A bit of history...
If one of your neighbours is walking in the garden, nose up, or if you notice that pigeons are circling around his house: there's no room for doubt: he's a pigeon flier !
What's the origin of such an enormous interest shown for the racing pigeon, not only in the past, but cultivated still now ?
The answer is simple: the racing pigeon is able to fly long distances in a relatively short time. This bird has always been useful and attractive, in particular when the communications were very difficult to be established: he has been a valourous army auxiliary during the first world war.
People are always surprised by the fact that racing pigeons infallably their loft. This sense of direction still stays a mystery for the scientists.
By the way, Lords of the Middle-Age were impatiently waiting the announcing of the victory.That's the same suspense lived today by the fliers but in that case, it's only a sport's fight. This racing pigeons are able to fly, whithout stopping, in good weather conditions ; distances from 800 to 900 kms straight, otherwise more.
The races...
How can it be possible for man, from the end of the 19 th century, to use this bird extraordinary faculties as a hobby ?
Merely:
pigeon fliers gather in clubs which are in charge of the racing pigeons
transport (by trucks specially fitted out or sometimes by trains) to releasing
points decided before.
Racing pigeons are released to come back home all together. The one who fly the biggest speed (this means the less time according the distance to cover) win the race.
Distance between the releasing place and loft of each fliers are calculated by the means of a G.P.S.
The registration of the arrival time is done in two steps:
1-
Before being released, the pigeons receive a rubber ring which will be
used as a witness.
2-
At the arrival, this ring will be inserted in an apparatus which register
the hour very precisely (close to the second).
There's a new system which allows the bird automatic registering by means of a ring fitted with a microchip.
Close-up on the racing pigeon...
How can you do the difference between the racing pigeon and the others?
At
their yougest age, they received 2 rings they will keep all life long
: on one, you will find his reference number and on the other, the owner's
adress.
Besides this, they are very familiar with their owners.
What about the pigeon flier role ?
It's almost very important: he must drive his loft as a real manager.
First, with training flights, he must increase their sense of direction, then use different systems (called game methods) in order to motivate them coming home as fast as possible during races.
Then, he must improve the stock by breeding methods to produce the best racers birds.This is quite similar to racing horses: champions are paid the earth...
Then you know a little bit more about their abilities and merits, so if one of them; exhausted, takes refuge in your house, just give him some water and rice which allows him continuing his journey !
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