Where you live Gavin I can appreciate that entirelygoose1 wrote: ↑Thu Jan 30, 2025 5:56 pm Get very few arriving after dark up our neck of the woods. There's a town about 20 miles south of us and then after that with the exception of the nuclear power station you've hardly a streetlight. It's pitch black (unless you have moonlight of course) you've nothing but darkness, the fells one side of you, the sea the other, and a strip of land about 3 miles wide (less in places)not to mention a vast number peregrines. I think majority get about 20 miles from home at dusk at don't dare come through. Think the latest I can remember timing was 22:10
Night Flying
NeilA wrote: ↑Thu Jan 30, 2025 6:46 pmSome distance thereMIL wrote: ↑Thu Jan 30, 2025 4:59 pm There clearly has to be a capacity in the breeding to be able to sustain such a marathon effort
Then I think its a question of just sheer bloody mindedness and tenacity
You should look at these "Military Rogala" pigeons Neil.
They obviously don't home on the day because the distances (and direction) that they race is utterly remarkable
See montage below. 2,811km converts to 1,746 miles!!!
There's a Youtuve video on him Neil
Dead interesting
Teaches his birds right from a very young age to go drinking out of a pond near to the loft; because he knows that on the mammoth journey home they'll absolutely need to take water on board on the way home
Agree ANY bird knows how to find water by Instinct. I've never taught birds to find water. Had plenty return on hot days that have been down for a drink. I never even basket trained my YBs to drink when I raced.. If they couldn't copy what the other birds did, they weren't going to find their way home. My losses were no worse than any other fanciers who had basket trained.
I never basket train at home so that they find the water. I never show the youngsters when weaning where the water is. I’ve weaned at 18 days and never had one not find the water itself.
Back just enjoying club racing for the time being.
When they get to about this size I put a small drinker in the box with them. Because it gets hot, for instance it will be 37 today, they can start to wilt in the heat very quickly. They soon find the water and it really helps them.
The Grizzle and the Billion Baby are starting to look at the nest again and aren't always as diligent as they were a few days ago.
The Grizzle and the Billion Baby are starting to look at the nest again and aren't always as diligent as they were a few days ago.
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Greetings from the land down under. 
Blessed is he who expecteth nothing, for verily, he shall not be disappointed.
Blessed is he who expecteth nothing, for verily, he shall not be disappointed.
What age do you wean Murray ? I would have that awayMurray wrote: ↑Fri Jan 31, 2025 11:35 pm When they get to about this size I put a small drinker in the box with them. Because it gets hot, for instance it will be 37 today, they can start to wilt in the heat very quickly. They soon find the water and it really helps them.
The Grizzle and the Billion Baby are starting to look at the nest again and aren't always as diligent as they were a few days ago.
Mine go on the board before they can fly a lot earlier than most I do admit though