The picking up of birds is starting to accelerate quicker than what I had expected. Thursday , we will be at Toronto airport for our first shipment. We will also be stopping at Burger King, Britannia and Dixie and also in Whitby at McDonalds, 401 and Brock St. On Friday , Aprill 15, we will be at the Dutch Touch and what ever place needed along the 401 corridor. Call my cell for when and where. For those of you who are coming from far away or shipping by air, add a replacement bird. If needed, we'll have it here. If it isn't needed, you can activate it later. For those living close to our loft, there won't be any problems meeting down the road.
Rick
The first of this years birds are in the loft. Feels good to get started again. On Saturday, April 9,2022 we will be in the rear parking lot of Tim Horton, Hwy 59 and 401 at 12 noon. we will also be stopping at McDonalds in Whitby, 401 and Brock St. at 9 am and Burger King, 401 and Dixie at 1:30 PM. If you plan to meet there or anywhere else, call my cell, 905 269 2348.
If you have birds for Niagara Falls Loft, Give them to me. I cross paths with Rick Fyfe on a regular basis and gas costs way to much for us both to criss cross this province.
Thanks, Rick
We have been busy sweeping out winters cobwebs and spraying the loft with Virkon. A couple of warmer days have been promised by the weatherman to help dry the loft. The first birds will be arriving on the weekend and our first out of area pickup will be in Woodstock on April 9. We'll be there about 12 noon. The next will be on April 15 in the eastern part of Ontario. we will stop along the 401 in Kingston, Brockville, Cardinal and at the Dutch Touch Loft. If you live in between, let us know and we'll meet to pick up your birds. I will be in Toronto the first two weeks of April and we can arrange where and at what time to meet. I have had my yearly haircut. You may not recognize me. I drive a white Dodge pickup with a grey topper on back.
As if I haven't had enough to deal with, I have had Virtigo for the last 15 days. For those who haven't any idea what that is like, build a slingshot in your yard that is capable of hurling you thru the air at Mach 7. By the time you land, you'll know what Virtigo is. Four days of lying on the ground holding on to the edges while waiting for the spinning to stop, not able to keep a drop of water or a bit of food inside of you, that is Virtigo. It is not a fun way to spend your time. It is an excellent way though to loose twenty pounds. I am much better now except I sway to and fro when I walk. Luckily, on this island that doesn't matter. Almost everyman works on a boat and now I fit in.
This summer, I will have the help of Paul Mason, my landlord. Paul looked after my stockbirds this winter and has done an excellent job of keeping them healthy. The plan is to work together for a couple of years and for Paul to carry on in the future.
Thanks to those who have registered. We will be ready to receive your birds starting on April 1. If you need us to meet you somewhere, send an email or text and we'll make it happen.
While I hear a lot of complaining about the winter weather, I must admit I enjoy the break it forces us to take. Outside work is on hold and inside, you can only do so much. Everyday I take a long walk with my dogs and end that with a cat nap in my easy chair. I wake up each morning and actually look forward to the new day.
I have half my breeders mated and young birds have hatched. These are for the one loft races I enter. The rest I will mate up in March and these youngsters will be my flying team for the club and combine schedule. The later birds are mostly new stock brought in with the hope of finding another top breeder.
Entries to the one loft are starting to climb and I thank you all for signing up. Good luck with your breeding program and we'll see you come April 1st. I'll lay out the spring pickup schedule the first of March.
Stay warm, Rick
I wish the very best to all of you for 2022. I hope the roller coaster rides we've had the last few years will soon come to an end and that we'll be able to enjoy a somewhat normal life. Thanks to those who have signed on for this year. Rick
That a rest and a change is a great way to restore the vigor in life is absolutely true. Moving and taking a break from the birds was the best move Linda and I could have made. Several years of moving and rebuilding lofts took its toll and by the end of this last season, I was knackered. These last two months, even though we still had bookwork to clean up, have been a blessing. For the first time in quite the while, I am looking forward to spring and raising youngsters of my own. With the Salem loft ready, the anxiety level is way down. Great for the heart.
Thanks to those who have signed up. I've received lots of questions regarding the changes and almost all are for them. With Christmas and New Year just around the corner Linda and I wish you all the best for the season.
We have moved, for the winter, to Grand Manan Island, lying in the Bay of Fundy of the coast of New Brunswick and Maine. It is all that I hoped it would. Quiet life style yet a busy place with a very active lobster fishing industry. Plus, the scenery is fantastic. Every which way I go, I see the ocean plus the winters here are mild.
There are downside's to island living. A month to get internet, storms that stop the ferry and a somewhat slower post office, no bars, no restaurants that are open in the winter and shopping that covers the essentials but not much else. Great place to save money.
All our cheques have been mailed out plus all the result/payout sheets to all participants who were not fortunate to claim a prize. Our website has been updated and now you can sign up when ever you have time.
We will be back in Ontario the middle of March to prepare the loft for the 2022 season. Hope to see you all again in April and May.
Keep safe, keep warm.
