Fr.mike
181 posts
Oct 22, 2006
8:33 PM
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I have seen a few other sites and discussions about guys using catalonian tumblers to outwit the hawks-so they can fly their BR's---saw this article on another site(dont know if I am allowed to mention)-about escampadissa rollers. They are used in spain to catch the falcon.Apparently this pigeon is faster in a dive than a falcon and dives threw a hole in the loft roof 15x15 cm and then threw another hole too small for the falcon.effectively traping the falcon in the space between the two roofs. I have enough birds to take care of without cat's and anyother birds but I thought it was interesting enough for the guys expermenting with cat's so they can fly their BR's-- to mention.Seems like alot of work flying two seperate breeds in order to fly one.Just as easy to breed more of the one and use other means to fix problems. But hay --just thought it was something spectacular to know that their is a pigeon out there that is faster!!
Fr. Mike
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Santandercol
363 posts
Oct 23, 2006
6:25 AM
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Hey there Brotha from anotha Motha,
Yeah Mike that's pretty wild allright!!My plain ol' BR's seem pretty good at dodging hawks these days let me tell ya!!!A coop managed to grab one of my black baldy Barretts by the tail yesterday right by the eavestroughs of my house.I let out a yell and waved my arms,and would you believe it??that darn coopers hawk actually let go of him.He flew into a lilac bush,then into my tool shed,up into a maple tree then took off and rejoined the kit and flew the duration,spinning like crazy!!!Second time in 3 weeks that bird has been hit and he still wants to fly.Better keep him in for a rest now tho'.Seen some pretty fantastic chases lately too with the pigeon diving 300 ft like an arrow,me thinking he's a gonner,and the bird makes it home after that.Haven't lost a bird to the preds in over a month.One kit of R/Red Neibles birds I have(22 of them)haven't been touched at all.That kit has horseshoes I'm sure.Still Flying!!
Yours in the Hobby,
Kel.
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Fr.mike
182 posts
Oct 23, 2006
11:41 AM
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I failed to mention that there is a space between the two roofs --I am guessing about one yard-the pigeon is able to put on the breaks inbetween the top roof with the larger holes inorder to make it threw the smaller hole. The falcon is not able. Inother words The pigeon goes -SWISH----SWISH--and the falcon goes --SWISH---SPLAT-!!!That must be something to see.If it really works that way it would almost pay those guys that have a high density of roller flyers like in So.Ca. to have a loft of these about every 5 miles. LOL!
Fr. Mike
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Ballrollers
467 posts
Oct 23, 2006
12:05 PM
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You're not gonna believe this one, guys. After flying a few kits on Saturday, my 7-year old daughter came strolling down the driveway and said, "Daddy we have a big problem. There's a hawk in the Forida Room!" I expected to find a sparrow or something. I couldn't believe my eyes. A big Coopers was hanging onto the screen flopping around trying to get out of the screened porch. I remember seeing a bird rejoin the kit from that side of the house...I just figured it had bumped. Apparently the pigeon and hawk had crashed right through the screen into the porch and the pigeon found its way back out...the hawk hadn't found his way out. It was just not his day. I would never have believed it if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes!!
YITS, Cliff
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Shaun
375 posts
Oct 23, 2006
1:22 PM
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Hey, Mike. How was the top guy in Rome? Did you get over there in June?
Cliff, how's this for a coincidence - what did you do with your hawk, by the way? Anyway, recently, I was sitting outside with a few friends on a warm afternoon. I'd let my rollers out and told this bloke, who'd never seen anything like them, and was duly captivated, that it wasn't all roses. I explained there were a lot of rubbishy ones to dispose of - oops, big jar of worms I opened there; by the time I'd finished that little dinner party conversation, I was no longer Dr. Doolittle, but Dr Death. Anyway, trying to turn the conversation away from my squirming discomfort, I said I fortunately hadn't seen my resident sparrowhawk for ages (this is England; the female is a nasty piece). I continued that I was counting my blessings that I'd not lost a youngster in a few months.
It could have been no longer than a few minutes - just yards from my table of barbecuing friends, a sparrowhawk landed with a big thump just yards from us, with one of my rollers between its talons.
There were a few seconds of suspended animation when everyone got a great look at the marvellous markings of the sparrowhawk, before I clapped my hands and there was a separation of preditor from prey.
The girl was back in town.
Shaun
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MILO
9 posts
Oct 23, 2006
2:26 PM
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I've always been fascinated with that breed. Escampadissa Rollers are rare. If you guys can find some, let me know. I've wanted some since I was a kid, but never could find anyone locally. From what I understand, they are selected for their ability to avoid being killed by falcons. Guess they don't have to cull much...LOL
c
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MILO
10 posts
Oct 23, 2006
2:29 PM
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Hey Mike. There is a Roller guy in Rome? That's where I'm from originally. Don't remember rollers being too popular there...Let me know.
c
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Ally Mac
111 posts
Oct 23, 2006
3:34 PM
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http://www.cichlidlovers.com/birds_escamp.htm
Article on Escam------------ very interesting. So are some of the others.
Nice to hear from you Shaun, Hows the birds.
Al.
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Fr.mike
183 posts
Oct 23, 2006
5:39 PM
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how goes it on the Island Shawn??
Yes I did see the Big Guy at St. Peter's (not a personal little chat)--Even though I am Anglican -You know wife and kids -It was still very exciting-so exciting that when he was a few feet away I fliped the video on him and yelled back to the wife I GOT HIM !---well no such luck--the video was allready on and I turned it OFF!!LOL I also found myself in trouble with the Mrs. taking tomuch video of pigeons.but had great time.
Milo-I dont know of any roller guys/gals in Rome. I saw alot of pigeons in Italy -all of them street thugs.I looked to the sky everywhere to see if I could recognize any kind of organized birds flying but saw none from Rome to venice.I did see one enterprising bird that would sneek inside a cafe' and pick up scraps under the tables . About every 10 min. the waitress would shew him out the door--and back he would come.It might have something to do with me feeding him(I couldnt resist !) LOL!
Fr. Mike
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MILO
11 posts
Oct 24, 2006
9:14 AM
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Hey guys.
You know, flying these Escampadissa rollers would be a fun thing to do, since I'm on lockdown for seven months...LOL At the very least, it would frustrate those falcons, and maybe reduce my roller losses. Many of you already know, I am in peregrine paradise, and have come close to quitting rollers all together. I will have to get some of those Escampadissas. It does sound like a tough breed though.
c
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Santandercol
364 posts
Oct 24, 2006
10:15 AM
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Ally Mac and Milo,
Yeah,aren't those birds something else!?They look like real workin' birds.Where to get some is the question???I wonder if anyone raises them in Canada,or even anywhere in North America..??
----------
Kelly
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Ballrollers
470 posts
Oct 24, 2006
7:55 PM
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Hey, Shaun!
Good to hear from you! How are the new kits coming along? Do I recall correctly that you had to cull a bogus kit early? How are the others doing. I'm pleased with mine. I have about 30 young birds spinning well with more late spring hatches yet to develope. I fly my 20-bird comp this Saturday. Wish me luck! Yeah, there was definitely a separation involved for that Coopers in my Florida Room....but not predator from prey, as in your case! LOL!
YITS,
Cliff
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Fr.mike
185 posts
Oct 25, 2006
5:24 AM
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Hey Shaun--sorry about the name misspelled shaWn--get the two mixed up.
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Shaun
376 posts
Oct 25, 2006
9:50 AM
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Mike, I'm becoming the same with street pigeons. I can't help but feel an empathy for them and whilst I don't go out of my way to feed them my fish and chips, I'll certainly give them the remnants. As for your Pope escapade, although I'm an accomplished videographer these days, I do recall many years ago I picked up my first camcorder and put the lens to my eye (ie, completely the wrong way around). The salesman didn't bat an eyelid and helpfully turned it so I could see properly. Ah, happy days.
Hi, Ally. I could do with an update on how you're doing with your Moseleys. I did breed a few to mix with my Masons, but it's early days as to whether they're any good. I bred one with a twisted beak which I had to shave at six weeks old. I'd imagined that taking a nailfile to a beak would make this youngster flighty as hell, yet this stupid bird has become so tame its a blasted nuisance.
Cliff, of course I wish you all the best. At the moment, you've got bigger nuts than me as comp is something I can only aspire to for the future. I did indeed, er, dispose of an earlier batch of birds. Not my finest moment, I would agree; a degree of intoxication was necessary to pull the trigger... many triggers. On a more positive note, I now have two young bird kits which actually rather like flying, so I've calmed down a bit. Masons roll like buggery but frequently clip the tops of trees, given their propensity for low flying. Despite this, actual rolldowns are nil, though bouncers (which usually hurt themselves and ultimately have to be culled) are about 1 in 30, which I find acceptable.
I still have bad days where I wonder whether it's all worthwhile. Then I see birds rolling their tits off and life seems worthwhile again.
Cheers.
Shaun
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Ally Mac
112 posts
Oct 25, 2006
3:03 PM
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Hi Shaun.
I decided to lock up the birds I bred from Daves, I was getting hit by a Falcon and lost a couple, it was a right scunner as they were approaching the 10 months and really starting to come on. I went to too much trouble getting them and dont want to risk any more.
I have another 20 odd youngsters I have bred from Moseley birds though they didnt come direct from Dave. Some are just starting to come on now but they are all a good bit too young as yet I'm afraid.
Fortunately the Falcon seems to have moved on!
I seem to keep saying this but hopefull next year I will be better prepared.
I have more or less decided to breed about 30 birds and concentrate fully on them. I will breed some more for passing on. One of my fathers pals was sitting having a beer with Dad in the garden when the birds were out, it was a cracking day and the birds were doing ok. seems he was fair taken with them and would like a few for the garden. Thats how I started, 2 rollers in a box on the wall of the house. Now got the loft and about 60 birds in total! (much to the wifes disgust).
Hope all is well with you.
Al.
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