Are We Sharp!

[Roland]

Yes of course we know that many lib sites, and homing lines encounter B.O.P. That goes without saying.

Now most will have read, or recall the worst, or definitely in top three for disaster, is Portland, where it is often started that the B.O.P. Line up when the see the transporters!

So what does the FED do? Yes you guessed it decide to have that as a Liberation site 4 times this season.

I won't send like a lot more of course. In this day and age, with GPS Sat etc. there are sites to be found and ALTERED every week - season.

Yes I know that they will quite possibly run the gauntlet most weeks, but to go into their favoured territory and release 'GOOD' - and not treated birds - is suicidal and ridiculous in my view to say the least.

[Guest lenwadebob]

Roland, sadly there are many fanciers who for one reason or another adopt the attitude of "It hasn't happened to me so I ain't bothered". These fanciers will always blame something else - moon in the sky, bad Convoyers, bad Race controllers, mobile phone masts, clashing, or what ever - rather than face the fact that BOP are possibly the main cause of bad races and losses, especially when we take our transporters to known 'breakfast tables' for the Hawks.

[PIGEON_MAN]

According to the BHW there were 8 feds at Portland on the weekend including ours,thing is wherever you choose to go there is a good chance of the birds getting hit I,m afraid thats how it is these days,you have a few chooses as I see it,pack up the birds,keep them at home when you think they are somewhere where they are likely to get hit or just keep sending and hope for the best.

[Roland]

But my argument, or point is PIGEON_MAN

, why GO there?! There are many other sites around that have a lot less bother than there! Like I say, mine won't be there, I will send them all North this week!

[Guest IB]

With Roland on this one. Surely common sense tells you when you know there's a problem there, then steer clear of it.

 

First report I recall on Portland was on here many years ago (Rose) south road birds are actually chased across Channel to France, and Rose had several reported from there.

[Guest bakes]

its been a problem for god nose how many years yet nowt ever gets done to solve the problem yeah like any working animal theres always obsticles in its way it got to contend with in its working life but would you put dog after week off preapreing for race in front off garden fence and open trap dog will run straight threw it there nowt different from that to letting hyped up birds coming out off wagon at full pelt into waiting percy they get up get attacked and turn before they no it they be 100 miles in wrong direction how many times now and years there nown theres problems at race points and whats been done about nothink everyone just keeps paying there fees each year and putting up with it no wonder its getting worse all over if think be breeding more and more ybs each year will give you a better chance you kiding your self.

[just ask me]

what about setting rockets off at race points

 

there not that expensive worth a try

[Guest bakes]

what about setting rockets off at race points

 

there not that expensive worth a try

 

 

skybird portek bird scarer rockets does the job let one them up when see percy knocking about soon dissapear

[PIGEON_MAN]

what about setting rockets off at race points

 

there not that expensive worth a try

Our convoyer does this at every race point before he liberates,hes known as the rocket man amongst the other convoyers, didnt stop the peregrines attacking the birds as they were liberated at Newton Abbot the other week though, the birds can be hit ANYWHERE so you either pack up or send them and take a chance.

[Roland]

Never mind the ‘Nothing ever gets done’ or 'letting off rockets' etc. The problem is GOING there in the first place! Why not move over to say Fareham, or even further west!

There lies the crux of the matter I FEAR!

Those with sway, the leaders and so called better flyers, who too many follow their lead! It ‘s surely and proven it doesn’t serve their’ interests. More important not to lose any ‘Liberation’ advantage! One that needs to suit their’ loft position and dang the costs to the birds. Can’t be any other realistic, or sensible reason! Well can there? Why else send birds to have a lot more chance of being ripped apart and eaten!

They will still have the advantage of wind etc. Not quite so much perhaps, but enough for any decent pigeon of theirs to win. - Time corridor flying was introduced eh!

Never mind the crap scenarios of them myths of ‘Line of Flight’ or ‘Breaking Points’ garbage.

Even if that bore any merit, the loss of birds being eaten surely far outweighs that! Yes time something was done… BY the ‘Member’s! That where it must start and the whinging stops.

[yeboah]

But my argument, or point is PIGEON_MAN

, why GO there?! There are many other sites around that have a lot less bother than there! Like I say, mine won't be there, I will send them all North this week!

Good to see common sense on your part why o why federations keep going to lib sites where there are falcon sites beggars belief,how can we defend our sport organise marches ,sign petitions when we cant even put our own house in order ,the ones who come up with all the other excuses obviously have never witnessed a family of falcons attack a group of racing pigeons and for this to happen upon liberation gives the birds no chance whatsoever in getting onto there racing line ,we as a federation liberated our yb's at a site called sedburgh in the cumbrian fells seems a good spot on top of a hill in open countryside yet there are falcon sites in the immediate vicinity 2 years back our controller put it in his report that the convoyer stated the birds were attacked by a family of falcons on liberation gaining height until they were dots in the sky and splitting into two groups one group never made it home ,returned to same site last year and lost half convoy again ,Lambs to the slaughter,The bird of prey enthusiast's must be laughing there heads of at us lot .

[Tony C]

WHAT IF our organisations get in touch with the RSPB letting them know of our plight and requesting from them locations where there's no peregrines in say a 5 mile radius so we can find safe locations where we can liberate. If they dont play ball we can take it that they dont give a toss about our pigeons or that peregrines inhabit nigh on every square mile of the UK. Anything negative from them would give us a bit of ammo to throw back at them and their subscribers.

[Roland]

Agree there Tony with you,good pointers. Though I feel 100% certain that they give a 'Rat's *expletive removed*' for us or our birds, AND 'wHY SHOULD THEY'!

Amazingly several in my Club, and the Fed are chuntering... But as of now I am the only one not sending ... Averages etc. are a curse and lose too many good birds. That win! A bit of cardboard, and the 'Mine will be OK' crap are some of the pointer of the foolhardy and stupidity of our flyers... Yes they will whinge and moan and send and wait for that Knight in Shiney white armour'.

How can nyone take us seriously when we don't even try to help our selves!?

The RSPB must have chapters of ammo to fire back at our faternity Tony.

Indeed als alack, it would be foolhardy to get into a 'Mud Slinging war' with them... we wouldn't even be starters I'm afraid.-

[just ask me]

5 mile that a few mins work to a falcon they wouldn't even break sweat

 

rspb as shown have no interest in pigeon racing or most other types of birds even if they were to say we dont care about pigeon racing where would that get the pigeon fanicer and with there money there mates in the media getting into a war of words with rspb we would be on a hiding to noting

 

 

a real deterrent is the only way to go

[Roland]

Well 5 miles or not J.A.M. every little, and any assistance, little or not should be ultilised in my opinion.

Spoke with seven members at one loft watching for the birds from our trainer, and 11 eleven when I picked up the birds for a trainer this week.... The one who send a letter in on behalf of our club WAS there - yet amazingly all are sending! Offered a club race from 'Where ever' and still all nodd a good idea... But 80% - 90% still shrug and are sending. Well I can have a lie in after all!

Wouldn't suprise me none if the RSPB don't arrange a 'Viewing' at these sites to show just how A. they operate, and B. how stupid so many fanciers are in still sending.

[Bluedoo]

WHAT IF our organisations get in touch with the RSPB letting them know of our plight and requesting from them locations where there's no peregrines in say a 5 mile radius so we can find safe locations where we can liberate. If they dont play ball we can take it that they dont give a toss about our pigeons or that peregrines inhabit nigh on every square mile of the UK. Anything negative from them would give us a bit of ammo to throw back at them and their subscribers.

I've probably 7 or 8 pairs within a 5 mile radius, and 5 of those miles east is all North Sea. If I recall,the RSPB, after they trotted out their " they only take sick and injured" though no mention of how many injuries were caused by them, their next suggestion was "race your birds outwith percy breeding season" which up here is approx May - Sept. They are still teaching youngsters how to hunt that late in the year.

I doubt very much if you will find any lib site without peregrines in a 5 mile radius, probably lucky if 2 up here.