woodweasel Loc: bellingham Wa

What a treat, thank you for the journey aswell

Graham Thirkill Loc: Idylic North Yorkshire, England UK.

jaymatt, my friend.....I feel as if we "are" friends, we have been in regular contact with one-anther for several years now here on the hog. I would like to wish you a very happy and long retirement. It is a wonderful golden period. I have been retired since I was 65 {the retiring age here in the UK at the time in 2006) I am 78 now and can honestly say the past 13 years have been magic. We all have a handful of pills to take every day to keep us going, but in general, I am as fit as a butchers dog. You enjoy, every single day, doing exactly what "You' feel like doing, some days you can do nothing at all and please believe me, it's great. It's like an endless holiday. I just want to wish you all the very best for a very healthy, long and happy retirement..............Thanks for your encouraging comments over the years it's always a pleasure to see "jaymatt" regularly on my threads and if usually is.......thanks

Cheers and Beers
Graham
098

Graham Thirkill Loc: Idylic North Yorkshire, England UK.

[quote=robertjerl]Some project.
I am sure the birds are now happy. Have you made provisions or plans for them when winter comes?

And since you, like I and many others here on UHH are getting on in years and will one day be gone do you have anyone to take over for you caring for them? This could be a major concern. I know, I saw it happen.

The University I went to (25,000 full time students on 175 acres) we had a professor who inherited about 250 racing and show pigeons from a relative who passed. He got tired of caring for them after a few months and he brought all 250 and released them on campus. The pigeons did what pigeons do and within a year the campus was overrun with at least 2000-3000 birds. They got on and made messes on everything, outdoor eating areas, benches and outdoor reading chairs, cars in the parking lots etc. Students were threatening to have a pigeon hunt with airguns. One student was caught putting out poisoned grain. They were spreading out into the residential areas around the campus and the police did catch some people shooting pigeons.

Another professor had friends who were into Falconry so he contacted them. Seems they had a project to establish breeding populations of endangered raptors. They set up nesting boxes on top of campus buildings and installed 3 or 4 pairs of Peregrine Falcons. The pigeons and falcons established a "balance of nature" after about a year. Now 50 years later there are still some active falcon nests on campus buildings.
When the school teams name "Diablos" (Spanish for Devils) was deemed inappropriate (Political Correctness strikes again) the name was changed to "Golden Eagles" in honor of the birds. Eagle, Falcon, both raptors and most at the school would not know the difference if one landed on their head. Besides another university in California already used "Falcons".

Those pigeons and their offspring went from pampered pets and show birds to menu items for the falcons.[/quot

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

robertjeri, thanks for your comments. I will explain, the Aviary is built attached to the outside walls of four
large buildings. In the past I have used these same buildings for horses, pigs, ducks and chickens. These buildings are, in England called, loose boxes, they are all big enough and have been used as stables,
so they are obviously large enough to house pigeons. Each one of the four buildings is fitted with individual perches and nesting boxes for the pigeons. so the winter is not a problem all the pigeons go into their own building as soon as it starts to get dark or when the rain comes down. Each of the four buildings doors are secured every night to ensure the whole place is safe from foxes, badgers of anything else.

Yesterday I contacted the RSPB Royal Society for the protection of Birds. I have asked them for any information and help to make the birds as safe as possible from the Sparrowhawks, do these protected birds of prey hunt at a specified time of the day such as in the mornings. One of the pleasures of having pigeons is to see them fly freely outside, so if the Sparrowhawks do mostly hunt in the mornings I may be able to safely let my pigeons out in the late afternoon.

Thanks again for your story.

Cheers and Beers
Graham
098

Graham Thirkill Loc: Idylic North Yorkshire, England UK.

Thanks Steve.....

Cheers and Beers
Graham
098

Graham Thirkill Loc: Idylic North Yorkshire, England UK.

napabob, thanks for your message

Cheers and Beers
Graham
098

Graham Thirkill Loc: Idylic North Yorkshire, England UK.

Ey-Up Val, I hope all, is very well with you and yours. it's always a joy to see your
comments on my threads...............Thank you......

Cheers and Beers
Graham
098

Graham Thirkill Loc: Idylic North Yorkshire, England UK.

Cheers Bob, It's a load off my mind as well knowing they are safe and they are loving it

Cheers and Beers
Graham
098

Graham Thirkill Loc: Idylic North Yorkshire, England UK.

DragonsLady, No I don't race them, I am not too keen on the racing pigeon business at all.
Too many go astray with bad weather, being released at bad times etc etc, plus other
aspects of some techniques used by the pigeon racing fraternity that I think are cruel.

Cheers and Beers
Graham
098

Graham Thirkill Loc: Idylic North Yorkshire, England UK.

Thanks, it's good to be back, amongst good folks as yourself.........

Cheers and Beers
Graham
098

Graham Thirkill Loc: Idylic North Yorkshire, England UK.

Thanks cincykid for your time and comments......

Cheers and Beers
Graham
098

Graham Thirkill Loc: Idylic North Yorkshire, England UK.

Thanks olemikey, for viewinng and comments greatly apreciated...

Cheers and Beers
Graham
998

Graham Thirkill Loc: Idylic North Yorkshire, England UK.

Thanks Blair, must say I'm glad it's finished......

Cheers and Beers
Graham
0908

Graham Thirkill Loc: Idylic North Yorkshire, England UK.

Thanks Ernie my friend, yes, I have been busy, I kept looking out to see if you'd popped
round for an hour or two......(;-)) I hope all is very well with you and yours.......

Cheers and Beers
Graham
098

Graham Thirkill Loc: Idylic North Yorkshire, England UK.

amyinsparta, it takes one to recognise one.....I'm sure you are a loving soul too, especially looking at your beautiful kitty.....Thanks for looking and commenting.....

Cheers and beers and a pussy cat treat
Graham
098

Graham Thirkill Loc: Idylic North Yorkshire, England UK.

Gasman57, Well mate, I'm hoping the rain and a stiff broom will suffice, it has up till now and
it's sloping the right way, towards the drainage, keep yer fingers crossed for us...(;-))....

Cheers and Beers\
Graham
098