Thanks!

Thank you!

Thank you!

I flew in Hawaii for 30 years with the Hawaii State Racing Pigeon Organization. I had been last many times and like you lost many pigeons . To fly well in Hawaii you need knowledge and the person who makes mistakes takes himself out of the game. In 1981 I won 11 out of 22 combine trophies. In 1971, I like you lost 56 out of my 69 birds I sent to Molokai. But I went on to win the State Open with only 2 birds home on the day from Hilo winning by 15 minutes. You do not mention the training and feeding before Molokai. You are making pets out of your racers, these are athletes and they are very sensitive in many ways. You will eventually figure out how not to get these losses but it will take time. From what I see in your video your birds got overheated and could not properly navigate home. New flyers like you are conditioned to medicate for everything. Medication is important but you have to know when to use what to obtain optimum results from each pigeon. Feeding is an art in itself and will require many years of study. Above all you must have FUN doing pigeons in Hawaii because it is a very difficult course for pigeons. I enjoy watching your videos because all that you are doing I did when I was a young and became a fanatic pigeon man. But i had my wonderful years and I hope you continue so you can eventually get better results. I eventually went to California and pigeon racing became very professional. I have had several wonderful pigeons in my life. So in closing I would suggest you read the 1982 American Racing Pigeon Year book where I wrote an article. It will help you very much, i guarantee it.

Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience! I was not successful in finding your article, do you have a link that you could give me to find it.

Thank you!

Thank you very much!

Thank you for you comments. Unfortunately, racing and training young birds is a balancing act between finding the time for breeding, molting, vaccinating, and training so there is always going to be a risk involved or you would end up sending birds to a race that are not ready. Unfortunately the weather and external factors such as the rough ocean preventing ocean tosses and hazy conditions are out of your control but training must be accomplished at some point. I will show the training they went through in an up coming video which at times was very interesting and informative. The day of this release I had concerns about the wind but not how it would affect their ability to fly high and see Oahu and I also did not really think anything of the haze that day because I believed the bird relied mostly on magnetic fields for orientation but now I know better. I also was anticipating the birds heading in the correct direction initially and being at a higher altitude upon reaching the west shore of Molokai with maybe a sort of mental momentum that would result in them continuing in that direction. Because, even though I released the birds on the west coast of Molokai last year, I was able to watch them fly north south for a long time perpendicular to the path back to Oahu. But this year the birds did not head in the right direction so what I was anticipating would happen did not, but then again how could the birds have know that I had taken them east or west of Oahu. I can see you believe smell has a influence on their navigation and I have heard the same but I think in this situation the ocean cancels out any hope of them using smell and also our trade winds are at their back so it's not as if they can smell Oahu and fly in that direction. I'm telling you, our birds in Hawaii have some of the most difficult geography to navigate. I'm thinking the birds would have done a lot better had the visibility been perfect, I know that now. I really think sight plays the biggest role for our birds the first time they are taken to Molokai.

Thank you very much!

Same 😂 I think that his wife got to him and he got rid of him😭

Thank you! Glad you liked it. Aloha, Sean

Thank you very much! Hope all is well with you and your birds. Aloha, Sean

Hey Sean, Is it too late to start training new birds now for your young bird season? I have probably around 6-8 I could send you that are 25-30 days old. Let me know and I can send these your way this week. I might have a friend that could have more if its not too late. Oh and my birds are doing great! We do not fly young bird so our season starts in February. I should have 40 birds to fly this year for my first season.

Wow, 1,200 miles is amazing. I am enjoying the GPS rings very much. I'm always scared to take my young birds on their first toss from another island. Thank you and Aloha, Sean

Thank you very much! I appreciate it! Aloha, Sean

I agree 100%. I didn't realize how the visibility would hinder their ability so much. I figured they would also be using their magnetic navigation to orientate themselves but after this release it became clear to me that even if they can use the magnetic field, they still have know way of knowing where I have taken them in relation to their loft. I'm kind of thinking they may use their magnetic navigation to backup the routes they are accustom to or that they have learned. Thanks again! Aloha, Sean

One of our top flyers (Magallanes Loft) rule passed down to me, of you can't see the mountains save em for another road toss. Also with your course releasing between channels is probably what I would do too (if I can afford it lol). Just pls be safe...

I will enter the birds I have as long as they look healthy and are flying well. I'm planing on taking some of them to Molokai again this Thursday..

Thanks! The breeding cages are 3'x3'x3'. Aloha, Sean

Thank you!

Man, I'm sorry to hear that! Well you have my sympathy for sure. Wish you all the best. Aloha, Sean

Thank you for your comments! I think your analysis is a good one for sure. It was great to have some data from the gps bands or else I would have no idea what really happened and just be speculating. Aloha, Sean

Thank you! I got the bird back from Maui and it's doing well. That makes 6 birds. I don't want to get scoldings from the retired flyer, lol.

Thanks!

I hope to get a bigger boat because it will definitely help in training the young birds. Thank you very much! Aloha, Sean

I agree with you. I'm starting to seriously consider taking a brake from yb racing and do ob racing. I think this is better for the birds. As for where those two birds landed, there is really not much there and it was a big surprise to see them land there. Even though this was sad I would not have learned all that I have without this happening and I hope it makes me a better flyer both for myself and the birds. Thank you very much for your input! Aloha, Sean

Thank you!

Thank you!

I believe solo tosses can only make the birds better too. They only had two solo tosses from the farthest point on my island, 20 miles. I would have done more but it took me two hours each time because I had so many birds. Thank you very much! Aloha, Sean

Thank you!

Thank you!

Thank you!

Looks like this would resolve that wild theory about magnetic field that homer pigeons used to navigate, because that surely was not the case here. Both birds with gps band showed they're going to the highest point to get a better view of place they're in then decides where to go from there. Going to Lanai and even Maui was I think a trial and error effort from them to return. Looks like you'll have fewer bird entry for the upcoming race, but at least they've had that experience now. Maybe on the race they would have more chances of returning since they'll be flying with huge flock of birds trying to go back to oahu... Crossing water I think plays a huge part of killing the birds confidence to cross. Goodluck to the upcoming race Sean, and appreciate all the updates! Keep us posted please.

Man, you hit the nail on the head with your analysis. I agree with you in every way. I still think there might be something to the birds using the magnetic field but I equate this situation to a person being dropped in a foreign location with a compass, that person might know which way north, south, east, west is but they still don't know where they are and which way is home.

well regardless of how many birds you have left to compete for the race, what matters is you've gained a lot of experience (good and bad) raising quality pigeons, and not just for the sake of winning a race. That I think will make you more a successful breeder maybe not now, but you'll sure be on the top in no time. keep enjoying what you do and keeping your passion, and of course keep uploading excellent videos and good tips to new enthusiasts😁. You're such a big help and a good source of breeding knowledge.

Thank you very much!

Thank you very much! I still have a lot of birds in the stock loft. No more birds have come back from this toss. Aloha, Sean

AlohaPigeons oh ok shawn no problem. And I'm sorry no more birds haven't returned yet but don't give up I've had birds return to me after two months of being lost so no worries hopefully you may still get a few birds back. Good luck.

Yes, feel free to use screenshots from these videos. Thanks for asking.

Thx ...nice day

Thank you!

Thank you very much!

Thank you very much!

I definitely learned a hard lesson this year. Not sure why our visibility has been so hazy. I'm thinking about focusing on building an old bird team.

I will pass this on to my mentor. He buys a lot of birds.

I think so too. Thank you!

$150 for a 2 ring set and $300 for a 5 ring set. Made by Skyleader.

That's not good. Hope I can do better in the future.

Ha-y-n Brian well said .... explain the sponsorship that you mentioned to Sean

Antonio Fernandez not really a sponsorship. I just told him I would sponsor a couple more gps bands for the birds because I think 5 is not enough.

Ha-y-n Brian yea, good idea need a bit more .... not a cheap item .... around $300. If needed I’ll contribute something

I felt so bad when I saw her flight path because she was trying very hard to find her way. That's what really kills me. I have been thinking about the birds using the magnetic field and there is one thing that keeps bothering me about this philosophy. I'm going to use the example of the birds ability to detect the earths magnetic field equating to a person having a compass in their hand. I know if I had a compass in my hand and I were to be put in a crate and I were to go through the same thing the birds do when being transported off island in a car and on a plane turning in every direction getting disorientated and then open the crate and let me go, I would look at my compass and be able to see the direction of north, south, east, west but I would have no idea which way to go because I don't know where I am. I think only once the birds have started to develop a path from what they can see that they can then start to back up that known path with whatever magnetic abilities they may have. I hope I have explained that as clearly as I think I did.

This is an interesting article about the weakening of the earth's magnetic field. If it's true then that could be a reason everyone is saying we are loosing more birds then we use to. www.livescience.com/46694-magnetic-field-weakens.html

AL De TIT MAN what kind of pigeon fly high? Thanks

@@juanfgonzalez2039it depends where you are I would recommend Iranian high flyers and Pakistani high flyers they ar3 good for racing chicks tumblers chicks high flyer will be like a teacher to take them high and far my friend uses the same tecnuiqe search in your area find high flyers I use a pair of high flyer to train my kurdish and Turkish tumbler chicks but I don't let them breed I put dummy eggs under them also always give them little bit of food out side the cage then fly them they will always come back to the loft I got it helps

I wish I could blame the birds but I have fantastic birds both with local success and around the world. It was all me unfortunately. You flying birds in Kauai? Thank you and Aloha!

Just got the same 6 out of 52 young birds. The 4 that came back and the 2 that were rescued.

Sorry, the only fancy I have is not able to breed anymore.

I'm going to be much happier sharing the results from the 2nd Molokai toss. I should have time to edit the footage tomorrow.

Wow, awesome! Thank you for sharing this with me.

E T S pigeon racing timer that what it is 👍

Awesome! I'm glad you enjoy the videos. I should have a new video out within the next few days. Aloha, Sean

All the reports I see are scattered to isolated showers which is pretty normal. I will keep looking. Wind looks good. We have had great weather the last two days. I was just flying through the island channel this morning and visibility and ocean look good. Much better then when I went last.

AlohaPigeons ok, then it's a go ..... Good luck

Thank you!

I will outline my training before this toss in the next video. I wish I had a bigger and safer boat to release them in the channel.

They had a lot of training on Oahu but the ocean was too rough unfortunately to do training from my boat.

AlohaPigeons yeah bad luck happens sometimes...... i have 16 pigeons... of coarse they are not the racing pigeons as i cannot afford them they are so expensive but i have a 6 of those which are cross of a high flyer and ferel they cover tremendous area during flight and also make return from long long distances.... but i only take them when weather is clear because in a windy day 2 of my birds returned 2 days after i left them

AlohaPigeons how much it costs for 1 pair of racing pigeon?

Try to find someone locally that is willing to help you. All of my pigeons that I did not breed myself were given to me. I don't sell pigeons.

AlohaPigeons so lucky man..... people in our region dont have racing pigeons ... but anyway waiting for your next video hope its on sunday ... i am so impatient for your videos ☺☺

I agree. But to be honest, the club is going the opposite direction. They are making the race schedule more difficult not easier. Young birds only have two Maui races before going to the Big Island, we use to have three. Old birds don't even have a Maui race anymore, straight to the Big Island now. Between trying to find a calm day on the ocean and getting everyone together to split the cost of chartering a boat it was just too difficult.

AlohaPigeons yea, I hear ya. It's to bad if clubs/committee don't consider the well beings of YB's/OB's and try to ease the schedule. I would think that there would be more races coming out of Maui maybe 4. Give the YB's/OB's a chance to be successful. Instead of 2 for YB's. A Big 0 for OB's. I think it's a tough and risky schedule to do. More bird losses that's for sure. Unless, fliers have superman birds and don't consider loses. What can we do .....

Rimpac was schedule to end the day before I made this release but who knows.

Thank you!

AlohaPigeons Im happy to help you

I have not shown the training they went through to get to this point but I will in one of my next videos. I wish I could have released them more from a boat half way between the two islands but the ocean is very rough in that channel and my boat is too small.

maybe get a bigger boat next time😥😱. the last video you've posted gave me the creeps just watching how dangerous it was for you and the birds being pounded by those huge waves. There was a close call even when you nearly trip off the boat. Man 'twas a close call. be safe always!

It is part of keeping pigeons you win some you lose some any ways I wish you the best

I know, it was a bad experience but I learned a lot.

Thank you! actually last year I didn't lose a single bird on their 3 Molokai tosses but I did lose a lot when I took them to Maui. I wish I could say it was not me but the birds are bred from both local winners as well as winners from Europe.

Thanks!

You have my attention and I'm listening. But you're not seriously saying you know what went wrong and telling me I made "so many errors" but at the same time not offering any advice. I have spent countless hours analyzing the events that day. I did make a followup video to this release already, incase you have not seen that video. Please share what you believe happened. Aloha, Sean