Got First Race Results

I didn't do as badly as I thought. My first birds got 29, 30 & 31 then I got 38, 42 & 44 and I gave up not knowing how well I was doing. My first 3 birds beat 2/3rds of the pack and the others followed close behind. The hawk activity might've caused my delay - or, I didn't work the break point enough - not sure - but I was really pleased that 11 of the 12 A Race birds basically all came in together! I didn't clock the last 5 (loft manager did) but if they had been clocked electronically, all of my birds would've made the first page. That's pretty good in my book. Plus, I know I wore them out on Wednesday and then hit them with meds Thursday (because they were out so long and looked like they drank from suspicious sources). So I know they weren't 100%. We'll skip this weekends repeat of the 115 mile (Dove Season Opening Weekend) and I'll get some fat on them (and some road training) before the 165 mile - when they will have 5 new members (the late hatches).

Also, I started the season with 22 young birds and after training out to 64 miles 3 times, I still had all 22! I dropped 1 on that final training drop from 86 miles (375) and then I dropped another on this race (388). Weird thing is - they were both blue checks - not the "colors". (Okay, they were pied).

Getting the 5 Reserve Birds Up to Speed

They're doing nicely. I will send them out with the rest from 24 miles Wednesday. After that, hope to get them up to the 50 mile drop before Dove Season. I'm not flying Labor Day Weekend so between dove season and their first race (165 miles) I should be able to get them out a bit further at least once. Whew! I'm sure glad gas is not $4.28/gallon like it was last year at this time.

Tonight we load the results into the computer it see how badly I did. With only 5 lofts (down from 12 lofts 3 years ago) I am by far the least experienced loft. Plus, I didn't expect my experiment to breed only "colors that can race" to bear fruit this year.

Meh.

My "pick birds" both came in first on the drop (along with Lemon). They were followed closely by Chocolate and Chicago Snow and then Dopey! However, by this time the other 4 lofts had gotten more than a dozen in and beat me by 10 minutes at last. Grr! I wonder if the hawk activity delayed them? I was relieved to see 382 back! I was worried about him. Not real fast, but he made it! I still have one straggler out. I think it's one of the reds.

Race Day Eve

I managed to get the 5 in reserve out to 6 miles twice today. Tomorrow they will go 12 twice and then Monday I will have them across the river! But, today we boxed for the 115 mile race from Pleasant View, TN. I had 12 in the A race and sent the 4 unbanded on the B race. Here's a pic of 382 looking at me. Good luck 382 and the rest!

Race Postponed 1 Day

The Race Secretary just called and said the race is postponed 1 day due to weather. Yeah, it had looked iffy but I thought it cleared up. Better safe than sorry!.

Boxing up birds for 115 mile race tonight

The weather is supposed to be bad tonight, but clear tomorrow. I guess I'll have 16 birds to ship - 12 on the A race and the 4 unbanded for the B race. I still have the 5 reserve birds I need to get trained out before the 165 mile race in 3 weeks. I'll get them out 6 miles twice this weekend and to 12 miles by the start of next week and then be cross the river with them before Labor day weekend and the beginning of dove season (I'm not flying next week due to dove season). I can't wait to see who shows up first tomorrow!

Final Exam

What a nail biter! I haven't dropped a bird or even had a straggler up to now. Today was clear, kind of hot, and, as I found out after I released, there was NO wind. "No wind is hard on them" I was told by my mentor. They need a bit of a cross wind for lift. They have to work extra hard when there's no wind. So, today's 86 mile drop is especially tough. This is the drop that reminds me I need to get baskets that I can water them in. They didn't look hot and they had plenty of time to get water before the 2 hour drive. This was a good test. The first race is 115 miles and the rest of the week looks "iffy" for training.

P.S. Man! It must've been MUCH tougher than I thought. Good grief! They took 3 and a half hours to go 86 miles. That's the first time they've ever been late.