The ICRC is holding it’s Annual Lawn Show this Saturday, September 26, 2009. The ICRC show has been a staple event amongst roller breeders in Southern California and beyond. Under the stewardship of Rayvon Hall this years festivities are surely not going to disappoint anyone.

Location: 535 E. Scott Street, Rialto CA 92376   [Home of Rayvon Hall]

Time: 10:30 AM

Show Details:

Judging will be performed by Johnny Smith

• Entry Fee is $3 dollars per bird

• Young Hen & Cock Class
• Old Hen & Cock Class
• Muff Hen & Cock Class
• Best 10 year Old Class
• Reserve Grand Champion

• Grand Champion

As always there is going to be a huge raffle with far to many things up for grab that can be listed here; however, there will be a nice double kit box going home with some lucky ticket holder.

Delicious lunch plates will be sold as well so come to the show hungry!

Competition Flying With Rollers pigeons
By: William H. Pensom

From Pigeons, of England, September 20, 1929

Does competitive sport with rollers improve the quality of the bird as a roller? Myself, as a fancier of about twenty years, I think not. We know that a given number of birds are flown in competition, and the kit making the most turns is judged the winner including, of course, the style of fly, but the quality of the birds, which should come before anything, receives no notice or attention.

They appear to be content to keep, breed, and fly birds that are in their opinion, more likely to win them a few shillings. They thereby deceive not only themselves but also the public, that their pigeons are genuine rollers. It is quite safe to say that today there are fewer breeders of the true English Roller, better known as the Birmingham Roller, than there were twenty years ago.

We are nearing the time when it is a must that we lock-down our kits of rollers, lest be butchered by birds of prey. I can remember the time when locking a kit bird down for a period of months was a non-starter, unless of course they were headed to the stock loft. Potential stock birds were “proven” beyond belief oftentimes for no other reason than the inability to shelve a true acrobatic champion.

I recall a red & white ender fondly named GQ because of his stunning looks. GQ flew for no less than 6 years straight, day in and day out, causing many a fancier to pause when he started rolling. Hilly Flowers and I would marvel at these performances and come up with an assortment of reasons why we should not place him in the stock loft. At first it was because he was not as frequent as let’s say, the number one hen; however, around year-three his frequency quadrupled immediately taking away that excuse. Next, we would reduce his value based on size in comparison to some other bird, again leaving out the most important factor, his ability to burn up the sky.

After six plus years of flying GQ made the decision for us, he flew away and now we will never know if his abilities in the breeders loft would be commensurate to his aerial prowess.

Fast forwarding 10-15 years the aggressive presence of hawks, falcons and other birds of prey have left little opportunity to fly kit birds for extended periods of time. Although we reluctantly lock our birds down during the height of their feeding periods we still lose out on valuable time. In addition, the altering of our flying regimen will inadvertently affect our selection process and ultimately the birds we strive to breed.

We are experiencing Darwinism in its most rudimentary form–in the laws of use and dis-use what will Birmingham roller breeders lose.

–PW

A red tail hawk, captured at Los Angeles International, is placed in a sleeve for its protection. Many large birds caught there are taken to South Bay Wildlife Rehab. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-lax-wildlife23-2009aug23,0,3287218.story

On August 23, 2009 the LA Times reported that the number of birds at and around Los Angeles International Airport represents a clear and present danger for travelers. We must ask ourselves one critical question, “has the introduction of numerous species caused this apparent log jam?”  It is clear that many of the current avian visitors were introduced from other parts of the globe; however, in all fairness, many of the species have been part of our eco-system for quite some time.

The European Starling, which was the focus of the article, was referred to as the “bullet with wings” because of the deadly crashes they have caused; the combined death toll resulting from their interference totaling more than 100 people. However, part ways down the page the writer begins to describe hawks and falcons that also reek havoc in our friendly skies. As roller fanciers, breeders, and competitors we should look closely at both the trapping methods and bait used in the endeavors to curtail the dangers associated with our feathered comrades.

Furthermore, the relocation process, as described in the article, should be investigated to ensure that a 200 mile [possibly less] location strategy ensures that the birds of prey do not return. Ultimately someone should be held accountable for the damage that has been done by certain species that were introduced into our metropolis under false pretense. Lastly, as connoisseurs of an ancient an honorable hobby we should be given our day in court and the right to protect our sport, investment and hobby.

Let’s stop agonizing, griping and complaining–instead, lets start organizing!

Paul Gomez recently admitted himself into the hospital after a long hike in a local park. Sensibly,  after he felt that things were not right, he checked himself into the hospital. Four day’s later he was released  is now back at home and recuperating. The diagnosis, time to rest, relax and stay off his feet.

I learned of this sudden hospitalization prior to the start of our monthly club  meeting.  While busy at the grill,  ensuring that everyone got enough to eat and that the chicken was fully cooked, Hilly Flowers informed me of what had happened.  My first thought was, “i hope that everything is all right and I need to call him later to check-in” after which i went back to finishing my hosting duties.  Later that evening my thoughts took me to another place.

Paul Gomez has been one of my earliest and greatest influences in this roller hobby. Standing under many good kits of rollers over the years his quest for more speed bordered on maniacal fixation. This “fixation” was surely transferred to me and allowed me to imagine, beyond my wildest imagination, what was possible in our feathered gymnasts. However, there was much more to this relationship.

Paul’s commitment to education was not to be rivaled. An accomplished Biology teacher, Paul could break down complicated science in a way that most could understand. As i walked around my mother’s yard there was no way to escape Paul’s green thumb because before he was a school teacher he owned a nursery. In my own home I called Paul as soon as it came out of escrow and said, “let’s start thinking about plants.” I can also  recall riding around the city and beyond and Paul teaching me about plants and their origins. One day we found ourselves in front of a house that was home to a beautiful Sago Palm that Paul wanted to show me. He had watched this plant grow from a beautiful seedling and blossom into its current magnificence–it only took the plant 15-20 years to get this way.

Paul’s medical emergency gave me a moment to reflect on what’s important and what’s not. It also forced me to realize that while we met because of roller pigeon’s our relationship is built on much more. I can’t wait until our next great debate about roller’s, competition or an assundry of topics that we readily argue. But, more importantly, i am glad to have had the opportunity to reflect, write and share about my friend while we are still on this planet together.

To My Brother,

-PW

According to the Associated Press a 23 year-old man put a new twist in the old saying, “a bird in the hand beats two in the bush.”   http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28994681  [click link to read full story]

 The man, an Australian native, was detained by customs agents in Melbourne after discovering a pair of eggs in his luggage. Once detained they strip searched him and discovered a pair of birds [live] strapped to each leg. 

While this is a funny story the penalities facing the man is no laughing matter.  Australia has some of the most stringent quarantine and importation regulations on the planet. That said, the fancier now faces $70, 000 + in fines and a decade in prison.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/29002565#29002565 [Click link to view news coverage]

That is indeed steep punishment for carrying a pair of golden eggs, a pair of  silver pigeons, and some feed from Dubai to Melbourne. 

–PW

Merry Christmas all you roller people! As we all know the 2009 breeding season is right around the corner so it is imperative that we start off the season in good cheer.  Also, we never want to start the new year off the way the last one ended, provided that the ending was bad. To prempt the 2009 madness i thought that it would be good to create our collective “what we want for christmas list.”

The exercise is simple, just write your wish in the comment section and hit submit.  Hopefully our collective wishes will create the type of synergy needed to perservere through another year of ups and downs.

Wish List 2009

1. I wish that the BOP’s never return from their migration and take a swim somewhere near the Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, or the Dead Sea.
2. I wish that Show rollers are stripped of their Birmingham title once and for all.
3. I wish that speed and quality multipliers are considered as equally important in current kit competition rules.
4. I wish that feather merchants and their minions would stop peddling their pedigrees and pushing the hobby backwards.
5. I wish that roller folks, to quote LARC member Jason Fant, would realize, “this ain’t religion it’s just pigeon!” and keep the petty shit out of the mix.  

Now its your turn–add to the list.

PW

Fly or Die!

On Saturday 12/20/2008 members of the LARC and supporting fanciers traveled to Sylmar Ca. to drop in on Chuck Hatcher.

Hatcher's Pigeon Paradise

 Chuckie, as we call him, has been breeding from a very small pool of Pensom’s which he has kept pure for the past three-decades. Upon our arrival–on a very chilly morning–Chuck was sitting in his yard ready for us with hot coffee and donuts. Trust me, it was very much appreciated. 

By way of background had Paul Gomez visited Chuckie a few weeks prior and was impressed by the speed and style displayed by the kits flown. Once he told other LARC members there was nothing left to do but go and check them out. What makes Chuckie special (amongst many things of course) is that he has kept his birds pure thus preserving relics and ideals from the past. While the kit wound up being a little stiff you could not dispute the speed and style of those that did perform.

Make no mistake, we will be headed back for a follow-up visit to enjoy all Chuckie’s

One of Chuck's Kit Boxes

birds have to offer.

                                             Chuck with his visitors

                                     Going over some of the birds.

                                                 One of Chuck’s favorites

                                        Looking into the old records

                                      Partial interior view of the loft

[In the next couple of days be on the look-out for our Chuck Hatcher video detailing invaluable conversations and beautiful birds.]

Our hobby is more popular now than ever before with fanciers popping up all over the globe. While this reality creates many opportunities it also creates problems. In the past these problems came in the form of show versus performing rollers; Pensom’s versus Non-Pensom’s; kit competition versus individual competition, and the list goes on and on. Miraculously, we are still dealing with the same or similar subject matter today.

The current debate that rages now is if birds today are better than those of decades past. On one side you have those that say “we have surpassed” the best birds of yester-year; that if matched up equally breeders today would fly birds of greater substance than the early Pensom’s, Smith’s and other notables. Some have even went as far as saying, “we have evolved” past the ideal standard.  They go on to say that some fanciers are still simply chasing the mystical lure of Pensom folklore.

On the other hand we have the true “Pensom purist” that say until someone emerges with kits of rollers that show the donut throughout we have simply not progressed far enough. That they have yet to witness the return of the “messiah,” not to be confused with the master. LOL

These two camps have fueled energy and conversation that can only help our hobby. Together, both sides, without much thought, have reached a place of consensus. That the show roller has no real place in our quest to produce and fly better rollers. Don’t get me wrong, there are still a few issues regarding shows and show standards; however, at the end of the day it is all about the performing roller.

I say in short, this is a fine place to be.

–PW