The intake period for our pigeons was extended and the last group of 334,
which arrived towards the end of November had a longer than normal period in
quarantine. This was because the expected quarantine completion date clashed
with the holiday period over December and January. The result was that the
mandatory testing and approval only happened when the relevant veterinary
department was fully functional after the holidays.
All pigeons are now in the race loft at Victoria Falls with a total of 3719
having been received from 29 different countries;
During quarantine we had 2% mortalities and a further 8.6% losses in
orientation. The total number remaining in the loft is 3319 including the
334 latest pigeons which are yet to be orientated. Herewith the current loft
list of birds still at Victoria Falls;
https://www.victoriafallswcpr.com/news.php?id=160#
All pigeons except the final batch of 334 are flying freely around the loft
and trapping reasonably well. The last batch will be kept under nets and
taught to trap whilst small numbers will be released to join the main flock
over time. Pigeons are let out for exercise only in the late afternoon when
the temperatures are still very high. This discourages the birds from flying
off and ranging too far from the loft where they could carry pigeons still
being orientated off with them.
In the meantime, the heavy body moult has started with the birds from the
Northern Hemisphere being slightly behind their Southern Hemisphere
counterparts by about 2 to 3 weeks.
Pigeons will be allowed to moult without doing too much work, so that the
moult is not delayed. We expect most pigeons to be through the body moult by
the beginning of April when work load and toss distance will increase in
preparation of the race programme starting in May.
The health of the pigeons is excellent, and a large number are of a very
high quality. Top honours will be fiercely contested for again this year.
We wish to remind everyone that the deadline for payment of at least one
bird in a team must be made by 31st January for them to stay in the
competition under the breeder’s name. If a team is not activated the birds
will become available for sale and the breeder loses all rights to the
pigeons.
Payment can be made by credit card from within your login (under the “Add
Money” tab) or you can transfer money to our bank account;
Victoria Falls World Challenge Pigeon Race Limited
Stanbic Bank, Botswana
Plot 50672, Off Machel Drive, Fairgrounds Office Park, Gaborone, Botswana
Account Number: 9060002174389
SWIFT/BIC Code: SBICBWGX (or SBICBWGXXXX if a longer code is needed)
Sort Code: 064967
If you have made payment and it is not reflected on your race account
please contact us.
Victoria Falls – “Scenes so lovely must have been gazed upon by Angels in
their flight”