_Solar Flares Cause Loss Of Thousands Of Homing Pigeons_
(http://rense.com/general76/solar.htm)

Solar Flares Cause Loss Of
Thousands Of Homing Pigeons
By Adriana Stuijt
6-8-7
PRETORIA, South Africa -- "Radio Pretoria" reports today that thousands of
valuable, experienced homing pigeons have been lost all over South Africa
during racing flights on May 19 and 20 due to unusually powerful solar
outbursts
called sun-spots which interfered with the earth's magnetic fields. All
pigeons home in on these magnetic fields and many valuable racing pigeons
lost
their way that day, many are lost forever. Similar problems were also
experienced by European pigeon-flights.
Anyone finding distressed, ringed pigeons anywhere in South Africa may
contact Mr Willie Venter in Pretoria (27) 012 377-2055 because he has the
telephone numbers of all the 'ring-masters' and will be able to track down
their
owners very quickly. Tame training pigeons often approach human passersby
for
help and they are healthy: they can be handled safely and easily.
Solar spots appear in eleven-year cycles, and are now in the upwards trend
towards the next major eruption in 2012.
Pigeon fanciers all over South Africa report that many of their loft
dwellers also were temporarily confused and upset, with many young birds
also not
returning from their daily exercise flights that day. It will take South
African and European pigeon fanciers quite some time to train up valuable
new
speed-champions again, it is being reported.
The pigeon fanciers in South Africa report today that their weekly racing
flights in Pretoria and Bethlehem are now clocking the birds returning
normally
again with arrivals clocked after an average speed of 11km per hour, and
very few lost birds being reported.
Predicting solar spots is very difficult. One can phone the
"SpaceWeather.com" information to find out how much they are flaring at the
moment.
San Antonio scientist Arik Posner of Southwest Research Institute has only
recently found a way to forecast solar radiation storms about one hour in
advance -- using the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO).
The new method offers as much as one hour advance warning, giving not only
astronauts time to seek shelter and ground controllers time to safeguard
their
satellites when a storm is approaching -- but also allow pigeon fanciers
worldwide to keep their birds home.
http://www.radiopretoria.co.za