PHOENIX LOFTS OF AUSTRALIA.

Letter of Introduction

Biography

My name is Barry Devine, owner of PHOENIX LOFTS OF AUSTRALIA.  I would like to tell you a little about who I am before I explain the details of the Australian Pigeons that are available for auction in the United States

First and foremost I have been actively involved in the Pigeon breeding and racing industry for over 40 years.

I spent the early part of my life in inland New South Wales at a town named Dorrigo, a lumber and cattle district with a large Aboriginal population. I went on hunting trips in the bush and ate with Aboriginal tribes; the main diet consisting of Snakes, Goannas and Kangaroo. It was from them that I learnt a lot about survival in the Australian bush and more importantly, about animals and bird life.

We moved down to the coast of New South Wales and went into the Banana Plantation business for a short while. It was about this time I joined the Australian Rodeo team and became a buck jumper and bull rider travelling around Australia in various rodeo events for a few years until I decided there was not much future for me in this business and I made the move to Sydney, went back to night school and learnt the trade of electro plating and spent most of my working life in that business. 

I went into the sport of Pigeon racing around 1968 when there were about 1500 Pigeon flyers in Sydney. I established a reputation very quickly in the industry within Australia, which I attributed to my early life in the Australian bush dealing with birds and other wildlife.

Involvement in overseas auctions.

I have auctioned Australian Pigeons in Taiwan since 2005. As far as I am aware, I am the only Australian that sells Australian bred racing Pigeons in Taiwan. The rapport I am receiving from the Taiwanese market is encouraging.

I will be travelling to the United States in the next couple of months with Messrs Roger Mortevedt and Don Hart, of California and Florida respectively. I am eager to visit Texas also to meet with fellow Pigeon flyers.

What is it about an Australian Pigeon that sets them apart from European Pigeons?

Cross Breeding-

Pigeon imports were barred from entering Australia in 1946 and not resumed until 1995. In those decades of isolation, Australian Pigeon Racing took on its own style, and Australian pigeons themselves evolved and developed unique characteristics, shape and size.

Australian Racing

In Australia, we only race to the perch; our race season is 24 weeks; we start at the beginning of Winter in May and finish in Summer in December. The first race is 100 miles and finishes at 700 miles.

Endurance-

Every Pigeon is expected to race the whole program and we only breed off the survivors. At the long races these Pigeons fly well into the night; many long races have been won around pre-dawn.

Over those decades of isolation, Australian Pigeons evolved to survive the very harsh Australian conditions and developed a slower wing beat, which enables them to stay in the race or in the sky for a longer period of time without expending as much energy.

An interesting characteristic of Australian racing, is the challenge of dealing with winds from four directions, as compared to European racing which only have two directions; a Head wind, and a Tail wind. By dealing with these ‘Shoulder winds’ Australian pigeons excel in maintaining a consistent flight path

Australian Pigeons have the ability to withstand extremely high temperatures as they have been racing in the summer heat for generations and are well acclimatised to the harsh Australian conditions.

Quite simply, when you handle an Australian Pigeon you will notice their physical distinction instantly, the strength they possess as compared to European breeds is quite remarkable.

Avoidance of predators-

Another distinguishing feature of the Australian Pigeon is when birds of prey, such as Hawks attack, the Australian Pigeon does not descend and fly into the trees; it has adapted to certain predators and can out-manoeuvre it. The European Pigeon is not familiar with Hawks.

Breeds of Australian Pigeons

Snowy Ward Grizzles

Origin-

The Grizzles on offer are known as the Snowy Ward Grizzles and were purchased from Frank Comitogianni who had outstanding results with them.  They arrived in Sydney from England circa 1900 and were imported by Mr. Con Hannan. It was around 1917-1920 that Snowy Ward took over the entire loft of Grizzles from Mr. Hannan.

Snowy Ward lived in the same suburb as Mr. Hannan and were very close friends.  There were some dark chocolate coloured pigeons amongst the Grizzles.  When Snowy raced the Grizzles they were an instant success, winning many prestigious races over 400 miles and still are today. Snowy Ward was from accounts a very generous man and gave pigeons to many different pigeon fanciers, including Mr. McLean, a very famous name in Australian Pigeon Racing. 

Another very interesting story about Snowy Ward was that his backyard backed onto a railway yard where all the steam trains met from all over Australia to repair, turn around and head back into the outback. While train drivers were waiting for their train to load up with coal and repairs, which took a few days, they were known to go to Snowy Ward’s loft and

were given a pair of Grizzles to take home and that is how the Grizzles spread all over the Country.

Achievements-

A number of Grizzles from Phoenix Lofts went to Taiwan a few years ago and one Grizzle Cock bred the biggest winner in Taiwan, claiming a prize of over 1 million TWD (US$31,0000).

The Grizzles have a very strong constitution, big hearts and will keep going.  They will go the distance as they have proved time and time again over the last 60 years.

Gilson Blacks Pigeons

Origins-

The Gilson Blacks were imported into Sydney by the Hargrave Brothers and are still winning long hard races today.

This brings us to the question “who was Gilson?”

Gilson Blacks were developed by Mr. Gilson of Antwerp in Belgium in the 1870’s and were all purchased by a Mr. J.O. Allen and taken back to England.  The Gilson Blacks of J.O. Allen as they became known played a key role in the establishment of so many families of pigeons in England as a cross.  One example was J.W. Logan who used the Gilson Blacks to develop his strain.

J.O. Allen was also one of the first to import the Gits Pigeons into England.  One interesting point is that J.W. Logan’s old 86 was the first pigeon to do 400 miles on the day across the Channel in 1886; his dam was a Gits Hen-646, a gift from J.O. Allen. This record however was quickly broken by J.O. Allen’s Champion Black Cock in the same year.  It flew 459 miles in 9 hours 30 minutes at 1422 ypm, a record which stood for many years. While Allen’s Champion Hen (1/2 Gilson) ran 5^th in this same race.

Achievements-

There are pages of recorded wins by J.O.Allen’s Black Gilsons over many years in England.  In 1907 stud register of the great pigeons of the time, of the 900 pigeons listed no less than 212 were descendants of Allens champion pair.  It is interesting to note that J.O.Allen was also one of the Chief collaborators with J.W. Logan and Col Colville in forming the first organisation of the sport into clubs for competitive racing in England. It is not clear when the Hargraves Black Pigeons arrived in Sydney, although in my opinion, it would have arrived in the late 1930’s.

Allen Goodger Pigeons

Origin-

The Allen Goodger Pigeons were developed by Allen Goodger in Adelaide, South Australia in the 1960’s.

Allen Goodger was an excellent judge of a champion pigeon, an excellent strain maker and one of the best Racing Pigeon men of his time.

Achievements-

These Pigeons are winning large events today, in fact they dominate the 800 mile races in South Australia, interestingly it was not until he had his final sale after he died that his pigeons gained widespread popularity. 

Lot No. 60 & Lot No. 53 were outstanding producers out of the sale they were mainly Blue Checker and Blue Checker Pieds and the odd Mosaic.

Keith Wickham Pigeons

Origin-

The Keith Wickham Pigeons came into South Australia in about 1946 by Keith Wickham and were off the Gits and Logan strain and Sion.  Keith also became very famous in Australia as a long distance flyer.

Achievements-

Keith’s Record of Association wins as they are known as in Adelaide, South Australia, have never been beaten.

S.M. Evans Pigeons

Origin-

The S.M. Evans Pigeons are probably the oldest strain of Pigeons being raced in Australia they came into Australia around 1915.

Achievements-

They’re a consistent long-distance winner of races, especially over 500-700 miles.

For those that are interested I am also a breeder of Barliss Pigeons and Opal Pigeons.  There are five (5) Barliss Pigeons in this consignment and I will include the Opals in the next consignment to the United States 2010.

They are very attractive looking Pigeons.

Phoenix Blues Pigeons

Origin-

The Phoenix Blues are my family that I put together myself in the early 1970’s and were mainly put together of three pigeons Dark Checker Hen NRP 66-7510,  an outstanding winner and a very famous pigeon in her time.  Interestingly her sire was a Black Hargraves Cock known as the Black Prince.  I purchased this pigeon for a large sum off a Mr Applebee, plus a Blue Bar Cock known as the Peddie Cock also full of winners off Mr Applebee. Mr Bob Applebee was one of Sydney’s best flyers for many years.

Achievements-

A Bundaberg 600 mile winner.  On the day they excelled at 450 miles, whilst winning every point on the race program. All the trophies in my photograph were won by the Phoenix Blues.

Endigos Pigeons

Origin-

The Endigos Pigeons are an old Sydney-Based Pigeon. The Endigos are in fact a rare breed to find. To the best of my knowledge I am the only Pigeon Flyer that has maintained this breed in Australia. 

I was taken in by their beautiful colour.

Achievements-

The Endigos consistently win long hard races whenever they’re entered.