Terry Lapointe
Guest
Dec 31, 2003
8:04 AM
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This is my first year with a kit (20 birds) a few weeks ago I released my birds after a snowfall and only 4 returned, the rest disappeared. Some say it was due to barometric pressure, others say it was the whiteout conditions (not being able to see landmarks as well)- Any ideas for this frustrated beginner? Thanks!
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rollerpigeon
11 posts
Jan 12, 2004
10:24 PM
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First, my sympathy for losing so many birds. I too have lost birds to overfly conditions and it’s a bummer to have to wait another season to fly a kit.
I think both reasons are plausible explanations for loosing so many. I believe our rollers learn to recognize certain landmarks and stay within view of them.
I think the whiteout conditions covered all their known landmarks and they just flew further and further away until all hope of finding the way back home was lost. I have had some come back after several days being lost (but not in snow conditions).
In the future I would wait until after a snow has melted away enough to reveal the most obvious landmarks before I released them again in snow conditions.
As far as barometric pressure, this could be the case as well but I lean toward the snow conditions.
As my good friend Sal Estrada (Lake Perris, CA) said to me after loosing birds, “welcome to pigeons”!
FLY ON!
Tony Chavarria
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tim_barnwell_1966
3 posts
Jan 27, 2004
1:23 AM
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its good to have a bright colord wind sock at the loft
the snow cant cover the wind sock and that will give you youer land mark id cry if i lost a hole kit
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BLUE CORNER BANTAMS
& PIGEONS
(KEEPEM ROLLING)
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nicksiders
6 posts
Jan 28, 2004
9:06 PM
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Tim has the right IDEA. Keep the marker out all year so the birds can soak in the visual everytime they are exposed to the outside. Especialy when you first start showing the outside to your young ones. The bright colored marker should be visable at all times. If you have to replace your marker make sure it is the same color.
If our rollers are missing one thing I believe it to be the strong homing ability of racers
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hardtimekenl2
97 posts
Dec 01, 2007
3:23 PM
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back up good post winter is here
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PR_rollers
165 posts
Dec 01, 2007
3:34 PM
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Good post ..i always paint my landing boards or feeding tray with a bright florescent orange color.. this way my bird can always see this if they ever get chase and go far from their kit box..they is no winter here ,no snow ,,but its a habit i have from living in NYC..
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Ralph....
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Oldfart
271 posts
Dec 01, 2007
5:26 PM
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sorry for your loss. I think whiteout.
Thom
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Double R
169 posts
Dec 02, 2007
7:11 AM
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Ralph, I painted the top of one of my kit boxes florescent pink so my birds would be able to see it from miles away. I know pink (LOL) but it was the only florescent colored paint I had around.
Robby
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Windjammer Loft
79 posts
Dec 02, 2007
9:53 AM
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Terry we can all feel your PAIN. At one time or another we have all lost birds due to the weather conditions. A barometer is an essential tool to have. Just stay tuned and you'll get all the KNOWLEDGE that you can suck up right here on RPDC. Glad to have you with us. Also don't forget to click on "User Control Panel" and complete it.
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Fly High and Roll On
Paul
Last Edited by on Dec 02, 2007 9:54 AM
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Mount Airy Lofts
299 posts
Dec 02, 2007
10:49 AM
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First snow storm of the year for the Mid West. Guys, gotta get the snow off the kit box roof if you want any chance of them landing. Also, take a couple of days putting them out on the snow covered roof so they will be use to it before release. I will be letting my snow virgins out for the fist time this Weds. Hope they don't go nuts on me and fly off to never ever land.
Thor
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maxspin
130 posts
Dec 02, 2007
10:58 AM
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Thor,
I tried that last year. Put a kit of young birds that still were not rolling on the roof to look at the snow for a couple of days. The snow was starting to melt, so I thought they would be able to pick up enough landmarks for a fly…..
Last I saw of them they were disappearing over the horizon with a Peri working them over. Only got a couple back.
We don't get enough snow here to go through that again. NEVER NEVER again.
Keith
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Mount Airy Lofts
300 posts
Dec 02, 2007
4:10 PM
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kl,
First time out is all ways a nail biter. Even tho it is a routine I do every Winter. Our snow fall is pretty stack in the dead of Winter so letting them out as soon as possible is a must. What I have done has worked best for me. I can not say it for any one else as we all live in different climates.
I forgot to mention that when letting them out, I do it thru the cage. Of which is all ready out on the roof filled with the newbies. After they get use to landing on snow, it gets pretty routine.
All is lost if you get a BOP on their tails first time out.
Thor
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classicpony
576 posts
Dec 02, 2007
8:29 PM
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Never fly while the snow is on, I always wait for the big melt down to fly again. For the birds its a time to rest up.
Jim
Illinois
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smoke747
55 posts
Dec 02, 2007
8:33 PM
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Hey Tony C.,
have you ever had or thought about having an online show just for fun?
k.london
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Skylineloft
474 posts
Dec 02, 2007
9:34 PM
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Keith,
I think he is putting one together now.......
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Ray
Breeding Quality Spinners,
"One Roller At A Time".
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Mount Airy Lofts
311 posts
Dec 07, 2007
5:24 PM
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Due to hunting and other outdoor activities, I don't have the pleasure to lock down my birds during the Winter months. They are flown hard in thru Winter, hoping to get all of them rolling by early Spring. Many times, the birds would be out and about in single digits braving the brisk air temps/me with them. The sky is pretty free during the Winter months except late Jan and early Feb. Besides those two months, the birds are out every chance I get... even if it is -30 F.
Got the first real snow of the year a couple of days ago. Two storms hit us back to back. Was planning on letting the snow virgins out on Weds but Tues snow storm changed it up. Finally a break in the weather today, so I kicked the '07 loose for their first snow experience of their lives. The temp read 10 F degrees. It was a cold sunny day today but gotta get them out as soon as possible.
Before the shoveling :)
Training them to the snow
1st time out
Time to trap in snow virgins/after shoveling
Thor
Last Edited by on Dec 07, 2007 5:31 PM
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CSRA
711 posts
Dec 08, 2007
10:49 AM
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Fly and cry lol
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ROLLERMAN
180 posts
Dec 08, 2007
11:06 AM
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I Think land marks are the most inportant. I have lived on an island for the last 40 years and have never had a over fly in that time. I have had a couple when i lived in the city and had the whittinghams and caspersons.
al
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