June 30, 2010

Today we tossed from 2.5 miles to the west.
Birds took 45 minutes to get home, but it was a different direction, and probably should have delayed the toss, since the K-4 warning was still in effect.

But all's well, my smart birds are safely home.

One of the 2 missing squeakers is sitting here, trying to figure out how to get back in to the loft.
Love those first few releases with the babies...

June 29, 2010

Today I opened the aviary to let the squeakers of Blue team out for the first time.
There were 27, including the Hawaiian bird who was just a little too slow to keep up with Gold team.
They are still all over the yard and buildings.


Took Gold team back to Cass Middle for the third time. They finally beat me home :)

Babies from a week ago are HUGE! It is absolutely amazing how fast they grow.

I'm taking the eggs from the other pair in the breeding building, and giving them to my archangels to foster. Then the whites can lay more eggs. Should get a lot more babies this way.

edit: as of dark, all but 2 of the whites are back in.

June 28, 2010

Second drop at Cass Middle (2.5 miles)

Half an hour, still waiting...

Birds flew in all together, right at one hour after release.

June 27, 2010

WARNING: Geomagnetic K-index of 4 expected

Loft flew yellow team today.

A bird has taken over the squeakers, and the parents aren't willing to fight for them.
Noticed some whole corn in the crop.

June 26, 2010

Saturday :)

Today was the first toss from Cass Middle.
Took the birds 20 minutes to find their way home, but they did, and trapped just fine.

June 25, 2010

Redid the one mile north toss. All birds were home within 10 minutes.

Hubby got the breeder loft finished, and we moved the 7 pair over, including the one pair setting eggs (they were fine with it) and even the pair with the squeakers (also fine)

Then, as I went to check one last time, a bird perched right by the door took off past me.
Of course, one of my good females.
Hoping 2009 AU NA 1306 comes back at some point :(

June 24, 2010

Well, 2 days ago the 1 mile release went well, birds beat me home.

Today I went north (direction I expect most releases to come from) and let them fly.

All 12 flew off as a flock, heading in the right direction.

As I pulled off the small road I was on, I could already see the flock circling over what I thought was the loft.

Came down the driveway, and was surprised to not see my birds waiting.

After another 20 minutes, one bird came in. Seems a little dirtier than I remember, but other than that no problem.

He did circle for a while before coming in, seemed kind of flustered.

I'm wondering if a hawk scattered them over my loft? No sign of the others yet, it's been 45 minutes.

Whew! The other 11 just showed up, one hour after release.

I wonder if they came in, saw they were home, and decided it was still 'play time' so took off exploring?

And why was the one by itself?

The one that came in solo was very skittish, didn't want to land until I backed away, which is unusual.

It was one of the ones that stayed here when the 9 headed off a few weeks ago, and came back over a 2 week+ time frame.

June 22, 2010

I've been trying to do most of my outside stuff in the mornings, as well as tossing in the morning, or noon at the latest.

Although the birds have been loft flying in the afternoons as well, by their own choice.

Today was just over a mile, and the birds beat me home.

Tomorrow I guess we'll fly here, then on Thursday we'll pick another spot on the one mile circle.

I don't want to overwork them, but at the same time, I don't want them to get bored!

Plus, we have band camp in a few weeks, and I'll be VERY busy with my kids that week.

If I can let them loose from the school, it will be my best chance that week.

Plus, we are hoping to use the birds as part of the marching show for Saturday competitions, possibly early season games, if halftime is early enough.

Second baby hatched from Red 1 and Red 2 (unbanded pair with snap on numbered bands)

June 21, 2010

Today we went out to about 3/4 mile to the south-east.

Released the 12 on Shotgun Road.
All were home within 15 minutes, again coming in as a flock.

Can't wait to start training for distance!

Today is day 4 of the canker prevention meds in the water (for my reference)

EDIT: Went out to feed and water to find that our first baby pigeon has now hatched!

Lee, its from two of your unbanded birds, now wearing red snap-on bands with 1 and 2 on them.

Also an egg from 208 and 21184 .

Those two have been sitting together for a while, but when I went to feed and water, there was one sitting in the nest bowl, and when he got up to feed, I saw the egg.

Rod, still waiting for the ones from you to pair up. They are being stubborn, or they are protesting the lack of an aviary in their side.

Worst part is, we were hoping to work on the green shed, to move the breeders over, and now I won't want to move the pair with the egg, since with the change in location, they'll have to pick a nest and all all over again.

June 20, 2010

Today we tried the same spot, just over half a mile from the loft.
Released the birds, and they circled, then took off in the wrong direction.

We drove back to the house, and the birds weren't here.
But after just a couple minutes the flock arrived.

7 minutes from release until they circled the loft.
Not trapping quite as fast, but eh, it was a short flight, and they weren't done exercising.

June 19, 2010

Did today's training toss 1/2 mile to the east today.
First time I've beat them home...
15 minutes, I'm getting a little worried.

EDIT: birds showed up at 25 minute mark, all 12 still in a close flock.

June 18, 2010

Another release, just over half a mile. This time to the west.

Birds circled 5 times, then headed straight across the field and were circling the loft before we got there.

Also, got our first wedding booking! Very excited, as the bride wants 6 birds, one for bride and one for groom, then one in a basket for each of their 4 children.

June 17, 2010

The 12 birds from 'A team' beat me home today from a half mile toss! All 12 left the basket in a rush, circled 3 times, then headed straight home.
They were circling the loft before I got the truck in gear, and sitting on the loft waiting when I pulled in :)

June 14, 2010

Went out to check out the birds, there was one sitting on the aviary door. I didn't think much of it, except that I needed to be sure that I did a good count before shutting it next time.

Looked in, and everyone was looking bright eyed and wanting to be out.

I opened the aviary door, and out flew the birds, like we do every day. Then, as they flock and circle, I count, and notice there are 12 flying! How odd! I double check, and the pair with the eggs is still sitting inside. So another of my missing birds is back, this one after 16 days!

Since one showed up on Thursday (12 days) and then one today, I'm thinking someone must have caught them and fed them for a few days, then released, and that is why they are coming home in good condition.

These are young birds I bought the middle of March, who have only loft flown, except that one time that I got a little antsy and did a half mile basket toss.

I'm being alert for canker signs, but since everyone is looking good, I am going to treat the water, but let them loft fly.

June 12, 2010

Wow! Didn't realize it had been so long!

So, I ended up with one more of the 'fly-off' birds coming home, after 12 days. Looks good, in fact, I didn't realize it was home for 2 days, although I did count an extra, but figured I was counting wrong.

Bird with the broken leg is back with the others, and limping a bit, but doing well.

Traded 16 breeders for 27 squeakers from South Carolina.
Noticed some pigeon lice on them as I was spraying (for that very reason) and then saw the same on my other birds.

All are now treated...

Nest with the 2 eggs on the floor of my flyer loft is occupied by 2 birds, one for AM, one for PM. Letting them be, and just checking on them. Hoping for my first squeakers soon.

I've loft flown EVERY day since the 3rd, and birds are doing great!

June 3, 2010

Let the 8 remaining young birds from Rod fly today for the first time since the fly-off.

I did let the little Hawaiian bird out on the landing board, and she did fly today.
Got a little worried, because I don't know where she went for a while.

Came home from band meeting, and all the birds were in.

Talking with LJ about trading some breeders for some squeakers, to get back up to a number that I can actually start out with.

June 2, 2010

Let everyone rest today, starting to lose hope that the other 5 will show up.

June 1, 2010

Put a splint on the injured bird. She seems comfortable now, and is eating and drinking (and pooping).

Just hoping she does well.

I've also ordered splints for future use, since taping the leg was difficult.

May 31

My oldest came running in, yelling 'One more home!'.

Yes, one more of my birds returned from Sunday's fiasco.

But, 1387 showed up with a broken leg. What do I do?

I went ahead and let her into the loft to eat, since she had made such an effort to get home, but will move her to a small cage later for safety.

Should I try to splint, or leave it be? She cannot perch, and when I walked away, she was eating while laying down.

This only leaves 5 out, which is terrible, but not as bad as when it was 9! And if this one could make it in wounded, I'm not ready to give up hope on the others, although I will be buying more squeakers.