Lam Sai-to's pigeons have had it easy in the past few months, sitting around the coop in his rooftop aviary in Kowloon City, exercising when they need it, but otherwise watching the world go by.
Not any longer. The racing season resumes next month and Mr Lam, vice-president of the Hong Kong Pigeon Club, is getting back to his life's ambition: producing a world champion.
Mr Lam, like other pigeon fanciers across the territory, is preparing his birds to compete in races of up to 1,100 kilometres.
'A good breed is very important to win, but you can't win with the same old bird,' said Mr Lam, as he stroked a new-born potential money-winner on his palm.
At the end of an international race, the champion is put up for auction: a winner can go for more than $1 million and $10,000 for a good breed is not unusual.
While the young are fed and cared for separately, their parents are put on a strict training programme in preparation for next month's races.
