As we are coming up to pigeon racing season again, pigeon fanciers will be taking their pigeons further away from their lofts for training, firstly to get their old birds fit, and secondly for the young birds to build up stamina and to orientate themselves to go back to the loft.<\/p>\n
At this time of the year, there are thousands of pigeons being trained all over Gauteng and unfortunately, some do get injured or lost and there have been numerous enquiries on social media about how one goes about reporting these pigeons.<\/p>
Here is some useful information for non-pigeon fanciers, should a racing pigeon land at your residence tired and\/or injured:<\/p>\n
In the first instance, you will need to check that the pigeon has a coloured identification ring on its leg, for example, GPU (Gauteng Pigeon Union) ZA17 (year of issue) 13309 (ring number).<\/p>
If the pigeon does not have a ring on its leg, it is more likely a wild or feral pigeon rather than a racing pigeon.<\/p>\n
If it is a seasoned racing pigeon, there may be an electronic ring on the pigeon\u2019s other leg which should have a sticker on it with the telephone number of the ring steward of the union or federation that the pigeon owner belongs to.<\/p>\n
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ALSO READ:<\/span><\/p>\n Elsburg soar to victory<\/a><\/p>\n Calling all junior rugby players to join the Elsburg Eagles<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n If there is no telephone number, you can report the pigeon by using the following numbers:<\/p>\n \u2022 GPU rings (Gauteng Pigeon Union): 078 510 8523<\/p>\n \u2022 TRPF rings (Transvaal Racing Pigeon Federation): 011 609 6341<\/p>\n \u2022 OERF rings (East Rand Racing Pigeon Federation): 083 969 6092<\/p>\n \u2022 PWU (Pretoria Wedvlugduiwe Unie): 082 824 5989<\/p>\n \u2022 Cyril\u2019s rings: 011 918 5183<\/p>\n \u2022 SOTVL rings (Suid-Oos Transvaal Posduif Unie): 082 712 0793<\/p>\n Any other rings can be reported to SANPO (South African National Pigeon Organisation) on 082 665 3676.<\/p>\n Most lost pigeons are hungry and thirsty.<\/p>\n Water is necessary before all else \u2013 please ensure water is available in a deep dish.<\/p>\n If you can provide food then please give bird seed, whole mealies or uncooked rice or lentils.<\/p>\n Do not feed racing pigeons bread.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Have a story?<\/strong><\/p>\n Contact the newsroom by emailing: Melissa Hart (Editor)\u00a0<\/span>germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za <\/a><\/strong>or Leigh Hodgson (News Editor)\u00a0<\/span>leighh@caxton.co.za<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>or\u00a0Kgotsofalang Mashilo (journalist)\u00a0kgotsofalangm@caxton.co.za<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Remember to visit the Germiston City News on the following social media platforms:<\/p>\n Facebook<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Twitter<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Instagram<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n YouTube\u00a0<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Or add the GCN on\u00a0<\/b><\/span>WhatsApp 079 406 1181<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>or\u00a0BBM (BBM Pin: 7F102137)<\/strong>\u00a0<\/b><\/span>today, to get all the latest news.<\/p>\n Catch-up on more local news with our sister newspapers\u00a0<\/span>Bedfordview Edenvale News<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0<\/span>Alberton Record<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>Kempton Express<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n