THE RACING PIGEON.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 245, 16 October 1929, Page 19

THE RACING PIGEON.

LONG-DISTANCE EVENTS. CONDITIONING THE CHAMPIONS. ' A BIRD'S REASONING POWER. ' The novice as well as the experienced fancier is now considering the selection of seasoned representatives for the longdistance events, and though the average fancier looks to the birds to sort themselves out by their individual form and condition, it is probably taxing some of the very best birds to race them consistently, week after week, up to the 300-mile and 500-mile race-points. | The fancier witn a very small team is often faced with a problem of racing only one or two in the South Island events, but, provided his old birds have previously flown in the longest races, it is advantageous to hold at least one bird back and allow only a few short tosses of, say, sixty miles with a view to keeping at least one entrant in as fresh a condition as possible both physically as well as mentally. The highly-bred racing pigeon is gifted with a far greater measure of reasoning power than is usually considered, and reacts very quickly to the circiimstances attached to its training and racing. If forced beyond a point when flying ! becomes an arduous task the racer will : either drop at a convenient landing ! place en route to pick up condition or will do the distance in easy stages, feeding on grass seeds in paddocks, with a drink at the handiest creek or waterhole, arriving home within two or three days. Examination of the crops and gizzards of sundry slow racers has proved this point very clearly, the green stained lining and tiny water-worn grit admitting of no other solution but that of loitering en route.

The average fancier is also well aware of the number of old birds that home in .good condition usually within one or two months after a long race if the weather has been fair. This indicates the fact.that they have refused to tax themselves with a long journey after weeks of continuous racing. Being gifted with intelligence they drop into a loft as a matter of course, knowing that there is feed and water and a perch to rest on, away from the boredom of a race-basket.

Unfortunately, these birds once in a loft may not be liberated, and again, if the habit is formed of breaking the journey for a feed and rest, an otherwise good racing pigeon is spoiled.

It is essential, therefore, before the longest events are reached to check up the form of each bird, and take into consideration whether they have possibly lost condition through feeding more than one pair of youngsters.

Individual male birds in good condition occasionally develop the habit of feeding odd squeakers desiring attention, thus losing the benefit of a feed. Where a loft is fed by hand on a fixed ration a few old birds may very easily drop off in condition. For this reason every fancier should keep a trough of feed in the loft.

It should not be thought that this is an expensive system of feeding, as the birds will not fill their crops if they know that they can obtain more when required.

One »f the most difficult races during the old bird season is Wellington, due to its situation at the base of a high range of mountainous hills which requires long series of circling to reach an elevation necessary to commeoce the northward country. It is only the seasoned old stagers that navigate their way out of this town in bad weather, and birds in poor condition usually find a home in the many comfortable nooks around the city buildings.

It was due to this fact that Johnsonville was chosen as the final North Island race-point, giving, as it does, a clear view from the moment of liberation.

The writer prefers to race from Christchurch rather than from Blenheim, as the latter point does not give a racer time to become seasoned on the wing before essaying the diffimlt flight across Cook Strait. In addition, the Blenheim birds are somewhat worn when touching land at Paekakariki, and become easy prey to several fast-flying hawks in that neighbourhood.

On the other hand, birds liberated at Christchurch are well wing seasoned by the time they have reached the Straits, and reach the northern side with high elevation at a time when hawks are resting after their hunt for prey.

It might also be mentioned that Lyttelton is a bad liberation point, being situated at the base of a range which gives the birds no view of the northern course. This entails a considerable waste of time, -which must affect the competitors in the final time calculations, more especially those nearest to Auckland who allow time based on the total flight, when possibly thirty minutes have been wasted in obtaining elevation at a low velocity and breaking from a flock which continually drags them back to the liberation point. Once away, the velocity may be a good one, but positions are affected by the initial waste of time.

These remarks are concluded with the advice that one or two birds should be reserved in a fit condition witi a rest of at least a fortnight before contesting the championship race from the South Island.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. B.C. (Penrose). —Your silver mealy, A.H.P.F. 25/832, may be reported from Palmerston; if so, will write you. The mealy hen, 245 or 249, is either affected by the paint on the feathers, thus preventing her flying, or she is an indifferent bird, as Matakana is purely a training toss. Train your birds on the southward line of flight with a toss from the Thames and fifty miles down the West Coast. This will give you a triangle covering an easterly or westerly entrance to Auckland. No fee is required, thanks.