paullock

I’ve attended some of the Fed meetings and the way the committee get spoken to is a disgrace, Volunteers getting abused for the love of it is criminal. Paul

Another issue I find is in a club you will always have a hard core of really good fanciers who wipe the board with the rest of the members who pick up the scraps each year, me being one of them it is very difficult to keep interested and not being able to compete is frustrating, at the end of the day new members are up against it from the start and from my experience we do not get the knowledge transfer or help needed to take it seriously unless of course you have a best friend or family member to show the ropes, there are too many members telling you lots but with no substance at all. I also witness a lot of nasty competitiveness and not healthy FRIENDLY competitiveness. An idea could be to have leagues to grade flyers, I dont know really but ideas are needed defo. Paul.

Spot on Old yellow, you never know though it could at anytime change and interest comes back, I think it will at some point like it did in the early 1900s Paul.

Falling membership numbers is because young people are not interested in an old fashioned sport which isn’t moving forward because no one wants too apart from a few that get bullied into silence, couple that with arguing in the clubs between long term members who keep new and old members away, who in turn are at the age group where you’re sure to be visiting the local crem at least four time a year per club. I give it Ten years and Home loft racing is History. Paul.

Here In Shropshire, Long Tailed tits - Increasing Sparrow - Declining Green Finch - Declining Hedge Sparrow - Static Lapwing - Declining Robin - Static Magpie - Increasing Gulls - Increasing Sparrow hawk - Increasing Peregrine - Increasing Buzzard - Increasing Red Kite - Increasing Paul

Hi all, this is a good even discussion going on here, that's really good and thought provoking I think. Paul.

Hi Owen, Really good to read your points and I do agree with you but also believe on the broader scope of effects concerning wild birds, In shropshire we have our fair share of Raptor attacks, I for one have had attacks but not at the level I am hearing about around our county and the country, I had no sparrow hawk attacks last year and only Percy passing through when birds were not out on a couple of occasions (Luck), I think this is down to the fact I let the birds out to train at 6 - 8am & 6-9pm due to working on average 9 to 5pm so hawks are probably fed by then, I also train early and late. Pigeon fanciers are very very passionate about this subject and who can blame them when the hard work goes up in feathers right in front of their eyes a lot of the time. Walter, You should start documenting the bird feeder with time log feedback to the RSPB and the fancy so we can we the depth of the problem. I’m not a member of the Chris Peckham brigade so these views are my own and my own experience. Paul.

I will be honest with you guys, My opinion only, There are a whole host of issues for the decline in wild birds across the UK, I’ve been interested in wild birds for nearly 40 years and I identify the decline to the following: 1, Large Lost of key habitat - i.e. marsh / Meadows / Ancient Woodlands. 2, Population explosion of house cats. 3, Pesticides over the last 50 years. 4, Birds of prey. 5, Changes in farming methods. Surly all these changes in the last 50 years would have a huge impact on wild life in general.

Maybe it will blow Alex Salmond into the North Sea

I know what you mean, I have to travel 20 miles to SAF, But the prices seem to be good enough in todays rip off climate.

No need to crow on about it!!!

The only place I'm using at the moment close enough to me and seem good quality and cost is S.A.F (Sandy Acre Feeds)just off the A5 at four ashes, Saredon Lane. Paul.

I love my Pigeons but I dislike racing, but I am crap at it so there you go!

Red Kites are no risk to Pigeons at all, like you've stated already they feed on carrion and have not got the skills to catch and kill Pigeons, The most harm they might cause is to scare the birds off the loft when flying over which has happened to me once a few years ago. So I think we should concentrate on what to do with the other BOPS which are our main concern. Paullock.

So sad this Evening, Mick Rigby of Wrockwardine Wood Telford Shropshire has passed away suddenly this morning. A true gentleman and I will miss our chats dearly. RIP pal. Mick is the Gentleman on the Nearest Right

I have some Kellons I obtained last year, I'll give these a go first.

Im crossing mine next spring

Thick Pea Soup mist here in deepest Shropshire. Thunder storms later.

Could be a local bird that because mine are close to that number, maybe ask Liz and Mick Rigby? Paullock

A quick 20 miler for the young birds this evening, about five miles returning back in the car the kit raced past me following the road then cross over a went straight over their previous lib point and then left me standing, hope this continues fingers crossed. Paullock

Get the best pigeons you can afford

Thanks for this advise I will try asap

My problem is when I start to train them they wont loft fly, how do I stop this?

Class hahahah Good Stuff

Very good.