Sally Furniss
Well-known member
Bird flu fear over new pigeon racing season
By Arron Hendy
PIGEON fanciers are upset that this year's racing season is in jeopardy after the latest case of bird flu.
The bird lovers normally spend March getting pigeons ready for racing but the discovery of a Canada goose with the virus on February 25 meant they are unable to release them.
Race controller for Portland, Neville Walbridge, is in daily contact with Defra hoping to find out when he can start getting ready.
He said: "Racing starts in five weeks' time, but we can't train them or let them out to build up their strength and muscles. Defra has now permitted the swannery to open up their gates to the general public and we still can't let our birds out, it feels like victimisation."
Mr Walbridge, 69, of Sharpitts, Portland, said he had to kill 10 chicks yesterday as a direct result of the latest ban.
He said: " We have to let the chicks out on to the loft roofs after six weeks so they can learn to fly around and return safely. If we keep them in longer when we finally let them out they'll get lost and won't be able to fend for themselves. I've fed the youngsters and cared for them so it was very upsetting."
President of the South West Racing Association Colin Bateman confirmed all 40 pigeon fanciers in Weymouth, Dorchester and Portland may have to consider killing chicks they were hoping to race."
Each time another bird is identified with the lethal H5N1 virus the local pigeon racing community are advised they cannot release their birds for a further 21 days and this means they have been locked up since January 3.
A Defra spokesman said: "We appreciate it may cause some difficulties for pigeon racers but they are not exempt from the avian influenza controls and there is no veterinary justification for granting an exemption."
They said if keepers of racing pigeons have welfare concerns about the impact of the housing restrictions they should contact their local animal health office.
http://www.thisisdorset.net/display.var.2100630.0.bird_flu_fear_over_new_pigeon_racing_season.php
By Arron Hendy
PIGEON fanciers are upset that this year's racing season is in jeopardy after the latest case of bird flu.
The bird lovers normally spend March getting pigeons ready for racing but the discovery of a Canada goose with the virus on February 25 meant they are unable to release them.
Race controller for Portland, Neville Walbridge, is in daily contact with Defra hoping to find out when he can start getting ready.
He said: "Racing starts in five weeks' time, but we can't train them or let them out to build up their strength and muscles. Defra has now permitted the swannery to open up their gates to the general public and we still can't let our birds out, it feels like victimisation."
Mr Walbridge, 69, of Sharpitts, Portland, said he had to kill 10 chicks yesterday as a direct result of the latest ban.
He said: " We have to let the chicks out on to the loft roofs after six weeks so they can learn to fly around and return safely. If we keep them in longer when we finally let them out they'll get lost and won't be able to fend for themselves. I've fed the youngsters and cared for them so it was very upsetting."
President of the South West Racing Association Colin Bateman confirmed all 40 pigeon fanciers in Weymouth, Dorchester and Portland may have to consider killing chicks they were hoping to race."
Each time another bird is identified with the lethal H5N1 virus the local pigeon racing community are advised they cannot release their birds for a further 21 days and this means they have been locked up since January 3.
A Defra spokesman said: "We appreciate it may cause some difficulties for pigeon racers but they are not exempt from the avian influenza controls and there is no veterinary justification for granting an exemption."
They said if keepers of racing pigeons have welfare concerns about the impact of the housing restrictions they should contact their local animal health office.
http://www.thisisdorset.net/display.var.2100630.0.bird_flu_fear_over_new_pigeon_racing_season.php