pigeon disasters

[PATTY BHOY]

Pigeon disasters

Probably the greatest disaster to befall the species was the extermination of the passenger pigeon in North America in the early part of the 20th century. It is estimated that there were 3-5 billion passenger pigeons in North America at the time.  Flocks of 100,000’s of the birds would blacken the skies as they flew over but early settlers managed to wipe out every last bird by 1914 through over-hunting.  A more recent, and quite bizarre disaster, befell tens of thousands of racing pigeons released from Nantes in France as part of a race held to celebrate the centenary of the Royal Racing Pigeon Association in England.  60,000 pigeons were released but only a few birds ever arrived back at their lofts throughout southern England.  One theory suggests that the sonic boom created by Concorde as it flew over the English Channel, at the precise time the pigeons would have been at the same point, completely disorientated the birds, compromising their inbuilt navigation system.

 

 

[bibendium]

Ayrshire  fed around 1978 5000+ birds liberated at Fulwood approx 150 mls  only a few hundred ever made it home .

 

[Mealy Cock]

One of the biggest was the race from Rome in 1913. One pigeon made it back

It was owened by Charles Hudson of Derby England

 

Aptly named THE KING OF ROME.

 

[slinky slitheroe]

One of the biggest was the race from Rome in 1913. One pigeon made it back

It was owened by Charles Hudson of Derby England

 

Aptly named THE KING OF ROME.

 

Lanarkshire feds weatherby. :o

 

 

[vanreets]

love that vid watched it over and over again

[Delboy]

Scottish Midland fed, yb open- one bird in race time   ob- lymm 170-180 mls 80% of birds lost

 

 

and many, many more