Upsndoons

Christ, my heart jumped then cos, I lost su15nE1659 about a week and half ago. You did put correct letters in there didn't you. Lol Ah well still hope

Just sat watching the snow out the patio doors and I have never seen snow flakes so large. They are about inch and half and floating down gently. Power just flickered and Internet was off for maybe 20 second. So nice pigeon racing weather eh. Lol. Guess we shouldn't have moved to house on top of hill.(1000' ASL)

So if we all think it's a good idea,tell you club members to vote to raise it at fed level and say it's the members who want it done. Distances are no insurmountable problem ?

Avian memory must be special if you think about migrating species which follow the same routes all their lives. Whether that is a memory function or instinctive sub concious ability, who knows. I assume that birds brain function and therefore memory would be for the necessary survival activities more that like us humans who purport to have short and long term memories........................ Er, ..............what was the question.................

I started with 6 mile chucks about 2 weeks ago at the weekend when weather was good. Only doing 7 latebred cocks which were unraced last year. They got three chucks at 6 miles as the crow flies then double distance to 12 miles. 3 chucks from there then double the distance. They have now had one from 24 miles as crow flies and this was a challenge. Mist came down and rain started with east wind almost as soon as I let them up. I got 1 of the 7 after one and half hours then night fell. Got up at 05.30 and waited"................... Over the next six hours all six came back at various time spacing and they all learned a good lesson, as did their owner. Anyway, am away for a few days back on Friday so they will be doing at least two more to 24 miles then up to 40 miles A.C.F. just before first race. Will see what happens then. Touch wood, these 7 haven't faulted yet.

JSP, I notice your details say 'not a pigeon person'. Hahaaaaaa thats the way we doo folk entice you none believers into our clan. Send a frail looking lady bird ta sit on ya roof for you to catch, and then the next thing is you are hooked, building a loft, breeding winners and a fully fledged Doo man. Your doomed, your doomed. But thanks for caring about your visitor.

Thought ! If you can pick up your sensor pad and connect/disconnect it only while you are stood inside your loft then it's 'Inside', if you have to be stood outside you loft to do the same then is it 'outside' your loft. ?

Thanks to all you guys for the good wishes, and George, I traded in the last Mrs B some 15 years ago, due to fundamental design and operational failures, but am certain this new model is a perfect little runner. Final clue was when she argued with me about being ALLOWED to clean out my Doos. Now that's almost the perfect woman. No third time lucky required for me. Cheers Mrs & Mr David Banner

Now Del, Yeh may be giving her too many ideas about how to make things right. We baled out of dump early evening with hired music guys and went home and had a great Kayleigh in the family room with live music neighbours and relatives. Am looking to go legal and recover costs and compo. But we both got what it was all about really, each other, lol Lol

Hi guys, Well after ten years of her putting up with me we got formally hitched and I am now a married man second time round. Was a small family get together but the promises made by the Shieldhill Castle Hotel near Bigger ruined our reception plans. Their management were happy to promise everything we wanted and take the money in advance but then failed to deliver and weren't interested in doing anything about it My advice is avoid having anything to do with the place and the management.

So with SHU we have at best 2297 members. Now what about the rest of the members in Scotland ? Then members of RPRA ? Like I said I am trying to establish how many fellow racing fanciers we have out there based on known numbers. This seems critical to me to establish exactly what state our sport is in and monitoring any decline or (hopefully) increase in flying members. The number quoted for Belgium was around 18,000, so is uk doing better or worse ? Let's see if we can make this easier. Which organisation numbers do we need to add together to get a total number of lofts in the UK ? Any suggestions ?

Ok KMacK, That's a period of over 50 years and not unexpected considering the change in the modern world and diversity of leisure activities available, but what about the recent past where change has been less dramatic compared to the 1960s etc. Are we looking at a constant linear decline in fanciers or a speeding up or slowly to a stubborn hard core of fanciers. Some body must know these numbers or a way to estimate them. Am I right in assuming that if we take the annual reports of the RPRA membership numbers and any other national governance then we can know exactly what the annual UK numbers are ?

That's another reason for my question I guess. Lots complain about the cost of racing and products and I just wonder how sustainable these businesses will be if the fancy is declining at the perceived rate.So how many individual flying members in the uk ?

After reading article in this weeks BHW I was wondering how many active pigeon racing folk will participate in the 2016 season. Then I wonder what change in number there has been in these numbers say over the last 10 years. We can speculate about the decline but what are the facts based on reliable data. So Thoughts ........

Surely a bird rescue individual or organisation would recognise a racing pigeon ring and bird and know to contact its owner if only to get him collect the bird or pay the bill, both I which I will always do. It's our responsibility as decent fanciers. Ah Well

Absolutely, the bird was gone for a week so this individual could be anywhere in Scotland. Fortunately a minority. Cheers

So sincere thanks to the keeper of pigeons who showed such concern for my yearling hen who was clearly injuried and entered your loft seeking security and assistance. Obviously, being the true fancier you are (not) you remove the ring from the bird and then throw it out into the wilds. No need to risk the expense of a phone call to SHU to find my name and contact detail for fear I may actual turn up at your hovel with a grateful attitude and gift to such an excellent credit to our hobby. May I wish you all the success and good will which you clearly wish to true racing fanciers of which you will never be. Being back in the sport for just one year and looking forward to competing with the better members of our sport you are a fine example of the bad end of our trade and rest assure I am willing all the hawks, wires and setbacks endured by the decent guys of our sport to assist you in the future. #OSSER.

Took 7 out on Sunday morning to six miles, single up and still waiting for two,

So what positives can be done to move our sport forward ?

Sorry for the spelling error. Dyslexia rules. Lol

Interesting. When I posted it I wondered what type of reaction it would produce. This is an individual who if sussessful will be one of the two most powerful men in the world. Unfortunately, from my purely personal point of view and understanding it seems he will only be interested in one mans view of that world. His own. Scared.

Would be interesting to know how many pigeon folk respond to the survey,be it on here or via the postal versions in the pigeon press. How many fanciers are there in total in th UK ?

Think we frightened them all away Ian.

Done, and would like to know the results of the study when it is available.