I've been biting my tongue so hard here, that I'm surprised it's still attached....

I'm with Nick on this one... there are plenty of pigeon racers and bird-watchers, and educated biologists/science students/etc., who would recognize that a "normal" pigeon doesn't behave that way.

Ryan, by belittling those of us who stand strongly for protecting the image of our sport, you're contributing to the fighting among us that you say is our biggest problem. Just as a bone-headed apprentice has the "right" to use fishing line as a creance, we (you and I) have a right to point out to that person what the problems are with doing so.

You say that we're airing the dirty laundry of others.... well, we don't even need to when they're so willing to air it themselves with the help of a news crew.

There's nothing wrong with demanding a certain level of practice from our fellow falconers. It may not be the BEST way to lift up our sport, but in some cases (like when the sponsor hasn't done the best job of insisting good practice and thoughtful approaches) many of us find it necessary.

That's one of the things that NAFEX is great for. Helping to educate those who need it, and also identifying and edifying those who are worthy of being lifted up as good examples.

I'll be the first to admit that I'm not always the most diplomatic of voices when it comes to where I draw the line on certain things in this sport. I'm sure you could dig up all sorts of snide comments that I've made, but that's just me. Sometimes I'm a snarky little Irish prick with an attitude. And in the future, I should heed your words, and not be so hard on an apprentice, who genuinely may not know better..... maybe I should track down their sponsor and sling mud at him/her instead.

Maybe this whole thing is a good lesson to all of us, and we should exercise more caution in the future when deciding which folks to send out with the journalists.