How high can they fly?

"tonyf" <fantea DeleteThis @bellsouth.net> wrote in message
news:qb8ga0l6s8eoo3q2ejesceo6nuhj0h7mgs@4ax.com...
> On Sun, 16 May 2004 15:44:08 +0100, Malcolm Loades
> <news-abuse DeleteThis @justmay.be> wrote:
>
> >I fly a hot-air balloon and last evening I was at 1,500' above ground
> >level when a pigeon flew past. I can't recall seeing one that high
> >before, is it common for them to fly so high?
> >
> Hello, I fly a breed of pigeons called Greek Voutes. They fly 1500-
> 2000 meters. I have had several Greek flyers relay this information
> to me. I have heard of Canadian Geese flying at more than twenty
> thousand ft. by airline pilots. I would guess that if a bird has the
> strength to handle the winds at those altitudes they could go as
> the geese that have been sighted.
> tonyf


>I fly a breed of pigeons called Greek Voutes. They fly 1500-
> 2000 meters. I have had several Greek flyers relay this information
> to me.

OMFG, they talk to you too? Thats neat, where can I get some from?
 >> Stay informed about: How high can they fly? 

In message <qb8ga0l6s8eoo3q2ejesceo6nuhj0h7mgs.TakeThisOut@4ax.com>, tonyf
<fantea.TakeThisOut@bellsouth.net> writes
>On Sun, 16 May 2004 15:44:08 +0100, Malcolm Loades
><news-abuse.TakeThisOut@justmay.be> wrote:
>
>>I fly a hot-air balloon and last evening I was at 1,500' above ground
>>level when a pigeon flew past. I can't recall seeing one that high
>>before, is it common for them to fly so high?
>>
>Hello, I fly a breed of pigeons called Greek Voutes. They fly 1500-
>2000 meters. I have had several Greek flyers relay this information
>to me. I have heard of Canadian Geese flying at more than twenty
>thousand ft. by airline pilots. I would guess that if a bird has the
>strength to handle the winds at those altitudes they could go as
>the geese that have been sighted.
>tonyf

Thanks for the info. I knew migrating geese and swans went up to
20,000' but wasn't aware that pigeons got up to the altitudes you
mention. Once when I was flying at around 500' a pigeon landed on my
balloon!
--
Malcolm
 >> Stay informed about: How high can they fly? 

If you think it is neat think of those pigeons diving in the same
manner as a Peregrine falcon on a dive. The only thing is they
can dive faster than a falcon. I have watched the falcons try to
catch my birds but they are not as fast as the Voutes. The info
on the Peregrine say that they can reach speeds of up to
200mph on the dive. The Voutes don't start to pull up and open
their wings until they are ten to twelve feet off of the ground. It
still gets me excited every time I watch these pigeons dive. They
like to see how close they can get to me as they dive for the patio
in front of the loft. Most times you can hear the birds coming before
you can see them.
regards, tonyf
 >> Stay informed about: How high can they fly? 

On Mon, 17 May 2004 07:40:05 +0100, "Cataractonium"
<john.heaps.TakeThisOut@ntlworldYOUR-PANTS.com> wrote:

>
>"tonyf" <fantea.TakeThisOut@bellsouth.net> wrote in message
>news:qb8ga0l6s8eoo3q2ejesceo6nuhj0h7mgs@4ax.com...
>> On Sun, 16 May 2004 15:44:08 +0100, Malcolm Loades
>> <news-abuse.TakeThisOut@justmay.be> wrote:
>>
>> >I fly a hot-air balloon and last evening I was at 1,500' above ground
>> >level when a pigeon flew past. I can't recall seeing one that high
>> >before, is it common for them to fly so high?
>> >
>> Hello, I fly a breed of pigeons called Greek Voutes. They fly 1500-
>> 2000 meters. I have had several Greek flyers relay this information
>> to me. I have heard of Canadian Geese flying at more than twenty
>> thousand ft. by airline pilots. I would guess that if a bird has the
>> strength to handle the winds at those altitudes they could go as
>> the geese that have been sighted.
>> tonyf
>
>
>>I fly a breed of pigeons called Greek Voutes. They fly 1500-
>> 2000 meters. I have had several Greek flyers relay this information
>> to me.
>
>OMFG, they talk to you too? Thats neat, where can I get some from?
>
When I said the Greek flyers told me this it meant the guys that raise
and train them. I am used to discussing pigeons with
people that would understand that.
tonyf
 >> Stay informed about: How high can they fly? 

I once saw some mention of US Navy pigeons being released at high altitudes
decades ago, in some type of research, but I have been unable to find
anything online confirming it. I believe it was an article in the Racing
Pigeon Bulletin in which it was claimed that the pigeons were liberated at
over ten thousand feet altitude, but I have seen nothing else to confirm it.
Mike.
"tonyf" <fantea RemoveThis @bellsouth.net> wrote in message
news:qb8ga0l6s8eoo3q2ejesceo6nuhj0h7mgs@4ax.com...
> On Sun, 16 May 2004 15:44:08 +0100, Malcolm Loades
> <news-abuse RemoveThis @justmay.be> wrote:
>
> >I fly a hot-air balloon and last evening I was at 1,500' above ground
> >level when a pigeon flew past. I can't recall seeing one that high
> >before, is it common for them to fly so high?
> >
> Hello, I fly a breed of pigeons called Greek Voutes. They fly 1500-
> 2000 meters. I have had several Greek flyers relay this information
> to me. I have heard of Canadian Geese flying at more than twenty
> thousand ft. by airline pilots. I would guess that if a bird has the
> strength to handle the winds at those altitudes they could go as
> the geese that have been sighted.
> tonyf
 >> Stay informed about: How high can they fly?