The value of debate
(Internet Published) August 2002
Serious and constructive debate is scarce within the general pigeon fancy,
but in recent months I have had the pleasure initiated when our learned
friend Michael Beat sent a video-tape to me; It was made by Mr Nash Milic of
Las Vegas, Nevada. It presented footage of his Tipplers and Droppers in
action.
One thing which is obvious is the dedication of Nash. Well! I had to write
and acknowledge this - in the past Nash and I had a difference of opinion
when he said that he placed his trainee Tipplers on starvation rations. I
have always said that when young pigeons are on starvation rations, they
become what I call Blind hungry, debilitated and incapable of learning
anything. The brain does not function very well, their reflexes are
inhibited. The theory is that in this state these young trainees cannot fly
wildly for sheer exuberance and get themselves lost. Young pigeons are
notoriously stupid if they are unrestricted.
Well, doesn't that rule apply to all young things, including kids? There is
a very reasonable side to the methods advocated by Nash. In a letter from
Nash to me he pointed out that sometimes it was necessary to be cruel in
order to be kind. He mentions in effect that a lost pigeon will die a
miserable death of complete starvation and that we must avoid that at all
costs and that he loses far fewer pigeons on his system.
Well, I must concede that point! Nash is right. Furthermore he says that he
only applies these severe tactics for the first few training exercises. I am
glad that he told me that because he didn't mention this in our original
encounter a couple of years ago.
He seems to have solved a serious problem but now he has another. Peregrine
falcons are attacking his Tipplers and he cannot compete. These pests along
with certain hawks have easy prey when they attack tired, weak, young and
debilitated birds. I find that when we solve one problem we create another.
There is no complete and legal answer to the Falcon and the Hawk problem.
These pests do not have to kill or injure Tipplers, Rollers, Tumblers, etc.
Their very presence or unsuccessful attacks will completely ruin a flying
style that is essential to the best results. A few years ago, just a few
unsuccessful falcon attacks upset my kit of Tumblers so badly that they were
quite useless for about a week, even though the falcon had disappeared. Many
men have had to give up pigeons because of Falcons and Hawks.