Innholdsfortegnelse for April 30, 2025 i Cage & Aviary Birds

BRITISH BIRDS THAT SEEMINGLY UBIQUITOUS bird, the starling, has dropped down from third to fourth place in the annual Big Garden Birdwatch organised by the RSPB, with the lowest number ever recorded. The bird that delights onlookers in winter with its synchronised group display (murmuration), is a Red-listed species in the UK owing to its declining numbers. “starlings are one of our most charismatic garden birds, but this year’s results are a reason for concern,” said the charity’s chief executive, Beccy Speight. “With one in six species at risk of extinction from Great Britain, we’ve done more damage to our natural world than we realise. “However, we can all do our bit to support these threatened birds by taking small actions that can not only benefit starlings but a wealth…

WATERFOWL AN EXTREMELY RARE duck species got a boost to its numbers recently when five Brazilian merganser ducklings (Mergus octosetaceus) hatched at Prague Zoo in the Czech Republic. Not only is it the first time this species has hatched in captivity in Europe, but Prague Zoo is this species’ only breeding facility outside of Brazil. The Brazilian merganser is notoriously tricky to breed successfully in captivity, so this is a major milestone for the zoo and the species. Prague Zoo has supported the non-profit Natureza do Futoro and Zooparque Itatiba in Brazil since 2020, contributing £40,000 towards the captive breeding of the species and field research. Prague Zoo director Miroslav Bobek commented: “Breeding Brazilian mergansers is not easy and even in Itatiba it occurs with varying degrees of success.” The…

FANCY HISTORY THE January 19 1956 issue of Cage Birds was a very special one. Why? Because it reported on the recently held National Exhibition, which was proudly billed as the World’s Greatest Bird Show. “No doubt the magnetism of the show was greater than ever, due in no small measure to the record entry received, the wonderful total being well in excess of the 10,000 mark, and more than 1,000 more than in 1955,” said the show report. The National in its heyday at Olympia was a wondrous affair. Birds began arriving on the Wednesday and carried on arriving well into the small hours, ready for judging at 9.00am on the Thursday. Class judging and section awards were completed before the lunch for more than 300 judges, stewards and…

SCIENCE SOLVING problems is often thought of as being inherent to more “intelligent” animals such as primates and humans. In fact, research and field observations have proved that some birds can demonstrate impressive problem-solving skills. Many species such as woodpeckers and nuthatches will often use tools such as sticks to extract food from hard-to-reach places. And many parrots and corvids (crows, ravens and jays) have been observed solving complex puzzles in order to obtain food rewards. The use of tools is a fascinating area of problem solving, as it demonstrates a high level of aptitude. Many birds live in flocks, which have complex social dynamics. In other words, there may be a dominant leader bird, that is in many cases a female, with subordinate individuals beneath her in descending order…

353 canaries at the annual show NORTH OF ENGLAND GLOSTER CLUB THE NofEGC’s 49th annual show was held in Bomarsund Sports and Social Welfare Centre on November 10, 2024 (See News Feb 26). And the joint venture with the Old Varieties Canary Association (OVCA) again proved successful for both exhibitors and visitors, reports Norman Wallace. An entry of 353 canaries (of which 234 were Glosters, and 119 OVC, Lizard canaries and AOVC) graced the benches. As usual, refreshments were available for exhibitors and visitors throughout the duration of the show as well as a free coffee/tea and sandwich to all exhibitors. The judges were Kevin Stoakes and Sandy Hay, Gloster canaries; Joe Coakley, OVCs, rares & Lizards; Austin Middlemiss, AOVCs. Patronages Patronage was received from the National Council for Aviculture,…

BIRD FLU THE FIRST EVER detailed map of gene regulation in chickens could help fight avian influenza (bird flu). A team from the University of California (UOC) in the USA studied data from more than 100 chicken breeds around the world. They analysed samples from 28 different chicken tissues to build a comprehensive atlas of gene activity. “This is the most complete picture we’ve ever had of how genes work in chickens,” said poultry scientist Professor Huaijun Zhou of the UOC. “It’s a huge step forward for both basic biology and practical breeding.” The study, published in the journal Nature Genetics, reveals how millions of genetic variants affect how genes are regulated, giving researchers valuable tools for a deeper understanding of traits such as growth, reproduction and immune response. It…

AFTER the publication of her article in the April 16 issue about life with her late husband Ted’s red-backed shrikes, Madhuri Easter sent us this reflection which she wrote in 2011. Her words will revive memories for many in the hobby of the black days when Ted was persecuted by a “charity” that had fallen into the hands of fanatics. I thought I’d share the text below with readers to remind us all how sanity needed to be restored to the British bird hobby. That it has been restored is cause for celebration. And the same can be said of the beautiful young shrikes that Madhuri has reared as a tribute to Ted and all he stood for - Ed. WHENEVER I’m in the garden, hanging out washing, gardening or…

COVER STORY: BRITISH BIRDS I HAVE always been a keen birder – not an out-and-out twitcher like Steve Martin or Owen Wilson in The Big Year, but I did always get out and about a lot to see as many birds on my local “patch” as I could. That all came to a shuddering stop when my back problems started. I do get out occasionally, but it really is only occasionally now. Formerly,+ I was a keen photographer too and spent many hours trying to get that perfect shot. I never got it perfectly, but I was close with a couple of aerial shots – one of a white-tailed eagle on the Isle of Mull and the other an osprey fishing at Aviemore. We have 10 or 11 nest-boxes of…

VIEW FROM THE NORTH DOWNS THE first birds to begin breeding for me this year have been my two pairs of Bourke’s parakeets. They are housed in adjoining large aviaries and mixed with a variety of other birds. Interestingly, each hen has chosen a completely different sort of nest-box. In one aviary, the hen has taken up her domestic duties in a traditional budgie-style nest-box, whereas the other hen chose a plastic half-fronted nest-box, even though there was a traditional one available next to it. In the birdroom, at the time of writing, the canaries have begun their nest-building activity. Over the past few years, I have found that my hens are ready to go to nest a little earlier each spring. There can be no doubt that this is…

BUDGERIGAR SOCIETY THE Budgerigar Society stand was a popular attraction at the Stafford Spring Show on March 2, writes Jon Ashby, publicity officer of the Budgerigar Society. This was helped by the extremely popular homemade cookie stall right next to us – they sold out in a short time. We signed up some new members, while also selling some of our popular merchandise lines. I need to acknowledge, in particular, the hard work on the stand of Harry Hockaday, Trevor Terheege and Ronnie Simpson on the day. President Geoff Bowley and president elect, Phil Reaney, also joined us for a time.…

SEABIRDS ON APRIL 1, Inner Farne, off the Northumberland coast, reopened for visitor landings - the only island in the Farne Island group to do so this year. Right on cue Atlantic puffins (Fratercula arctica) arrived back too, a promising sign that shows the breeding population is recovering after being decimated by avian influenza (bird flu) in previous years. The Farne Islands are a National Nature Reserve and an internationally important home to approximately 200,000 sea-birds, including puffins, Arctic terns and kittiwakes. The birds return to the islands in the spring, departing at the end of the summer once chicks are fully fledged. “I’ve already seen large rafts of puffins on the water, while transporting the National Trust Rangers to and from the islands —William Shiel, Billy Shiel’s Boat Trips…

NATIVE HARDBILLS WITH nesting cover now placed in the nine flights that I have set here, it’s now just a waiting game. As I write, I have held back my two bramblefinch pairs, along with the pair of yellow buntings. All are situated in large cages with their flights occupied by others. I’m looking to get off to an early start with the siskins and greenfinches. Hence they have been allocated a larger than usual flight, in the hope that the extra space will up their condition. If the plan goes to work, then they will have bred during the months of April and May. I will then remove them for the pairs of bramblefinches and yellow buntings to enter. We’ll see! At this early stage, I’m not pushing the…

PRINCES RISBOROUGH & AYLESBURY CBS FEBRUARY’S meeting for Princes Risborough & Aylesbury CBS was a talk by Steve Dominey on canaries, writes Ron Chamberlain. There were 13 members present. The very informative talk detailed pairing canaries, genetic variations, breeding line progression, and an introduction on cinnamon bloodlines. Steven has become a regular presence at the society, offering information and knowledge to help expand the hobby. Most certainly a welcome presence!…