I.F. INTERVIEW REPORT FOR CHAMPION FLYERS

Ed Rossi Flying with the
Toms River Triangle Club, Brick NJ
5th I.F. Champion Loft 26 – 75 loft 2005 Old Birds

1. Tell us a little about yourself. When did you first start with pigeons?

I moved to the shore from Cliffside Park, NJ and I began working for the Brick Township Board of Education in 1978. I retired from the Brick Board of Education in 1997 and in 2001 I became interested in pigeons.

I fly with the Central Jersey Homing Pigeon Combine. However, my local club is the Toms River Triangle. We fly ten old birds races (100 – 500 miles) and ten young bird races (100 – 300 miles)

2. How big is your combine? How big is your club? Do you think your position is a good one as far as combine races are concerned?

There are eighteen members in my local club. There are twenty-four clubs in the Central Jersey Homing Pigeon Combine for a total of five hundred-twelve members. My position with regards to combine races isn’t that good because my location is too far south. Most of the winners in the combine races live in central Jersey.

3. What type of birds do you fly? What breeding methods do you use?

I acquired a Jansen Foundation Hen from another member, Bob Burns. I also have Sions. I let the birds pick and choose their mates in late December. My bird’s colors include blue bars, checkered and some reds and splashes.

4. Can you give us a little history on your Champion bird? How often do you race you Champion bird?

My Champion bird came out of a Jansen Hen I got from Bob Burns and a Sion. My bird was 2005 Champion bird and 2003 Champion bird. I also have two Loft Champions. In the last four years I have had 14 first places, 15-second place and 17 third places. I have also had 4 Combine diplomas. I had my champion bird for two seasons and one day the bird never came home. I raced my Champion bird every week and I alternate the rest of the team. I still have the parents of my Champion bird. I have also raced the brothers and sisters of this bird and did well in individual races.

5. How many birds do you fly on your old bird team? On your young bird team? Do you prefer old birds or young birds? Do you fly imports?

I have 30 old birds and I have 30-32 young birds. I don’t prefer one over the other. I like them both. I don’t fly imports.

6. 6. Do you fly to the perch or do you fly widowhood?

The old birds fly, to the nest boxes. The young birds fly to the perch.

7. 7. Describe your loft.

My loft is an 8ft. by 5ft. Room that comfortably houses about forty-five birds. I also have an open front coup for the hens and an open front coup for the cocks. I scrap every day and vacuum once a month.

8. 8. What do you feed your birds?

I make my own feed. I buy cheap seed at the market and I mix in wild bird feed, corn rice millet barley and safflower seeds. I feed the birds twice a day in the morning and evening in the cold weather and once a day during the warm weather. They can eat all the feed they want during the week. However, on race day they are given popcorn and peanuts only up until 1200PM. I also inoculate the birds once a year.

9. How do you train your birds?

The birds are placed on a training truck and released early in the morning.
Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday they fly about 70 miles. Thursday they fly
100 miles and on Friday they fly about 35 miles.

10. Do you believe in bird entry limits? Do you believe in clocking limits?

I feel there should be a fifteen-bird entry limit. This would be less expensive for the
flyers because they would not breed so many birds. I also feel there should be a
clocking limit to three birds. This would allow for getting out of the club earlier on
reporting nights.

11. Is there a flyer, breeder or book that has helped you to become a better pigeon flyer?

I want to thank Bob Burns because when I was going to quit, he urged me to
continue. I would also like to thank the IF membership and officers. A lot of time
and effort is put into compiling the IF Awards on a national basis and I am glad to
have been able to participate in the awards.

12. Do you have any advice for new flyers?

Ask the “old timers” and hope they give you the right answers.