Racing Pigeons
Race Day |
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All the thumbnails below can be clicked for a larger
version. |
 Race
Day - Predawn, weather conditions are checked. Everything is
go! No rain or storms predicted on the race course. The
pigeons have been watered and have rested since arrival at
the race station. Once the sun is well , the conveyor checks
his watch and pulls the levers. All the birds are released
at once. A cloud of pigeons homeward bound. Trained and
conditioned at home the pigeons most times orient while in
the trailer and don't even circle, instead they make a
beeline straight for home. |
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The lofts they are flying to vary from large to small and
simple to luxurious. Some lofts are in small back yards in
towns and cities, others are out in the country with acres
of room. The pigeons don't care it's home to them. As long
as they have their own territory in the loft and the loft is
dry and draft free they are happy. They will race back to
their nest box or perch just for the love of home. |
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When they arrive home the rubber race band is removed and
put into a clock like two examples pictured here. There are
many different types of mechanical clocks but they all
perform the same function. They record the pigeons arrival
time. |
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The hole next to the key is where the rubber race band is
placed. Then key is turned and the time is recorded. Pigeon
fanciers say "the pigeon is clocked". |
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This is the same clock opened showing the drum that holds
the rubber race bands and the tape with the clocking times
stamped on it. Each hole in the drum corresponds to a time
on the tape. |
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These are the electronic bands that are an alternative to
the older style clocks and rubber race bands. They are
quickly becoming the timing method of choice all around the
world. These bands have a tiny RFID chip in them that can be
read when the bird comes home |
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This is an example of one of the electronic scanning devices
used to record the pigeons arrival at the home loft. The pad
or antenna is placed inside the loft entrance and as the
pigeon crosses it the electronic band is scanned. The
arrival time is then stored in the units memory module. |
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This is an example of a trapping device. The pigeon drops
into the "sputnik" and is contained. It is then easily
caught and it's rubber race band removed. For electronic
clocking a different trapping entrance is used. It is
configured in such a way that the pigeon has to cross the
antenna to ensure that it is clocked. |
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