Merlin

Flapper 123 if you wish to check for early respo sympthoms,check the colour of third eyelid,while holding bird move your.thumb slowly towards eyeball,till its automatic reaction is to flick eye lid to protect,if eye lid shows as milky colour you have an oncoming respo problem,this is the first area respo probs are visible.

Sweet music swilcox lets hear more of it,its good music to my ears,regardless of location,one now is a probable four next season

Hope you are prepared when it does,as it surely will,if not this day then to morrow.

On Roller Discussion Board an American site you have got a picture of a hawk attacking a young girl,in a baseball stadium,apparently it was nesting in the stadium,proper secnario would be if she sues the stadium,this might have consequences as regards overpopulation of these hawks,how long before something similar happens on this side.

The sparrowhaks mode of hunting is based on oppertunity with,whatever presents itself,as it constanly travels its hunting area,it can be on a daily basis fairly regular passing,but this is dependant on its succes elsewhere,so be assured any loft getting attention now,will continue to do so,unless,,,? you are on their hunting patch,reflectors,mirrors,discs,balls,all work for a short time only,until she twiggs this reflected "opposition" is no threat,I breed Linnet x Roller Canaries,and often keep some mules which are hung out on garden fence on days, these are a very attractive proposition,a wild bird not fleeing,do be careful if you are of a similar nature.and the onus is on fanciers to protect their charges,fortunately I now have little or no trouble from sparrowhwks

Two tips I would recommend to any fancier,stay away from sprays,use a blow torch on a weekly basis in loft, boxs perchs,floors,use Hydrogen Peroxide 3% in drinking and bath waters,again on a regular basis,stay as close to Nature as you can

While not at their most extreme the female is hunting that bit more,to put on breeding condition,and weight,regarding the long incubation period,when she does most, if not all of the sitting

Regarding Perigrines they are capable of killing racing birds almost at will,its not a hunter in the true sense of the word,its a pure assasin on most occassions,surprise and velocity in its stoop,its two key elements,once these two have been expended without success,a pigeon has a fair chance of escape,the real damage is done when it stoops into a kit of pigeons,the sheer terror and panic resulting is capable of inflicting much more damage,dependant on terrain,than just killing a sigle bird,if we think it is bad now,wait until July,when this years young Perigrines are being taught to hunt by parent birds,pure carnage for our youngsters,and it goes on for weeks,until they are capable of killing for themselves. From a pigeon fanciers point of view the most sickening sight you could see.is a Tiercel and its hen killing race youngsters,at random,and transferring them to its three youngsters in mid air on a regular basis,dont forget this occurence takes place anywhere there are young Perigrine falcons as a body we have very little conception of the damage and destruction these B.O.P do on a regular basis. Youn bird losses have always been with us,but for the last few years are increasing alarmingly,coincideing with Perigrine population explosion,lets see what our young bird losses are this year.

This can happen a bird at any time luckily not too often,there is for want of a better discription a "cord" extends over the humerus joint occassionaly when this is stretched too far,it cant retarct itself,it should and will fly about the loft again,but never race,will always show the discrepency in wings whilst in flight

When controling youngsters this should be done through their appetite,always excercise care and patience with your birds and especially youngsters,no sudden movements,tune them into your ways and methods on peanuts sparingly,always try not to startle them in any way for any reason,they dont understan the word sorry,patience,perseverance,oh and keep your fingers crossed,at all times regarding youngsters

All and any preventive measures are capable of lasting for only a period of time,the only real alternative to feeding B.O.P. is to keep birds in lofts indefinitely,and this is not going to happen,is it beyond our ability to create some type of deterrent,as stated before the one true deterrent to all B.O.P is another namely The European Eagle Owl, who is the supreme aerial predator with a natural hatred for other birds of prey in particular Perigrine chicks,they are available at non astonomical monies to be bought,and no laws against keeping,training, flying, especially where there is perigrine activity,these predators have their own hunting area,designated and defended by themselves,how long are we prepared for our lofts and birds to be fodder stataions for these killers which are all the while increasing rapidily,chiefly due to the supply of our birds,proof of Eagle Owls soloution,being rapidity with which these blood sport enthuasists come on site as soon as we discuss it

Looks like hawk bother Ben,an experienced 4 year old from that distance ?

Nice one Vic,and fair play to you.

Racing pigeon sadly dont posess the same survival instincts thats being honed on a daily basis that the wild birds posess,our domestication of them has blunted this aspect of their nature a lot,inso much they are now only capable of reacting to a strike, usually in sheer teror and panic, where as a wild bird is constantly trying to avoid a strike by raptors,

Agreement with above,6 for £120 is a hard to beat offer,its costing any fancier almost that to rear them,good bloodlines available at reasonable prices in most instances, Flor Engels some years ago again a batch of six were outstanding value for me personally.

Wouldnt be opposed to most anything,so long as they would fit the bill,for instance agreeing with Chg Pied input,I would like to see each contender for office re capabilities,ambitions,ability in print and made available to electoral before elections, for these positions,at the moment if there was agood idea there,it would in all probability die of lonliness,major surgery is urgently required. all is needed is a set of basic cardinal rules applicable to all pigeon fanciers, two full time officials Sec.and Treas,regional committees,with the ability to be able to overlook parish pump interests,eyes always on the bigger picture,which would be a must,whats would be your interrapation ?

Again many thanks Jack for posting your finding,it has been enlighting, informative,educational,for those of us interested in building our selection criteria along these lines,and as hopefully it remains in archives it will continue to do so for any newcomer with similar interests,would you consider a thread of fanciers/birds eye for evaluation with your interrapation of same,with those that have rescources to post ,sadly I dont have camera or expertise for same,as yet,but I am sure there are many that do,and as the old adage says " A picture tells a thousand words" just a thought,dependant on your time,and input of others,again sincere thanks

Rose weather is just fantastic here once again this morning,warm sun,,vapour trails scrawled on blue background visible for miles,ideal weather for anything,long may it continue.

Fair play to you Rembrandt,you are obviously a mine of information,race routes should in the interests of fair play be alternated,say on a two yearly basis,if the routes were available to fanciers,might help to share the cake a bit more evenly. Think it was about 2025 years ago the French had a liberation here,possibily to do with some cultural event ,lots of French birds stayed to sample our Gaelic hospitality. Dont think they"French Fanciers" have been back since.,unless its for holidaying

Happy Birthday Ted,

Definitely class they are doing well in Liverpool,Manchester,Barcelona,and lately Birmingham,and the River Plate club is full of them ??) ??)

My own opinion would have to be back garden if at all possibile,as time spent travelling is less time with birds, just my opinion

Glad to hear it turned out ok for you Jim,and agree with you we should as affected fanciers give our support to what is really a form of a"Blood Sport"whats the crack as regards doing same Jim

:P ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D :) :)