THE PIGEON FANCIER'S BOND
by Jim Emerton
A crucial element in pigeon racing success, and loft harmony is the sensitive and close relationship between the fancier’s personality and the individual being of the birds. I worked on calm kindness and a stable environment where positive feelings were in rich evidence. My mother brought her love of individual birds to enrich the atmosphere within the colony. She is noted for singing to them as they soaked it all in from their perches. This is the sort of attention to detail which encourages marathon birds to face it and return to the home where their well being is cultivated. This sentimentality is part of the objective process so well executed by Nicholas Harvey, who manifests a great deal of warm empathy in his build up to the Barcelona International. Yes, there's more to fanciership than ruthless manipulation of birds to win races. The practiced fancier is like the avian equivalent of a horse or dog whisperer. He knows sufficient of the psychology of his birds to have insight into and real understanding of their individual needs to form the pigeon fancier’s bond.
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Elimar - December 2013
