Wednesday, June 17, 2009
By Jon Moffett
The bird lost its way from Illinois, an expert said.
YOUNGSTOWN — An exhausted and somewhat beleaguered racing pigeon spent a good portion of its Tuesday afternoon bobbing around the back stoop of The Vindicator.
Arnold Howell, 61, of Youngstown has been involved with raising pigeons for more than 40 years. He said he noticed the year-old bird and became curious when it didn’t fly away as people approached.
The bird, which Howell described as a “silver,” had a tag on its right leg. Howell said he used the tag’s information and serial number to determine the bird’s owner is in either West Mifflin or McDonald, Pa.
He said the bird is used in racing and was probably involved with a race this past weekend.
“That bird was in a 400-mile race Saturday,” he said.
“I shipped birds to that same race, and O’Fallon, Ill., is 440 air miles from my house on the North Side,” he added.
Howell said he became interested in pigeons in 1967 when one of the birds flew into a feed and grain store where he worked. He then learned of organizations such as the American Racing Pigeon Union where enthusiasts could breed, train and race the birds. He said he has about 60 birds, which can fly about 600 miles a day at a speed of 75 to 80 miles per hour. Normally, he said, the bird’s instinct allows it to navigate back to its home, but this bird was too young to have flown so far.
“All birds have the same instinct,” he said. “How they know, nobody knows.”
He added that the birds are usually weaned into long-distance racing over a period of a few years. This bird, however, was rushed into a race it was not ready for.
He said there is no money involved in racing, but pride and bragging rights are on the line for owners.
Howell spent more than an hour trying to catch the bird so he could return it to its owner. He gave up after the bird flew onto the roof and eventually took off.
jmoffett@vindy.com