Extreme heat and pigeons that are in the molt: how does this affect the end of the pigeon season 2023?
The pigeon season 2023 will end for many enthusiasts with a challenge: the extreme heat that is predicted for the coming weekend and the pigeons that are in full molt. How do the pigeon fanciers deal with these conditions and what are the consequences for the last flights of the year?
The season 2023 has been a season of contrasts: first bad weather, cold and headwind, then extreme heat, followed by variable weather and now again full summer with temperatures that are unusually high for the time of the year. Also, enthusiasts look more at the predicted weather and conditions in which the competitions have to take place, after which they decide whether they will participate or not.
For the last national flight of the season, which is scheduled for Saturday 9 September from Châteauroux, some enthusiasts have dropped out at the last minute to participate in this flight. They think that their pigeons have suffered enough this year and that they are no longer in optimal condition to take on this heavy task. They also fear that the extreme heat will play a negative role in the course of the flight. Others see an opportunity to distinguish themselves with their pigeons, which may be better able to withstand the heat than other pigeons. They hope that the pigeons can be released early, so that they are back on their lofts in the early afternoon. The measure of the KBDB to put only 20 pigeons in a basket and provide extra water to the baskets cannot convince the enthusiasts who drop out to still participate in this national flight.
Also for the flight from Laon, which takes place on Sunday 10 September, it is waiting to see if the enthusiasts will participate. This flight is a shorter distance that is good for the young pigeons, who have little experience with long distances. Some older enthusiasts claim that the sun must be in the sky and that it must not be too low when releasing the pigeons, because this would disturb their orientation. Whether this is fable or truth, we do not know, but these men have a lot of experience in pigeon racing.
How the flights go, you can see on our website www.verenigdevrienden.net, where you can also find all results, news and tips about pigeon racing. We wish all enthusiasts good luck with their pigeons and hope that they can enjoy this beautiful hobby despite the difficult circumstances!