Pigeon Tracking

[Kyleakin Lofts]

Reports by Joe Murphy

 

I received a letter from my son Kevin regarding a pigeon tracking project he is hoping to run in conjunction with Angus College. I have mentioned this in my column before and he received a very good feedback from fanciers the length and breadth of Great Britain. However, like everything in life, the stumbling block is MONEY and he is hoping to obtain some sponsorship with his request in this letter.

 

Keptie Road Arbroath Angus DD11 3EA

 

Telephone 01241 432600

 

Fax 01241 876169

 

 

 

PIGEON TRACKING PROJECT

 

Dear Fanciers

 

I am writing to you in the hope that you will be interested in the above research project.

 

I am currently in the process of developing a study into racing pigeons with a particular focus on the route they take to get home. I know previous research has looked at the homing ability of the racing pigeon but I would like to utilise the technology that is currently available to enhance this research and try to establish what route the racing pigeon takes to get home (especially when flying over stretches of water) and more importantly when a bird gets lost where does it go?

 

As Director of Learning and Teaching at Angus College in Arbroath, where we have an animal care facility at the College, we teach students from an introductory level through to Higher National Diploma / 2nd year degree courses and we also have a new John Tranter, purpose built 24ft pigeon loft on the college grounds.

 

As you will be aware, the number of losses occurring each year in the pigeon sport is showing no signs of improvement and whenever you speak to pigeon fanciers it’s the same old story; high losses in young birds and very few fanciers that are able to build an established team of 3, 4 and 5 year old experienced birds.

 

I appreciate birds of prey and other factors must be taken into account but one question that always lingers is where do these pigeons go? Why in a seemingly perfect flying day are returns not 100%?

 

The research project that I am interested in running will use a team of racing pigeons based at the college and monitor over a 3 year period the route the birds take to return home, observing them by the use of a GPS/GSM module attached to the bird that will show live on a PC screen the birds route home.

 

I have discussed with a design company a prototype device that would be fitted to the birds, either clipped onto its leg or to its back. The device will be GSM and GPS module controlled that gives off a signal every 5 minutes to determine the birds' location with an accuracy of 10-15 metres and consisting of a battery life of 72 hours.

 

From this we will be able to monitor the birds’ flight direction and establish over a 72 hour period where the birds go to if they get lost.

 

The overall aims of this project will be to:

•Collate scientific data from weather stations, Solar Influences Data Analysis Centre (SIDC) and Solar & Geophysical Activity Forecasts to determine if naturally occurring events (solar flares, K factor etc.) impact on the birds' homing ability.

•Monitor the flight of both inexperienced and experienced birds to fly from distances up to 300 miles.

•Determine if the birds improve their line of flight by repeated liberations from set locations.

•As the birds will be required to fly across stretches of water (both the Tay and Forth estuaries) the direction of flight will be monitored to see if the birds cross the water directly or find the shortest/easiest way across.

•Monitor over a 3 year project the developments of the birds and how they improve with age. Do birds that have developed as a ‘leader’ as a young bird continually improve and become the birds that determine the line of flight, pace of the race etc.?

•Some birds break from a batch and make it home first – is it possible to determine this and identify the leading birds? The use of the GSM/GPS device will allow us to test individual birds.

•Try to establish why birds get lost and where do they go. As the device will be activated for up to 72 hours, we can determine how far off the line of flight the bird went. E.g. If a bird becomes dehydrated and goes down for a drink we will be able to pin point the location and how long the bird was inactive and how long it took to return home.

 

While some birds will be fitted with a GSM and GPS trackers, some will be fitted with micro-cameras to photograph the line of flight and evidence what happens to birds in flight.

 

This project is also about raising the awareness of pigeon racing and involving students at the local college where various student groups will get involved in the project and use this as a real life project to enhance their own educational studies.

 

I aim to publicise the progress of the research in the fancy press throughout the duration of the project.

 

A research project such as this offers an opportunity for a large corporate company, or individuals to positively associate itself with the event through sponsorship.

 

The cost of conducting this research project comes to around £28,000 (mainly due to design and development costs of the GPS module). In return, we are offering the following sponsorship package:

•Corporate branding of all literature associated with the Pigeon Tracking Project such as adverts, posters, brochures and the website.

•Positive public relations enhancement through mention in all press coverage related to the event.

 

I do hope you will look upon this request favourably and will be keen to support the tracking project. If you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact me.

 

I look forward to hearing from interested parties.

 

 

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

 

Kevin J. Murphy

 

Director of Learning and Teaching

 

Email: Kevin.murphy@angus.ac.uk. Tel: 01241 432669

 

Conclusion

Various tracking devices have been tried before but many were considered too heavy and nothing was ever done (due to the weight etc.). In this project that Kevin is trying to organise, the tracker would be the equivalent size of an ETS ring. My personal feelings are the advantages of doing these tests would benefit the sport in general. For example, the detour birds would take if attacked by a peregrine. Another issue could be the K factor that I have spoken about over the years. It will also assist if clashing was a problem with the losses we have experienced over the years. One way or another, all the information gathered can be used for the benefit of the sport and hopefully sustain the future of our sport for a long time to come.

Regarding asking for donations, I doubt if individual clubs would support this request but there are other pigeon organisations like National Clubs, RPRA, SHU, WHU, UNC, NIPA etc. who COULD support this venture and every donation would soon help reach the target mentioned above. There are also individual fanciers who might wish to contribute to this worthy project and if so then please contact Kevin at the Angus College Keptie Road Arbroath Angus DD11 3EA or telephone 01241 – 432600. If I won the lottery then I would personally fund the project as I think it is a worthwhile and a scientific exercise that could only benefit our sport.

Kevin and I are prepared to breed a round of youngsters for the college loft and hold a one loft race within the concept of the college. We could offer each bird at £50 and it will be raced at the college loft in Arbroath with the first bird from the last young bird race from Wakefield, a distance of 200 miles, with the winner receiving a 1st prize of £250 and the fancier who had drawn this bird would then be given the chance of owning the bird along with the prize money (if the fancier so wished). All the other birds would continue to be flown from the college loft to help with the tracking project as they get older, as mentioned in Kevin’s letter. All proceeds from this one loft young bird race would go towards the purchasing of the tracking fund mentioned about. I think this is an excellent idea for ordinary fanciers to feel part of this development and every £50 donated will help the college reach their £28.000 target.

If anyone reading this is interested and would like to take part then please let me or Kevin know your details: name, address, post code, telephone number and email address with all cheques made out to Angus College. We will put all fanciers’ names in a hat for a youngster and after the draw will notify every individual wishing to take part. The college students will run this venture and hopefully have a web site set up so fanciers can follow their birds’ progress throughout the season.

[andy Burgess]

try the R.S.P.B. they have plenty of money

[clockman]

Good luck with the research project Kevin,I for one would like to know where your y/birds go when libbed from across the forth in such a short race.

[Guest lambrechts31]

THERE WAS A BIT IN A PROGRAM THE OTHER NIGHT ABOUT RACING PIGEONS THAT THEY PUT TRACKERS ON, AND IT WAS AMAZING THE ROUTE,S THEY TOOK TO GET HOME, A BIT BONKERS THEY WAY THEY FLEW THEY ACTUALLY FLY NEARLY DOUBLE THE DISTANCE ASTONISHING FINDINGS..........

[just ask me]

think they might be surprised to find the real speed a pigeon gets up too when you take there real flight path into consideration

 

 

 

all the best with the project

[Guest WHITE DOO]

CAN WE NOT HAVE A SALE ON HERE FOR IT?? AS IT ALL MENT HELP IN A FEW YEAR AND I KNOW WE CAN GET £500+ FOR THIS GREAT PROJECT.

[just ask me]

is there any more news on this