PIGEON RESEARCH PROJECTS

A number of areas could be investigated by the academics and the curious. How can a pigeon be jumped 4 to 500 miles in racing and return home over unknown and discovered territory? If this riddle was solved it would shed light on the navigation means, ability and process of the pigeon, and perhaps why some birds will negotiate the distance and others will not. Like all science, it would reveal a biased, human perspective on the problem. If racing ability is linked to a gene or genes, can these be examined and identified to give an insight into winning homing ability? With practicing inbreeding for 39 years, what are the limits if any in a colony of racing pigeons, and is there a pattern to inheritance of certain characteristics in the birds? In terms of nutrition is there a perfect diet for performance pigeons at various distances? What is the ideal loft space per bird in various loft types? Is there a legal supplement to beat others in producing supreme racing condition?? I feel, most of these areas will be partly answered, yet they can develop thought.

Jim Emerton