Cage & Aviary Birds

Shocking results for male ibises

Scientists have found that high levels of mercury in the diet of male American white ibises (Eudomicus albus) turns them homosexual. 

Researchers from Florida and Sri Lanka were trying to discover why mercury reduced fertility in the birds, but were shocked with the results. Dr Peter Frederick from the University of Florida, said: “We knew mercury could depress their testosterone levels but we didn’t expect this.”

A group of white ibises were fed food pellets containing levels of mercury equal to that measured in the shrimp and crayfish that make up the birds’ wetland diet. What was discovered was that the higher the dose, the more likely the bird was to pair up with another male, particularly as males with higher doses of mercury performed far fewer courtship displays, so they were more likely to be ignored by females.

With levels of mercury rapidly rising in aquatic environments the scientists say this could have significant consequences for all marine and wetland animal fertility. Although they don’t know exactly how the mercury does have this effect, they believe it disrupts hormonal signalling.

Dr Frederick said: “We’re seeing very large reproductive effects at very low concentrations. So we really need to be paying more attention to this.”

Gary Heinz, a wildlife researcher for the US Geological Survey in Maryland, said: “Mercury cannot be broken down, only moved about and transformed from one chemical form to another. Mercury is a serious problem in many aquatic environments.”

This story first appeared in our December 8 edition.

Editor's letter (December 8)

Just at the moment, it seems as though it never rains but it, er, snows. Like last winter, we’ve had a white-out in much of Britain and – like last winter – half the country’s ground to a standstill. 

As usual, the result is a contrast – all you seem to HEAR is people moaning about it, yet if you look at what people DO then mostly what you see is them trying their best, being professional, going the extra mile. Birdkeepers are a great example, and we’ve been hearing plenty of stories about how fanciers are looking out for one another, helping with aviary visits, offering shed-room and sharing supplies and transport. If you’ve got a freeze-up tale or joke to share, please let us know.

We’ve certainly had a few laughs at Cage & Aviary Birds, such as a total power cut for most of one day and being snowed out of the office for several more. Inevitably, that means we haven’t had a chance to catch up with letters, phone calls and emails for (as I write) several days. Club news is a big worry, so please use email where possible, particularly while the bad weather lasts, and please bear in mind that some post is going to get to us very late.

Still, if we think we’ve got it tough, what about fanciers in North America? Severe weather’s the norm in winter there, not to mention vast distances, as we hear this week in the news story about Birmingham BS on page 5. Yet as you’d expect, our colleagues in the American fancy use their initiative and co-operate in order to pursue the hobby they love. 

There’s a different sort of human endurance in our article on page 12, where that talented aviculturist Graham Lee tells us of his day-at-a-time recovery from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Respect, Graham, for sharing your story – and best wishes, too. 

ROB

What's in this week's issue

In the December 8 Cage & Aviary Birds, we find out why the much loved Gouldians are struggling as a wild bird in Australia - but is at last getting a helping hand.  

In news we see a conservation project that aims to save a rare species of pheasant from extinction, and find out why rare turacos are thriving in the forests of southern Ethiopia.

We find out how red mite can ruin a promising stud of budgies.

Winter's no time for canary breeders to put their feet up -we show you the essential stuff to be getting on with 

Plus lots more, including barnacle geese, fancier profiles, red bishops and parrots. 

On sale tomorrow, Wednesday December 8.

Cutbacks are a big threat to rare wader

Conservationists fear for the future of the threatened stone-curlew, following Government cutbacks in funding.

The stone-curlew is one of Britain’s rarest open-country birds. In the 1980s, the population was down to 160 pairs, but recent efforts have boosted its numbers – notably a scheme to pay farmers to look after the species’ habitat. This year, 370 pairs are known to have bred. 

Dr Mark Avery, director of conservation at the RSPB, said: “We are concerned that the recent temporary freeze in new agreements will mean that some farmers who were ready to introduce measures for stone-curlews next spring will miss out.” He continued: 

“This would be a setback to recent progress. Stone-curlews are a good example of why scarce money needs to be targeted towards clear environmental needs.”

Stone-curlews have been particularly adversely affected by industrial farming techniques because many of them nest in open farmland, said Dr Avery. He added: “Farmers have rallied to the cause and the stone-curlew’s UK recovery owes much to their support. 

“Stone-curlews nest in bare, open areas, often choosing farm fields where their nests or young could be lost to routine farm operations. RSPB project officers help farmers to identify threatened birds and take action to protect them.  

“In 2010, half of the stone-curlews in south-west England were on specially created plots and these birds were slightly more successful in raising young than the rest of the population,” Mr Avery concluded. 

This year’s breeding total was up by 11 pairs, with 240 chicks successfully reared, compared with 164 in 2009. On RSPB reserves there were 17 pairs, up from 12 last year. 

This story will appear in December 8 issue on sale Wednesday.

What's on: South Eastern Native, Mule & Hybrid Society show

WHEN: Saturday & Sunday December 4-5

WHERE: Ballyclerihan Village Hall, Clonmel, Republic of Ireland.

WHAT’S IT ALL ABOUT: Some of the best natives, mules and hybrids that Ireland has to offer will go head-to-head in County Tipperary this weekend. Who will emerge victorious? Get along to the show to find out! For a show schedule, contact the club.

TO FIND OUT MORE: Tel: 052 74 66956 or 0876 240194.

Blaze kills 100 birds

Fire chiefs have launched an investigation into the cause of a fire that killed 100 birds in a Lancashire petshop.

Fire fighters from across East Lancashire were called to Ideal Pet Store in Clitheroe at 1am on November 19 to battle the blaze as it ripped through the shop’s storage room where supplies including sawdust and hay were kept.

The lovebirds, budgerigars, Java sparrows, cockatiels, canaries, parakeets, rosa Bourkes, zebra finches and Bengalese finches are said to have choked to death as the building filled with smoke. Fire fighters did, however, manage to rescue some rabbits, guinea pigs and reptiles from the fire.

Store manager Phillip Preston said he was heartbroken, adding: “It looked really bad and I just let the fire fighters get on with it. When they let me in I went straight to the bird house. It was awful.

“They just couldn’t cope with all the smoke and they had died. It was just extremely sad because I spent hours feeding and watering them everyday and to see them lying there dead was horrendous.”

Investigators believe an electrical fault may have started the fire, which caused almost £20,000 worth of
damage.

This story first appeared in our December 1 edition.

Editor's letter (December 1)

When was the last time you read an issue of Cage & Aviary Birds that didn’t have a bird theft story in it? I haven’t actually checked, but you get the point. Criminals see the bird fancy as a source of illicit profit.

The good news is that some of these people get caught, are prosecuted and receive sentences that hurt.  Last week two men were sent to prison for stealing valuable parrots at Friday Bridge, Cambs (see page 4). 

I’m sure there are some folk in this country who find it daft that people are banged up for bird theft, but I can’t agree. Sentences ought to reflect a measure of the distress caused by the crime. In cases such as the Friday Bridge theft, distress was heaped on the owners of the stolen birds. But on top of that, there’s the distress inflicted on the birds. 

As we all know, parrots are intelligent creatures, affectionate and loyal, and acutely sensitive to change. Who could ever measure the fear and stress those parrots went through during their ordeal? Who knows where they are today? Are they alive, and if so are they being properly looked after?

This week Cage & Aviary Birds carries a timely reminder of how to make your valuable stock traceable by using microchips (turn to Edda Pohlandt’s article on page 18). Edda uses birds of prey in her sample pictures, but the technique is just as appropriate to parrot-like. And hopefully we can look forward to this technology becoming smaller and cheaper, so that we’ll be able to make our smaller songbirds traceable, too. 

On another note, I’d just like to thank every one of our readers, subscribers and advertisers for your support during our recent upheaval (change of location, ownership and staff). Thank you, and have a great week!

ROB

What's in this week's issue

 

In the December 1 Cage & Aviary Birds, we find out how to protect your jewels - microchipping is the best way to keep your higher-value birds safe.

In news we see two royal starlings aptly named William and Kate take residence in Chester Zoo, and find out why two owl fanciers have blamed Harry Potter for the theft of their beloved barn owls.

Brian Keenan lays down the law on husbandry, breeding and exhibiting your canaries.

We explain the genetic inheritance in budgerigars, understanding how prepotent v recessive genes make all the difference to stud quality.

Plus lots more, including nutcracker, zebra finches, poultry and golden pheasants.

On sale tomorrow, Wednesday December 1.

Firework display tragedy

A Cornwall bird park escaped the worst of the recent flooding only to suffer from another disaster days later when some of its birds died due to a “huge” impromptu fireworks display.

Following the firework display in a nearby property on the evening of November 19 the owners of Wingz Bird Sanctuary in Par woke the  next morning to find that five of its birds had died.

The firework display, just 300 metres away from the park, started at just after 8pm and lasted for 10 to 15 minutes. The birds lost were a rare Scarlet Macaw and a critically endangered Bali Starling, which was part of a breeding pair, an African grey, a blue and gold macaw and royal starling.

Owners Grenville and Anita Allen said they had received no warning of the firework display. Grenville added: “That would have enabled us to take measures which would have reduced the impact of the flashes and the noise.

“Such was the scale of the display that other animals in the vacinity were also affected including cows from a local farm and horses at a local livery stables, plus a local family's dog bolted after being spooked.

“Whilst we realise people can do what they like within their own homes, and the use of fireworks is not illegal, Wingz would like to use this tragic event to highlight the damage which can be caused by the use of fireworks outside of November 5 without due regard to animal keepers in the local area.

“When you live in rural community just a little bit of consideration giving people notice would of made the outcome very different. As a new business we are devastated by the deaths both for the loss of rare breeds which will be almost impossible to replace and the financial burden it has caused.”

Grenville and Anita said they had been left devastated by the loss of birds, as have many fans of Wingz who have left messages of support on the park's Facebook page. One fan, Kath Trevains, wrote: “Some people just don't think do they. It was Guy Fawkes night on 5th November!”

Another, Marie Lawrance, wrote: “What a tragic and unnecessary thing to happen. It makes me so angry that with a little bit of consideration from these people that all this suffering could have been stopped. Did these neighbours not realise that they have a animal sanctuary next door? Perhaps they simply didn't give a damn. I hope they enjoyed their 10 minute firework display!”

Grenville added: “We were very lucky with the floods unlike so many others but our problems came a few days later.In my 28 years of keeping birds this has to be the lowest point and such an unnecessary loss of such stunning animals.”

This story will appear in December 1 issue on sale Wednesday. 

What's on: Cornish & South West Gloster Club

WHEN: Sunday November 28

WHERE: Village Hall, Trewoon, St Austell PL25 5TB

WHAT'S IT ALL ABOUT: Popular Gloster Club event hoping to attract more than 70 people. £1 entry fee with refreshments provided by club members. Open to public 1pm with ample parking. Clearly signposted.

TO FIND OUT MORE: Contact Mr McGall. Tel: 01726 851188

Volunteers clear up Lundy Island's act

 
Successful clearance of the plague of rhododendrons on the tiny island of Lundy in the Bristol Channel has led to a dramatic increase in the numbers of sea birds.

Once the invasive Asian shrub, which was no good for sea birds and poisoned the soil, was removed the local residents such as the ringed ouzel decided to move back into town. Thanks goes to groups organised by the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BTCV) which got stuck into the clearance. The BTCV runs conservation holidays throughout the world from Cameroon to Bulgaria and the USA and has a whole host of projects in the UK from learning to drystone wall in the Peak District to beach sweeping in Cornwall.

As a charity its holidays are run on a not-for-profit basis so you can get a cheap holiday (from as little as £100 for a weekend)  in some of the UK’s and the World’s most spectacular locations  combined with the satisfaction of knowing you’ve helped preserve an endangered habitat and improved the lives of birds and animals dependent on it. So if you fancy doing something worthwhile this Christmas rather than watching TV and scoffing Quality Street go to www.btcv.org.uk or call 01302 388 883.

This story first appeared in our November 24 edition. 

Editor's letter (November 24)

Is it just me, or are birds becoming increasingly confined to the small screen? It sometimes seems that way, especially if you listen to non-fanciers talking. On the wild bird front, Springwatch and Autumnwatch are two series that nearly everyone loves to discuss, and there’s no doubt that these programmes keep many people in touch with the beautiful world of birds.

But is that all for the best? Sometimes, it occurs to me that people nowadays are getting their “bird fix” from the television instead of from the real world of birds. Let’s never forget that there’s a magic in simply observing and feeding an actual canary or bantam that can never be equalled by watching a programme – even by a genius such as Sir David Attenborough.

Or is that too harsh? This week we learned that a full-length film has just been made on location in New Zealand, starring the kakapo, which is surely the world’s most wanted species of bird for many of us (see News, page 4). I can’t wait to see the movie – but I’d much, much rather see a real live kakapo.

Meanwhile, though the show season is drawing on, there are still plenty of excellent events to come, where outstanding specimens can be studied in the flesh and at leisure. There are positive signals from the show scene this week – for example the news that five Somerset societies are planning to co-operate to get more birds on the show bench. “Enter more birds” sounds like a reasonable principle!
Meanwhile, we’ve got stacks and stacks of show reports to be included in Club News, so please be patient and give us a chance to publish yours!

And lastly, do remember our new contact details at Cage & Aviary Birds – see page 2 if you need reminding.

ROB

What's in this week's issue

 
In the November 24 Cage & Aviary Birds, Africa comes to Cheshire. A growing collection of African birds make Chester Zoo increasingly popular with fans of spectactular foreign birds.

In news we find out why environmental groups have called on the Government to clamp down on water polluters, and look a documentry which took four years to make showing footage of breeding kakapo's.

Find out what happens when a canary "in-betweener" shows his (or her) true colours druing a show.

We find out the strange act of anting - why on earth do many birds rub ants over themselves?

Plus lots more, including budgerigars, lapland buntings, zebra finches, rare Amazons and poultry.

On sale tomorrow, Wednesday November 24.

Volunteers clear up Lundy Island's act

Successful clearance of the plague of rhododendrons on the tiny island of Lundy in the Bristol Channel has led to a dramatic increase in the numbers of sea birds.

Once the invasive Asian shrub, which was no good for sea birds and poisoned the soil, was removed the local residents such as the ringed ouzel decided to move back into town. Thanks goes to groups organised by the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BTCV) which got stuck into the clearance. The BTCV runs conservation holidays throughout the world from Cameroon to Bulgaria  and the USA and has a whole host of projects in the UK from learning to drystone wall in the Peak District to beach sweeping in Cornwall.

As a charity its holidays are run on a not-for-profit basis so you can get a cheap holiday (from as little as £100 for a weekend)  in some of the UK’s and the World’s most spectacular locations  combined with the satisfaction of knowing you’ve helped preserve an endangered habitat and improved the lives of birds and animals dependent on it.

So if you fancy doing something worthwhile this Christmas rather than watching  TV and scoffing Quality Street go to www.btcv.org.uk or call 01302 388 883.

This story will appear in November 24 issue on sale Wednesday. 

Cormorant cull claims 2000+

More than 2,000 cormorants were shot under licence in Britain last year, in order to protect fish stocks.

A recent survey by Swansea University states that  2,133 of the birds were shot last year. And so far this year 1,636 have been shot by holders of culling licences, which are issued by Natural England.

Dr Dan Forman, the leader of the study, said that cormorants can destroy a commercial fishery and are considered a more dangerous predator than otters or mink. “Cormorants can be relentless in gorging themselves if fish are readily available, with one bird able to eat up to 12 fish in one session, returning  three or four times a day to consume the same amount,” he added.

But, he said: “What we’re trying to do is find some way that both predators and businesses can co-exist. It’s all very well to blame the predators – but we can go to Tesco and they can’t.”

 

Editor's letter (November 17)

Did you manage to hold on to your hat last week? Autumn arrived with a bang during November 8th-12th (we dubbed 9th “Toupée Tuesday” after a slight disaster), as gales ripped through Britain and torrential rain made it definitely a week to stay indoors if possible.

There are always tales of woe from birdkeepers at this time of year, as the build quality of our outside aviaries is tested to breaking point. Aviary damage can lead to valuable birds escaping – and formidable ones, too, witness the clutch of eagle owls that have flown the coop in recent years, evaded recapture, and settled eagerly into the British countryside. 

And if you have suffered from aviary damage over the past week, chances are there’s a smug-looking fancier or two nearby who’ll gladly inform you how you might have been better prepared. 

Seriously, we all know that time spent in preparation is never wasted. And preparation is the key word of this week’s Cage & Aviary Birds. On page 12, Yorkie kingpin Brian Keenan gives us the early-warning signs of some common canary ailments. On the budgerigar front, Clive Wakeman explains how thinking ahead and making the right purchase are key to bringing on your selected bloodlines (see page 18). 

We’ve got a really heartwarming success story, too, as foreign bird authority Bob Baggs tells us how this year he finally succeeded in breeding the fabulous amethyst starling (page 16). Thoroughly deserved, Bob. 

Finally, a reminder – do make sure that the new Cage & Aviary Birds address, phone number and email address are in your address book. You’ll find them at the top of page 2. 

Uh-oh, I’ve just seen the weather forecast. Batten down the hatches!

ROB 

 

What's in this week's issue

 
In the November 17 Cage & Aviary Birds, we look at Budgerigars - why choosing the right budgerigar could make all the difference to your breeding programme.

In news we look at wild life rescuers trying to save a seagull which has fallen victim to a cruel trick, and present the job of a lifetime that requires you to have one important technical ability - the will to survive.

We provide the tell-tale symptons that show all is not well with your canaries.

We find out why amethyst starlings are a full-time occupation, proving both a challenge and a reward.

Plus lots more, including zebra finches, coloured canaries, plumhead parakeets, madagascan lovebirds and redwings.

On sale tomorrow, Wednesday November 17.

Cruelty cases baffle local police in two countries

Cruel thugs who taped five fireworks to a live bird have been slammed by disbelieving animal inspectors in New Zealand.

The bird was discovered in the New Zealand town of Nelson by horrified local residents. SPCA inspector Craig Crowley said: “It’s probably the worst that I’ve seen myself. You hear of people tying crackers to kittens’ tails but that hasn’t happened here. This is probably the first time it has been brought to our attention that someone has deliberately taped fireworks to any animal.”

Mr Crowley said the bird, which is believed to have been a young starling or a blackbird, had five bangers taped to it, with the tape wrapped around the bird’s body and the bangers fixed tightly around the bird’s chest. The bangers were the size of AA batteries and when they went off they caused severe burning to the bird’s wings, neck and tail feathers.  He said: “The bird would have gone through a lot of pain to die in that way. It is tremendously cruel.”

A local vet says the bird was in all likelihood alive when the fireworks were set off.  Mr Crowley said: “If anybody thought of the consequences – it’s just the amount of pain that bird has to go through in order to die. It’s not something that’s over and done with straightaway.”

Meanwhile in another act of bizarre cruelty, police in San Francisco, USA, had reported  two live seagulls with cut-off beer cans around their necks. The birds were alive and apparently well when seen with the cans forming a high collar completely around their necks.

The cans of Budweiser beer were clearly visible. The ends had been cut off and had then somehow placed around the necks of the large sea birds. San Francisco police have called it a form of torture and are offering a bounty of £1,200 to anyone who can provide information that will lead to the perpetrator.

The two seagulls were spotted in the heavily touristed area of San Francisco Bay right by Fisherman’s Wharf and Alcatraz Island. Rebecca Dmytryk of local animal conservation group WildRescue, based in nearby Monterey, said:  “Instead of attempting to capture the birds, which can make them more wary and harder to catch, sightings should be reported immediately to us. This is a federal crime punishable by severe fines, imprisonment or both.”

She went on to say: “I feel pretty confident that if word gets around, we’ll be able to find the birds and help them.  I’m also hopeful that we’ll track down the perpetrator, maybe even through fingerprints on the cans. But just that people are watching and there’s a bounty, maybe that’s enough to get them to stop torturing animals. Who’d do such a thing? It’s probably someone who is bored and needing to show off.”

This story first appeared in our November 10 edition. 

What's on: Canary Colour Breeders’ Association

WHEN: Saturday & Sunday, November 20-21

WHERE: John Willmott School, Reddicap Heath Road, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands B75 7DY

WHAT'S IT ALL ABOUT: Expected to see 150 people through its doors. Opens to public 1pm Saturday, 11am Sunday. Free entry, with refreshments available. Breeders’ tables will be on hand to view. Sufficient parking available within the school premises.

TO FIND OUT MORE:  Tel: 01509 236790 or contact the C.C.B.A. Secretary Ken Shelton, tel: 01622 717423

Pro thieves grab five parrots from Kent shop

Professional thieves have broken into a petshop in Sevenoaks, Kent, stealing more than £4,000-worth of high value parrots.

The alarm was raised when the owner of a neighbouring business called Chris Kent, the owner of Petworld on the Orpington bypass, at 7am on October 14 to say that there was a large ladder leaning up against an open window at the rear of the shop.

Mr Kent, 23, immediately called the police and manager Lee Howell, and set off for the shop. He said: “It was horrible. We were robbed only last year as well. It’s a sickening feeling.”

On arriving at the shop, Mr Kent discovered that five of his most valuable birds had been stolen. These were an adult and a baby citron-crested cockatoo, a blue-fronted Amazon and two orange-winged Amazons.

Mr Kent said: “We’re hopeful that someone will know who did this. All the birds are ringed, but the baby cockatoo is micro-chipped. So there is no way that bird can’t be identified as our bird. Plus the cockatoos are subject to Annex A of CITES and therefore cannot be sold without a licence.”

He went on to say: “The police said it was a professional job. The thieves had obviously checked out the store and knew which were the expensive birds, as they left the cheaper stock. They also removed the beading on the back window, after they’d climbed up 30ft on the ladder. They placed the window glass carefully at the bottom of the ladder.”

John Hayward of the National Theft Register said: “These birds have been stolen to order, so all breeders and dealers should be vigilant at this time.  The offenders had no doubt visited the premises previously and checked security, which they by-passed. No cages or containers were taken. They went well prepared.

“Anyone selling a cockatoo without a CITES Article 10 licence is committing a serious criminal offence.”

Petworld is a thriving business and had recently moved to new, much larger premises. Mr Kent said: “It’s just a horrible feeling that someone has taken the birds and we don’t know how they’re being treated. All the birds were hand-reared and would walk on to your hand. But the thieves must have had their own cages and a lot of nerve to take five birds down that big ladder. We’re asking everyone in the bird world to keep an eye out, as we know we can definitely identify the baby citron-crested cockatoo.”

Lost & Found birds: November 17

For all lost & found cage birds contact:
Theft co-ordinator for the Parrot Society/National Theft Register,
John Hayward tel: 01869 325699, email: jh@ntr.supanet.com 

• STOLEN on October 13 in Sevenoaks, Kent, two citron-crested cockatoos, a blue-fronted Amazon parrot and two orange-winged Amazon parrots.
• STOLEN on October 30 in Newmarket, Suffolk a female goshawk.
• LOST on October 29 in Bromsgrove, three ring-necked parakeets.
• LOST on October 30 in Kings Norton, Birmingham, a Senegal parrot.
• LOST on November 1 in South Bank, London, a Jardine’s parrot.
• FOUND on November 1 in Paignton, Devon, a Goffin’s cockatoo.

The substantial parrot theft at Sevenoaks was well planned and the offenders bypassed the alarm system. They went prepared, no doubt stealing to order. The citron-crested cockatoos are subject of CITES Annex A.

 

Editor's letter (November 10)

Blimey, where did that week go? It only seems a day or two since we were toasting outgoing Cage & Aviary Birds editor Kim Forrester (in Guinness) at the Mad Hatter pub in Southwark. In fact that was seven days ago, and already it’s our first press-day down at Kelsey Publishing in sunny Kent.

The first thing I’d like to say is that it’s an honour to edit Cage & Aviary Birds. It is a unique paper – the only weekly paper for birdkeepers in the UK – with more than a century of history. I’ve worked on it for a mere five years and I continue to be awed at the expertise and enthusiasm of our contributors, and at the skill, energy and dedication of you, the readers. (Not to mention the amazing range of opinions you’ve got about all things avian.)

I hope our new team can carry on the great tradition of this paper, and introduce some freshness and novelty, too.

I hope you’ll agree we’ve got a packed issue for you this week. For starters, it’s great to have some good news on the club, show and sales scene, with encouraging recent events making the headlines in Norfolk (page 3) and at Harriseahead CBS, Stoke-on-Trent (page 2). Congratulations to the hard-working individuals who have made these events happen – you have given pleasure and satisfaction to many. 

On a different note, don’t miss Nick West’s story on page 16, where he meets the remarkable Julie Jenkins, once a policewoman with one of the toughest jobs in Britain, now finding deserved refreshment in her beloved hobby of budgerigar keeping.

Know any remarkable fanciers we should talk to? Let us know.

ROB

What's in this week's issue

In the November 10 Cage & Aviary Birds, we look at American buntings, with advice on how to keep and breed these dazzling species.

In news we find out why landowners in Scotland could face prosecution for poisoning protected birds, and look into the largest all-foreign bird show in the country, held by the Norfolk Foreign Bird Association.

We share advice on why you must only buy the best seed for your Bengalese finches.

We provide tips on buying and selling Canaries, with an overview on the Gloster fancy. 

Plus lots more, including advice on keeping Japanese quails, red bishops, christmas gifts and four pages of club notices, show results and meeting dates. 

On sale tomorrow, Wednesday November 10.

How puppies protect birds

Shepherds in Bulgaria have started using sheepdogs to help protect their livestock and, in turn, save highly endangered birds of prey.

The RSPB is encouraging shepherds to use Karakachan puppies to protect flocks so they won't lay illegal poisoned bait that leads to the death of the wolves, jackals and bears that prey on livestock.

The RSPB says some Bulgarian shepherds protect their flocks by laying illegal poisoned bait, which kills many animals that feed on carrion.

A spokesman for the RSPB said: “Some of the birds that die are declining dramatically, including the Egyptian vulture, of which there are now just 31 pairs left in Bulgaria."

This story first appeared in our November 3 edition. 

What's on: Welsh YCC open show

When: Saturday, November 13.

Where: John Kyrle High School, Ledbury Rd, Ross-on-Wye HR9 7ET.

What’s it all about: Some 250 birds will be benched. Judges: Ben Smart and Paul Roper. Opens to public 1.30pm. Entry £3, which includes free raffle ticket, catalogue and results sheet.  Refreshments available – plus there’s quality fish and chips locally!

To find out more: Contact Eric McConkey, tel: 01432 880628.