    Since I was 13 years old I have had pigeons. First, for a short period Dutch High Flyers, Owls and such, and even a racing pigeon that wandered in. On the advice of my father, who, up to that time had nothing to do with pigeons, I began to focus on racing pigeons and in 1960 I participated for the first time as a junior member in my first Race. At home nobody kept birds, my father had tropical fish and my grandfather had a pair of canaries. From my 6th year I have had birds, starting with a canary and a few tropical birds. From 1960 to 2000 I had pigeons without any break despite the fact that I've moved several times in that period for my work. Below: The lofts and outside aviaries from Roel Bijkerk in the backyard in Winschoten. At my current address in Winschoten I specialized in the so-called "over-night races", ie races between 900 and 1250 km. My greatest achievement was winning the first prize in a national competition from Ruffec (France 903 km) to the North of the Netherlands. In 2000, I had a heart attack and ended up in the hospital. After that time my pleasure in the pigeon racing sport declined, not so much by the heart attack, but more for reasons of a poor understanding between the pigeon fanciers, also things like drugs, doping and more and more expensive technical progress (?), digital time clocks etc. which more or less obliged people to invest a great deal of money, so the hobby was no longer financially viable for a for an increasing number of people.
    [Show full text]
  • Managing Bird Strike Risk Species Information Sheets
    MANAGING BIRD STRIKE RISK SPECIES INFORMATION SHEETS AIRPORT PRACTICE NOTE 6 1 SILVER GULL 2 2 MASKED LAPWING 7 3 DUCK 12 4 RAPTORS 16 5 IBIS 22 6 GALAH 28 7 AUSTRALIAN MAGPIE 33 8 FERAL PIGEON 37 9 FLYING-FOX 42 10 BLACK KITE 47 11 PELICAN 50 12 MARTIN AND SWALLOW 54 13 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 58 Legislative Protection Given to Each Species 58 Land Use Planning Near Airports 59 Bird Management at Off-airport Sites 61 Managing Birds at Landfills 62 Reducing the Water Attraction 63 Grass Management 64 Reporting Wildlife Strikes 65 Using Pyrotechnics 66 Knowing When and How to Lethal Control 67 Types of Dispersal Tools 68 What is Separation-based Management 69 How to Use Data 70 Health and Safety: Handling Biological Remains 71 Getting Species Identification Right 72 Defining a Wildlife Strike 73 CONTENTS PUBLISHED SEPTEMBER 2015 ii MANAGING BIRD STRIKE RISK SPECIES INFORMATION SHEETS INTRODUCTION The Australian Airports Association (AAA) commissioned These new and revised fact sheets provide airport preparation of this Airport Practice Note to provide members with useful information and data regarding 1 SILVER GULL 2 aerodrome operators with species information fact common wildlife species around Australian aerodromes sheets to assist them to manage the wildlife hazards and how best to manage these animals. The up-to-date 2 MASKED LAPWING 7 at their aerodrome. The species information fact sheets suite of species information fact sheets will provide were originally published in June 2004 by the Australian aerodrome operators with access to data, information 3 DUCK 12 Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) as Bird Information and management techniques for the species posing Fact Sheets.
    [Show full text]
  • A Current Review of Avian Influenza in Pigeons and Doves (Columbidae)
    A current review of avian influenza in pigeons and doves (Columbidae) Celia Abolnik * Department of Production Animal Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort, Pretoria 0110, South Africa G Model VETMIC-6544; No. of Pages 16 2 C. Abolnik / Veterinary Microbiology xxx (2014) xxx–xxx 8. Regulatory concerns . 000 8.1. Artificial insemination as a route of AIV transmission in pigeons and doves . 000 8.2. Vertical transmission of AIV in pigeons and doves. 000 9. Conclusions . 000 Acknowledgements . 000 References . 000 1. Introduction between poultry sites during disease outbreaks. The latest global concern is a poultry-origin LPAI H7N9 strain, Avian influenza is a serious disease of poultry and some recently detected in healthy pigeons. As of 1 December mammals caused by certain serotypes of the influenza A 2013, this strain has already caused 139 laboratory- virus (AIV), a member of the family Orthomyxoviridae. confirmed human cases with 47 fatalities in China (Li et al., Ducks and shorebirds are the global natural hosts in which 2014). AIVs usually cause sub-clinical infections (Alexander, Feral pigeons and doves naturally associate with 2000). Serotypes are classified by the combination of environments where food, water and nesting sites are two major antigens on the virion, namely hemagglutinin available, leading to close association with humans and (H) and neuraminidase (N). Until recently, 16 H-types and poultry in cities and on farms. Pigeon racing is a popular nine N-types were acknowledged, but a 17th and 18th H- and growing sport, increasingly so in East Asia, and a type plus a 10th and 11th-N type were recently discovered multi-million dollar industry.
    [Show full text]
  • Pigeon Husbandry
    PIGEON HUSBANDRY INTRODUCTION Please note that this information is intended primarily for members of the genera Columba (includes common pigeon or rock dove and all breeds thereof), Streptopelia (ring- necked and related doves), and Geopelia (diamond and related doves). General Information The bird order Columbiformes contains as many as 316 species in 10 families and subfamilies. There are some species that are currently threatened or endangered and some species have become extinct during the past few centuries (including the dodo bird). Although Columbids share distinct physical features with each other there is still quite a bit of diversity within this group Pet pigeons nest building and sitting on fake eggs. Photo credit: Elizabeth Young. of birds. Some Columbids are tropical forest dwellers subsisting on insects and fruit for a large part of the diet whereas our more familiar species are primarily granivorous (eating seeds and Diet grains). Some species are more similar to pheasants than to our Our most common species of pigeons and doves should be fed a classic idea of a pigeon (e.g., the common pigeon or rock dove). seed and grain mix appropriate for the size of the bird. This can Common pigeons (domestic pigeons) usually lay 2 plain white eggs be supplemented with formulated pigeon pellets or small parrot and incubate them for about 18 days. They are prolific breeders pellets. Because Columbids swallow their food whole, they rely on and can nest year-round if food is available. The nest is a loose powerful gizzard contractions to grind their food. There is debate collection of straw or sticks on a ledge or, for some species, on a about whether grit in the gizzard is needed to help grind the food.
    [Show full text]
  • Who Is the Fastest Racing Pigeon of All? a Preliminary Study on the Influence of the Physical Condition of Racing Pigeons on Their Flight Performance in A
    Who is the fastest racing pigeon of all? A preliminary study on the influence of the physical condition of racing pigeons on their flight performance in a varying environment. Lizanne Jeninga 14-2-2018 Wageningen University & Research Nederlandse Postduivenhouders Resource ecology group Organisatie Who is the fastest racing pigeon of all? A preliminary study on the influence of the physical condition of racing pigeons on their flight performance in a varying environment. Author Lizanne Jeninga (student number: 930520-399-120) In the context of my master thesis, part of the study Forest and Nature Conservation. Supervisors Fred de Boer & Kevin Matson Wageningen University & Research Resource Ecology Group Droevendaalsesteeg 3a, 6708 PB Wageningen Contact person NPO Leo van der Waart Wageningen, 14 February 2018 Preface and acknowledgements Various studies have addressed the navigational abilities of pigeons during their flight and how they form habitual routes. However, in contrast, few is known about the factors influencing the flight performance of a pigeon during a race; for instance, is the habitual route influenceable? This research report is the result of a study that is performed in context of a master thesis at the Wageningen University and Research in cooperation with the Dutch Racing Pigeon Fanciers Organisation (NPO) and deals with the effects of the physiological traits of pigeons on the flight performance and how this is related to the environmental circumstances they encounter along the route to home. The field study and this research report are established by the help of a lot of people. I want to thank everyone who has contributed.
    [Show full text]
  • Ringed Turtle Dove
    RINGED TURTLE DOVE COLUMBIFORMES Family: Columbidae Genus: Streptopelia Species: risoria Range: Found world wide - possibly originally from Africa or Asia Habitat: Found nearly world wide, domesticated early. Niche: Arboreal, diurnal, herbivorous Wild diet: Seeds, grain, fruit and insects Zoo diet: Seeds, eggs, mealworms, fruit, greens Life Span: (Wild) 12 years (Captivity) max. 20 years Sexual dimorphism: Females are duller in color than males. Location in SF Zoo: Children’s Zoo - Koret Animal Resource Center APPEARANCE & PHYSICAL ADAPTATIONS: Very pale beige color, the Ringed Turtle Dove is smaller and slimmer than the rock dove or domestic pigeon. It has a small head and short neck with narrow black semi-collar on the hind neck. The tail is moderately long and rounded with white at the comers. The body under-parts are usually creamy and much lighter than upper parts. The eyes are dark with reddish glints. The bill is light brown, dainty and slightly down curved. In flight dark primary feathers show up in marked contrast to light color of the wings when the bird is at rest. Weight: 4.2 – 4.5 oz The feet are light rose, as with other doves, both legs and toes are short and anisodactyl. Length: 10 – 12 in Wingspan: 19.7 in All columbidae can drink by immersing their bill and sucking up liquid; they don't have to raise their head to swallow, as do other birds. STATUS & CONSERVATION This is a domestic bird and has no special status. COMMUNICATION AND OTHER BEHAVIOR Low cooing voice. Not so mournful as that of the mourning Dove.
    [Show full text]
  • Why Do Raptors Take Domestic Prey? the Case of Bonelli's Eagles And
    Journal of Applied Blackwell Publishing Ltd Ecology 2006 Why do raptors take domestic prey? The case of Bonelli’s 43, 1075–1086 eagles and pigeons LUIS PALMA,* PEDRO BEJA,†‡ MIGUEL PAIS* and LUIS CANCELA DA FONSECA*§ *Universidade do Algarve, FCMA, Campus de Gambelas, 8005–139 Faro, Portugal; †ERENA, Ordenamento e Gestão de Recursos Naturais, Rua Robalo Gouveia, 1–1A, 1900–392 Lisboa, Portugal; ‡CIBIO, Campus Agrário de Vairão, 4485–661 Vairão, Portugal; and §IMAR/Laboratório Marítimo da Guia, Estrada do Guincho, 2750–374 Cascais, Portugal Summary 1. Predator conservation management requires detailed understanding of the ecological circumstances associated with predation, especially that on economically valuable prey. We examined the mechanisms behind Bonelli’s eagle Hieraaetus fasciatus predation on prey of domestic origin, using dietary data from 22 pairs breeding in south-west Portugal (1992–2001) together with information on landscape composition and prey availability. 2. Numerically, 42·7% (37·7% in biomass) of eagle prey comprised domestic species, about 70% of which were rural pigeons Columba livia and the remainder were racing pigeons Columba livia and domestic fowl Gallus gallus. Rabbits Oryctolagus cuniculus, red-legged partridges Alectoris rufa and jays Garrulus glandarius were the most frequent wild prey (43·1%; 50·8% in biomass). This dietary pattern was remarkably stable over a decade, but within each year the intake of pigeons almost halved over the course of the breeding season. 3. Landscape composition significantly affected the dietary proportion of wild and domestic prey items. This was particularly evident in territories dominated by eucalyptus Eucalyptus globulus plantations, where there was reduced consumption of rural pigeons and partridges, an increased intake of minor avian prey items and greater diversity in the diet overall.
    [Show full text]
  • MSPA Official Newsletter Fall 2017
    MSPA Official Newsletter Fall 2017 Thanks to the efforts of our knowledgeable members this issue is again full of great articles and information about the pigeon hobby. If you have an idea for the newsletter or would like to contribute an article, please contact me at [email protected] I welcome your input. The Electronic Newsletter Reminder! Due to the cost of postage and printing a high-quality newsletter, the MSPA Board of Directors has decided to make the quarterly newsletter available on the MSPA web site at http://www.minnesotastatepigeonassociation.com, under the Member Section tab. If you are a member that doesn’t have internet access, you can view the newsletter at your local library or request a mailed copy at: MSPA Newsletter, 21500 201st Street NW, Big Lake, MN 55309 or call (612)889-2945. Prior to the posting of every Newsletter, a postcard will be sent to each member alerting him/her to the availability of the new on- line Newsletter. For the time being no password is necessary to view the “Membership Section” of the web site. An archive of past newsletters will also be available on the MSPA web site. The Newsletter can be downloaded or printed from the web site if the member desires a hard copy. If you have already notified me of your desire to receive the Newsletter via conventional mail, there is no need to notify me again, I will mail your copy! IF YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS CHANGES, PLEASE NOTIFY US! The 2017 North Star Classic is in the Books!.
    [Show full text]
  • CHAPTERS Written by Tim Mason
    CHAPTERS Written by Tim Mason INTRODUCTION 4 1. THE LOFT & IT’S FITTINGS 4 2. ACQUIRING BIRDS 7 3. YOUR FIRST WEEK 9 4. GETTING THEM OUT 13 5. FEEDING 18 6. BASKET TRAINING 20 7. LOFT MAINTENANCE 24 8. WINTER MAINTENANCE 25 9. LOSSES 29 10. RAISING YOUR OWN TEAM 30 11. MATING 34 12. FEEDING BREEDERS 41 GLOSSARY OF TERMS 44 HISTORY OF C.R.P.U. 48 INTRODUCTION This book is meant to offer information and advice to those starting out in the sport, or hobby, of racing pigeons in Canada in the 21st century. There are circumstances which occur in Canada which are not addressed in most pigeon literature aimed at the novice. I grew up in, what was then, a small town called Oakville in Southern Ontario, Canada. In the 50s and 60s pigeon lofts were quite common in town, but as time passed, bylaws were introduced to ban pigeons from Oakville as well as many other towns and cities throughout Ontario and the rest of the country. As a result, the once common practice of raising pigeons as a pastime is a rarity and the knowledge has also gone by the wayside. As cities sprawl and pave over farm land, society has become removed from practices common forty or fifty years ago. While maintaining a small loft of pigeons is fairly straight forward, and the pigeon predictable, the how to’s and whys astonish and baffle the novice as they often do the seasoned veteran. These mysteries you can ponder during our long winter nights.
    [Show full text]