Bop On The West Route

[Delboy]

Just went through my 4 pigeons that I got back from Newbury. I was unaware 3 of these have been hawked, I thought it was just 1 who got ripped apart.Two have lost a couple of tail feathers so went unnoticed until I checked them over. This pigeon game is becoming a complete lottery with these birds of prey. I have at least a dozen in my loft that have been nicked by these bandits during the season.Now, every single loft is getting hit so how many strikes are made on our pigeons on their journey home. Flying down the east was bad enough for birds returning cut up but this *expletive removed* west route is even worse. Still, the majority will sit back, *expletive removed* pu zzies

[dal2]

Just went through my 4 pigeons that I got back from Newbury. I was unaware 3 of these have been hawked, I thought it was just 1 who got ripped apart.Two have lost a couple of tail feathers so went unnoticed until I checked them over. This pigeon game is becoming a complete lottery with these birds of prey. I have at least a dozen in my loft that have been nicked by these bandits during the season.Now, every single loft is getting hit so how many strikes are made on our pigeons on their journey home. Flying down the east was bad enough for birds returning cut up but this *expletive removed* west route is even worse. Still, the majority will sit back, *expletive removed* pu zzies

Had one in 8 races return home missing tail. I have lost 8 that I will never know what happened

[Delboy]

Dal, the damage is done from the Solway up to here. Toss yer doos at my loft in Glasgow and see how many ye get back on the shift m8.

[Novice]

I made the mistake of tossing at Abington last week---never again will I train that far down on the west route.

The hens took all day to home with one missing and one damaged.

There is hardly a racer in the hut which has not been injured this year. These injuries are caused either by hawk attacks or striking obstacles to avoid the attacks.

[Delboy]

I made the mistake of tossing at Abington last week---never again will I train that far down on the west route.

The hens took all day to home with one missing and one damaged.

There is hardly a racer in the hut which has not been injured this year. These injuries are caused either by hawk attacks or striking obstacles to avoid the attacks.

 

Its true m8, I reckon the pigeon game has 3-5 years left unless something is done, IMMEDIATELY.

[Novice]

Its true m8, I reckon the pigeon game has 3-5 years left unless something is done, IMMEDIATELY.

 

In my opinion that time to act is between now and September. There is no point in acting in winter as the demand decreases then.

I recon that the problem will increase by a factor of approximately 25% each year till saturation point is reached. Saturation point will be a while away as long as we provide prime quality food.

There is little else I would choose to add on open forum especially one like this where you don't even need to be a member to read the portal.

[novo10]

Dal, the damage is done from the Solway up to here. Toss yer doos at my loft in Glasgow and see how many ye get back on the shift m8.

Derek the east is as bad I trained out of Selkirk the day and they took allday so it's every where now imo

[Chris Little]

The Lake District has the highest population of peregrine falcons in Europe..... just on our bloody doorstep

[walterboswell59]

i had 2 hawked wetherby 9 in leicester one of which i had to put down it was so bad and 2 home yesterday from newberry with half wings 13 birds out the team plus whats missing we have to do something now guys

[Guest bigda]

i had 2 hawked wetherby 9 in leicester one of which i had to put down it was so bad and 2 home yesterday from newberry with half wings 13 birds out the team plus whats missing we have to do something now guys

 

 

very sad that Walter, we say we have the birds wealth fare at heart, but i don't think we have at all. is the pigeon not a "hero" yet don't here many on here say we will help the hero's. should we be asking the armed forces to help the "pigeons " help a comrade . one day they could be called upon again but if they cant get through will they then be classed as flying rats the next time if they fail through no fault of there own.

[peter2010]

In total agreement I've only started back and no way it was ever like this before I had Percy fly over my loft tonight it is getting to the point of no return there is that many nowadays

[geordie1234]

See them all the time over my lofts now

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-22846749

[Guest bigda]

In total agreement I've only started back and no way it was ever like this before I had Percy fly over my loft tonight it is getting to the point of no return there is that many nowadays

 

 

if any fancier has the time on there hands, go to a web cam of a known bop, and sit and count the returns in a day and then that will be the starting point, for every nest in the uk, in as how many birds are disapearing at and at what rate per hour. might not all be racing pigeons granted but as other birds disapear the pigeon will be hunted all the more, in some well lit places they are hunting all the time.

[Delboy]

im telling ye lads, there wont be a sport in 3-5 years with the BOP growth.

[Delboy]

Derek the east is as bad I trained out of Selkirk the day and they took allday so it's every where now imo

 

The east is f kin torture too, but I can almost guarantee the SNFC convoy was obliterated by 100s of BOP. Ive 4/7 home, 3 of the 4 are hawked and 3 missing ( possibly hawked too) that's nearly 100% being hawked down the west.F kin terrible state of affairs.

[geordie1234]

Makes ye wonder really is it worth wasting money sending them at all

[b.massey]

Am same boat! Even have GB strag here burst open so in box to try mend and get back to owner!! Never took losses the way I have this year

[peter2010]

Did anyone see the story in Sundays sun abt the Percy chick fell out the nest in Norfolk sum *expletive removed* from Sweden saw this on his computer phoned someone from sum society here and they sent somebody and got it put back in so how is that letting nature run its course it is becoming a joke

[Darnaway]

Tossed 4 experienced old birds at Dumfries 2 weeks ago with the idea for the birds to fly back to Glasgow, they were liberated at 0900 into blue skies and on checking my loft that evening I found only 1 of the 4 back at 1530, I got another one back the next morning and another one back a week later still no sign of a 4 yr old hen so from a distance of approx 60 miles it was a disaster of a toss I guess Percy has played a part ?

[peter pandy]

On Springwatch BBC 2 this evening the presenters were admiring for the show a photograph of two percie's playing in mid air with a racing pigeon which they thought was marvellous.

[sammy]

easy method is STOP treating your birds for CANKER we are giving them HEALTHY food to eat ,you see more sick and diseased feral pigeons walking the street that never get touched by BOP ,WHY

[john cumming]

bottom line lads n lasses, the BOP is on every route always have been, just the difference is the population has expanded out of proportion and all birds are taking a much bigger hit every week even when we let them out for exercise at the loft, i am in the centre of town here and ive had the sparrow hawk in my loft twice and countless attacks around the garden / loft, they ( the birds) run the gauntlet every day now

 

 

john

 

[Delboy]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-22846749

 

Hope the pigeon fraternity don't get the blame for this.

[Novice]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-22846749

 

Hope the pigeon fraternity don't get the blame for this.

 

It mentions Carbofuran as being particularly lethal to raptors. It's not often they release information like that.

[Guest chad3646]

carbofuran it also goes under the name curaterr