Circus Lofts 

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Catalonian Tumblers Save Rollers from the Hawks

Quotes from Bill Hart

"I'm really proud of what these little birds (Catalonians) have done with the hawks here this winter and I didn't lose a one... This time last year I had lost over a hundred Pensoms and Fireballs (Rollers) and have only lost two birds this year and they were a couple old roller hens that I put in with the young Cats to get them flying These little birds could be the thing that saves the roller sport."

"During the migrations (Hawks) I lock up all the rollers and just fly the Catalonians. Because it has been some time that they have been just bred as show birds they are a bit lazy but once you get them up and flying I haven't lost a bird to ether Coopers or Falcons. These little birds will just out fly them so bad that it only takes a few try's and the hawks that have taken up residence wont even look at the birds when they are flying . 

When the hawks stop trying then I start flying my rollers. I have two times a year when the hawks are moving that I just fly the Catalonians but after being exposed to the Cat's the hawks will just fly by or set and pay the birds no attention at all when they are flying. They still try getting in to the lofts  and have killed two grown silky chickens but have nothing to do with the flying birds. 

I've have been baiting the hawks by when I see one in the trees or flying around, I let out go the Catalonians. All winter not one Catalonian has even been hit. They've been a lot chased but not one hit, not even any feathers . . 

This is my first year with these birds and I was very desperate because last winter in the three months before the World Cup fly I lost over a hundred young birds to the hawks and falcons. I had read that in Spain these birds were used to compete with their falcons. I found Gary Young on the internet and got three pair and ten to twelve young last year, so all the birds I'm flying are really young birds. So far they have done the job well as I'm now flying some young rollers for the last month or so and not one try from the hawks. Here's hoping every Roller flyer gets some of these birds and gives them a try if they are having hawk problems  . Bill Hart

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