HOMING PIGEONS

Matamata Record, Volume XIX, Issue 1692, 3 January 1936, Page 4

HOMING PIGEONS

MATAMATA TO WHAKATANE A flight of 16 pigeons consigned to the Matamata Record Office from the Bay of Plenty Press, Whakatane, was liberated at Matamata on Christmas Eve. The birds were wellbred youngsters being trained for long flights, and were forwarded by rail in two crates. They arrived by strain at about 5 p.m., and after being watered they were liberated at 5.18 p.m. It was only the second flight the birds had undertaken,, and was their first over the ranges. Though two were slow in leaving their boxes and had to be gently forced out the birds got away in a body, and with hardly a preliminary circle they made straight off in the direction of Whakatane. Fifteen of the birds were clocked into their lofts shortly after 7 p.m., and the odd bird arrived next morning. Fourteen Binds Lost On New Year’s Day the same 16 birds were liberated from Hamilton, the weather being dull. The birds met with misfortune, for ohly two arrived home, the other 14 being “ reported missing.”