In its short history of RACING PIGEONS, Taiwan has become a leader in the sport.  It has developed the reputation and is recognized by other countries as having the  "MOST PRESTIGIOUS, FAIREST and RICHEST RACING" in the world.  The fanciers in Taiwan are serious, informed, knowledgeable and respected for their ability to breed and train racing pigeons.  They require, seek out, and import the best birds available because of their unique, tough style of racing and their enthusiasm for success in the sport.  The rivalry and competition among its fanciers is great.  What type of pigeon is needed to win the glory, fame and large prizes that each owner seeks?  Each fancier has many different ideas and theories about what qualities he needs in his pigeons to gain fame and fortune.

Since there is only young bird racing, and some race series start with birds as young as 100 days old, the Taiwan fancier must have birds and bloodlines that possess strong, early growth and development.  These birds must have shown a history of successful young bird racing in the past.  They must possess not only the early physical maturity, but more important, the mental ability to race and home successfully at the young age of 3 months.  They must be intelligent and have the "COMPASS, HOMING INSTINCT AND NAVIGATION QUALITIES".

This mental maturity and intelligence is overlooked many times, and not even considered by many fanciers when selecting breeding stock.  Outwardly many pigeons look good (physically), but it is what is on the inside that counts on race day (intelligence) that wins the large prizes.  It is important to recognize that a racing pigeon must and does navigate.  The bird must have the ability to orient itself and to maintain the right course.  The intelligent pigeons apparently have no trouble finding the most direct and easiest routes home, and they are able to adjust to different types of weather conditions. 

This requires bloodlines that can fly distances of 300-350 miles, (487 kms. - 568 kms.) as young birds and 500 miles (812 kms.) as yearlings (1 year old).  These types of birds are fast maturing pigeons with proper physical and mental qualities.  They successfully raced at various new race stations at early ages, showing that they are smart, intelligent and physically capable of handling any new situations.  These types of pigeons should fly any distance at the present Taiwan racing stations.  These birds will also be able to stay in flight for several hours non-stop, possibly as long as 10 plus hours, thinking clearly and making decisions when tired and fatigued.  They must be able to fly in strong head winds, cross winds, high humidity and extreme temperatures.  They must fly in heavy fog, rain and navigate over large areas of water, where the wind, moisture, heat, fog, and sun glare are tough.  They must possess vigor, strength, stamina, and endurance to fly a series of races in a short period of time.  They need the fierce competitiveness of a great athlete to endure such mental and physical conditions week after week.

Certain birds and families do very well in Taiwan.  They show their championship ability.  Others are big disappointments even though they attained great success in there own country. WHY?  Certain families of birds can only handle the very short, fast races with the help of a strong tail wind.  They fly from 35 miles to 150 miles in ideal conditions.  When these birds are faced with strong head winds or cross winds, and longer distances, they quit.  They do not have the heart, courage or stamina to continue, but more important, their homing instincts are poor and undeveloped, because of the short races.  The birds that will fly in strong wind conditions for several hours are naturally your tougher pigeons.  Their speeds will be 900-1300 ypm. at distances of 300 miles plus, and their physical and mental conditioning are more suited for the Taiwan racing style.

There are some families that fly well at 2-3 years old and win many of the big races at long distances, but these birds take 2-3 years to develop their ability and winning ways.  They are of little use in young bird races because they are late to develop and slow to mature.  If they cannot compete at an early age because they need several years to mature, how can they win large prizes at 3-6 months old against a tough schedule?  In most cases, they are lost early because of poor homing ability.

Health is very important.  This includes strength, stamina, endurance and recovery time.  We need to look for birds that show the ability to fly 2, 3 or 4 weeks in succession from 200-300 miles.  This recovery ability from a tough race or races at speeds of 1000 - 1300 ypm. is more suited to fly a 5-7 race series at a shorter distance.  Stay away from birds that have one good race at a fast speed but do not repeat for several weeks. 

There are areas of the world and race courses where birds fly in so called "bowling alleys".  All of the birds stay close together on a narrow course or valley, following each other.  These birds do not have to navigate home, they just stay straight and the fastest ones win.  They cannot get lost because there is only one way to fly.  The course is over flat terrain, and speed is the only quality that they possess.

A champion pigeon in Taiwan must think and navigate for himself over a large body of water with no land markers to help him.  He must be an individual thinker, not a follower.  Many countries fly a 1 bird derby, that is 1 bird from each loft for a special race.  For example, 60 lofts or owners enter their best birds, 60 of best birds competing against each other.  THE BEST AGAINST THE BEST.  This bird must have intelligence, orientation, navigating ability, motivation, determination, desire, courage and heart because he must fly by himself or alone for distances of 300 - 500 miles, without nothing but his own ability.  These qualities are very desirable for a racer, but more important for a breeder.  The potential for breeders to pass on to their offspring their external and internal special traits and abilities make them very valuable. 

If a country or area has a reputation for short, easy races under ideal conditions (weather and land), and will not release birds in strong winds or light rain, then their pigeons become weak and lazy.  These birds have very impressive race records for 2-3 years for their style of racing, but have no history or ancestry to indicate that they will handle slow speeds, bad weather, sea racing or a tough 5-7 race series at a young age.

Look at the HEREDITY of the birds you wish to buy.  The simple principle of genetics, "HEREDITY", IS HANDED DOWN FROM ONE GENERATION TO THE NEXT.  Families that have had generation after generation of young bird success at distances of 300 miles and over, that fly over difficult land courses, bad weather conditions and non-stop for 10 plus hours, will breed the same tough pigeon over and over again. 

Pigeons, like any other good athletes, will adjust to conditions in their new environment.  However, they must have the history of success as young birds and the ability and talent to make the adjustment and to breed the same excellent bloodlines.

We continue to refer to a family of birds with successful bloodlines and years of success.  The legendary, famous fanciers past and present, all have one thing in common.  They purchased or developed a family of birds that would fit their area and style of racing.  They selected their breeders for these desired results and, with some knowledge and a little luck, have become famous around the world.  We read with great interest the numerous crossover between famous strains, many of which had brothers and sisters from famous parents as foundation stock for the development of a different "family".  These "MASTERS" of the sport practiced one breeding theory breed "speed to speed" and "distance to distance".

There is a very basic principle of genetics, "Likes breed Likes".

If we need tough birds and distance, we find the best birds with those qualities and breed them together.  The chance of producing the birds we desire is greater by breeding the same qualities together.  That is why a family of birds is important, because it has been proven and selected for years to produce the same superior characteristics.  Breeding two families with the same qualities is fine, but breeding two families with different qualities (one speed and one distance) is not.  It is the long way to success, that is if you ever succeed.

Before you buy, keep your mind clear and understand what you want and need.  Buy on information and results, not emotion and fancy advertisements.  Do your research before you invest your money and your investment will be rewarding.

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