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PIGEON TALK:
I just have to brag on pigeon people. We are truly a remarkable
bunch of people. We can meet with each other for one full day and
feel like we've known each other forever. We all have one major
thing in common....the birds. What special creatures those little
darlings are to have such a power to bring total strangers together
for better or for worse. I love the better part. Great friendships
and learning experiences. It keeps this sport going. One of the many
great pigeon people I would like to brag about is our AU Executive
Director, Karen Clifton. Karen is a very special person. Our club
had the great fortune of having her to come give a presentation
along with our Zone Director John McSweeney at the "Book" Event.
This lady had so many obstacles to get here, but she did not let any
of them stop her. She is a true heroine in the sport. When she
arrived she immediately blended in, met with the flyers, and served
along side of us. Her presence meant a lot to all of us. This lady
is loved and respected in the highest regard and we let her know it!
FEATURED FEATHERS:
"QUICK CHECK" AU 07 SLIDELL 277 DC Hen
This is our #9 bird. We were told that she is a "Dead Winner", really good, yellow eye, dark pigment. She made the grade! "Quick Check" was flown by us but bred by our good friend Kevin Hynes. Kevin decided to bring a cross into his family of birds and decided on the Vernazza birds by Ed Mineville and behold...the results. "Quick Check" in the 08 OB season won 1st / 200m. 12th/200m. 14th/200m 29th/ 350m. 87th/500m and was 12th place Champion Bird. She went the distance and never fell apart. Her nest mate "278" did well for us too! I would also like to add that "Aviatrix" on my 08 March Featured Feather scored 8 .5 (consistent bird - whole package)!
I think we are on the right track.....
I surprised myself
when it was our turn to get graded. At first I settled for looking
through the window until I was urged to go in. When I did, "Book"
asked the fellows, "Did everyone notice how you could hear a pin
drop when Mo came in?'. I simply replied, "I'm intense when it comes
to my birds."
WHAT I LEARNED:
Saturday, June 21st our club hosted an outstanding event! We were
fortunate to have Bill "THE BOOK" Richardson come to do a Grading/
Breeding Seminar. I personally did not know what to expect, but I
can tell you this....when people bring their birds to be graded, it
is a sensitive subject.
Its almost like having your children judged. To my amazement, he was
dead on! Byron and I brought in some of our flyers and we knew of
all of their accomplishments and we'd like to think that we knew
their strengths and weaknesses. Book confirmed them all. We were not
allowed to mention anything about the birds to him before hand or
during the grading unless he asked. I am happy to report that the 12
birds we brought for grading passed. The passing number begins with
7 - this means that the bird is functionally correct but this is the
minimum, anything with a lesser grade means that critical flaws have
been detected. 10 would be the highest, but he states that usually
there are only one or two per every 500 pigeons who will make this
grade. We had only one 7, he graded the others higher. Our number 9
bird is our Featured Feathers bird of the month, "Quick Check".
Another critical piece of information that I learned in the seminar
was how a cock can direct the course of your family of birds. The
cocks emit 51% of the chromosomes while the hen emits 49%. So when
you are bringing a cross into your winning family of birds, it is
important to be aware of this fact. The cock's genetics will change
the course, while adding a hen will enhance the course already
established. Depending on what you would like to do with your family
of birds, it is important to choose carefully whether you use a cock
or a hen. The birds that you add to your family should have many
winners in their background. It has been said over and over, winners
breed winners. The closer the youngsters are to the winners the
better. I'm sticking to that! I learned many other things, so now I
will try to be "The Book" in our own loft. I have already started to
pull on the beaks of my babies...Ha Ha.
WHAT I LEARNED:
Saturday, June 21st our club hosted an outstanding event! We were
fortunate to have Bill "THE BOOK" Richardson come to do a Grading/
Breeding Seminar. I personally did not know what to expect, but I can
tell you this....when people bring their birds to be graded, it is a
sensitive subject.