OUDTSHOORN NEWS - Local pigeon acrobatics enthusiast Enrico van Rensburg represented the Garden Route for the second consecutive year at the Birmingham Rollers World Championship finals in Oudtshoorn on Sunday 12 July.

The competition was judged by internationally renowned judge Trent Hurst from Oklahoma, USA, who praised the quality and performance of Van Rensburg's birds.

The birds had an unfortunate setback early in the flight when one of the pigeons was caught by a falcon shortly after they were released, but before the official judging time commenced. 

"The birds flew at a good height and maintained a good pattern. They showed excellent chemistry on their breaks while remaining scorable," Hurst said. The team of Birmingham rollers completed a 20-minute flight.

Hurst said the falcon attack unsettled the birds initially, but they recovered well and completed a commendable performance. Van Rensburg scored 67.7 points out of 100, but is very enthusiastic to score higher points next year. He agreed that the incident had an impact on the flock.

"If it had not been for the falcon strike, the birds would have been much calmer and less stressed during the flight. I am overwhelmed by their performance and proud of what they achieved. I will definitely compete again next year, which will be my third year in the World Championships. I'm already looking forward to competing against entrants from 13 countries," he said.

What is a Birmingham roller?

The Birmingham roller is a breed of domesticated roller pigeon that originated in Birmingham, England. The breed was developed through selective breeding for its remarkable ability to perform rapid backward somersaults while in flight. The birds possess a natural genetic tendency to roll backwards, provided they receive the correct training, diet and exercise. Their spins can be so rapid that they resemble a feathered ball falling towards the ground before recovering and rejoining their flock, known in competition as a 'kit'.

The quality of a Birmingham roller's performance is judged on factors such as the speed, depth, style and tightness of its roll, as well as the synchronisation of the birds within the kit. Flight height, duration and responsiveness to the handler are influenced by careful training, nutrition and a consistent daily routine.

Roller pigeons generally live between 10 and 15 years in captivity, although well-cared-for birds may exceed 20 years. Competitive rollers, however, often have shorter lifespans because of the increased risk of mid-air accidents, roll-downs and attacks by birds of prey.

Although Birmingham rollers have fascinated breeders and researchers for generations, the exact neurological cause of their rolling behaviour remains unknown. Scientific studies have confirmed that the trait is inherited genetically, but researchers have yet to determine precisely why the birds perform their distinctive aerial acrobatics.

Renowned pigeon fancier William Pensom famously described the ideal Birmingham roller as resembling "a cricket ball spinning to earth in a straight line", with each somersault flowing seamlessly into the next without interruption.

Modern high-speed video analysis has shown that, unlike ordinary pigeons, roller pigeons tilt their heads backwards and lift their tails when attempting to fly, resulting in the characteristic backward tumbling motion. In extreme cases, known as 'roll-downs', a bird may continue somersaulting all the way to the ground.

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