Joe, age 37, is in it to win: he takes pigeon races very seriously, though he'll forgive a little youthful enthusiasm in his favorite birds.

When I was about 11, growing up in Brownsville, I had what they call Flights, they just fly around over the roof. And when I came to Far Rockaway in 1979, I started out also with Flights till I met a Homer Flyer by the name of Richie Santini, and as a junior member he brought me into the Club which I first started in, which was Jamaica Rosedale Club. I flew in Jamaica Rosedale up until 2003, that's when the club came to a closure.

There's two types of bird that we call 'em in the sport: one of them is called Racing Homer, which is just a bird to race to come home, and then a Racing Pigeon, which is the bird you want to always, you know, be there to win.

I have no problem with my neighbors, as a matter of fact they come on race day to watch me clock the birds as they're coming in.

I have a few that are pets, quite a few of them that comes to me. Matter of fact, I had a bird, she was first in a race, but when she landed, instead of going inside, where she could be officially clocked, she was twiddling on the landing board, talkin' to me, saying, "I'm home! I'm here!" I'm trying to tell her to get in, and she's walking toward me! I wound up grabbing her and taking the counter mark off and puttin' her in the clock. And I winded up second, which I could've been first, but by her twiddlin' on the board, talkin' to me, I winded up second.

Growing up, I realized, in the pigeon game, nobody wants to be the loser, so I took it to the extent that I'm always gonna try to be on top, no matter what it takes.

Sometimes I have other birds that I trap that's not mine. I normally catch 'em, give 'em water, put a note on their leg and send 'em off, and then the guy'll call me and say he appreciates it. I'm always looking to meet new people in the sport, so anytime I catch another guy's bird, I put a note and my name and phone number, and the rest is up to them, if they want to call me back. And then we stay in touch.