This page is a copy of an article published in and copyrighted by the Kerrville Daily Times. The article was published Tuesday, January 16, 2001 Vol. 92, No. 244. Visit the Kerrville Daily Times home page.

Pigeon racing

Area group raises and races pigeons

                          By Gerard MacCrossan

                               Times Staff Writer

During World War II a homing pigeon named G.I. Joe flew 20 miles in 20 minutes and delivered a message that saved more than 1,000 British soldiers from being bombed by United States aircraft (supposed to be supporting them).

After the war the Lord Mayor of London awarded the Dickin Medal for Gallantry to G.I. Joe.

Although pigeons are not usually found supporting military forces any more, they still are bred and raced all over the world by pigeon fanciers in the Hill Country members of the Bandera Racing Pigeon club race pigeons for fun and for purses both large and small.

"It is a real good sport," pigeon breeder Sid Skinner said.

The biggest money races an feature hundreds of birds, with owners putting up thousands of dollars for high-dollar purses.

(Top) Sid Skinner holds a mature racing pigeon. Adult racing pigeons can race home at speeds of around 60 miles per hour. At right are a pair of white pigeons, about 30 days old. "They are getting used to being outside getting ready for their first short flights," Skinner said.

Pigeons are judged by their speeds in races rather than by who makes it back to the loft first, Skinner said.

Skinner has been racing pigeons for 60 years. He races his birds in small, local races, both within his club and against birds from San Antonio and the Hill Country. Skinner said anyone looking to race pigeons for the first time should contact club members, who will be willing to give the some birds and plenty of advice.

Skinner keeps from 75 to 100 birds in three lofts at his home near Bandera. Other breeders in the Hill Country, on average, have 150 pigeons, Skinner said.

Eggs hatch only 18 days after being laid. The birds become mature at eight months. Skinner said each pigeon has a ring placed on its leg registering it to the American Racing Pigeon Legion. The rings go on when the birds are seven days old and are never removed.

For their first flight Skinner takes the young birds a short distance, increasing it to a few miles and gradually longer distances, such as Kerrville, Fredericksburg and Junction. A bird has to be trained to its loft when it is young.

When fully matured the birds race 300 to 500 miles. A group of birds are taken to a single location, such as Dallas which is around 300 miles from Bandera, where they are all released at the same time to begin the journey to their own lofts.

Skinner said when the birds arrive home in their lofts, they trigger timers to judge their exact speeds. Since some birds have farther to fly than others, it is their average speed that determines the winner.

Depending on the wind's direction and velocity and other conditions, the birds can average speeds of 1,200 to 2,200 yards per minute, traveling from Dallas to Bandera in about five hours.

The pigeons and live, and race, from 12 to 22 years.

Skinner said anyone interested in racing pigeons will need to construct a loft that is "critter-proof." Ringtails, raccoons and cats all need to be kept away.

Skinner and his fellow breeders are eager for more people to join their hobby, he said. For more information contact Skinner at (830) 796-3593.

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