Los Angeles Roller Club

Passing of Long Time Rollerman Eddie Flowers

larclub — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 01:57:08 +0000

I was informed November 5th that Eddie Flowers, usually called “Eddie O” has left us. He was on his way to go hunting in Colorado and contracted health problems which led to his death.

Eddie was a Los Angeles rollerman who was a member of the BCRC for many years. He will be missed by many.

Slo Mo Rollers

larclub — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 00:41:43 +0000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vysd0gig4DA&feature=youtu.be

My first attempt at shooting video of rollers. My next one will have better shots of good roll…. I promise..!!

Paul

Newcastle Disease Outbreak!

larclub — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 18:51:17 +0000

Feb. 18, 2011

Mexico has recently reported a case of Exotic Newcastle Disease (END). END is spread primarily through direct contact between healthy birds and the bodily discharges of infected birds. The disease is transmitted through infected birds’ droppings and secretions from the nose, mouth, and eyes. It spreads rapidly among birds kept in confinement and can result in very high rates of mortality.

The report may be found at http://web.oie.int/wahis/public.php?pag … rtid=10244.

The outbreak started on 26 January at a broiler farm in Tijuana, Baja California. Around half of the 21,000-bird flock died and the rest have been destroyed or slaughtered. The farm had birds of different ages. Quarantine has been applied, along with other measures to control the disease are implemented by federal and State authorities in coordination with farmers.

The first widespread outbreak of Newcastle Disease occurred in the United States in southern California. In 1972, infected birds in an exotic aviary spread the infection to chickens on neighboring farms. Before it was over, millions of chickens either died or were euthanized in a successful attempt to control further spread.

This is the first case of clinical Newcastle disease in Mexico since 1982.

As END has been endemic (native to or prevalent) in Mexico, this finding is a good reminder that foreign animal diseases such as END or Avian Influenza may be introduced into California at any time.

There is no cure for this disease, but birds can be vaccinated to prevent it.

Paramyxovirus 1 or Newcastle Disease is a highly contagious viral disease affecting poultry of all ages. Affected species include chickens, turkeys, pigeons and ducks. The condition is rarely diagnosed in ducks but is a possible cause of production drops/fertility problems. Other species can be infected including mammals occasionally (e.g. conjunctivitis in man).

Signs

Signs are highly variable and will depend on the nature of the infecting virus , the infective dose and the degree of immunity from previous exposure or vaccination.

Sudden Death
Depression.
Inappetance.
Coughing.
Dyspnoea.
Diarrhea.
Nervous signs.
Paralysis.
Twisted neck.
Moult.

For directions on using the Lasota Strain vaccine, go to: http://www.drugs.com/vet/newcastle-disease-vaccine-lasota-strain.html

It would be wise at this time to keep a close eye on the situation.

AVIAN DISEASE PREVENTION

1. Keep your birds in dry, well ventilated caging, but out of drafts.

2. Provide birds with a nutritious diet including minerals and grit.

3. Keep water fresh and clean.

4. Do not let birds mingle with wild birds.

5. Practice rodent control. They can carry disease.

6. Do not allow birds to eat food that has become fouled with feces.

7. Isolate new birds or returnees until you are sure they are healthy. It is best to isolate birds that have been taken to shows or other events where they are mingled with other birds.

8. Wash your hands and clean your shoes after attending shows or visiting others lofts before handling your own birds or entering your own bird house.

9. Be aware of any signs of sickness among your birds or those of other’s you have visited. Immediately seperate sick birds from your flock.

RIP Norio Satanaga

larclub — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 23:03:22 +0000

Long time roller breeder, Norio Satanaga, made his transition last wednesday at his home in Los Angeles. He had raised rollers most of his life, and had them at the end. Norio always strived for quality, and at one time owned the well known son of 145, #990, which he acquired from Cornell Norwood who had used him as the foundation of his loft. Our neighborhood won’t be the same without him..

Services will be held at Rose Hills Cemetery, Dec. 29th at 1:00.

Gomez Rollers–History and Pictures

larclub — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 03:37:38 +0000

Gomez Strain of Rollers–Pictures

Black and White Foundation Hen

My Balck and White Foundation hen was the grandaughter of my Old Spangle Cock. I didn;t fly her for the first two years, but flew her until she was 14 years old. She lived 18 years.

The Old Spangle Cock

The Old Spangle Cock showed me what a roller was capable of. A slow developer, he began rolling at one year, then developed into a solid 25 foot spinner which rolled in perfect form showing a clean hole. This bird was stolen seven times and returned.

Family Tree of the Gomez Strain

I developed this tree in an effort to more easily see what I had been doing in my breeding. I have found it to be a valuable tool for me, and It has helped others to understand my family of rollers.

76 CRS #2705 Thunder

Thunder was produced from a large but active rolling cock and a hen that rolled “the distance” from what ever height she began. My idea was to acquire the style in a safe stable offspring. Six of the eight produced by the pair rolled down, but this bird spun right and was stable. He was one of the main early contributers to my family.

77 CRS #90 Miracle

Miracle was tha half sister to Thunder, both produced from the large, “Big Daddy”, a blue checker bronze wing produced from an Odie Wright cock bred to a Jerry Higgins Hen. She was the daighter of my foundation hen, and rolled fairly deep, up to about 40 feet. She had a beautiful gravel eye full of texture with a strong inner “circle of correlation”. I bred her to Thunder for about three years. The occasional recessive reds produced by them were always hot rollers as well as good producers. The dark checkers were also good, but were less frequent.

79 JCRC #62

62 was my favorite recessive red bred from Miracle and Thunder. She was extremely reliable and would roll over 40 feet at times. Day in and day out she would put on a show.

80 CRS #2059

A daughter of my foundation hen and one of Cornell Norwoods’ top stock cocks, #47. She did not roll until 14 months, but the first time I saw her roll she went at least 20 feet, hard and fast. I had planned to use her for years, but lost her.

83 Gomez #131

I called this hen the 2 Second Hen because she rolled every 2 to 10 seconds. She was probably the most active bird I have ever had the pleasure of flying. She also had the stamina to go along with it, and was a good producer as well.

Original 119 Muff Pair

This was the start of my muff roller project. This sister and brother were my first muffs. They were closely bred birds 3 generations (”great grand children”) of Pensom’s 119 cock.. each having that 3 times on their pedigree.

: 78 Gomez Purple Band #96

This hen was exceedingly fast. She spun blood in her eyes, but only once. I bred great hens from these birds, but never produced a cock that I felt was of value to breed. My refusal to cross them into my main family led to their near extinction in my loft.

88 Gomez #412

412 was one of my best producers ever. I stocked her unflown. On the ground she had all the quality I could ask for. Great body, temperment and densly textured eye,

Quite a bit of roller evolution had taken place before I produced this hen. Unfortunately I didn’t focus the camera on my birds. Most of my photography involved my children. My last two crosses led to this hen. The first was a champion producer, 80 NBRC #234 from Ron Dent. The other was the heavily muffed hen, 81 NPA KN #355, an outstanding roller that I called Showtime.

91 Gomez #695

This was one of the offspring of 412. A bird having extreme velocity that would appear to shrink as it approached it’s maximum speed. A half sister, #591 virtually a look-alike except for having orange eyes, rolled much the same, but was possibly my best producer ever.

90 Gomez #640

640 was a fantastic roller and was great in the stock loft. His type was about as close to Ideal as any roller I ahve ever had.

94 NBRC GG 683

A reintroduction of the 119 muff family blood produced this bird and his full brother, which were the foundation of my current muff substrain. This bird spun with blur speed, showing a small hole and with tips touching.

92 IPB #306

This son of 591 stands out in my memory as one of the birds having the most beautiful, smooth style of roll that I have ever seen.

08 Gomez #1993

This hen began spinning at blur speed with excellent style and very frequent, at only 4 months . Due to the frequency of hawk attacks I was hesitant about flying her further, then, when the falcon appeared, it made my decision.

Quotes from Bill Pensom

larclub — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 01:06:43 +0000

On The Standard

The difference between any other breed and the Birmingham Roller is that other breeds have a standard to which the respective fanciers cultivate their stock, and until such is attained, they value their stock accordingly, whilst those of us who breed Birmingham Rollers avoid our standard.

There cannot be any excuse by those of many years’ experience in saying that there is not a standard, or that they do not know of its existence. If everyone were to keep in mind this all-important fact, then as pigeon fanciers we could claim, on equal terms with all others, a breed to be honored as one of the most unique creations in existence.

From Bill Pensom, 1934, American Pigeon Keeper

What A Birmingham Roller Is

A Birmingham roller is not necessarily one that is deep to the extreme, but one that displays in its performance a likeness to a cricket ball spinning to earth in a straight line; the old saying put it, “Like a ball and straight as a boat line.” The bird on starting generally raises its wings, claps, spreads its tail slightly downward, and finishes in a similar manner; any deviation from a straight course cannot be classified as a true roll. The true roller shows no separate movement between each revolution, but continues in an unbroken spin; incidentally, such phrases as “inconceivable rapidity” and “lightning whirl” refer to the rapid manner in which each somersault is executed, and not, as one might suppose, to the descent from the start of the roll until the finish.

A fair impression of true rolling is obtained by rotating the forefinger in small circles, closely together, downwards; or better still, in similar style to the action of an unwinding yo yo. A rolling pigeon can only be so termed from its display in flight and if each movement is discernable then that bird can only be styled a “tumbler” until perfection is obtained. On the other hand, should the performance be continuous but lacking on speed and tightness, the bird could be called a “Roller” but an imperfect one. Such birds as the latter are capable of turning any distance of from fifteen yards up whilst a true (Birmingham) roller very seldom spins deeper than fifteen yards, neither will it twizzle.

From Acrobats of the Air 1941

Pensom On Expression

Probably the most important discovery in the pigeon’s makeup is its expression. To explain expression, however, is something I believe to be impossible; it simply depends upon the fancier; he either has the aptitude to discern this feature, or he has not. Every roller differs slightly in its expression, but a fancier who has given some study to this soon acquires the knack of picking out the best birds no matter where he sees them.

I should liken the expression in the best of rollers to that which we find in an honest person. A person’s expression is supposed to be the best recommendation of his character, and while there may be some exceptions to this, we can safely and confidently compare our pigeons with the knowledge we have of the people we meet.

It will be noticed among Racing Homer fanciers that some men are consistently successful in pooling their birds; and I believe their art in selecting the right ones rests on the knowledge they have of their pigeons’ character and temperament which they have gained either consciously or unconsciously by their aptitude to read the intelligence of their pigeons which to them is so pronounced in the expression.

So it is with the Roller. Although it may seem contrary to expect a high outward-looking grade of intelligence in a Roller, bearing in mind what has already been said, nevertheless such is the case, for I find among them a decided look of intelligence that is missing among the nondescripts. In view of this, then, it is somewhat easy to decide on the value of any pigeon just by looking at it, whether in the flesh or in picture. The quality of the Roller definitely shows itself in the expression, and I thoroughly recommend my readers to give their ardent consideration to this feature and when same is mastered the knowledge will soon put them in the top rank among Roller men.

From the old Pensom Roller Club Book…1946

“I Never Discard”

I never discard any bird that can roll in the correct manner, whatever faults he may have, but here I would not advise fanciers to mate together birds having the same faults

From Pigeons of England ca. 1945

Experience Teaches…

Long experience teaches certain indisutable facts about breeding Rollers which the breeder knows would greatly benefit the younger fancier to a point where the latter could very well achieve the best results long before he would do otherwise. He also knows that much of what he may try to teach is but a wasted effort because the younger fancier generally thinks he knows better. This is a natural enough condition for everyone since we all go through it, and this is why the younger fraternity contests those opinions which they cannot readily understand as being out of date and that things have to change with the times….

From Pigeons and Pigeon World March 1959

These quotes have been taken from The Collected Writings of William Hyla Pensom, edited by Thomas L. Monson, 1988

Peregrine Falcon Range Map

larclub — Sat, 09 Oct 2010 21:55:00 +0000

Coopers Hawks.. Interesting stuff..

larclub — Sat, 09 Oct 2010 21:36:29 +0000

I was reading from a 1937 article on Coopers Hawks… It is a long article so I’ll just post some of the things I found most interesting…

If the sharp-shinned hawk is a blood-thirsty villain, this larger edition of feathered ferocity is a worse villain, for its greater size and strength enable it to do more damage. Furthermore, it is much more widely common during the breeding season, being one of our commonest hawks in nearly all parts of the United States. It is essentially the chicken hawk, so cordially hated by poultry farmers, and is the principal cause of the widespread antipathy toward hawks in general.

I have always considered this and the sharp-shinned hawk as competitive species, each intolerant of the other. I have frequently found one of these Accipiters nesting in the same tract of woods with one of the Buteos, but I have never found the two species of Accipiter nesting in the same tract; and several times I have known cooperi to replace velox in a tract where the latter had repeatedly nested.

If a set of eggs is taken from a nest the hawk will lay a second set, about ten days or two weeks later, sometimes in the same nest, but oftener in another nest hastily repaired. C. J. Pennock tells me that, after taking four eggs from a nest on April 26, he took two more on May 5 and two additional eggs on May 11, all from the same nest. If either one of a pair is shot during the nesting season, the survivor usually secures a new mate quite promptly. J. Eugene Law (1919) mentions the following incident, related by Maj. Allan Brooks: “A female Cooper Hawk had been shot from her nest of eggs. Some days later another female, in adult plumage, was found incubating the same eggs, and was likewise shot. What was his surprise later was to find a third female occupying the nest, this time a bird in the streaked plumage of a sub-adult. And as a matter of curiosity she was allowed to, and did, raise the brood.”

Eggs.–Four or five eggs form the usual set for Cooper’s hawk; sometimes only three are laid; I have taken one set of six and heard of two or three others. Just half of the sets recorded in my notes have been of four, and one-quarter of them of five. They are deposited at intervals of one or two days.

Food.–Cooper’s hawk does more damage in the poultry yard than all other hawks put together. It is very destructive to domestic pigeons, of which it is very fond, and if not killed, will soon clean out a colony. It soon learns also where it can find an convenient supply of half-grown chickens or young ducks, to which it makes frequent visits, until its career is ended. It is not easily killed, however, as it is usually crafty enough and quick enough to avoid the farmer’s gun.

This is from http://birdsbybent.com/ch1-10/coopers.html

Paul Gomez

Saluting Bobby Wilson and the QSDC Family

larclub — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 01:03:11 +0000

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=6301984n&tag=api

[clink link to view CBS news coverage]

The LARC would like to congratulate Bobby Wilson and the QSDC Family for all it has done for the roller hobby. The CBS interview must be seen through the lens of hard work, perseverance, and a love of community, family, and of course rollers. In the experience of many who keep roller’s first chances are rare; second chances are fleeting; and, third chances are unheard of. However, in the case of Bobby, Goodie and the QSDC, they have made “lemonade out of lemons” and watch out world because they are on the way.

Again, the LARC salutes you and simply know that we got your back!

Fly, Die, or get out of the way.

–pw

ICRC Lawn Show: Saturday, September 26, 2009

larclub — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 01:46:07 +0000

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!