Life in St Arnaud

[Murray]

The summer vegetable garden was past it's best, but the winter veggies I grew from seed are all coming on lovely. It's great to be able to go out and pick some fresh veggies for the birds

[Murray]

A couple of pictures of young stock birds, mainly for Devo.

This is Miracle Leo.
He's turning into a nice pigeon, and getting quiet too. He was pretty wild and I was told the whole family are mad I wouldn't tame him. Well I have, just by being quiet with him.

[Murray]

This is The Phantom. He's the one with the scalped head we were given a while ago. The picture does him no credit, he's a beautiful pigeon. Possibly the best looking pigeon in the loft. The young fellow has figured out that he can climb out of the sputnik, so I have to keep an eye on him

[Murray]

I was going to put a picture of Devo's 'Diamond Blaze' on too, but she's having a wee nap so I left her.

[Devo1956]

The birds are looking well Murray, Leo is looking far better I must say. And the Phantom is also looking well, they will come on leaps and bounds with the care you give them. Not forgetting the veggies.

[Murray]

Just to keep the younger ones going we went out to the 12 kilometre point today. I put the whole lot in, once they are going they do better by keeping to a routine, I think.
A bit like kids and young horses
This is where I released them.
8 miles away you can see low hills. Over the ridge is St Arnaud.
There isn’t much cover or shelter if they get seen by a hawk
But I sent Catherine a text, '12 kilometres 12 minutes, head wind, I might beat them."
I dont come home in a straight line, I have to go in a curve. I got out of the car, shut the door, and they swooped over my head.
I love this!

[Murray]

In case you are thinking, why is he pissing about with 8 miles?
This is one of the late breds that I am pulling forward into the young bird team.
Not very long ago.....

[Devo1956]

Its all Education for them Murray, every training toss is different. So they learn every day, even if just loft flying.

[Murray]

Yes Devo, it is education.
I may be wrong, I certainly have been before, , but bringing the later youngsters, which are flying like little rockets, into the the team?
I guess you could just one day stick them in the box and send them 15 or 20 or 25 miles, wherever the older ones were, and shrug when some of them don't return.
But I don't. I start at my front gate. I do that With the early ones, and later with the late ones.

[Murray]

If anyone is starting to feel slightly unhappy, or wondering why you are reading this.
I am in Australia. Here we have two sorts of racing pigeons. The ones that are fit and educated, and the ones that used to be here.