Duane Terry wrote:Kurt, I hope I am using this forum correctly, don't know much about making posts.
You are just fine Duane. It is good to see you.
I get on internet once a week to be honest and some times every other week.
Not much time with the work, family and the zoo I got going here.
So, I might be a bit deleyed responding to some messages.
Duane Terry wrote:Anyway I am back into the birds. Only for now some parlors and few rollers. Then several doves.
I had to make a move back in early 2000 and there was no place here for the birds at all. I also just got the internet back out here. I raised chickens for several years but the feed bill got so high that I had to rid them.
Well, I am glad to hear you are back to birds.
All you have to do is give me the word when you need something.
Duane Terry wrote:I spoke with Mehmet maybe last year. I am glad to hear that some the Adana's are here in the USA. I have been going through a lot the Turkish websites on these birds over there and these birds are more popular now than ever before. They have them in Mardin and Van, Turkiye. You know usually you would only find them in the Adana area and to the west, not eastward like in Urfa, Diyarbakir, Siverek, ect. Also the men are using the metal leg bands, plastic number bands also. I remember the former Dr. Hollander sending me a whole box of these bands to give to the men in the early 1980's. I could not get them to use them then. They preferred the plastic rings and barrel bands. Also some the men would not use the rings_they would say "it hurts their feet". But now I see they are much like us here with the bands.
Last time I went back home I saw a few guys keeping Adanas in my home town Antalya also. They are spreading but it is more like the men from Adana are spreading. Every one of the people keeping the birds were from there.
As far as the dewlaps in the East, they are different birds. My mother is from the city of Gazi Antep, so I used to spend a lot of time there during summers. It is in the South Eastern region. Those birds are relly used for the pigeon wars and rather bulky birds. The photos don't reflect the size difference. They fly much longer time then Adanas but if they had to attempt a dive like an Adana, it would be the end of them.
As far as the bands, not much to say to be honest. Our way of pigeoneering is a different culture. The local clubs and the national federation sells the bands but they are mostly used by the homer guys and the show type people. Performance guys are a bit particular.
Duane Terry wrote:Also I noted the beautiful strains of grouse legged adanas, some are booted. Then someone captured a photo of one these birds diving_much a better photographer than I was. As the men were flying the birds they would give me the signal when to have the camera ready_ but by the time they would tap me on the shoulder (I had the birds in view on a 200mm to 500mm lens) here these things were roaring in upon us. You don't have much time to capture the shot. The men are also calling these birds now "dove from the sky". Back then we called them Phantom Kus. They draw attention where ever they go "I see also television news reports when these birds come into town", like in Mardin. I suppose Kurt that this is why the price is so high because of their fame. Back then we would go to the kus pazar and buy them for 1000 lira each...I mean good looking birds. Then the best were going for 10,000 lira each_two to ten us dollars then. It is much the same here, cost of living, inflation, especially a sack of good pigeon feed $15 or above. This is what that has kept me from keeping too many birds.
Signed,
Duane
I was after a specific bloodline. The owners are two brothers. One still lives in Adana and the younger brother is Germany. Since the bird flu, we can't bring birds out of Turkey so I had to try the Germany branch. They are champion birds yes but that is still a bucket load of cash. Considering it is going to cost another $2,500 with the transportation, customs etc.
Then again, they demand good money for good birds.
Just not my budget, especially if it is not a Takla.