El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-04-29

~ PREPARATIONS are now being
made by the various clubs which
constitute the National Associa-
ton OF Heming Pigeon Fanciers for
the opening of the pigeon racing sea-
son. The honor of holding the first
event Of the year will fall to a club in
Chester, Pa. which today releases its
birds at LAndover. Nd, for 100 mile
flight back to Chester. The seventh
OF May will see the season in full
blast for on that day dozens of clubs
will hold their first spring race for
old birds. The fanciers are now en-
gagged in dieting their birds and exer-
cfsing them with as much care as a
horseman prepares his racer for the
track. The birds are given practice
flights from time to time. so when a
racing season opens they are so strong
of wing and so short of superfluous
flesh that they can negotiate 100 miles
in express train time
To Fly 100 Miles.
The usual spring races are for 100
miles. This distance is gradually in
creased as the birds round out in con-
dition, until 500 miles is the length of
the course Frequently this is in
creased to 500. and sometimes even be-
yond that. The races in the spring
the late summer the young birds are
put into the field. and usually acquit
themselves well for recruits. Their
flying distances are gradually inereas-
ed until they are in shape TO negotiate
500 miles
One of the things the pigeon niers
need is more substantial encourage
ment in the way Of prizes for their big
contests. They point out that for
every other. kind Of sport there are
rewards large enough to stimulate it,
but that pigeon flying, one of the most
attractive of all sports, must be con-
tented with a few meager prizes It is
different in England. There even roy
atty sends the representatives of it's
eotes TO the great English pigeon der
by, the Mates race The late king Ed
ward and queen Alexandra took deep
interest in homing pigeons and their
entries in the Mates races were among
the best birds contesting. Frequently
500, 900 worth Of birds have been lib
Grated in this race.
Many Love the Sport.
There are several thousand devotees
of the sport in the United States. and
someone has estimated the number of
trained pigeons at 100 900. There are
2S. coo registered with the national as
ISOLATION. Last year one pigeon, Red
Lady. owned by a Norristown- Pa.
fancier, was able to make a full 500
miles in single day, and was the
only bird accomplishing that distance
on the same day liberated.
The flyers association keeps an off
cial surveyor who is authority in all
matters of distance and has a score
tary who keeps the records Of the pig
cons entering contests. The associa-
tioa furnishes official timing instru-
ments at nominal cost and provides
methods whereby every record may be
attested to become official
Sometimes fancier attempts to fake
a record. but he does not fare well
when exposed. Not long ago fancier
entered a certain bird in a race and
claimed that IT returned at a certain
time Affidavits were made showing
that the bird in question had never
even started which resulted in loss
of standing Of the man with the assoc
citation.
Liberating Stations.
Certain places are used as iberating
stations At these points live certain
men who are designated as official lib
orators. The fanciers express the pig
cons to them a short while in advance
and the birds are given time TO remove
the travel stains and, get in trim Tor
their flight At the appointed hour
they are liberated They soar into the
air. circle around several times, and
then dart off for home. perhaps more
than 500 miles away, with an aim as
unerring as that Of crack shot.
Men have marveled at the homing
instinct of the homing pigeon. Others
of the dozens of varieties of pigeons
have no more sense of direction than
a blindfolded person But the homer.
carried 1000 miles in a dark basket.
or in an express car which changes