On Monday, just after 10:30 a.m. a team of racing pigeons were released from the driveway of Dale and Joann Dille in Macon.
These highly skilled birds will make the trip to Springfield, Mo., in just a little under 4 hours and cover 180 flight miles.
The birds are owned by Paul and Diana Collins of Springfield, and the birds race under the loft name “ Lickity Split Loft.” The Dille’s are Paul’s parents and he also has an uncle in Macon, Leon Hildebrandt. Paul is a 1974 graduate of Macon R-1.
“These racing pigeons have a long history going back to Belgium, where the sport possibly began,” Paul said. “Many homers, as racing pigeons are sometimes called, were instrumental in saving many lives in past wars. Homers were used to carry messages and communicate during battles in both World Wars.”
Today, however, racing pigeons can be big business and the competition can be fierce. There are many races held every year all across the United States, and some races have very large prize money. The cost of a racing pigeon can be as little as $5 or $10 to sometimes hundred of thousands. Many refer to the racing pigeons as Race Horses of the Skies, Paul said.
Races usually start at 100 miles and some as long as 600 miles. A very good bird can cover 600 miles in one day. Most generally the birds are always released in the morning to give them ample time to get back to their loft. In the days the pigeons were clocked with older style mechanical clocks, but today computers are used with electronic chips installed in a band around the birds leg. Lickity Split Loft is equipped with the Benzing Electronic Clocking system which is computerized.
“By carefully breeding these birds they are improved over time and continually get faster,” Paul said.
“Meticulous record keeping is the key and also only breeding from birds who prove themselves worthy to be a racer. Lickity Split Loft tries to maintain a small family of birds that generally number about 50. To be successful in racing there is much more to it then just breeding. Training plays a large part in the birds being successful but also knowing when to use the correct medications. The birds are vaccinated yearly, wormed several times a year and at times treated for respiratory ailments,” Paul said.
The 17 birds released Monday are some of the lofts finest yearlings and they need to prove their stuff by making it back to Springfield in a timely manner.
JoAnna Roller, Lickity Split Loft assistant trainer accompanied Paul and Diana for the release or commonly referred to as “The Toss.”
Paul called his mother, Joann Dille, when they got home Monday night and said 10 of the pigeons had safely made it home. Seven of the birds have not arrived yet but she said her son was hopeful that they would show up.
Source: Macon Chronicle
