I seen this video, so i thought it would be a good topic for you all.
Re: Loss of birds
Posted: Wed Sep 16, 2026 2:34 pm
by Tony-P-
Very interesting video Devo, not that I've raced birds yet, but I do follow a few that do, and the feed back on lost Y/Bs this year has been really bad and yes the feedback has been everything under the sun as the problem why these Y/Bs have gone missing.
What he's saying about a later Lib (like back in the day) this could well be the answer as the birds will have more of a chance to drink water.
Also some Fed in Cornwall have decided to race there Y/Bs from October so not as many hits from Haws as their breeding season has finished they don't seem to have as many loses over the last couple of years.
Hopefully others on the site will give their feedback to this topic as some may have had losses themselves.
Re: Loss of birds
Posted: Wed Sep 16, 2026 2:54 pm
by Andy
An interesting clip Devo. I do think there is something in that. This year in particular for the early young bird races no only was it hot but had been very dry for a long time. So any that hadn’t had a drink on the transporter would have struggled to have found any on route. Our transporter does have heat exchange units. It’s very evident when basketing for the first couple of races that the birds don’t take much notice of water being poured into the drinkers. We do sprinkle a little bit of seed into the drinkers which does encourage some. After a couple of races when the drinkers are put on the birds are looking for the water to be poured in.
Having said all that I have never had to show a pigeon where the water is. But as stated birds in a strange environment in with a lot of strange pigeons they still may not drink before being liberated.
Re: Loss of birds
Posted: Wed Sep 16, 2026 3:07 pm
by Buster121
Interesting and maybe some possibility of being part of the cause
Re: Loss of birds
Posted: Wed Sep 16, 2026 3:13 pm
by Andy
Tony-P- wrote: Wed Sep 16, 2026 2:34 pm
Very interesting video Devo, not that I've raced birds yet, but I do follow a few that do, and the feed back on lost Y/Bs this year has been really bad and yes the feedback has been everything under the sun as the problem why these Y/Bs have gone missing.
What he's saying about a later Lib (like back in the day) this could well be the answer as the birds will have more of a chance to drink water.
Also some Fed in Cornwall have decided to race there Y/Bs from October so not as many hits from Haws as their breeding season has finished they don't seem to have as many loses over the last couple of years.
Hopefully others on the site will give their feedback to this topic as some may have had losses themselves.
I must say that young bird losses in our club haven’t been too bad. Yes there have been losses and some hard races but for most a reasonable season. The first race was the worst and then 2 weeks ago when they not only faced a strong headwind for the first time but also a peregrine went into them on release and birds were reported all over the place. I only lost 1 though from that race.
Re: Loss of birds
Posted: Wed Sep 16, 2026 3:43 pm
by Diamond Dave
Yes, interesting the combination of technology and the heat but, I would take that the technology thing a stage further and say that with the introduction of fields and fields of solar panels that look very much like lakes from the air, the birds go down think8ng there is water there but there isn't and that might be why we aren't getting any home at all.
Re: Loss of birds
Posted: Wed Sep 16, 2026 4:21 pm
by king
Diamond Dave wrote: Wed Sep 16, 2026 3:43 pm
Yes, interesting the combination of technology and the heat but, I would take that the technology thing a stage further and say that with the introduction of fields and fields of solar panels that look very much like lakes from the air, the birds go down think8ng there is water there but there isn't and that might be why we aren't getting any home at all.
Water is there to be found if birds are intelligent enough to find it?. I recall reading birds in Australia fly many miles over areas where the only water is found in cattle troughs on the huge farms in the outback.
That said IF Feds provide water and the birds drink there should not be a problem. My old club have drinking troughs when marking. But some birds are STUPID and never learn to drink in the baskets.
Many basket train their birds, and waste hours doing so. But they don't actually teach them anything at all, birds learn to drink simply by watching and copying other birds. If a bird in a race basket can't do that, what chance has it got to find it's way home? I've NEVER basket trained a YB in my life, and I've also NEVER had a stray in that couldn't find water in a basket even when it's in a pot.
I do agree solar panels may look like lakes, I know tarmac roads do shimmer like water on hot days, and I've seen pigeons killed by cars mins after dropping down thinking it's water.
But the UK still has plenty of rivers & lakes and there can't be many fanciers who have not had birds return on hot days with either pond weed, mud or fishing line around their feet.
And even if birds didn't get a drink on the transporter I'd be disappointed if my birds didn't have the sense to find water when released. I do recall even scoring with a bird that returned having stopped for a drink on route.
That's why I aways give birds who spent time out a second chance, they had intelligence to find both food & water. Granted not all made good birds, but they were still better than one coming home in a box.
Diamond Dave wrote: Wed Sep 16, 2026 3:43 pm
Yes, interesting the combination of technology and the heat but, I would take that the technology thing a stage further and say that with the introduction of fields and fields of solar panels that look very much like lakes from the air, the birds go down think8ng there is water there but there isn't and that might be why we aren't getting any home at all.
Water is there to be found if birds are intelligent enough to find it?. I recall reading birds in Australia fly many miles over areas where the only water is found in cattle troughs on the huge farms in the outback.
That said IF Feds provide water and the birds drink there should not be a problem. My old club have drinking troughs when marking. But some birds are STUPID and never learn to drink in the baskets.
Many basket train their birds, and waste hours doing so. But they don't actually teach them anything at all, birds learn to drink simply by watching and copying other birds. If a bird in a race basket can't do that, what chance has it got to find it's way home? I've NEVER basket trained a YB in my life, and I've also NEVER had a stray in that couldn't find water in a basket even when it's in a pot.
I do agree solar panels may look like lakes, I know tarmac roads do shimmer like water on hot days, and I've seen pigeons killed by cars mins after dropping down thinking it's water.
But the UK still has plenty of rivers & lakes and there can't be many fanciers who have not had birds return on hot days with either pond weed, mud or fishing line around their feet.
And even if birds didn't get a drink on the transporter I'd be disappointed if my birds didn't have the sense to find water when released. I do recall even scoring with a bird that returned having stopped for a drink on route.
That's why I aways give birds who spent time out a second chance, they had intelligence to find both food & water. Granted not all made good birds, but they were still better than one coming home in a box.
Very true King.
Re: Loss of birds
Posted: Thu Sep 17, 2026 7:56 am
by Devo1956
A small video of liberation, your thought?
Re: Loss of birds
Posted: Thu Sep 17, 2026 10:48 am
by Buster121
Not really sure what to say due to cloud took long time to clear