Pigeons race from Ohakune

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 1, Issue 13, 30 August 1983, Page 13

Pigeons race from Ohakune

About 2,000 racing birds from several northern pigeon clubs raced from Ohakune on Saturday 20 August. This was the third race in the current "old bird" racing season which began on 6 August and finishes 10 December. With a race every weekend, the birds build up to a final race from Dunedin to Auckland, a distance of some 1100 km which the birds can cover in one day. Ohakune is the most-used of several starting points for races. Eight of this ^P;on's 19 races start in Ohakune. Other starting points are Te Kuiti, Taumarunui, Marton, Levin, Paekakariki, Christchurch, Timaru and Dunedin. Birds race from Ohakune to lofts in Te Kuiti, Hamilton and Auckland.

The Lands and Survey Department measures distances between lofts so that while all the birds leave Ohakune at 9.30am, those that travel further have time allowances. The basic distance from Ohakune to Auckland is 282 km with top birds covering this in about three hours in good weather conditions. Average speeds can exceed 100 km/h but more common averages are between 70-90 km/h. Once released the pigeons fly continuously until they arrive home. They may stop if very thirsty or tired but all the birds are given water to drink before the race starts. If they haven't lofted before dark they also stop. They won't fly in the dark. For many years, boxes of pigeons were sent to Ohakune by train. The stationmaster released the

birds at a predetermined time. Now the birds are carried in a custom-built pigeon transporter with its own feeding and watering systems and a sophisticated release mechanism. Despite extensive research, nobody has yet discovered how the pigeon' s amazing homing instinct works. Birds that are hatching now begin racing in junior classes from next February. They can be

brought to Ohakune, never having left their home loft previously, and fly unerrtant part in the bird's direction-finding system. On a clear day, the birds leave the transporter and immediately begin the trip home. On heavily overcast days, they spend quite some time wheeling in large groups trying to assess the sun's position. On windy days racing pigeons tend to fly about

ingly back home. The sun plays an impor-20-30 metres above the ground but the less wind there is the higher they fly averaging 200-300 metres in good weather. Pigeon racing is a sport for all ages with fanciers ranging in age from 10 years to people in their 80's. The next race from Ohakune is on September 3rd from the Ohakune Rugby Football Club grounds at 9.30am.