cheeky/clever/lazy pigeon

[mollykins]

Do some pigeon races go across the channel?

About half an hour after leaving saint malo on the ferry, a pigeon with a ring on either leg landed on the railings of the ferry, and stayed there until we could jsut about see the isle of whight who then flew away to the . . . .east.

Could it have been racing and hitched a ride, realising it was going in just about the right direction?

if so, was it cheeky, clever or lazy?

[coccinelle]

I know of people from up north take their pigeons to Nantes (below Brittany) for races so yes they do. I think they've come wise to a good thing but quite honestly it would be quicker flying than taking the ferry and with nibbling all the cast away chips they must be heavier....

[mollykins]

no, it was definatly a pigeon.

Talking about immigration, we had to show are passport and went through more security on the way back to england that on the way to france . . . . I supose illegal immigrants don't normally go from england to france, unless they are english, escaping from the police or something.

[mollykins]

cocc, I didn't see it eat anything, not many people had food on that deck and during the time i could see it, it was just perched on the railings.

[coccinelle]

So just resting its weary wings bless it!

[brenda]

There are many pigeon races which start in France and the birds fly back to the N.E U.K. The birds are taken to France by road and ferry a couple of days before the race. A common sight to see lorries and trailers loaded with pigeons in wicker cages heading South .A lot of money can be made in pigeon racing and the birds are often very expensive indeed to buy,if they are a good proven flyer.

[paddywak]

hello Molly, nice to see you back and I hope you had a nice holiday, as already stated pigeon clubs race from all over Europe. There was or possibly still is an organisation called the Northern Combine which was formed by the pigeon clubs of the North-East to transport racing birds all over the place in specially converted vehicles. They raced from all over Europe not just France.