Ed offers free birds to young fanciers

Long-time Albany pigeon enthusiast Ed Shilling wants more younger fanciers to take up the challenge of breeding and showing pigeons.

That’s why the pigeon section councillor of this year’s Albany Agricultural Show, which is on today and tomorrow, said he would be prepared to give away any of his prize pigeons to potential members interested in joining the Albany Pigeon Club.

Mr Shilling said the key to attracting younger members rested with parents.

“Parents need to get their kids back into the backyard,” he said.

“We have a few new flyers coming in, but we have no younger ones coming through.

“They are really hard to attract — when they do, they are locked in.”

Pigeon racing first began in Albany in 1929 when a group of pigeon fanciers joined together to send birds to various points along the Great Southern Railway.

A pigeon fancier since he was young, Mr Shilling will again enter his pigeons in the annual show.

Up to 150 pigeons are expected to fill the Chadwick Pavilion with a handful of pigeon fanciers entering breeds across 44 racing classes and 20 fancy classes.

Mr Shilling encouraged the public to attend the show.