As second day birds continue to return from the 350 final I'll be gearing up to be returning them to you breeders.  Some will be sent this week starting Tues.  Please use e-mail for correspondance in shipping requests as that way I can print copies and try to keep on top of it. Those of you with winnings over $600 I'll be needing a current W-9, (no need if you have sent me one in the past and there have been no changes of address etc.)  Also please make sure your address is correct in the Wincompanion Data base, I don't want to mail birds to the wrong address. 

Thank you for sending birds to my races this year and best wishes to you with your remaining club and one loft races.  Paul     

Good Morning, 

224 birds were released this morning at Battle Mountain, NV our 350 mile station under clear and calm skies at 37 degrees. Along the course winds NE 2-8 (right shoulder) but variable and 50's for temperature.  We should be expecting birds between 2:30 and 3:00 PDT.  

Tonight our final race the 350 mile is scheduled for Thursday, Oct.15th . We had a good rain today and high winds are forecast through Wed along the course.  Lunch will be restaurant indivdual prepared Boxed sandwiches etc. and will be served at~ 1PM. This will be masked event.  Please RSVP ASAP as I need to get back with the restaurant Monday afternoon.         

Just finished running the birds back through the traps so the inventory is complete.  There was only one second day bird  in the open section when I arrived home this evening UVI 211, and it also had not clocked. At least I know where to start,  the middle senser unit in a string of three. We'll loft fly in the morning.

Breeders, 

This morning started with both happiness and dissapointment.  As I began to feed the birds this morning I noticed there was no leftover feed as to be expected when 45% of the birds are missing. I picked up several random birds and was able to scan them into the clock. Hmm!!! So I took a quick head count and discovered we are pretty much right on for numbers.  (Yesterday as I searched for the first bird to clock I didn't notice as the birds were spread throughout the loft.) The birds did come all together in pretty much 40 minutes!!!! Unfortunately the race will be thrown out and be merely a trainer.    The second day birds will arrive today and trap into their own section.  Later this afternoon I will try to find the malfunctioning pads and run the birds in the loft back through for an inventory.   

Race #5  219 birds were released at 7:30 clear and calm 33 degrees. Along the course NW 1-5 .  ETA 11AM PDT

284 birds arrived at the release point in Winnemucca, NV at 11:30 last night.  This morning at 7:15 it was 45 degrees and clear skies, with a SE wind at 5 (Tail) although forecasts and weather show a NNE 6 (right shoulder). The birds left the trailer immediately and were gone.  Along the course temps in the 60's winds N-NE 3-5 .  ETA between 1:30-2:00 PDT 

We are planning to fly Race #4 this Sunday September 27th from Winnemucca, NV 309miles.

The smoke is still hanging in here but predictions in the weather show some promise for clearing this weekend, with both showers and winds.  The birds will need some tosses as they have not even been out of the loft.  I'm hoping for a chance to get started again with racing Thursday, September 24th.  Please keep the fire fighters and victims of this fire atrocity in your thoughts and prayers. 

I've pushed our next race into next week  after having such a tough , tough race at the 250. If the second day birds were not home  by 11am the 20+ mph head winds made it even tougher. By mid afternoon a 35 mph dust storm made it even worse. Looking ahead I'm hoping for doing tosses tomorrow Sunday  and Tuesday.