by johnnymarin | Mar 5, 2018 | Bird Deterrent Products
Ninety-seven homing pigeons were tested for their ability to detect small changes in magnetic fields. The tests, which were intended to corroborate and extend those reported by Reille (1968), were performed in uniform magnetic fields using 2 m diameter Helmholtz coils (series I), and also in non-uniform fields using 24 cm diameter coils (series II). There were no significant differences between responses to magnetic fields and control tests, though significant responses to a light flash demonstrated the overall viability of the test method, which was a classically conditioned increase in heart rate. In series I there were indications of a difference between two magnet treatments, steady fields vs. alternating fields, but in a more sensitive test for the same effect in series II no differences were observed.
About Pigeon Patrol:
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
by johnnymarin | Mar 4, 2018 | Bird Deterrent Products
In a previous publication we reported a correlation between normal fluctuations of the earth’s magnetic field and the day-to-day variations in the initial bearings chosen by homing pigeons released repeatedly at a single test site under sunny skies. We here examine the question whether this correlation reflects a cause-and-effect relationship. A series of 20 test releases was conducted in 1974 to compare the bearings of pigeons wearing bar magnets glued to their backs with the bearings of pigeons wearing brass bars. As in a pilot series conducted in 1970, the day-to-day variations in the bearings of the birds wearing brasses were inversely correlated with the variations in the K index of magnetic disturbance, whereas no such correlation was found for the bearings of the birds wearing magnets. We conclude that the magnets mask the effect of the K fluctuations, which suggests that it is the magnetic events themselves that influence the orientational response of normal pigeons. This conclusion is further supported by a demonstration that bar magnets, like natural magnetic disturbances, deflect the birds’ bearings to the left.
About Pigeon Patrol:
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
by johnnymarin | Mar 3, 2018 | Bird Deterrent Products
The final of the Million Dollar Race SAMDR took place on 3rd of February in Sun City, South Africa. The pigeons of Freddy and Jacques Vandenheede were always at the front of the race, winning a 5th and 6th prize in the final over 521km.
The SAMDR in South Africa is regarded as one of the hardest and most prestigious one loft races worldwide. The winning pigeons are usually very strong racing birds with plenty of strength, and they generally originate from long distance bloodlines. And this is why the pigeons of such renowned long distance fanciers as N. & F. Norman, Gaby Vandenabeele, Gerard Koopman and Chris Hebberecht have achieved some historic results on South African soil.
We reported earlier on that this year’s Ace Pigeon title was won by Return Flojo, a pigeon bred by Pieter Veenstra based around several long distance bloodlines, bred from a crossing of a Pieter Veenstra hen (sister Dolca Vita) and a cock of Chris Hebberecht. He comes from a son of Ike x sister Champion, or a crossing of a 1st Nat. Ace Pigeon Long Distance KBDB x a 2nd Nat. Ace Pigeon Long Distance KBDB.
Other top prizes in the final race were won by the noble long distance bloodlines of Freddy & Jacques Vandenheede from Zingem; they claimed a 5th and 6th prize in the final, a race of 521km.
5th place in final SAMDR
The 5th place was won by a youngster of Miss Marsupilami 15-89538 of F.B.I-Racing & Breeding (Ireland). The sire of this Miss Marsupilami is Daapel BE11-4289698, a direct Freddy & Jacques Vandenheede, bred from Mastodon BE07-4093204 (the sire of Ace Marsupilami I and II: 2nd and 4th Nat. Ace Pigeon Extreme Long Distance YLs respectively in 2014, and a son of top breeder Sjah BE02-4478695, one of the most talented sons of the iconic breeder Limoges De Rauw-Sablon) x Alisia BE09-4035302 (winner of a 1st Prov. Vierzon 3,614 p.). The dam of Miss Marsupilami is Future National BE08-4334596, from Daniel Aerens from Drongen (a daughter of a 1st Nat. Montélimar, herself a full sister of a 1st Intnat. St. Vincent paired to a grandson of a 1st Nat. Pau – Van der Wegen).
6th place in final SAMDR
The 6th place was won by Chinese champion He Bin, with a direct pigeon of Freddy & Jacques Vandenheede. The pigeon that won this top prize is called Flatwater BE17-4200429, bred from the sire of Fantast, winner of a 1st Nat. Libourne 6,134 p. in 2013: Boss Simonne BE11-4244384. He comes from the world famous bloodline of Topkweker Freddy. He is a son of Raipipon BE01-4483224 (a grandson of top pair Antigoon x ’t Krijt: the parents of Topkweker Freddy De Rauw-Sablon, and then Pros Roosen) x Simonne BE07-4093286 (winner of a 1st Nat. Bourges 27,506 p. in 2009).
The dam of Flaterwater is Angie BE14-4000004, winner of a 22nd Prov. Villemandeur 5,156 p., a 39th Prov. La Souterraine 6,205 p., a 48th Prov. Bourges 4,930 p., and an 81st Prov. Chateauroux 5,641 p. Angie is a daughter of Super Champ BE07-4093015 (8th Nat. Ace Pigeon Long Distance KBDB) x Darya BE10-4101084, winner of a 1st Prov. Bourges 2,031 p. and a 5th Nat. Bourges 12,607 p. Darya is a daughter of Triggerfinger BE07-4093269 (1st Prov. & 3rd Nat. Ace Pigeon Long Distance KBDB ’09) x Mariska BE07-4045034 (1st Nat. Argenton).
There is no getting around a top class breed
The Vandenheede racing pigeons feel particularly at home in good racing weather, where the pigeons have to work hard (speeds of 1300 m/min or lower). The world class pigeon breed from Zingem was again outstanding in 2017, and this showed in their title of General Champion of Belgium KBDB 2017. The Vandenheede breed has now shown their potential in South Africa as well, claiming a 5th and 6th prize in the final of the SAMDR Million Dollar Race in Sun City. It is no secret that the team of Freddy & Jacques Vndenheede is a world class breed, and they demonstrated this again in South Africa.
About Pigeon Patrol:
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
by johnnymarin | Mar 2, 2018 | Pigeons in the News
It is difficult to put a date to when cricket’s love-hate relationship with pigeons had started, but it was obviously centuries before Jacques Rudolph accidentally killed one on the ground or Glenn McGrath acquired his famous nickname or Arafat Sunny, cricket’s most famous pigeon fancier, got his cap or even before Charlie Elliott spotted Basil D’Oliveira setting a cat among a flock in the 1968 Oval Test.
The pigeons, of course, did their bit to make their presence felt in the realm of cricket: they have blessed statues of cricketers in characteristic fashion; they have flocked to grounds in large numbers; and have even featured in luncheon menus.
Of course, the Pigeon-Hole principle turned out to be immensely useful when someone argued that Chris Martin had never reached the score of two. The bookies have had their shares of stool pigeons inside dressing-rooms, while Shane Warne had reduced many a competent batsman to clay pigeons during his illustrious career.
But seldom have pigeons competed with cricketers.
The Dukedom of Queensberry, created in 1684, still exists. The 6th Duke (also 4th Duke of Buccleuch but usually referred to as Earl of Dalkeith), played 3 First-Class matches. The 8th and 9th Dukes became MCC Presidents.
The greatest cricketer of them was the 8th Duke, William Montagu Douglas Scott (also 6th Duke of Buccleuch), who played for 22 First-Class matches, mostly for Oxford, Middlesex, and MCC. He scored 100 and 66 in the Varsity match of 1887.
So yes, they were a family who liked cricket.
The incident involves a Duke of Queensberry, but one cannot be sure which one. The 6th Duke is the most likely suspect, since he became Duke in 1812 and the anecdote appeared in print in May 1825.
The Duke once placed a bet that he would help carry a letter across fifty miles inside an hour without the aid of carrier pigeons. This was obviously an improbable ask.
So birds — especially carrier pigeons — were the fastest method for any transport of letters over a long distance. It is not clear whom he had challenged, but that person readily took up the bet.
The Duke obviously had a plan. He now started to work on it. He enclosed the letter inside a cricket ball. Exactly how this was done is not clear. Perhaps he had a ball made from scratch with the letter inside.
Once that was done, he placed 24 “expert cricketers” along the five-mile stretch. The cricketers, placed strategically, picked up the ball and “transferred to each other”.
Exactly how this was done is not clear. It was obviously not one throw per person, since in that case every throw would have to be a ridiculous two miles on average, and nobody in human history hit the 150-yard mark with a single throw. Nobody has hit a 175-yard six either, but perhaps this was hit with something heavier than a cricket bat. Perhaps the ball was of a different material or mass.
Whatever the method was, the Duke won the bet.
About Pigeon Patrol:
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
by johnnymarin | Mar 1, 2018 | Pigeons in the News
An investigation has been launched after 24 pigeons were stolen in Newcastle .
The owners of two different sets of high value racing pigeons have been left devastated after finding their coopshad been raided earlier this week.
The birds stolen in the raids are collectively worth more than £3,000.
At around 9.45am on Tuesday, police first received a report that a coop at Jesmond Vale allotments had been targeted and 15 pigeons of carrier breed, worth an estimated £2250 had been stolen.
Then at around 10am on Wednesday, a second coop had been targeted by thieves in the same location.
This time a further 9 pigeons of the Rowland Janssen breed, worth an estimated £1350, had been taken after entry was forced to their coop at Jesmond Vale allotments.
Police say they believe the thefts could be linked and are searching for those responsible.
PC Dave Lever said: “The owners of these pigeons have been left absolutely devastated after returning to find their birds were missing.
“The locks on both coops have been forced and we do believe the pigeons have either been taken or intentionally set free.
“This is a criminal offence and is being taken seriously by police. They are worth a lot of money and are of huge sentimental value to the owners.
“Anyone with information, or who saw anyone acting suspiciously in the areas of the two coops on either Monday or Tuesday evening, January 22nd and 23rd, should get in touch with us straight away.”
About Pigeon Patrol:
Pigeon Patrol Products & Services is the leading manufacturer and distributor of bird deterrent (control) products in Canada. Pigeon Patrol products have solved pest bird problems in industrial, commercial, and residential settings since 2000, by using safe and humane bird deterrents with only bird and animal friendly solutions. At Pigeon Patrol, we manufacture and offer a variety of bird deterrents, ranging from Ultra-flex Bird Spikes with UV protection, Bird Netting, 4-S Gel and the best Ultrasonic and audible sound devices on the market today.
Voted Best Canadian wholesaler for Bird Deterrent products four years in a row.
Contact Info: 1- 877– 4– NO-BIRD (www.pigeonpatrol.ca)
