World-wide, the vast majority of man fly pigeons for their own pleasure and
with no ambitions about trying to win anything or to be anybody. I refer to
all men who keep and fly "non-racing" pigeons.
Tipplers, Rollers and a few breeds of flying Tumblers stem from a common
ancestry. Tipplers are cultivated Tumblers selectively bred for marathon
time flying and the acrobatic syndrome has been excluded from modern
Tipplers.
Sheffield, England was the no.1 spot for Tipplers right from the early days
in the 1800's, when the original stock arrived from Asia. Great interest was
taken in these high flying pigeons, by men who were (be present day
standards) pathetically poor.
Men are incorrigible dabblers. Explorers, adventurers, often messing about
with things that they know nothing about. So called, modern civilisation
provides men with rather an easy life, which is not only about survival.
Modern man desperately needs some form of displacement activity, which has
nothing to do with survival.
Sam Billingham, a legend in his lifetime, was known for his Blues and
Blacks. As from the 1930's his birds were introduced into the breeding stock
of several other Sheffield men and became part of the so-called Sheffield
type of Tipplers. On occasions however, Sam flew a few experimental
specimens of other colours.
Is character related to colour? I've listened to debates on this issue.
In my time, I have known men who opted for just one colour or, one colour
related type. Tipplers, Rollers, and Flying Tumblers do better when they are
of uniform character.
We all know about the trick, which is supposed to keep a donkey moving
along. By dangling a carrot, suspended by a stick and a length of string
just out of reach of the donkey a man may hope to keep the poor animal
moving along all day.
Cattle drovers would not tolerate awkward specimens which had the habit of
trying to leave the herd on long drives. Such nuisances as these were killed
and used as meat for the drovers or given to hostile Indians in return for
free passage over their territory.
Many years ago, a famous aero dynamical engineer proclaimed that the common
Bumble Bee should not really be able to fly due to its small wings and large
body. Nevertheless, the Bumblebee does not know this and flies very well.
I extend my old gnarled, calloused hand to any man who finds pleasure in
seeing his own pigeons flying up there in the sky with no ideas about
winning anything, gaining any fame, or glory. For I do declare that any man
who does not appreciate the exercises of his own birds just for his own
pleasure, would be better off doing something else.
