[Plugging Away]
(Internet Published) Sept 2000
A really nice morning at 7AM with a west breeze. My intended fly, about 8AM
will be difficult to observe. My kit of 55 will range down wind and right
into the bright glare of the sun. I have to sit with a lollipop board to
screen the direct glare and dark sunglasses are essential. It is not
pleasant to endure such observation. If the kit operates directly overhead
then I have a mirror on my knees as I sit and this is easy on the eyes but
when there is a breeze my birds never come directly overhead. They always
tour down wind, zig zag pattern combined with wider sweeps to head into the
breeze. Of course, this may give terrific purchase and cause the kit to lift
to a ridiculous altitude. Fifty-five specks 1/32" in size up against a blue
sky are not easy to see, let alone observe for mass performing.
The overcast stratus cloud days or days of 50% white cloud are a boon for
observation. We get a lot of those days in England. The grass is still very
very wet with dew and will be till 10AM so I'll have to use rubber boots
mid-calf length and I hate using such boots. How am I going to run if chased
by some crazy woman down there? :-( The grass has gone crazy and the entire
valley is green and terribly overgrown. Visitors to England always remark,
how green it is, even in mid summer.
In Italy it gets so dry and parched and brown. I'll put a bath down after
the fly for the pigeons (not for me :-) I had my bath Xmas.) Ok, I'll be
away soon to Belong-a-Jack. 60 deg F already so no coat.
Forecast is Maximum 72 deg F. Humidity is less than it was last week. I
don't like "still" humidity and neither do my birds.
-----
Well! the morning fly wasn't all that bad. 50% Cumulus had developed by 8:15
AM. No excessive altitude 1/16" size at most total time 1 Hr-20 min.
Performance rate "average", kitting perfect. Quite a pleasant visit...
Feathers are falling now and if retained my 55 "plugs" for a week I'd have a
feather bed factory. No doubt--daily exercise does retard the moult
somewhat. It will be December before all of these here plugs of mine are all
through. In passing, I will mention that this year I've fed my 4 pairs of
breeders and all 15 subsequent squabs on 100% brown peas.
With just my usual sand , lime, and salt issue. I must tell you, without any
question of doubt, that my 2000 year issue of 15 squeakers is definitely
better feathered, boned and fleshed out than ever known before. Furthermore,
behaviour, kitting, performance, is well up to my standard. To maintain a
kit of 60 or at least 50, I'll need to produce 10 young birds each year.
Losses do not occur and sickness, virtually unknown. So I must be extremely
lucky or doing something right. The daily clean out certainly helps and
plenty of loft space and perches. A stress free loft is a fact. These
dungeon lofts and roller cages are a disgrace. They bring the pigeon fancy
down into the gutter.