The Champion pigeon is driven by an instinctive sense of purpose shaped by evolution its sole focus is the journey, its undivided intent is to reach its loft, eggs, mate. It is driven by determination and has the ability not to be distracted from seeking and finding it’s home. It is not deterred by a feeling of fear in a strange unwanted environment this in turn stirs it to show the courage and ability others are not born with. I personally believe champions pigeons are born and only require the correct environment and opportunity to show the result of evolution. Evidence now shows that migratory birds have flocks with ages that vary from a few months to 10yrs and some 30yrs or more. Yet from an early age pigeon fanciers divide the young from the old exercising and training the young on their own even, daily exercise around the loft is done on their own and not with the old birds. I firmly believe a great number of young birds lost are not allowed to mature into the champions they could and should be as they were put under too much strain at an early age. This seems to be against nature’s way, as the young are taught by their elders in the wild. Could this be a reason for the massive losses we are having at present? Bottom line is no one knows for sure what has been affecting our birds ability to navigate. We just know there have been more and more hard races and greater losses. We may not discover what the problem or combinations of problems are, but surely allowing the young birds to gain confidence while flying in a mixed age group can only help them mature.
