| pigeon POSTULATES REGARDING THE BIRMINGHAM ROLLER pigeons
By: Cliff Ball
For decades now, the roller
hobby has been plagued by friction and hostility. The aggressive and
abrasive nature of many
men in the roller world has threatened
the very core of the fancy since its inception. The impact of discourtesy
lives on like a dark cloud in the fancy, as more and more men join the ranks
of non-membership in roller clubs; content to fly for their own enjoyment
in their back yards…in peace. It is a tragedy when we lose a good
one in the hobby and we have lost many. Among the many divisive issues (and
there have been several) that we face in 2008, none elicits more emotion
than the issue of the nature of the True Birmingham Roller, as it relates
to breed out crossing. Fraught with rumors, fears and suspicions, it is
most difficult to separate science from illusion, and fact from myth. An
assembly of roller men has joined together in a discussion and arbitration
to attempt to separate these elements and to gain a better understanding
of the nature of the Birmingham Roller in 2008. The following is offered
for your consideration:
Postulate I:
The Birmingham Roller appears to be the result
of a series of breed outcrosses of the Oriental Roller, the Dutch Tumbler,
and the Cumulet (reference, WHP,
and The Yearbook of the United Roller Club, 1936-37). Today’s Birmingham
Roller has evolved from a breed identified by the NPA and WHP as British
High Flying Tumblers and Rollers (WH Pensom, The Feathered World, July 29,
1932) which gave rise to the Birmingham Roller and the West of England Tumbler
(WH Pensom, Pigeons of England, September 10, 1930 and Arthur C. Karp, Pigeons
of England, March 20, 1930). The BR is clearly distinguished from Tumblers
by a strict performance standard. Pensom insisted that a Tumbler and a BR
could, indeed, occupy the same nest. “Although these two types are
of the same family, they are as distant in relationship as the two poles
from a performing point of view; in fact; two distinct breeds.”
(WHPensom, Feathered World of England, November 8, 1931.)
Postulate II:
The true spinner may have existed prior to this, but according to WHP, 1900
seems to have been the period when these higher-class birds were kept in
the Black Country of England. (reference WHP, Birmingham Rollers, 1959.)
Postulate III:
Rollers in the old days were judged individually on the distance they rolled,
how they rolled, and the greatest number of times they rolled. If any bird
gave a sign of a twist or change during rolling, it was disqualified.
(W H Pensom Feathered World of England, November 8, 1931.)
Postulate IV:
Regarding the performance of the Birmingham Roller, some are dangerous when
coming to land. Any bird is apt to make mistakes. Your best and soundest
pigeon may make a mistake no matter if they are three months old or three
years old. (W H Pensom, American Pigeon Keeper, October, 1938)
Postulate V:
From the time of its origin though the middle of the 20th century, there appear
to have been a number of breed out-crosses with the Birmingham Roller of
the day, for both performance and color, the latter including included Tippler
Grizzle, Indigo and Dominant Opal. (reference Wendell Levi). This practice,
and considering the genetic make-up of the parent breeds, resulted in an
inevitable broad genetic diversity in the Birmingham Roller for feather color
and type. While it improved the rolling qualities, these outcrosses also
changed the character and type of the Birminghams. (Yearbook of the United
Roller Club, 1936-37) Additional breed outcrosses have undoubtedly occurred
in the latter half of the 20th century and continue in isolated lofts across
the USA, today, working with such factors as Toy Stencil and Pencil.
Postulate VI:
In 1934, the Reduced-modifying gene began to appear in rollers, identified
as the result of a genetic mutation. (Ty Coleman-Graef reference-Levi).
Postulate VII:
The genetic factors for colors and modifiers in the general population of BR
by the middle of the 20th century must have included those present in the
parent breeds (Kenny Hartman reference on traits), the mutated reduced gene,
as well as though introduced through breed out crossing in the first half
of the 20th century.
Postulate VIII:
All BR were feather-legged at one time. (Quote from WHP, Question and Answers
of WHP, November, 1963)
Postulate IX:
Pensom family Birmingham Rollers began to be imported into the US about 1947
although other families of Birmingham Rollers were imported into the US throughout
the 20th century.
Postulate X:
Due to the limited knowledge at the time in the field of genetics, and the
lack of standard genetic vocabulary to describe colors and modifiers in rollers,
it is logical to assume that genetic factors and modifiers may have been
present and not identified in the general population of the Birmingham Roller
in the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries.
Postulate XI:
As the science of genetics has improved and continues to expand, new genes
for modifiers in the BR have been identified, such as Sooty, Smokey, and
the alleles of Almond, Hickory and Sandy: and others will likely continue
to be identified in the future.
Postulate XII:
Because of the ever-increasing number of generations
of BR that have been bred since the first half of the 20th century, “throw back” offspring
to the parent breed or any of the BR that were out-crossed at the time for
performance, or for color, are highly unlikely; though certain subtle traits
and type characteristics may be displayed by individual Birmingham Rollers
from time to time. Recessive traits, such as crests, web-toes, etc. are known
to appear from time to time in any family of Birmingham Rollers, depending
on the extent of inbreeding and the specific genetic makeup of the family.
Postulate XIII:
Certain families or strains of BR appear to have
isolated them- selves from any further breed out crossing since the middle
of the 20th century, and
identify themselves as “pure” BR. The certainty of which BR strains
or families, existing today, can lay claim to the title of “pure” is
difficult to determine beyond all reasonable doubt, although some, undoubtedly,
do exist.
Postulate XIV:
There are few undisputable records, pedigrees, or genetic DNA tests available
that can presently identify the genetic code of a BR, pure or otherwise.
Postulate XV:
It is also recognized, that the paramount importance of the pure strains of
BR, in order to maintain the integrity of the breed, is supreme. Yet we must
also acknowledge the basic nature of men, and the appeal of the challenge
to improve the breed through continued out-crossing is likely to occur on
a limited basis. It is also recognized that there exists, a remote possibility
that breed out crossing may actually improve the performance or alter the
esthetic value of feather color of the BR, to the betterment of the breed
to some individuals in the future. While the rights of those individuals
to conduct such test matings of their own accord should be respected, it
is imperative that the progeny of these test matings not be infused into
the general population of BR or misidentified as pure BR.
Postulate XVI:
It is acknowledged that continued breed out-crossing of other breeds into the
mainstream population of BR has the potential of expanding and diversifying
the gene pool of the breed to the detriment of the performance and type standard
that has been established for the breed, and is therefore, to be discouraged
as a general practice in the roller hobby, except on a limited and isolated
basis by those few men who are astute and educated in the field of genetics.
Postulate XVII:
Certain roller strains and families lay claim to
the title of True Birmingham Roller, based entirely on the standard of
performance defined by WHP. (WHP
reference). Other families hold to the concept that in order to be a True
BR, the family must also be “pure”. There appears to be no compromise
available in this description of families of rollers at this point in time.
The disagreement of opinion on this issue appears to be based on the family
of rollers one possesses.
Postulate XVIII:
It is acknowledged that the NBRC and World Cup, currently, maintain a performance
standard of the definition of the BR, and accept all types of BR that qualify
as such.
Postulate XIX:
The most commonly held standard for type in the
Birmingham Roller was established by W H Pensom in Pigeons of England
, September 10, and October 4, 1930. “My
ideal Roller, taken as a whole, must be well-balanced in all properties,
a nice medium-sized bird with full, round chest, tail well shut; appearing
as if it was only one feather; legs well-placed and rather short, with small
feet and devoid of feathers, keel shallow to medium depth, nice round head,
with yellow or white eyes surrounded by a very fine cere. The neck should
be rather thick in keeping with the body. I like richness of color and regularity
of markings. The feathers should be broad, fair length in wing tips, and
these about half to three-quarters of an inch from the end of the tail. The
secondaries should overlap and be a fair length; well covered with small
feathers.”
Recommendations:
It is, hereby, recommended
that the roller hobby adopt certain vernacular and standards for the
interaction with fellow
roller enthusiasts, in order
to promote mutual respect and fellowship among its members. First of all,
Postulates I-XIX should be accepted and adopted by roller men as fact until
such time as additional sources of information brought to light, may justify
some modification. Secondly, that those families of BR that are believed
to be free from any modifications in color through breed out crossing after
the middle of the 20th century, henceforth, shall be known as Pure Birmingham
Rollers. Those families of BR that acknowledge that a breed outcross occurred
somewhere in the history of the family in the first half of the 20th century,
and that sufficient generations (7) have been bred so as to pass the genetic
test for the return to the Birmingham type (WHP Pensom Roller Club book,
article dated 1945), shall, henceforth, be known as Modified Birmingham
Rollers. Furthermore, those families of BR in which breed outcrosses are
currently being made…of less than seven generations and in the later
half of the 20th century; henceforth, shall be known as Experimental Birmingham
Rollers. In the future, any reference to any families of Birmingham Rollers
in such derogatory terms as “mongrels” or “mutts” or
the breeders of any families as “purists”, or “pedigree
men”, or “color-breeders”, will be viewed as deliberate
antagonism with intent to impugn the reputation of the flyer and his family
of rollers. Roller forums should immediately begin to enforce a zero tolerance
for the use of such terminology in any posts on their roller forum sites.
Visitors who engage in this type of communication style should expect to
be banned from participation in these forums. In so doing, it is intent
of the owners of these sites to set a new standard for the public conduct
of roller men for the betterment of the roller hobby.
It is recommended that each and every member of the hobby adopt the following
ideal in the breeding and flying of the BR:
“The Birmingham Roller,
bred to meet the True Birmingham Roller standard of performance, has
the highest value
and worth and should be
so prized by the owner.”
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