Sydney may have an impressive harbour but Rutherglen has a very nice port for pigeons.
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More than 3000 pigeons took flight from near the town’s silos on Saturday bound for the backyards of their city owners.
It was quite a spectacle for those who gathered to watch the birds being “liberated” for the race organised by Central Cumberland Racing Pigeon Federation.
Secretary John Jeffery said the winning pigeon flew the coop at 7.45am and arrived at its owner’s Maroubra home at 12.39pm, clocking up a cracking race pace of 1678 metres a minute.
The pigeons, primed with top feed and fitness work akin to racehorses, travel on a one-way ticket in luxury transport.
The biggest threat during the race is not fellow competitors but hungry falcons.
The flock will be up, up and away again from Rutherglen at 7.30am Saturday weather permitting.
