Common Sense and Pigeons

Common Sense and Pigeons go hand and hand.  Nearly 50 years ago, when I was a 10-year-old just starting out, we would visit local fanciers.  I soaked up all information like a sponge, but always asked "why?” Many times, the old champ could not give me a reason, and I hated not knowing why.  

At a young age, I realized that if they do not know the answer, then maybe I should attempt to figure it out myself.  I used common sense, observation and trial and error. If someone does not know why they do something, then I would question applying their method.

Many of the problems we have with pigeons would be prevented if more common sense were applied, which is obviously easier said than done.  In 1974, an old friend named John "Papa" Orsie displayed a handmade sign with the word "Think" over the entrance to his loft.  When exiting the loft, there was another sign that posted "Don't Forget."  These two words made no sense to those many years ago, however, I now understand them perfectly today.

Below are a few quotes that apply to pigeon racing.  I hope they are as helpful as "Think" and "Don't Forget" were to me.

"If a lot of people think something is right, and so that thing becomes right."

-  Paulo Coelho

"Success is more a function of consistent common sense than it is of genius."

- An Wang

"Common sense is not so common."

- Voltaire

"Common sense is setting things as they are and doing things as they ought to be."

- Harriet Beecher Stowe