Hyder / 21 Dec 2010 10:18

It's quite normal for birds that fly in cooler temperature such as 70-80F
(below 35C) for more than 10 hours to just fly few hours in summer when the
temperature has already reached to 90F by 7 am in the morning and by 12 pm
it is peaking at 110 F.

Only few breeds from India and Pakistan fly very well in extreme
temperatures, these birds have distinct characteristics such which includes
their ability to fly at very high altitude to combat heat. As you know the
temperature falls at the rate of 4 Fahrenheit per 1000 feet, so at an
altitude of 1 mile the temperature on a 110 F day is little less than 90 F.
So highflyer pigeons can fly at this height without getting exhausted, in
addition they have specialized Opthalmic Rete that dissipates heat out in a
very efficient manner.

Their primaries are long and designed to climb altitude quicker. Its very
common and a known fact that even among the highfliers those birds that do
not go at invisible altitude by 10 am in the morning will come down by 12
pm, it's because they are staying in slightly lower altitude (even this
altitude is very a tippler standard) where the temperature is still very
high and its bound to exhaust the bird.

Many flyers give herbs that increase the metabolic activity or increase the
body temperature of the bird that enables it reach high altitudes quicker so
it remains there. However there are certain breeds in India and Pakistan
that instinctively fly at high altitude as temperature rises. Among the
famous high temperature flying birds is the Teddy breed that has been flying
in 110 F or more temperature in the Middle East and Pakistan and giving
record fly of more than 12 hrs. Not just that but these birds fly in 11 days
competition and giving consistently more than 10 hours of flight, which I
think is a great accomplishment.

You don't need to import any birds, the best birds you will find are in
India and Pakistan, tipplers are not suitable for weather in India where
even the winter temperature is peaking close to 90F. In addition, tippler
are low fliers, they fly with long circles sometimes going miles away from
their home. In cooler temperatures from 55F to 75F they can fly all day but
on a hot day they are exhausted. You cannot make a highflyer circle around
the house at a low attitude for hours, because for that you need a different
type of wing, highfliers have long flights that are designed to gain
altitude. Also tipplers have pupils that enlarge in dark and fill the eye;
this gives them a better vision in dark. The highfliers on the other hand
have a pupil as small as a needle and they are not really good dark fliers.
This does not mean that there are no low fliers in India or Pakistan. We
have some of the best low fliers also.

Submitted by Hyder on 12/21/2010 10:56:18 AM