As I dive deeper into the world of pigeon owning, I can't help but consider my future in the hobby. While I have a small flock of pets now, I admit that the lure of racing is there, and may be something I work up to sooner or later. It has been the topic of several late night conversations in my household.
I am wondering about the disadvantage of my location, particularly where racing is concerned.
I live in the finger lakes region of New York state, to be more precise, directly on the 10 to 15 mile wide strip of land between Seneca and Cayuga lakes, the two largest of the finger lakes.
Each lake stretches 20 miles north, and 20 miles south, give or take a few miles.
Cayuga lake is slightly wider than Seneca, averaging just under 2 miles wide, and 3.5 miles wide at its' widest point. Seneca is slightly slimmer, being about 3 miles wide at it's widest point. On most days the other side of the lake is quite visible from any point, barring rain or fog.
How likely is it that, if I should get my hands into racing, that I would be put at a disadvantage due to my inter-lake location? Would quality birds with high drive choose to fly the few miles across the water, or might my birds instead choose to fly the extra 40 miles around to fly over land?
If in the case some choose to fly across , while others choose to go around perhaps this could make for a very interesting breeding experiment. It would be quite easy to use a boat to do training tosses on the opposite sides of the lakes and sort out the bold from the timid. Would it be possible to begin breeding for the boldness to cross these bodies of water? Or would genetics have little to do with my predicament?
I would just like to know everyone's thoughts on this. Unusual questions, for an unusual geographic location. But it's been in the back of my head for awhile now, and with no experience of my own to draw upon I ask for the benefit of yours. Thanks guys, any thoughts appreciated!
I am wondering about the disadvantage of my location, particularly where racing is concerned.
I live in the finger lakes region of New York state, to be more precise, directly on the 10 to 15 mile wide strip of land between Seneca and Cayuga lakes, the two largest of the finger lakes.
Each lake stretches 20 miles north, and 20 miles south, give or take a few miles.
Cayuga lake is slightly wider than Seneca, averaging just under 2 miles wide, and 3.5 miles wide at its' widest point. Seneca is slightly slimmer, being about 3 miles wide at it's widest point. On most days the other side of the lake is quite visible from any point, barring rain or fog.
How likely is it that, if I should get my hands into racing, that I would be put at a disadvantage due to my inter-lake location? Would quality birds with high drive choose to fly the few miles across the water, or might my birds instead choose to fly the extra 40 miles around to fly over land?
If in the case some choose to fly across , while others choose to go around perhaps this could make for a very interesting breeding experiment. It would be quite easy to use a boat to do training tosses on the opposite sides of the lakes and sort out the bold from the timid. Would it be possible to begin breeding for the boldness to cross these bodies of water? Or would genetics have little to do with my predicament?
I would just like to know everyone's thoughts on this. Unusual questions, for an unusual geographic location. But it's been in the back of my head for awhile now, and with no experience of my own to draw upon I ask for the benefit of yours. Thanks guys, any thoughts appreciated!