Abbeyton lofts - Mr & Mrs J Savage Racing Pigeons

Before going into detail I would personally like to thank the working group who put the wheels in motion in the fight against Predator attacks on our pigeons, namely George Kelly President of S.H.U., Alex Mitchell M.B.E., Andrew Shearer of S.H.U. Trust and Mrs Linda Brooks, BA. Secretary of the Scottish Homing Union. Scottish fanciers have suffered a steady increase of Hawk and Falcon attacks in the past decade and it is becoming worse. Scotland at the recent last count have 7,000 plus breeding pairs of Sparrow Hawks which is around 20 per cent of the U.K. figure. The Peregrine Falcon figures are to say the least frightening here in Scotland with 600 known breeding pairs which represents almost 50 per cent of those in the entire U.K. Yes there certainly is a major problem, trying to have the R.S.P.B. to admit it is an even bigger problem. I was of a mind that the Royal Society of Protection of Birds was to protect All Species. It now appears their main interest is protecting the Murderers of the skies namely Sparrow Hawks and Peregrines. The very fact these predators are protected species is surely causing an imbalance of nature itself.

During the war years 27 pigeons won the Dickens Medal which is the animal V.C. for saving lives of Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen. I have included White Vision one such pigeon which won the animal V.C. Some of these pigeons carried vital messages when radio silence had to be observed. What did the Raptors do for the war effort, Nothing.

"White Vision" : V.C.

This pigeon was carried in a Carolina Flying Boat which, owing to engine failure had to ditch in a rough sea in Northern waters at approximately 08.20 hours on 11th October 1943. Owing to radio failure no S.O.S. was received from the aircraft and no fix obtained. As the aircraft was overdue and suspected to be in difficulties, rescue searches were made but were limited owing to the severe weather conditions. No aircrafts were permitted to take off. At 17.00 hours "White Vision" arrived with a message giving the position and other information concerning the aircraft and crew. Time of origin of this message 08.20 hours.

As a result sea search was continued in the direction indicated and at 00.05 hours the following morning the aircraft was sighted by H.S.I. and the crew rescued. The aircraft had to be abandoned and sank. Weather conditions; visibility at place of release of pigeon 100 yards, visibility at Base when pigeon arrived 300 yards. Head wind for pigeon 25 miles per hour. Heavy sea running, very low cloud 10/10th, distance about 60 miles. Number of lives saved 11. Bred by Messrs, Fleming Brothers, 23 Forgewood Road, Motherwell, Scotland. Trained by R.A.F. Sollum Voe, Shetlands.

In an accurate survey carried out by Linda Brooks and her team found 1,752 fanciers in Scotland stated they had problems with Raptor attacks, of these 1,587 were witnessed in the vicinity of there back garden lofts. These figures represents 90 per cent eye witness proof even the R.S.P.B. must agree this is a real problem. If you had eye witness evidence of this nature in a court of law there would only be one verdict "Guilty". It is up to every fancier to protect his pigeons, the best way to do this and stay within the law as it stands is to report every attack to the Scottish Homing Union office and if you have photographic proof so much the better. Also as a body collate your attacks and have your club secretary write with this evidence to your local Member of Parliament.