Winter Casualties

philg50 · March 11, 2016

Just vaccinated birds the day i had some latebreds and one i had bought in a sale ,i had ETS rings allocated for these birds last year so thought i would get the ets rings put on today to save double handling and to my disgust 5 missing ,i knew the hawk had been active during the winter but my losses of the loft is 6 birds i know because their ETS are still in my box ,2 i know for fact was the hawk as i had to cull them due to horrific wounds ,how many have you lads lost.

greenbar · March 11, 2016

we are down 6 at the moment,wait till we start training, :emoticon-0127-lipssealed:

hotrod · March 11, 2016

Let both sexes out couple of weeks ago ,checked all birds last weekend ,one yearling hen with secondaries all out ,and missing a yearling cock ,both blues so maybe my local Percy has a wee liking to blue bars .

Novice · March 11, 2016

I vaccinated yesterday and, although I knew I had some missing, i was unsure which ones they were.

I now know they were latebreds which may not have had the opportunity to become street wise.

andy Burgess · March 11, 2016

ive lost 4 , and Babybird 3 , 2 neighbours have both had a few taken too . more active this year than last for sure :emoticon-0127-lipssealed:

tommy bhoys · March 11, 2016

lost three birds from last race birds out every day.ive lost four young birds to date ive seen peregrine attack birds at loft but not been about for last two weeks hope it choked on yin :animatedpigeons:

greenlands · March 11, 2016

Just had a mate on the phone,he lost one this morning to a Peregrine hen. :emoticon-0179-headbang:

Novice · March 11, 2016

ive lost 4 , and Babybird 3 , 2 neighbours have both had a few taken too . more active this year than last for sure

I estimate that peregrine numbers will increase by at least 30% every year while the food supply is plentiful.

They will continue to prosper while we continue to feed them good uncontaminated pigeon.

I think we all need to think about how we pursue our hobby. If I ever stop racing Iinwill always continue to breed a few even though they may be unrung.

andy Burgess · March 11, 2016

I estimate that peregrine numbers will increase by at least 30% every year while the food supply is plentiful.
They will continue to prosper while we continue to feed them good uncontaminated pigeon.
I think we all need to think about how we pursue our hobby. If I ever stop racing Iinwill always continue to breed a few even though they may be unsung.

the last line was the very same thought i had today Robert :emoticon-0127-lipssealed:

eastcoaster · March 11, 2016

I bred 25 late breds last year and trained them with the intention of feeding the wild birds ! Still have 17 and culled 2 so not many went missing .

You would think the money we give to charity would be better spent on some kind of spray deterant that hawks detest . But until then we have to help ourselves .

bullcock · March 11, 2016

Our birds were locked up from the last young bird race until the middle of January, we have had two sparrow hawk attacks one injured and one dead plus a young bird with tail flights out which we think was a cat, happy days.

Novice · March 11, 2016

I bred 25 late breds last year and trained them with the intention of feeding the wild birds ! Still have 17 and culled 2 so not many went missing .
You would think the money we give to charity would be better spent on some kind of spray deterant that hawks detest . But until then we have to help ourselves .

The time you have. Hosea to train is very important. There are peak times when casualties will be high. Unfortunately that's when we choose to race youngsters.

Novice · March 11, 2016

the last line was the very same thought i had today Robert

We do all need a little hobby and mine may be to spend years getting even.

Uphill Lofts · March 11, 2016

We do all need a little hobby and mine may be to spend years getting even.

That`s been my second hobby since the loss of a very good winner a few years ago.More than even now in fact well ahead.

Dave barrie · March 11, 2016

i think our unions should get a grip, we are getting no direction from them, we shouldnt be racing y/birds when the hawk is feeding and training, how long before they catch on, the seasons have changed, we could be racing later? or do they like the higher turnover of rings for more money? :emoticon-0179-headbang:

cemetary · March 11, 2016

i think our unions should get a grip, we are getting no direction from them, we shouldnt be racing y/birds when the hawk is feeding and training, how long before they catch on, the seasons have changed, we could be racing later? or do they like the higher turnover of rings for more money?

Dave,

Where do we as doo men draw the line with filling in forms and doing this and that for the sport, when we cant even get any help from the doo orginisation, its a joke, and how much money do we donate to other things to help our sport.

The higher above needs to step in here, and SHE keeps the doos herself.

Every day you are hearing or reading about people being hit with either the sparra in the garden, or the aerial bandit taken them out from in front of them.

Standing out the back the other day like a security guard watching over the doos isn't great. :emoticon-0179-headbang:

dunc50 · March 11, 2016

Dave,

Where do we as doo men draw the line with filling in forms and doing this and that for the sport, when we cant even get any help from the doo orginisation, its a joke, and how much money do we donate to other things to help our sport.

The higher above needs to step in here, and SHE keeps the doos herself.

Every day you are hearing or reading about people being hit with either the sparra in the garden, or the aerial bandit taken them out from in front of them.

Standing out the back the other day like a security guard watching over the doos isn't great.

lost 18 from jan, last 3 days never been hit,

March 11, 2016

Dave,

Where do we as doo men draw the line with filling in forms and doing this and that for the sport, when we cant even get any help from the doo orginisation, its a joke, and how much money do we donate to other things to help our sport.

The higher above needs to step in here, and SHE keeps the doos herself.

Every day you are hearing or reading about people being hit with either the sparra in the garden, or the aerial bandit taken them out from in front of them.

Standing out the back the other day like a security guard watching over the doos isn't great.

a take it you are talking about our QUEEN

Dave barrie · March 12, 2016

you cant argue or win against the rspb so put the y/birds back a month and you,ll get better racing, and cem, buy a shotgun and when you let a rocket off let go and nobody will know, :emoticon-0127-lipssealed:

bibendium · March 12, 2016

I hear and read the horror stories and have every simpathy with the guys, I guess I have been lucky I havent had a hit at home since I moved here 3 years ago,I live a few streets into the village and there are 3 lofts on the outskirts of the village all getting hit on a regular basis maybe deflecting the bop from the need to come further in , there are also an extraordinary number of ferals in the area sometimes numbering in the hundreds Maybe they are easier pickings I dont know. There is however a breeding pair of Buzzards not 1/4 of a mile away that never bother the birds but might also keep percy at bay a little.

I count my blessings.

bullcock · March 12, 2016

Another hit today, happy days.

Blue Chequer Pied · March 12, 2016

Another one away today. That's three in the last three times out. Peregrine becoming a real issue.

philg50 · March 13, 2016

Its a sparrow hawk thats my problem ,well its what i have seen but on saying that over the last few months i have seen a bird high up ,it beats it wings once or twice then floats in a circle this thing i have watched ends of going higher and higher nearly out of sight would this be a perigrin .

Novice · March 13, 2016

Its a sparrow hawk thats my problem ,well its what i have seen but on saying that over the last few months i have seen a bird high up ,it beats it wings once or twice then floats in a circle this thing i have watched ends of going higher and higher nearly out of sight would this be a perigrin .

They have differently shapes wings. Peregrines are more pointed and the bird is almost black. When it's low you can see the distinct chest markings and when very close it will have brown cheeks

Mossgiel · March 13, 2016

Another one away today. That's three in the last three times out. Peregrine becoming a real issue.

It's a serious problem. I watched a pair of peregrines going over the top of me yesterday afternoon, they were certainly focused on something. I went up to the back of the garden to get a better view of what they were after. Sure enough a team of 25 - 30 pigeons were circling their loft. Within seconds the team were scattered over the sky. Didn't see anything being taken ??

My birds are just paired up so none have been out since last September, dreading the thought of starting to exercise them :emoticon-0138-thinking: <_<