Pigeon Facts

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We thought as a point of interest and a bit of fun to include this segment and bring to light whatever
informative addition may take the fancy of pigeon enthusiasts worldwide.

To assist the allied war effort during the first and second World Wars the carrier pigeon was effectively used to send
and receive messages. Cher Ami (French for dear friend) was held in high regard for having saved many a soldier.
The courageous little homing pigeon was to become winged hero to the American soldiers of the 77th Infantry Division.
With having flown 12 important missions - sadly, on the very last and most important homing exercise, Cher Ami was
badly wounded by German firepower. For such courageous determination, our battle weary Cher Ami was duly
presented with the French Croix de guerre medal. Cher Ami was featured in Harry Webb Farrington’s book
of poems and the pigeon was to become the most celebrated avian hero of World War One. Cher Ami died
on the 13th June 1919. The blessed little carrier pigeon was preserved by taxidermy and can presently
be seen displayed at the National Museum for American History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.

Homing pigeons are referred to as carrier pigeons when used to carry messages. This is possible where a message
is written on very thin light paper and rolled into a small canister attached to the bird's leg; this is called Pigeon Post.
White and very colourful homing pigeons are used in ceremonies at weddings, funerals and some sporting events.

Homing pigeons were still employed in the 21st century by certain remote police departments in Orissa state in eastern India
to provide emergency communication services following natural disasters. In March 2002, it was announced that India's Police
Pigeon Service messenger system in Orissa was to be retired, due to the expanded use of the Internet.

National Pigeon Day takes place in Central Park New York. It was first held on June 13, 2008 and now appears certain to
become a most popular ritual - absurd but true!

The homing pigeon was responsible for bringing Noah the good news of the declining flood waters

The term stool pigeon is believed to have come from early American huntsmen who were thought to have used a dead
pigeon nailed to a tree stump as a decoy to entice a hawk into a trap. Under the microscope it certainly appears as if the
term is most applicable to a person being used to entrap criminals.

An English village ordinance states: Those caught feeding the city's feathered residents will face a maximum of 30 days in jail
and a $500 fine. - absurd but true!

A statue of a woman made out of bread is proving popular with pigeons in a park in Santiago, Chile - absurd but true!.

Pigeons Revenge

To keep alive in the wild, a pigeon needs to keep its eyes open for predators. Having eyes on the side of its head gives it a field
of view of 340 degrees and, in order to fly at speed, its brain can process visual information three times faster than a human's.

France has found a unique way of controlling its unwanted critter population. They have done this by giving unwanted animals like
snails, pigeons, and frogs fancy names, thus transforming common backyard pests into expensive delicacies. These are then served
to gullible tourists, who will eat anything they can't pronounce - Chris Harris

Pigeon poop is driving officials crazy in towns across the world -- crazy enough to propose putting the birds on birth control to cut
down their populations.- absurd but true!

Bloom is the term used for the fine white powder produced by pigeons - Breeders of Racing Pigeons believe:
the more bloom that becomes airborne when a homer energetically flaps its wings - the healthier the pigeon, but It’s all
just Bloomin’ Greek to this here Aussie bloke (lol)!.

It is believed domestication of the Rock Dove by the Mesopotamian's took place as early as 3000 B.C.

Pablo Picasso not only admired and painted the pigeon, but he also named his daughter Paloma - Spanish for pigeon.

Picasso was of Spanish heritage and duly Christened: Pablo Diego José
Francisco de Paula Juan Nepomuceno María de los Remedios Cipriano de la Santísima
Trinidad Ruiz y Picasso - absurd but true!
The renowned artist was born - October 25th 1881.
He died in Mougins, France on the 8th April 1973 (aged 91).

Historians believe the oldest domesticated bird in the world is Columba Livia - the pigeon.

Hannibal employed pigeons during his attack upon the Roman Empire.

(Equivalent in connotation) - The names are thus used interchangeably.

Pigeons and Doves are synonymously referenced

Pigeons were worshipped by the Hebrews and many other religions - some of these practised sacrificial rituals

The dove was proclaimed to be the sacred bird of Aphrodite and has been worshipped throughout the world - also prominently
featured in the Old Testament.

The average age of a captive pigeon is from about 8-15 years. Some are known to have lived to an amazing 20 or so years.
It has been recorded that a bird called Kaiser, a World War I German war bird was captured by American forces and brought
to the U.S. It was reported to have reached the ripe old age of 35 years, but that must rank as highly exceptional. In the wild most
pigeons may live to an average of 5-6 years - most deaths are due to fledglings falling victim to hungry predators.

Q. What’s the difference between an investment banker and a pigeon?
A. A pigeon can leave a deposit on a Ferrari!

Q. Why was the pigeon asked to leave the party?
A. Because he was driving everybody coo coo!

Relevant Pigeon Nomenclature

Autosome: All Chromosomes located within the Nucleus - not chromosomes designated as Sex Linked.

Chromosomes: Are long stringy aggregates of genes carrying hereditary information.

Dam is the female and Sire the male.

Dominant: That which is phenotypically expressed in both the heterozygous and homozygous.

DNA: Genetic Information carrying substance and consisting of biopolymer of deoxyribonucleic acids - integral biological
composition for the development and functioning of all evolutionary creature species.

Epistasis: The masking or suppressing of the action of one gene by another at a different chromosomal
location or locus.

Expressivity: The degree to which a given gene is expressed. Penetrance: The degree to which a gene
produces a visual or phenotypic effect

Taxonomy

The Rock Pigeon was first described by Gmelin in 1789. The genus name Columba is the Latinised form
of the Ancient Greek κόλυμβος (kolumbos), "a diver", from κολυμβάω (kolumbao), "dive, plunge headlong, swim"..
Aristophanes (Birds, 304) and others use the word κολυμβίς (kolumbis), "diver" - for the name of the bird, because of its
swimming motion in the air. The specific epithet is derived from the Latin livor, "bluish". Its closest relative in the Columba
genus is the Hill Pigeon, followed by the other rock pigeons: the Snow, Speckled and White-collared Pigeons.The species
is also known as the Rock Dove or Blue Rock Dove, the former being the official name used by the British Ornithologists'
Union and the American Ornithologists' Union until 2004, at which point they changed their official listing of the bird
to Rock Pigeon.In common usage, this bird is often simply referred to as the "pigeon". Baby pigeons are called squabs.

                           There are at least four main types of competitive pigeon sport
   * Pigeon racing
   * Tumbling
   * Highflying
   * Tippler (Endurance)

Pigeons have been domesticated for thousands of years. The predecessors of
modern day Racing pigeons were pigeons bred for their homing ability, primarily to carry
messages. "Pigeon Posts" have been established all over the world and while mainly used
in the military, Some are still in service today. Modern pigeon racing originated in Belgium
in the mid 19th century.

Though not quite a sport, fancy breeds of pigeons are also bred to standards and judged in a competitive fashion.
Levi in his book : The Pigeon, describes all aspects of pigeon keeping. For exhibition purposes sport pigeons are
sometimes grouped as: Flying/Sporting Pigeons.

Pigeons are aerial athletes and can reach speeds of up to 145 km per hour and on a straight course can out fly and
outsmart its most fearful of enemies - the Hawk

Pigeon racing is a sport involving the release of specially trained racing pigeons, which then return to their homes over a
carefully measured distance. The time it takes the animal to cover the specified distance is measured and the animals' rate
of travel is calculated and compared with all of the other pigeons in the race to determine which animal returned at the
highest speed.The winner of a pigeon race is the bird with the highest velocity, that is, the distance flown divided by the time
taken. Races can often be won and lost in seconds, and to counter this, many different timing apparatus have been
developed. The traditional timing method involves rubber rings being placed into a specially designed clock, whereas a
newer development uses RFID tags to record arrival time. While there is not definite proof, there are compelling reasons to
think the sport of racing pigeons may go back as least as far as 220 AD or possibly earlier. The sport achieved a great
deal of popularity in Belgium in the mid 19th century. The pigeon fanciers of Belgium were so taken with the hobby that they
began to develop pigeons specially cultivated for fast flight and long endurance called Voyageurs. From Belgium the
modern version of the sport and the Voyageurs which the Flemish fanciers developed spread to most parts of the world.
Once quite popular, the sport has experienced a downturn in participants in recent years, possibly due to the rising cost of
living and aging fanciers.

Electronic timing method

The latest development and preferred method for timing racing pigeons is the Electronic Timing System. The bird's arrival
is recorded automatically. When using an electronic system, the pigeon fancier doesn’t even have to be at the loft to clock the
birds as they return. Birds are fitted with a band that has a tiny RFID chip in it which can be read when the bird comes
home. At the home loft the electronic scanning records the pigeons arrival. The pad or antenna is placed at the entry point to
the loft entrance and as the pigeon crosses it the electronic band is scanned.
The clock is attached to the antennas. The serial number of the transponder ring is recorded along with the time of arrival.
This is very similar to transponder timing systems used in human races.
In February 2008 the members of the Penygraog Homing Society Racing Pigeon Club in Wales won an award to fund a new
electronic timing device. The club was able to obtain the device thanks to funding from the All Wales award initiative.
Club secretary John Williams said: “The electronic timer certainly makes it a lot easier for us”.

One-loft racing

One-Loft Racing is the process of training birds bred by many different breeders in the same loft, under the same trainer and
in the same conditions (as opposed to trainer against trainer in their own lofts and usually with their own birds). It is thought to
be the fairest method of proving which bloodline or breeder is best and usually provides the highest amount of prize money.
Pigeons are recorded by electronic timing systems scanning the birds as they enter the home loft with winners decided by as
little as 100th of a second. The birds are all taken to the same release point and they return to the same home loft, so therefore
it is the fastest bird to complete the journey from A to B. One-loft racing is now becoming very popular all around the world with
fanciers able to compare their bloodlines on an equal basis against the many other pigeons.

Australia
The largest Racing Organisation in Australia is the Central Cumberland Federation.

In Australia, velocities are recorded in meters per minute. The state of Queensland also has a number of clubs and organisations.
The biggest of these is the Qld Racing Pigeon Federation Inc (QRPF). Located in Brisbane, the QRPF has a long history dating
back to the 2nd World War. Each year the QRPF organises pigeon races for its several hundred members. These races start at
approximately 145 km in distance and continue on a gradual basis out to distances of over 1000 km. A specialised transporter is
used to transport the birds to the release points. This transporter enables the birds to be fed and watered on route before mass
release at a predetermined time for their flight back to various home lofts. Many thousands of pigeons compete in races each
weekend during the winter months.
Australia's Premier One Loft Event is the Mallee Classic held in Ballarat Victoria, which is the only event to attract international
recognition and sponsors, such as the "Best Western Hotel" chain and JV Marine World the Largest boating show room in the
southern hemisphere.
The sport of pigeon racing has been declining around Sydney with pigeon club members gradually dying off as fewer younger
people take up the sport. The high cost of feeds and fuel have also contributed to the decline.

Pigeon transporter

Feral pigeons, also called city doves, city pigeons or street pigeons, are derived from domestic pigeons that have returned
to the wild.The domestic pigeon was originally bred from the wild Rock Pigeon, which naturally inhabits sea-cliffs and
mountains. All three types readily interbreed. Feral pigeons find the ledges of buildings to be a substitute for sea cliffs, and
have become adapted to life and are abundant in towns and cities all over the world.

Cliff dwelling Feral’s

A large pigeon trap/coop/loft at
Batman Park. Melbourne,Victoria -
designed specifically to encourage
nesting and allow removal of fertilized
eggs to prevent population growth.
Not only a tourist attraction, but a
landmark in its own right.

Columba livia Gmelin, 1789

Facts About Pigeons
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum:    Chordata
Class:         Aves
Order:         Columbiformes
Family:      Columbidae
Genus:     Columbia
Species:   C. Livia

The Rock Pigeon breeds at any time of the year, but peak times are
spring and summer.

Nesting sites are situated along coastal cliff faces.

The type of nest constructed is a flimsy platform of straw and sticks.

2 white eggs are laid with incubation that is shared by both parents
lasting from seventeen to nineteen days.

The nestling has pale yellow down and a flesh-colored bill with a
dark band. It is tended and fed on "crop-milk" like other doves.

The fledging period is 30 days.

Pigeon Facts
Historical*Comical*Absurd

Pigeons are considered to be one of the most intelligent birds on the planet with pigeons being able to undertake tasks
previously thought to be the sole preserve of humans and primates. The pigeon has also been found to pass the
‘mirror test’ (being able to recognize its reflection in a mirror) and is one of only 6 species, and the only non-mammal
that has this ability. The pigeon can also recognize all 26 letters of the English language as well as being able to
conceptualize. In scientific tests pigeons have been found to be able to differentiate between photographs and even
differentiate between two different human beings in a photograph when rewarded with food for doing so.

Feral Pigeon Traps

740 mm x 250 mm x 38.5 mm. Capacity
6/8 birds, heavy steel top and bottom
frames and 2.5 mm galvanized mesh.

Trap entrance

Successful capture of feral pigeons

The image above shows a galvanized wire pigeon trap that depending on trap size can hold as many as
15 to 30 pigeons at a time. All manner of Pigeon Traps make it easy to control the pigeon
population on any property. Pigeons enter the traps through special trap doors constructed of hanging
steel wire bobs. The unique slanted design of the repeating doors encourages pigeons to move
forward and enter the trap as they eat the grain. The special trapping mechanism of the door
automatically resets after each bird is caught, and prevents the trapped pigeons from escaping.
A convenient release door is also located on all of the Pigeon Traps. This provides easy access to the
trapped pigeons. For optimal trapping conditions, the area where a Pigeon Trap will be placed should
be pre-baited for several days before the trap is introduced. Grain, cereal, fig bars, or dried bread
should be used for bait. After the pigeons become familiar with the new eating spot, place one of the
Pigeon Traps over the feed. Bait the pigeon trap with a trail of grain on the outside of the trap and leading
into the trap doors. Make sure to place the majority of the bait inside the pigeon trap. We also
recommend pre-baiting the pigeon trap for several days, or until the pigeons become familiar with
walking in and out of the trap. To pre-bait the trap you need to tie-up the trap doors. The pigeons will eat
the grain and move freely in and out of the trap as they eat. After the pigeons become familiar with the
trap, untie the doors. Remember to always check your Pigeon Traps on a daily basis.

Manny Arquette

The familiar city pigeon is just one of a large family of beautiful and adaptable birds. Humans have
a mixed relationship with these interesting species.
Some members of the pigeon family have had a long and intricate association with humans.
Sacred in some cultures they are hunted or raised for food in others. Some have benefited from the
increased food supply provided by agriculture and human garbage; others have suffered from habitat
loss and over hunting.
While the white dove stands as an international symbol of peace, the feral Rock Dove multiplies in
cities, fouling sidewalks and buildings, and feeding on garbage, earning the name of “flying rat.” Pigeons
and doves have been immortalized in poetry and prose, music and art. They conjure up both positive and
negative images for most of us, but what do we really know about these contradictory birds? Many people
are unaware that the pigeon family includes hundreds of species, some of which are among the most
beautiful birds on Earth.

· Pigeons are found almost everywhere on Earth; however, they don’t occur in very cold places or in very

dry places. There are no native pigeons on the Hawaiian Islands or on the islands of the mid-Atlantic ridge.

· Pigeon and dove are synonyms: they are the same thing. There are 309 different species, belonging to the

taxonomic family Columbidae.

· Pigeons are arranged into four subfamilies: typical pigeons, which eat predominantly seeds; fruit pigeons,

fruit eaters found in tropical Africa and Asia; crowned pigeons, which have a crest of feathers on the head; and

a fourth subfamily containing only one species—the Tooth-billed Pigeon, which has a serrated upper bill.

· A muscular gizzard grinds ingested seed for seed-eating species. The same structure in the fruit eaters

removes the fruit from the pit, leaving the pit intact—fruit pigeons often disperse the seeds of fruiting plants to

new locales.

· Nestling pigeons drink milk from the crops of both parents. Pigeon milk is quite similar to milk produced for

young by mammals.

· Pigeons drink water by sucking it up through the beak, a feature unusual in birds.

· City pigeons, carrier (or homing) pigeons, domestic pigeons raised for meat, and racing pigeons are all the

same species, descended from the Rock Dove of Europe, North Africa, and South Asia.

Facts about Pigeons and Doves

Here are some interesting facts about pigeons:

· Pigeons are powerful flyers. Racing pigeons can reach speeds of 70 km/hr (44 mph).

· Because of their amazing ability to find their way home, even over very large distances, homing pigeons

have been used to deliver messages since the time of the early Egyptians.

· The Passenger Pigeon may have once been the most numerous birds on Earth. In the early 1800's there were

between 3 and 5 billion Passenger Pigeons in North America.

· Dove hunting has long been a popular sport. In some American states, Mourning Doves are protected, while in

others, there is a dove hunting season.

· Eleven pigeon species are extinct, including the famous Dodo Bird and the Passenger Pigeon.

Many more are threatened.

· Author: Rosemary Drisdelle.

· Sep 10, 2007

The Natural History of Pigeon Species and Their History with Humans

Originally published on Suite101.com.

*Certain articles herein are the sole copyright property of contributing authors and may not be reproduced without written permission.

Belgium

The Janssen Brothers (Louis, Charel, Arjaan and Sjef) are a famous and very successful

pigeon racing family from Arendonk, Belgium. Descendants of their pigeons can be found

racing all around the world. Louis Janssen, born 1912, is the last of the Janssen Brothers

still alive.

Pigeon Facts of Interest

South Africa

South Africa is the home of the richest One-Loft Race in the world - the Sun City Million Dollar Pigeon Race.

The Sun City Million Dollar Pigeon Race pits 4,300 birds from 25 countries against each other for a share of

$1.3m in prize money. The runners-up win cars and smaller monetary prizes, while the overall winner can

expect to pocket US$200,000. Sun City's "one-loft" race, sees birds from across the world air-freighted to

South Africa as squabs, months before the race, and trained to orientate to a single loft.

Then on race day, after being released 550 km out on the South African veldt, the birds all race back to the

same destination.

Racing Pigeons in Australia

It might say something for the sport of Racing Pigeons, that it is the national
pastime in Belgium where there is over 160,000 flying members of clubs and
federations and where the majority of lofts, in which the birds are held or
housed, are built in the attic of the family home due to the lack of available
land. Throughout Belgium one can even find betting shops, similar to our TAB.
Almost every weekend you will find a further few hundred thousand flyers take
part in this exciting sport in the United Kingdom including Wales, Scotland
and Northern Ireland - throughout the Northern, Southern and East European
countries, the Continent, the Arab States, United States, Canada, South
America, South Africa, China, Taiwan, Thailand, Korea and Japan.

Australia & The Early Years

It is difficult to pinpoint the exact date of the first pigeon race in Australia, due
to the lack of early records. It has been recorded, however, that the first race
of any note took place in the 1870 s. Pigeon races, in those days, were
usually held between two prominent business men, were referred to as Match
Races and were held over 600 to 700 miles. The prize or purse was of
considerable value for that time. The first of such match races to be held in
Victoria, took place on the 22nd July, 1875.
During 1880 the first Racing Pigeon Club was formed in Melbourne and by the
mid 1880 s Clubs were springing up throughout metropolitan area. The oldest
Federation of Racing Pigeon Clubs in Melbourne is the Victorian Homing
Association that began during 1890.
Today, each weekend, somewhere within Australia, hundreds of flyers take
part in the sport with the number of birds released for any particular race
being upwards of one thousand.

The Year 2000 & Beyond

The State of Victoria alone has around 150 clubs. Collectively, they have
more than 2,000 members, the majority of which reside within the Melbourne
metropolitan area. The overall value of racing pigeons kept in Victoria alone
exceeds $20,000,000. Whilst to purchase a single bird could cost the
prospective buyer between $200 and $4,000, dependent upon the bird’s
pedigree and the performance of its sire and dam, both as a racer and
breeder and the interest in the bird at auction.
Victorian Flyers spend more than $1,500,000 on food and medicines each
year to ensure that their birds are in peak condition all year round whether it
be during the breeding season or racing season.
There is up to five Racing Pigeon Federations, Associations or Unions in each
Capitol City within Australia. With more than 500 Clubs and 10,000 flying
members. Each Federation and Club is structures as a non-profit sporting
organization, the larger of which can have an individual turnover over of
$600,000 annually.

As a hobby, sport, source of income or science, the Racing or Homing
Pigeon has been associated with man for thousands of years. There are
records that show pigeons were domesticated as far back as 3,000 B.C.
There are also numerous references to pigeons in the Bible and the New
Testament, the most familiar being the story of Noah’s Doves. Pigeon
Racing’s one of the lesser publicized sports not only here, in
Australia, but around the world. The reason for this lack of media support
is probably because it s not a spectator sport as such, even though
hundreds of thousands of men and women Worldwide are involved in the
sport on a weekly basis.

In 1945 a grand and memorable, prize winning, Janssen racing pigeon was so christened:
‘Wondervoske van’ – translated: The Wonder Red Hen. The hen Was Sired by the 1939
champion: ‘Vos Van’. The rest is history and the renowned Janssen name lives on forever
among the Racing Pigeon Fraternity

Genes are always present in pairs, one from the father, and the other from the

mother, so for simplicity, an example: FF= Father, MM= Mother. When the cells

divide for reproduction they are halved and then recombined when sperm

meets an egg, to form the new offspring which will carry the “FM” (Father + Mother)

gene combination. These genes reside at the same location (locus) on a

homologous chromosome pair. These two copies of the gene are called alleles.

A bird with two identical alleles at a locus is called a Homozygote. A bird with two

alleles that are slightly different in their nucleotide sequences is called a

Heterozygote - or is said to be heterozygous at that locus.

Genes may be either Dominant or Recessive. By standard genetic convention

dominant genes are expressed by a capital letter, while the recessive gene is

reported by a small letter. The dominant gene is ALWAYS visible, so we usually say

it is expressed. The exception is when two recessives are combined together then we

see them expressed. We call this double dose of the same genes either dominant or

recessive as “homozygous”.

Dominant + recessive = visibility of Dominant

Recessive + recessive = visibility of recessive

Iridescence is given by spectral colors due to light interference. This interference is

caused by twisted and broadened, melanin containing, barbules or by spherical granules

of melanin in close proximity to the cuticle. Since feather color is governed by only two

phenomena, all color mutations may be divided into two classes: mutations of the

Bio chromes or of the Micro structure of the feather. Dominant genes are of two

types: complete and incomplete. Complete dominance allows Hetero-zygote's to express

the full mutant phenotype - whereas with incomplete dominance, the Hetero-zygote's

show a compromise between the normal and the mutant phenotypes.

There are various ways in which genes at different loci can interact with each other.

The ability of a gene at one locus to effect the expression of one or more alleles at another

locus is termed epistasis. There are various forms of epistasis or what we term as -

‘Genetic Cloaking Traits’.

Dominant Epistasis: When the dominant allele at one locus prevents expression of one or

more alleles at another locus. Recessive Epistasis: When the recessive allele at one locus

prevents expression of alleles at another locus.

Duplicate Genes with Cumulative Effect: When the dominant gene at one locus produces

the same phenotype as a dominant gene at another locus.

However, when both loci are homozygous dominant or heterozygous dominant, there is a

cumulative effect that produces a distinctive phenotype.

Duplicate Dominant Genes: When the dominant gene at two different loci i.e., homozygous

dominant or heterozygous, each produce the same phenotype without a cumulative effect.

Duplicate Recessive Genes: When the recessive genes at two different loci - both

homozygous recessive - produce the same phenotype without a cumulative effect.

Dominant and Recessive Interaction: When the dominant gene at one locus produces the

same phenotype as a recessive gene at another locus.

Genes that act together to produce differences in the degree between phenotypes are

termed polygene's. This form of inheritance is different than the classical Mendel type gene or

major gene. As previously mentioned, not all traits are controlled by a single pair of genes - a

trait can be controlled by numerous genes perhaps up to 100 or more.

There are various ways that alleles at the same loci can act with each other to produce a

particular phenotype. Allelic interactions at the same loci are categorized as follows:

Complete Dominance: The homozygous recessive alleles produce one phenotype and the

homozygous dominant alleles and heterozygous recessive produce another.

Partial or Incomplete Dominance: The heterozygous condition produces a phenotype

intermediate between the homozygous conditions.

Over-dominance: The phenotypic expression of the heterozygous condition exceeds the

phenotype of the homozygous dominant condition.

Additive Genes: In a model situation, one allele contributes nothing to the phenotype; the

other allele contributes by a factor of one in the heterozygous condition and by a factor of

two in the homozygous condition. In other words, the phenotype of heterozygous is exactly

intermediate between either homozygous, a special case of partial dominance. Keep in mind

that phenotypes controlled by genes at different loci can interact to create the appearance

of a particular case mentioned above, e.g., duplicate dominant gene interactions.Two terms

used to describe how often a gene displays itself are penetrance and expressivity.

Penetrance is defined as the percentage of individuals with a particular gene combination

(genotype) that exhibit the corresponding character to any degree. If the dominant gene in

the heterozygous condition was not expressed all the time then the penetrance is some

percentage less than 100%. Most dominant genes have a penetrance of 100%. Expressivity is

the degree of effect produced by a particular penetrant genotype. The Pied trait is a good

example of expressivity - ranging from several white patches in some birds to completely

white in others.

Avian Genetics Revisited

Fundamental Genetics

Dominant + Dominant = visibility of Dominant

GENE INTERACTIONS

DNA replication: the basis for biological inheritance, is a fundamental process occurring

in all living organisms to copy their DNA. This process is "semi-conservative" in that

each strand of the original double-stranded DNA molecule serves as template for the

reproduction of the complementary strand. Hence, following DNA replication, two

identical DNA molecules have been produced from a single double-stranded

DNA molecule. Cellular proofreading and error-checking mechanisms ensure near

perfect fidelity for DNA replication.

In a cell, DNA replication begins at specific locations in the genome, called "origins".

Unwinding of DNA at the origin, and synthesis of new strands, forms a replication fork.

In addition to DNA polymerase, the enzyme that synthesizes the new DNA by adding

nucleotides matched to the template strand, a number of other proteins are associated

with the fork and assist in the initiation and continuation of DNA synthesis.

DNA replication: The double helix

is unwound and each strand acts

as a template. Bases are matched

to synthesize the new partner

strands.

DNA structure

The chemical structure of DNA.

DNA usually exists as a double-stranded structure, with both strands coiled together to form the characteristic
double helix. Each single strand of DNA is a chain of four types of nucleotides: adenine, cytosine, guanine, and
thymine. A nucleotide is a triphosphate deoxyribonucleoside; that is, a deoxyribose sugar attached to a
triphosphate and a base. Chemical interaction of these nucleotides forms phospodiester linkages, creating the
phosphate-deoxribose backbone of the DNA double helix with the bases pointing inward. Nucleotides (bases)
are matched between strands through

Hydrogen bonds to form base pairs.

Adenine pairs with thymine and

cytosine pairs with guanine

DNA strands have a directionality, and the different ends of a single strand are called the "3' end" and the "5' end."

These terms refer to the carbon atom in ribose to which the next phosphate in the chain attaches. In addition to

being complementary, the two strands of DNA are antiparallel: they are oriented in opposite directions.

This directionality has consequences in DNA synthesis, because DNA polymerase can only synthesize DNA in one

direction by adding nucleotides to the 3' end of a DNA strand.

The pairing of bases in DNA through hydrogen bonding means that the information contained within each strand is

redundant. The nucleotides on a single strand can be used to reconstruct nucleotides on a newly synthesized

partner strand.

DNA polymerases are a family of enzymes that carry out all forms of DNA replication. A DNA polymerase

can only extend an existing DNA strand paired with a template strand; it cannot begin the synthesis of a

new strand. To begin synthesis of a new strand, a short fragment of DNA or RNA, called a primer, must be

created and paired with the template strand before DNA polymerase can synthesize new DNA.

Once a primer pairs with DNA to be replicated, DNA polymerase synthesizes a new strand of DNA by

extending the 3' end of an existing nucleotide chain, adding new nucleotides matched to the template

strand one at a time via the creation of phosphodiester bonds. The energy for this process of DNA

polymerization comes from two of the three total phosphates attached to each unincorporated base.

(Free bases with their attached phosphate groups are called nucleoside triphosphates.)

When a nucleotide is being added to a growing DNA strand, two of the phosphates are removed and

the energy produced creates a phosphodiester (chemical) bond that attaches the remaining phosphate

to the growing chain. The energetics of this process also help explain the directionality of synthesis -

if DNA were synthesized in the 3' to 5' direction, the energy for the process would come from the 5' end

of the growing strand rather than from free nucleotides.

Genetic linkage occurs when particular genetic loci or alleles for genes are inherited jointly.

Genetic loci on the same chromosome are physically connected and tend to stay together during

meiosis, and are thus genetically linked. This is called Autosomal linkage. Alleles for genes on

different chromosomes are usually not linked, due to independent assortment of chromosomes

during meiosis. Because there is some crossing over of DNA when the chromosomes segregate,

alleles on the same chromosome can be separated and go to different daughter cells.

There is a greater probability of this happening if the alleles are far apart on the chromosome, as it

is more likely that a cross-over will occur between them.

Genetic linkage

The relative distance between two genes can be calculated using the offspring of an organism

showing two linked genetic traits, and finding the percentage of the offspring where the two traits

do not run together. The higher the percentage of descendants that does not show both traits, the

farther apart the two genes are on the chromosome.

Among individuals of an experimental population or species, some phenotypes or traits occur

randomly with respect to one another in a manner known as independent assortment.

Today scientists understand that independent assortment occurs when the genes affecting the

phenotypes are found on different chromosomes or separated by a great enough distance on the

same chromosome that recombination occurs at least half of the time.

An exception to independent assortment develops when genes appear near one another on the

same chromosome. When genes occur on the same chromosome, they are usually inherited as a

single unit. Genes inherited in this way are said to be linked, and are referred to as "linkage groups."

For example, in fruit flies the genes affecting eye color and wing length are inherited together

because they appear on the same chromosome.

But in many cases, even genes on the same chromosome that are inherited together produce

offspring with unexpected allele combinations. This results from a process called crossing over.

At the beginning of normal meiosis, a chromosome pair (made up of a chromosome from the mother

and a chromosome from the father) intertwine and exchange sections or fragments of chromosome.

The pair then breaks apart to form two chromosomes with a new combination of genes that differs

from the combination supplied by the parents. Through this process of recombining genes,

organisms can produce offspring with new combinations of maternal and paternal traits that may

contribute to or enhance survival.

DNA replication

DNA Sequencing: The process used to obtain the sequential arrangement of nucleotides

in the DNA. The term DNA sequencing refers to methods for determining the order of the

nucleotide bases, adenine, guanine, cytosine, and thymine in a molecule of DNA.

DNA Sequencing

DNA Sequence Trace

The first DNA sequences were obtained by academic researchers, using laborious methods based on

2-dimensional chromatography in the early 1970s. Following the development of dye-based sequencing

methods with automated analysis, DNA sequencing has become easier and orders of magnitude faster.

RNA sequencing was one of the earliest forms of nucleotide sequencing. The major landmark of RNA
sequencing is the sequence of the first complete gene and the complete genome of Bacteriophage MS2,
identified and published by Walter Fiers and his coworkers at the University of Ghent (Ghent, Belgium),
between 1972 and 1976. Prior to the development of rapid DNA sequencing methods in the early 1970s by
Frederick Sanger at the University of Cambridge, in England and Walter Gilbert and Allan Maxam at
Harvard, a number of laborious methods were used.

For instance, in 1973, Gilbert and Maxam reported the sequence of 24 base pairs using a method known as
wandering-spot analysis. The chain-termination method developed by Sanger and coworkers in 1975 soon
became the method of choice, owing to its relative ease and reliability.

Current methods can directly sequence only relatively short (300-1000 nucleotides long) DNA

fragments in a single reaction. The main obstacle to sequencing DNA fragments above this size lim

it is insufficient power of separation for resolving large DNA fragments that differ in length by

only one nucleotide.

Genomic DNA is fragmented into random pieces and cloned as a bacterial library. DNA from
individual bacterial clones is sequenced and the sequence is assembled by using overlapping
DNA regions.

Large-scale sequencing aims at sequencing very
long DNA pieces, such as whole chromosomes.
Common approaches consist of cutting
(with restriction enzymes) or shearing
(with mechanical forces) large DNA fragments
into shorter DNA fragments. The fragmented
DNA is cloned into a DNA vector, and amplified
in Escherichia coli. Short DNA fragments purified
from individual bacterial colonies are individually
sequenced and assembled electronically into one
long, contiguous sequence.
This method does not require any pre-existing
information about the sequence of the DNA and is
referred to as de novo sequencing. Gaps in the
assembled sequence may be filled by primer walking.

The different strategies have different tradeoffs in
speed and accuracy; shotgun methods are often used
for sequencing large genomes, but its assembly is
complex and difficult, particularly with sequence
repeats often causing gaps in genome assembly.

The high demand for low-cost sequencing has driven

the development of high-throughput sequencing

technologies that parallelize the sequencing process,

producing thousands or millions of sequences at once.

High-throughput sequencing technologies are intended

to lower the cost of DNA sequencing beyond what is

possible with standard dye-terminator methods.

In vitro Clonal Amplification
Molecular detection methods are not sensitive
enough for single molecule sequencing, so
most approaches use an in vitro cloning step
to amplify individual DNA molecules. Emulsion
PCR isolates individual DNA molecules along
with primer-coated beads in aqueous droplets
within an oil phase. Polymerase chain reaction
(PCR) then coats each bead with clonal copies
of the DNA molecule followed by
immobilization for later sequencing.

New sequencing methods

Did You Know?

No other race winners are as valued as the 1st place International Barcelona winners.
Recent prices paid include: $150,000.00 for “Smaragd II” by Masserella and $120,000.00
for “Gerda” by Seikan Kodama.

From the 1960’s thru the 1990’s no other strain of pigeon has so overwhelmingly dominated
the Barcelona International races as those bred by Andre Vanbruaene. In 1962, Deraedt –
Van Grembergen placed 2nd International Barcelona with a bird that was 50% Vanbruaene.
This same bird won 1st International Barcelona in 1964. In 1966, Andre Vanbruaene won 1st
International Barcelona. Then in 1983, Gilmont won 1st International Barcelona with a
Vanbruaene bird.

Medal. Bred by His Majesty, King George VI. Royal Blue had the distinction of being the first
bird to return froma crash-landed aircraft in enemy occupied territory. On the 10th of October
1940 this bird was released inHolland at 7-20 am and covered the distance to Sandringham in
4 hours and 10 minutes. This was anoutstanding performance as the pigeon was only 5 months
old at the time and was bleeding from wounds to herbreast on arrival. It is not generally known
that birds from the Royal Lofts were the first to be used by the RAFin July 1939, for experimental
purposes and liberations from aircraft at various heights. On the outbreak of war,30 birds were
sent from the Royal Lofts for immediate service and a daily team was provided throughout the war.

In 1945, S & D Bishop purchased “Per-Ardua”, a Red Chequer Hen NPS-44-17264 for
360 pounds. Bred at the service lofts,Kent, England, at six months of age she was sent
to Gibraltar for war service and on her third release at the new lofts she decided to return
to Kent, England. She flew the distance of 1096 miles in 11 days and in the process
broke the English 1000 mile record of that time.

Dastardly and Muttley in Their Flying Machines is a Saturday morning cartoon produced by

Hanna-Barbera Productions for CBS from September 13, 1969 to September 5, 1971. The show

focused on the efforts of Dick Dastardly and his hench-pooch Muttley to catch Yankee Doodle Pigeon,

an American carrier pigeon who carried secret messages during World War I - hence the name of the

show’s theme Song: Stop That Pigeon. The cartoon was a combination of Red Baron-era Snoopy,

Wacky Races (which featured Dastardly and Muttley in a never-ending car race), and the film: Those

Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines.

As a fellow-genetics-researcher, it brings a head shaking, smile to my face when I come
across reference to the color ‘Silver’ with regards a Collar or Crescent trait or any other
bodily feature exhibited on a pigeon that the: ‘Analytical expert’ is enlightening one and
all as to its proclaimed Genotype and Phenotype.
I guess we postulating research moguls must have been ordained with some special divine-
license to loosely tag color identification as we see fit? A common case in point is the
ongoing Ash Red Silver Mealy procrastination's that some try to infer is less of a Silver than
the dilute blue variety (Wild type) of pigeon!
As we have two color variations of Ash Red Mealy to consider - in a ‘precise science’ - one
just cannot ignore the fact that there has to be an accurate color assignation declaration, as
a recording reference for breeding purposes, color variation Identification and a traceable
bloodline lineage to assist with scientific research.
To differentiate between Ash Red and Blue Genotypes, I always refer to the Dilute Blue’s as
either Pale or light - and that in my humble opinion, puts a common sense end to the
unfounded and unsubstantiated argument!
Now in my analytical judgement, it doesn’t matter whether the pigeon under the microscope
is an Egyptian Swift or of any other variety, the Crescent colour evaluation should to a
reasonable degree resemble the colour Silver as we know it and not the colour Ochre, Pale -
or some Ash Red Dilute, look-a-likes!
Regardless if the Genotype is of the Homozygous Indigo genotype or not - if we are to avoid
further confusion amongst the ‘genetic-tragic's - amongst us, Silver should at the very
least resemble the colour ‘Silver!’

                                                                                         Manny Arquette
                                                                             Posted: 6th September 2009

The Bitching Box

Should any viewer feel an overwhelming desire and compulsion to air their griping ways in
response to some erroneous online statement relevant to pigeons, please feel free to post
your bitching topic via our email address: mannybirdman@hotmail.com Please do be aware
that we have a presiding legal representative screening all incoming and outgoing emails, so
should your gut-wrenching, vitriolic, dummy-spit - not be posted herein, it may have been
considered to be defamatory in nature, or much too controversial to present on a public
platform. If you have a gripe about any information or photographic imagery on this website -
which is fair-comment, it will also be acknowledged as fair game, and should hopefully keep
all the ‘know-it-all’ Bastards honest – so go your hardest folks and get a load off!

****************************************************

Methods involving the analysis of nucleic acids have become widespread in the fields of traditional biology
and ecology; however the storage and transport of samples collected in the field to the laboratory in such a
manner to allow purification of intact nucleic acids can prove problematical.
Results
FTA databasing paper is widely used in human forensic analysis for the storage of biological samples and
for purification of nucleic acids.
The possible uses of FTA databasing paper in the purification of DNA from samples of wildlife origin were
examined, with particular reference to problems expected due to the nature of samples of wildlife origin.
The processing of blood and tissue samples, the possibility of excess DNA in blood samples due to nucleated
erythrocytes, and the analysis of degraded samples were all examined, as was the question of long term
storage of blood samples on FTA paper. Examples of the end use of the purified DNA are given for all
protocols and the rationale behind the processing procedures is also explained to allow the end user to adjust
the protocols as required.
Conclusions
FTA paper is eminently suitable for collection of and purification of nucleic acids from, biological samples
from a wide range of wildlife species. This technology makes the collection and storage of such samples much
simpler.

Avian Blood Sampling Technique

Techniques involving the analysis of DNA have become ubiquitous in many areas of wildlife research, such as
systematics, pathogen detection, and studies of relatedness amongst populations. Unfortunately the transport
of fresh or 'wet' samples from the point of collection involves leakage risks and the possibility of sample
degradation due to temperature variation and spoilage.
Extracted DNA or stored tissue may also degrade in the laboratory, resulting in problems for re-analysis
of samples. We describe here the storage of biological samples on FTA paper (commercially available
reagent-loaded papers similar to filing cards). These cards have been used for some time in forensic human
biology and their characteristics are well understood. Processing is often a simple washing in-situ, with
impurities being washed away and the DNA sample being retained on the paper.
The storage of material on these papers allows the re-interrogation of the DNA at any time, in addition to
space-efficient room-temperature storage of samples and cheap sample transport by mail or in personal
baggage. The ease of transport and storage of samples dried on paper makes it practical for researchers to
acquire large reference collections throughout their careers just as they acquire collections of
printed references.This paper presents a comparison of a selection of simple procedures to purify DNA from
samples on FTA paper, and explores some of the issues in the procedures such as sample overload, sample age
and sample deterioration, particularly as they apply to wildlife samples.

The purification process involves the use of magnetic particles that capture the DNA released from
samples placed in a lysis buffer. The use of magnetic particles allows the flexibility of manual or
robotic manipulation based on magnetic separation, filtration or centrifugation. This purification
process automatically quantitates the DNA eliminating the necessity to quantitate the DNA in a
separate step. We have first applied this technique to the purification of DNA from liquid blood.
Normalized peak heights of amplified alleles purified from a 7.5 fold range of blood (4 to 30) only
varied between 0.5 and 1.2. Analysis of the purified DNA with Pico-Green showed a similar narrow
concentration range

SIMULTANEOUS PURIFICATION AND QUANTITATION OF DNA FROM DATABASE
BLOOD AND BUCCAL SWAB SAMPLES

Clip Toenail to Obtain a Blood Sample
With the bird under control, examine the toenail to ensure it is clean.
A swab of alcohol can be used to clean the area.
Use a sanitized pair of nail clippers to clip the bird’s toenail just enough
to nick the vein (approximately 2/3 of the distance from the root of the nail)
and produce blood flow.

Spot Blood on FTA for testing
Remove the first bead of blood with a swab or absorbent cotton ball
and discard. Next, carefully touch the Avian Blood Sample Paper to the blood
flow and absorb a few drops of blood onto the testing paper. If the blood flow is
slow, gently squeeze on the toe with a pumping action. It is not necessary to
completely fill the circle on the paper with blood; just be sure to collect enough
blood to be visible (usually 1-3 drops of blood).

Isolation of DNA from various amounts of blood.
DNA was isolated from various amounts of blood using
either (l) 500 or (n) 700ìg of resin.
The total amount of DNA isolated was determined using
a Pico-Green ds-DNA quantitation kit.

My name is George Borg (A.A.R.O's laboratory research coordinator) and as Manny is taking a
well earned, one week off to jet his way to the Gold Coast, I am looking after some of his work
load and reviewing and responding to the many incoming emails. Most of the enquiries are well
presented and the manner of text that comes our way is cheerfully taken on the chin and we
reply in accordance with the measure of unpleasantness perceived in the address. After going
through some sixty or so, one or two read, have stuck in my throat and led me to respond herein.
Names and email addresses are respectfully withheld as a matter of courteous undertaking –
I have no doubt the sender/s won’t have any trouble recognizing their handiwork!

The majority of criticism heralded our way is constructive and we do our level best to heed the
opinions of all correspondents. We endeavour to respond within a reasonable time, so I kindly ask
that one be patient and consider the recipient’s task at hand. The majority of enquiries relate to
color mutation declarations and in the main, the Blue-head and Charcoal-face - Ash Red varieties
realized by A.A.R.O. The emails that have the ‘hackles-up’ are pure vitriolic hog-wash and the
bloody minded authors should put-up or shut-up! Those whom dispute the fact that we have been
most fortunate to produce a unique strain of Ash Reds are entitled to their opinions, but having
said that, where is the damn rationale in ignoring the growing evidence of documented data, of
which we are happy to share on this site - also in evaluating the photographic evidence?

We have asked that if one can provide documented evidence and photography to show that our
mutations are all Indigo genotypes, we are prepared to evaluate the debatable criticisms’ and will
stand corrected - as Manny has already thus stated. Since A.A.R.O’s challenge to all viewing
breeders, not one photograph of a Charcoal-face or head, ‘INDIGO’ has been forwarded by these
vociferous knockers and for whatever the reasons, for the unsubstantiated belly-aches, at the end
of the day – we have produced a number of unique mutations - which our www searches have
yet to uncover on another’s avian website! For example: Charcoal-face and head
Ash Reds, Blue-head Ash Reds, Clouded Ash Reds, Variegated ash/white primaries to Spread-Ash,
Spread-Ash over Spread Indigo, Clouded Recessive Red Tiger Grizzles, Ragged-Shield and
Golden-Shield Slates, Peak-head Kites and the many Scale-pattern varieties. So if you have
something to bitch about, kindly ensure you know what the Dickens you’re on about and perhaps
you may just contribute something of worth!

In summarizing, the A.A.R.O research team practices an ‘exact science’ and leaves the guess
work to others!

George Borg
Posted: 26th September 2009.

Enlightenment Beckons

“I guess the Internet has sadly become a minefield of bloody-minded postulators
who set themselves up as the last word on avian genetics, and unless one musters
up that ‘dormant-inner-spirit’ to see through the camouflage of unsubstantiated,
opinionated and biased, verbosity, then one shall forever live in the shadow of
blissful ignorance.”

Well it ‘s high time the majority of avian hobbyists who are constantly being exposed
to an undercurrent of dogmatic politics, creeping into their beloved hobby, become
astutely aware of the logical facts as I see them, and decide for themselves wherein
lies the truth!

The following enlightenment applies to each and every one of us who stick their
hands up high and declare themselves as a genetics research exponent, and this
heartfelt appraisal applies to the very first breeder of an avian species that was so
taken by the animal of choice - as to have become desirous of learning more of the
subject species under the educational microscope.

It has been my experience that those who make the loudest noise, usually have
the least to say to be of any consequence. To present my informative disclosure I
shall explain my point of view in a simplistic and colourful manner.

The naming of any species, or new color variety of pigeon (known as Columba livia)
is usually up to the lucky person who bred the bird and had the gut-feeling that
this was indeed a mutative genotype - and thus deliberated upon the matter to have
duly coined the classification name that would presumably stand the test of time.
Now to paraphrase: Our intuitive breeder, who was indeed most fortunate to have
produced this first of mutations was not visited by an Angel during sleep, and to
have the name so divinely given whispered in his ear, to thereafter proclaim to the
fervent populous of chanting pigeon worshipers that he had a revelation and would
thus name the exciting new variety : “Ash Red pigeon!”

Carl Graefe (1951) became renown for discovering and naming of the ‘Reduced’
variety of pigeon, and that honour remains rightfully his - regardless of those who
may disagree with the chosen name tag. With that in mind, I shall push on to further
clarify where all this spiel fits in, and hopefully shines a light on the subject matter.

We are all entitled to our opinions folks, but it becomes a stickler for me, when the
opinionated, lay claim that their interpretations are without fault and it’s right -
because they ( the self-proclaimed experts) say so!

Yes folks, it’s back to the controversial Silver Mealy debacle that keeps rearing its
ugly head and incites me to do a follow up retort - in loudly declaring that the
insistence, it is only the Dilute Blue’s that are true Silvers - as nothing more than
unsubstantiated clap-trap and the unknown breeder, or researcher , whom first
coined this name tag to a Dilute Blue, certainly has a lot to answer for!

We have two color variations of the Ash Red Mealy genotype and other than calling
them: Banana one & Banana two - each variation needs to be accurately
name-classified for research recorded data and the Silver Mealy is far more realistic
in application and scientifically accurate and appropriate- than calling a more-grey
than blue-pigeon - Silver! Pale or Light, is just right, for the Dilute Blues!

The truth be known, we blindly accept the name tags of Blue and Red, but to my
eyes, the humble pigeon is far more brown than red and far more grey than blue!
Whoops! I can already hear the loud cries of Phooey! Phooey! Phooey! Avian-heretic!
And hang the flamin’ Aussie mongrel!

In final summation: It was man, not God that so declared a pigeon shall be so named;
and in so naming a Dilute of the Wild Type variety - a ‘Silver’ - Does not make it one
folks! Make up your own minds, but to me, a Silver Mealy is the most logical and
accurate choice;and in the wise words of Elmer Fudd: “that’s all folks!”

12th Oct. 2009

PS. “I would dearly love to expose the abusive moron who sent several pathetic emails
(some completely unrelated to this subject) just because they believe our opinions
suck - with the misguided fool having recently read an article on the Internet, and in
an indirect manner (the article not disclosing names) - opposing our very entitled right
to express our choice of phraseology and color classification, but there may be ladies
and children viewing, so I must refrain!”

The one important consideration these faceless geniuses overlook is that we have
their email address - Strewth! if one so vehemently disagrees with A.A.R.O’s views
then one should just give our fairdinkum, honest to goodness, Website a miss folks;
and I still reckon: ‘Silver Mealy’ is spot on, but then again, perhaps: Platinum Mealy
is the way to go?

Mar. 8, 2009