Night time homing experiment

2744 Views 21 Replies 14 Participants Last post by cutter, May 3, 2009

RodSD

Discussion Starter · Apr 20, 2009

Here is an interesting article about homing pigeons trained to fly at night by the Army during the war:http://books.google.com/books?id=hNkDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA248&dq=homing+pigeons&lr=&as_brr=1#PPA251,M1

It starts on page 248. What I find interesting in this article is the claim that pigeons can fly faster at night and that they can resettle a bird in 24 hours miles away using their mobile loft.

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conditionfreak

· #2 · Apr 20, 2009

Yea. I read that many years ago. Facinating. Wouldn't it be cool to have some night flyers for those over 500 mile races.

The military is always a step ahead of private citizens in any endeavor. Whether it is dog training, pigeon traiing, dolphin training or building a better airplane. I saw a documentary about the military training dolphins to carry and attach bombs to the underbellies of enemy ships.

Unlimited funds and 24/7 workers make the difference.

I read that the military scientist or inventors, are usually 20 years ahead of civilian scientists and inventors. In those areas that the military is interested in. Of course they are not out there making better hoola hoops, but they are making better communications devices and disease control aparatus, and the like.

g0ldenb0y55

· #3 · Apr 20, 2009

Interesting read! Thanks for sharing Rod.

ace in the hole

· #4 · Apr 20, 2009

RodSD said:
What I find interesting in this article is the claim that pigeons can fly faster at night.

I know back then they did not have GPS. I would venture to guess the birds fly home faster at night because they take a straighter line home. I would like to see a GPS study of this done now.

Ace

della

· #5 · Apr 20, 2009

Wow, great reading, Rod!

Big T

· #6 · Apr 21, 2009

Great read!!! I got no plans for night flying, I need my beauty sleep. Lot and lots of it.

RodSD

Discussion Starter · #7 · Apr 21, 2009 (Edited)

Before I got my birds, I used the military way of settling birds. I was able to rehome young birds in 6 days. But because of paranoia I ended up taking the whole 3 weeks with my other birds instead. Most of the birds I got I ended up resettling in about 1 month. Here is the article I use: http://www.history.navy.mil/library/special/homing_pigeons.htm

Enjoy the reading again. I've tested those navy claims on rehoming/resettling and it does work, but you have to make sure that there is no hawk or sudden sounds that scares the bird. I have used those training in pure homers and mix and they respond equally as well. I only add the resettling cage for 3 days.

There is a warning I have to add in that in my experiments, cocks usually don't like to be resettled. Hens are easier. Cocks like to go back "home." It seems that cocks have more attachment to "home." The birds I used ranged from 4 weeks old to 2 years old. With respect to age it doesn't seem to matter much if they just took off and be gone. The goal it seems is to prevent the birds from flying high and far--to keep them in view of the loft instead.

My reckless experiment involved one bird that my friend gave to me one Thursday afternoon and I released it Sunday afternoon. The bird was probably around 6 months old. This bird seemed to be an exception because it was smart. It went to the aviary the first day and stayed there for many hours. I also was able to hand fed the next day and trusted me already. The first time I released it, it took to the roof, but I was able to call it right away with food whistle. I wont do that again.

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fresnobirdman

· #8 · Apr 21, 2009

very interesting,
thanks for the post.

RodSD

Discussion Starter · #9 · Apr 21, 2009

conditionfreak,

I have read that some racers train their birds to fly at night with those extreme long distance race. That is their advantage. I believe these are the Belgians and the Netherlands people who races extreme distance. I don't remember the articles, but they sure won the competition!

I tried training my birds to fly at sunset or almost night time and my birds seem to bump on things so I ain't experimenting on that one again. If you can't see them, they can't see you. LOL! They won't enter the dark loft door because obviously it looks like a cave. I decided to do this experiment when I had hawk problem. None of my birds are good for night flying. But I've heard that tipplers in competition do it as part of their training.

conditionfreak

· #10 · Apr 21, 2009

Years ago, I had a pigeon come home from a race in the dark, and sit in a tree near the loft, until morning. It was only a three hundred mile race but the bird came home late anyway.

It shows that you are right about them not wanting to enter into a dark loft. It made me install a light in my loft but I never had to actually use it. I never had a light in my lofts prior to that, and do not have them again at my new home. I guess many do.

I wonder if it causes problems with pigeons if one does have loft lights? Birds tend to breed due to the length of daylight hours, and leaving a loft light on intentionally or accidentially, could cause them to become confused about when it is time to breed. I would assume.

Breeding parrots as I do, it is common knowledge that the length of daylight hours (the hours get longer as it gets closer to spring and summer) cause the mating desire to "kick in". I use lights on timers to induce my parrots to breed earlier in the year, than they would otherwise.

But, I digress.

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Birdman79

· #11 · Apr 21, 2009

If you want to train them to fly at night you train ybs only.You'd have to get them used to being outside in the dark.I had my ybs on the roof of the house while it was getting really dark.They're a mixture of homers,turkish ,and iraqi tumblers.Due to hawks that was the only time that i could take them out during the late winter early spring with rarely any attacks.I trained the homers to fly at sunset,then after sunset.They flew real fast,and they had no problems with hitting trees whatsoever.It also helps that my utilities are underground,as i assume the wires would be a problem at night.Plus i have lights outside the loft,so i'd have them eating outside of it at night.I stopped flying them that late cause our hawk attacks have decreased.A buddy of mine used to fly his homers at night overseas.He also used lights to guide them down to his loft.I am going to start flying at dark again once i get enough ybs.

RodSD

Discussion Starter · #12 · Apr 22, 2009

conditionfreak,

I think lights of the loft might mess up their molting process. It might end up like those lighting system technique--the lighting one, not the darkening system.

telstart12,
Thanks for the tip. My birds did hit branches and roof flying at night. Not a pretty sight. A loud "thud" is not a good sound. I think that experiment didn't last 1 week. I used to fly my birds at sunset, then when they want to go down, it is too late. It is already night time. I am not doing that again. But it was a good experience.

LUCKYT

· #13 · Apr 22, 2009

Rod, you have to have the Lights on for weeks at a Time, to mess with the Molt, NOT just while waiting for night Flying Birds to come in.
Unless you are Flying REAL long Distance Races, getting them Fliyng at Night is a Mute point.. Dave

RodSD

Discussion Starter · #14 · Apr 23, 2009

Dave,
I agree. I personally witness that when my neighbor turned on his backyard lights the whole night the whole year and my birds were mysteriously molting. When a new tenant came in and didn't turn on their backyard lights, my birds ended up doing fine now--normal molting process.

ND Cooper

· #15 · Apr 23, 2009 (Edited)

Telstar, That's Cool! :

Rod, What are you Doing?
Please Read, A Fancy For Pigeons.
It's a Book!
I Hate to say this,.... But did you ever consider,.... If You Were A Pigeon,...What would you do,... How would you fly?,...
I'm 50, and I can out fly you!
And I'll Bet, That 4 out of my 6 pigeons can out fly ALL of Yours, Day, or Night!!!
Sorry if I butted in on the MAD SCIENTIST THRED!!!
I Have OLD BIRDS, REALLY OLD BIRDS, ANCIENT PIGEONS!!!
What is PPC?
Up here It's Constant 50mpg Wind Sometimes, for Days!!

RodSD

Discussion Starter · #16 · Apr 24, 2009

ND Cooper,

I don't understand your question? Now if you are asking why I do things at my loft, then it is simple. I am testing all those claims that I read!

I am pretty sure your birds can out fly mine. It doesn't really matter to me because I am not into racing yet. I am basically educating myself with many aspect of pigeon knowledge and I try to tests whatever claim people make by doing some unscientific, backyard experiments.

When I start racing, yeah, I'll race you!

cutter

· #17 · May 1, 2009

Here in Australia we quiet often get pigeons to race and home after dark most pigeons winning races from 600mile time around 10pm till 2am now here is the key the
1 pigeons must be feed undre lights at 10pm
2 put the pigeons out and flood light the yard and get them to come in at 10pm to feed
3 chase pigeons up around ten min for first week to get them use to dark then increase the flying time ( yes you will have some that get hurt thats the price you must be prepaired to pay

4 when the birds are handleing working after dark toss the a couple at a time don the road then increase the distance

5 a good dark toss is no more than 30 min (yes you will lose some remember some pigeons must pay the price for every win

Crazy Pete

· #18 · May 2, 2009

My birds are poor, they can't afford to pay the price. So i guess i'll have to stick to the short races.
Dave

Hambone

· #19 · May 2, 2009 (Edited)

That IS interesting . I always thought pigeons couldn't see well enough in the dark to fly .

My birds are in the loft just before dusk and wont leave it for anything . Must be a fear thing more than actually not being able to see in the dark then .

hambone

Brummie

· #20 · May 2, 2009

cutter said:
Here in Australia we quiet often get pigeons to race and home after dark most pigeons winning races from 600mile time around 10pm till 2am now here is the key the
1 pigeons must be feed undre lights at 10pm
2 put the pigeons out and flood light the yard and get them to come in at 10pm to feed
3 chase pigeons up around ten min for first week to get them use to dark then increase the flying time ( yes you will have some that get hurt thats the price you must be prepaired to pay

4 when the birds are handleing working after dark toss the a couple at a time don the road then increase the distance

5 a good dark toss is no more than 30 min (yes you will lose some remember some pigeons must pay the price for every win

Bollack's!

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