Racing Pigeons
Shipping Night |
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The birds are brought to the club on shipping night,
which in Canada is usually Friday night. The birds are
marked on the race sheets and are race banded with a rubber
race band. The race band has a a number which is marked on
the race sheet against the pigeons life band number. The
modern system of clocking birds with electronic devices
requires that the birds electronic race band is scanned in
on race night and a race entry for the birds from each loft
is printed out.
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The pigeon is race marked with a rubber race band on
shipping night. Lofts using the electronic system of
clocking their race birds, would have the bands scanned. |
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After race
marking the birds are put into the race baskets.
The number of pigeons put into each basket is determined by
the temperature and time they have to spend in the basket
before release at the race point. The warmer the weather
expected in transport to the race point the fewer the
numbers in the basket. The same holds true for longer trips,
the longer the time they are expected to be in the basket
the fewer the numbers. |
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The pigeons are loaded into the Federation trailer.
Usually several clubs ship on the same trailer to save on
transportation costs. Shipping and releasing together also
affords the opportunity to combine the club race results
into a Combine or Federation result. This allows for
competition against larger numbers. |
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The birds are on their way to the race station. The
trailer has a watering system and carries a supply of fresh
water for the pigeons. If the pigeons are held over due to
weather conditions at the races station the trailer also
carries a supply of food for the birds. The race could be as
long as 1,000 km or 600 miles. The birds will have a tough
time making it home the same day from a race this long. Long
distances are only flown a few times every year and the
pigeons that fly them are bred for this specialty. Races of
800 km or 500 miles under normal weather conditions will be
completed the same day. Most race distances are between 200
km and 500 km. At an average speed of 1200 meters/minute
these races only take a few hours to complete. |
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