Hi Jill,

Welcome to NAFEX. I'm also flying an '09 tiercel, also trained exclusively with pigeons. What I've found that worked to gain pitch is to fly him for several days in thermal conditions, he'll ride the warm air out sight and then serve him easy pigeons. He learned the advantages of height that way and it's worked to get him to work hard in cold air conditions to gain good pitch. My bird is getting better all the time, he still has an off day now & then, but he has improved steadily as the season's progressed.