Some fanciers toss their pigeons in all directions “to train their compass.” Not me. I draw a line from Barcelona to Delft and I stick to it. Why? Because pigeons that master their path along the line are the ones who find their way on race day. Period.

The Shortest Path to Victory

Every race follows a logical line from the release point to the loft. That’s the path that matters. So why teach your pigeons to zigzag left and right when you want them to fly straight ahead? By always training along the exact race line, you’re building a mental highway. No detours, no guesswork, just a direct flight home.

“If you always train on the line, there’s nothing left to explain on race day. They already know the way.”

Purposeful Orientation

Scientific studies show that pigeons navigate using landmarks, sun position, and magnetic fields. But above all, experience makes the difference. The more often they fly a route, the stronger it’s carved into their memory. By always training on the same line, they become truly familiar with the terrain.

And in tough weather conditions? My birds stay calm. They recognize that tree, that church tower, that field. They’ve been there ten times before.

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For Me as a Barcelona Specialist: Focus Is Everything

I’m a Barcelona specialist. That’s the one race that matters most. No wide race program, no flights just for form. Everything I do is focused on that one line from Barcelona to home. Every training flight, every decision, every effort is geared toward being razor sharp when it counts most.

Of course I understand that when there’s a strong westerly wind, pigeons may not follow the exact line I have in mind. But let’s be honest under those conditions we won’t be winning Barcelona from the coast anyway. So we must prepare for the scenario in which the conditions are ideal for a coastal win. Trust me that’s when they need to stay on the line and take the shortest path.

If you fly multiple races it’s just as important to choose a training line that matches the majority of your release locations. That way your pigeons gain maximum recognition and orientation advantage across most races. No random tossing only strategic preparation.

Practical? Absolutely

Training toward Spain? Draw a line from your loft to Barcelona and pick your release points somewhere along that path.

You don’t always need to go far short flights on the line are pure gold. They build repetition, rhythm, and recognition. And the more often you do it, the sharper they become.

Smart Training Is Targeted Training

You don’t teach your pigeons everything. You teach them what matters. And what matters is that they understand the race course. Not broad, but deep. Not a little in every direction, but one direction mastered fully.