Stray youngsters

[Andy]

Fanciers have obviously started training their youngsters. I’ve had 2 strays in the last couple of days. The one yesterday was from a top national flier who doesn’t live far from me. He had tossed his youngsters from Wincanton race course, about half a mile from me. He lives around 7 miles from me in a straight line. So why this bird came into me I don’t know although my old birds are on open loft.
I had another one in today from a fancier 16 miles from me. He said that he had tossed his youngsters on Tuesday from a short distance from him. He said the birds could see the loft from where he let them go but he is 15 missing. I heard about another fancier who trained 66 from a short distance yesterday and is still 30 missing. Not a good start for these fanciers.

[George and Morgan]

yet this lad who has just started racing has his first team 17 birds at 20-30mls most days has lost none

[Andy]

It is strange how things are different in different parts of the country. It certainly seems bad down this way.

[George and Morgan]

he likes to go 5'00 am before work he started at 12 mls

[Murray]

It's crazy alright.
About 3 years ago I took about 18 youngsters to the showgrounds, about 3 miles. Lost the lot. Had one reported way over the other side of the city days later.
About 8 years ago I dropped 12 out of 12 from 5 miles. Gone.
They say that tossing them with a cloudless sky is bad for losing them, but I don't know.
Some areas are worse, around Bendigo is terrible, and it must have something to do with the hawks. It is seething with them. I don't recall losing so many pigeons back in New Zealand.