MIL wrote: ↑Tue Jul 09, 2024 4:58 am
There's always time for more to return though isn't there - always
To me that doesn't really cut the mustard.
85% of the pigeons entered to Tarbes are lost forever by the looks of it (1,537 birds went from 296 lofts)
How can you ever know that mike? Birds WILL return days, weeks, months later. I recall a post on pigeon chat about an MNFC Bordeaux race it rained for 6 days after the lib. The day the rain stopped many were posting on chat they had birds return that day. I even posted on chat I hope my single entry at 629 miles returns, and it did around 7pm that evening.
Below is a page from my race book of a 500 mile race where there were only 7 birds in race time. I sent 10 was 1st & 4th club (only 7 in race time), 6th & 16th combine and had another SIX from the 8 lost for ever birds return! Note 72703 she was lost forever at 500 miles the following year, and returned FIVE years later.
MIL wrote: ↑Tue Jul 09, 2024 1:05 pm
By the same token how can you ever know that birds will return?
Its safe gto say "some" will return, and its safe to say a lot will not
Yes some will not return that happens in good races also for a number of reasons. But maybe you could ask Mark Gilbert in a months time how many he has had return?
It really is bazar that it should have been so tough. Barcelona flown over much of the same ground on the same day and the winner of that race flying 770miles at 1440+ ypm with 50% 0f the birds home by Sunday dinner time.
MIL wrote: ↑Tue Jul 09, 2024 4:58 am
There's always time for more to return though isn't there - always
To me that doesn't really cut the mustard.
85% of the pigeons entered to Tarbes are lost forever by the looks of it (1,537 birds went from 296 lofts)
The thing is with pigeons, when it gets hard they just stop, we have no means of making them come home, they are free to join the wild if they want. I am sure every fancier on here have had birds turn up days, months and even years later, they are not dead as the do gooders would make make out, and fanciers have the birds well being at heart.
