Our Sport, Our Youth
By: Grace Mehl
I.F. Membership And Youth

When people ask me, how I ever became involved in racing pigeons, I tell them I was born in a pigeon coop. Although not exactly true, from as long as I can remember, there have been pigeons in my life. My Dad, John Mehl, introduced me to them, and they fascinated me from the start. The flashy colors and beauty of the fancy birds caught my eye when I was quite young, and later, the mystery of how they found their way home and the determination of the racing homer put me in awe of homing pigeons.

Dad indulged my interest by collecting Owls, Baldheads, Fantails, Satinettes, Tumblers, and even Doves. He set me up with my own team of young birds and I raced a few seasons as a junior member.

I left them all behind when I went into the Navy for a 20-year career. When I retired, I came home to be near Dad, by now 85. He still had pigeons. They were mostly show Flights and Satinettes. One of my first tasks after returning home was to give the coops a good cleaning. The Flights were all over the place, flying into the walls with fear, as they didn’t know me.

There were a few Homers in with them and they calmly watched and just moved out of the way as I worked. Even after all the years of being away, I could see the intelligence in their eyes. I told Dad, “I don’t mind cleaning coops, but, can’t we have homers instead of the flights?” That was the start. He needed no further encouragement. Within 48 hours, Dad had sold all the Flights and started looking around for some good racing stock.

My Dad is now 89. He and I share a common love of racing pigeons. We both caught the bug at an early age and never lost it. From the moment I wake on a race day until the last bird is home in the loft, my mind is inundated with thoughts of my birds. I think about them at the release point and breaking for home, I wonder what the weather is like at every mile of the course. As the day progresses, I calculate where they should be during every interval. And, I watch the sky. I see every shadow. I see every blue Jay, every dove. I can spot a pigeon when other people, who aren’t as tuned in, don’t even see a bird.

When the time comes, I sit by the loft with a basket of droppers next to me. When I think arrival is imminent, I hold my best dropper in my hands. He sits there calmly; he’s used to the drill. Then I hope the phone doesn’t ring. If the phone rings, my heart is in my throat until I hear that the caller doesn’t have a bird yet.

There is still hope. Then, quick as a flash, there’s a bird. My Dad and I try to coordinate releasing droppers, but often two go at once. We’ll throw every dropper in the basket on the first bird if he doesn’t come down right away. One usually does the trick, though. Sometimes, you don’t even get a dropper off. Sometimes, the race bird is in such a hurry that he folds his wings as he comes over the treetops and dives at the board. So quickly is the bird is on the board that I have to stuff the dropper back into the basket as I talk and walk the bird into the buck bars. Then the adrenaline rush hits. Only a pigeon flyer can understand this rush!

This is what I want to share with people when I introduce them to pigeon racing. I want to see them experience this rush. When kids come to visit my loft, I can tell the ones that are moved by the birds. The one who stand and stare intently and can’t seem to get enough of the birds, the one who wants to hold every bird offered, the one who asks questions and really listen when you answer, that is the child who is moved by the birds.

When a child is introduced to pigeons, the love of pigeons and the sport can stick with them for life. I was once told that if you introduce a child to something that they truly love at an early age, and guide them in the right way, their love of this sport or endeavor would keep them out of trouble during their youth. If a child has a passion for something in life, they have less time to get into trouble. The challenge is to help children find the sport or hobby that challenges them and holds their interest. Pigeons can be that hobby for some children.

I hope in my new position associated with the I. F., I can help introduce pigeons to a new generation of kids.

I am interested in your ideas on how to do this. If you see an opportunity, please alert me.

My E-mail address is gracemehl@aol.com, or
give me a call at 631-724-5053.