Pigeon racing is a sport on the up on the Far South Coast, and the Moruya Pigeon Racing Club are hoping to tap into that growth in the coming years.
And although the racing season doesn’t begin until June, the club are in the middle of one of the most important seasons of the year.
“You generally breed from September to early January, then you train and educate them from then until June,” race secretary Mario Magrin said.
Mr Magrin said the sport was one that everybody could be involved in.
“You can do it from home,” he said. “It’s a sport you can do in your own privacy, and the whole family can be involved.
“It’s good for young kids as well, it helps teach them respect for animals.”
The races can vary from 100 kilometres to 900 kilometres, and run all throughout the South Coast.
The pigeons can fly as far as Victoria as part of the races, but always manage to return home.
“To breed something, train it, then watch it come home from a race, your heart flutters,” Mr Magrin said.
