Wiltshire | Archive | 2000 | June | 16
From the Swindon Advertiser, first published Friday 16th Jun 2000.
I WOULD like to reply to Mr Brewer's letter in (Wiltshire Times, June 2).
He seems to imply that once a homing pigeon has gone AWOL that the fancier no longer cares about its well being. This is far from the case. Unfortunately we do not possess a radar system at home to keep track of the birds' whereabouts once they have been liberated from a race point.
Many of the ringed birds that you see have flown in races from France (ie nearly 300 miles) with approximately 9,000 other birds from all over the country. Understandably they get a bit tired, they come down for a rest and a drink, and then the majority of them take off again and find their way home. If for any reason a reader finds a racer in their garden etc, the first thing we would suggest is that you leave it for a day or so, so long as it's in no danger, and it will probably go on its way.
If it does not, then it needs reporting to the RPRA. To do this you will need to catch the bird to read the ring number on its leg which needs to be quoted to trace the owner. If you feel brave enough to carefully open the bird's wing there could be a name and address or telephone number stamped on to one of the flights. If you wish you can then contact the owner direct. The fancier then has, by law, to arrange to have the bird collected.
The address is: The Royal Pigeon Racing Association, The Reddings, Cheltenham, Glos, telephone (01452) 713529 (four lines).
I would like to reiterate that pigeon fanciers do care and regarding the case of the sick pigeons, what does Mr Brewer think happens to birds in the wild?
I used to work in a shop, in town, where pigeons regularly managed to get in through broken windows. These I caught and took home to be treated and released, or if they were too ill, they were put out of their misery, humanely.
HILARY HENLEY,
Secretary,
Melksham Sprint South Road Flying Club,
Wyke Road,
Trowbridge.
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