i also emailed the bbc
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7846436.stm
i thought the above reports research was at least very scetchy and doesnt truely reflect pigeon racing , the demise for pigeon racing is the likes of computer based games and very little up take by a younger generation , but a hobby thats taken up by the retired , taking pigeons to children in schools is a great inicitive to get a younger generation intrested in this great sport / past time be realy good if you could attend the 'show of the year' in blackpool after all this is the mecca of british fanciers young and old , the bird flue only ever effected the channel racing and a few no movement areas pigeon sales and people buying new birds suffered during that period however i think you need to say that pigeons arent able to contract bird flue as this could put of would be future fanciers
Yours in Sport
Mark