Innholdsfortegnelse for May 14, 2025 i Cage & Aviary Birds

BEHAVIOUR RESEARCH INTO FAMILIAL bonds in long-tailed tits (Aegithalos caudatus) has discovered that the species has an extraordinary level of family commitment – even during migratory journeys. A team of scientists and researchers from the University of Sheffield analysed 30 years of data on the species and found that long-tailed tits migrate in family units, ensuring they arrive at their destination ready to cooperate with their relatives. This is the first time such consistent family cohesion has been documented throughout migration in any cooperative bird species. In addition, the team found that unsuccessful breeders may become foster parents or support other breeding pairs within their kin group, much like human families. The research, which was published in the Journal of Animal Ecology, sheds fresh light on the evolution of cooperation:…

I ENJOYED A memorable day at the 40th Anniversary open day at the Enfield Bird Centre on Saturday, April 5. The store’s proprietor, Trevor Wyllie, invited the Budgerigar Society (BS) along and I was more than happy to man the BS stand for the day. Enfield Bird Centre is sponsoring the BS show-cage labels for all of the shows we are providing patronage to and, as a partner, it was important the BS was represented. Enfield Bird Centre is based in Crews Hill, Enfield, north-west London, and is set out across four large conjoined units. The store sells cages, seed, supplements, nest-boxes and accessories, plus a wide range of birds, all beautifully housed and cared for. The level of hygiene inside the premises is extremely high. The business was started…

BRITISH ROLLER CANARY CLUB THE British Roller Canary Association held their open singing contest on Saturday February 15 at Methley Working Mens’ Club. This contest was the last for the season before the finale, The News of The World Trophy contest. The winners of this contest go forward to the finale together with the winners of all this seasons’ contests – a total of 26 birds. Judges were D. Pinkney and K. Westmoreland, with show managers B. Williams and J. Stidworthy and show secretary Mrs I. Westmoreland. Thanks to Nigel for his generous sponsorship together with support sponsor D. Pinkney. CLASS A JUDGE: K. WESTMORELAND CLASS A: 1st, W. Roughley (47pts); 2nd, W. Roughley (45pts); 3rd, W. Roughley (44pts); 4th, W. Roughley (43pts); 5th, W. Roughley (42pts); 6th, W. Roughley…

CLUB NEWS EIRE ORNITHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION held its AGM on May 4 in Kilkenny. It was agreed that Eddie Darcy will remain as president, as well as John Graydon staying as secretary and Peter Sherlock remaining as club treasurer. It was reported that the club accounts are in good health and a good number of rings have been distributed again this year. A special note of thanks was mentioned for the club’s conveyor’s Martin and Seamus, whom over the last few years have done a tremendous job of transporting the birds to the various exhibitions throughout Europe and will remain in pace for next year. Recognition was also outlined to the EOA members on their success at the recent world show that was held last January in Portugal. The 73rd Mondial…

THE April 23 issue of Cage & Aviary Birds included an article about the centenary of the Gloster canary and had a short section by Mario Zahra about the history of the breed. Mentioned was Mrs L Rogerson, who was one of the breeders who originally developed and popularised the Gloster. In the same issue, Rob commented in his editorial that Mrs Rogerson was always referred to as “Mrs L Rogerson”, and he speculated what her first name might be. My sister-in-law Desni Bradley is an amateur genealogist and I asked her whether she could find out what Mrs Rogerson’s first name was. As she has paid-for access to various genealogy websites, she was able to check the 1921 census results and came up with the name Leonora Rogerson, with…

FINCHES OVER my 40-plus years of keeping foreign birds, I have kept many gold-breasted waxbills (Amandava subflava). Yet I have never bred any! I have had eggs and chicks, but nothing reared. Back in the day, of course, there was not the frozen buffalo worm or pinkie maggot that are available today, or the very small livefood such as live buffalo worm or wingless fruit flies. Now a top waxbill breeder and seed specialist is experimenting with termites. If successful, this will offer an exciting way forward in breeding small exotic waxbill. That said, the red tape around termite breeding I would imagine is quite strict. You don’t want termites loose in the wild and causing all sorts of damage. Nevertheless, it’s a really worthwhile challenge to establish these insects.…

CANARIES HAVING begun my 2025 breeding season a couple of weeks earlier than usual, in mid-March, I had plenty of eggs hatching or being incubated back in April, with all but a few hens laying, or at least practising in earnest. A couple showed no signs, but I find this is almost par for the course as the first round gets underway and it generally rights itself as the breeding season unfolds. I successfully obtained a few pairs of mosaic and coloured canaries to help me out this year, and two of those hens are among the non-starters, although both are extremely fit and healthy. This endorses my long-held view that home-bred hens are always the best option when breeding canaries. As if to underline this, I imported two Yorkshire…

WADER SET TO CELEBRATE ITS 50TH THE WASH WADER Research Group has identified the oldest known oystercatcher. While working at The Wash in East Anglia, researchers said: “We noticed an old ring when we were measuring the birds. This was a bird we had ringed at roost on the Inner Trial Bank in March 1982, making it over 43 years old! Indeed, as the bird was in full adult plumage when it was ringed, it would have been at least three years old then, so it must now be approaching its 50th ‘hatchday’.” HEATHROW BIRDWATCHING TOWER A NEW BIRDWATCHING hide has opened a few miles away from Heathrow Airport. The Nature Traffic Control Tower has been designed to resemble the airport’s control tower and is based in Causeway Nature Reserve,…

WELL, IS THIS gratifying, or what? One week I ask readers whether anybody knows Mrs Rogerson’s first name. And only a week or so later Andy Early pings back not only the answer but also a photo of the Gloster pioneer (see left). And not just any old photo – a splendiferous double portrait. Those hats! Those frocks! Leonora’s regal expression! And is that dog all right? I am extremely grateful to Andy and to his sister-in-law for her rapid-fire research. (Which I hope was fun!) Andy’s sent more material, too, mainly newspaper cuttings, so we’ll follow up with an article that fits a few more pieces into the jigsaw puzzle of this great lady’s life. For now, I’ll just echo Andy’s sentiment in his letter: how appropriate that this…

ZEBRA FINCHES MAINTAINING the approach of “slow and steady” this breeding season, the process of re-pairing some of the breeding team after a considerable rest took place. My thoughts were that a good recuperation would benefit the hens particularly, yet the period of recovery went on for much longer than planned when the hens seemed to go really out of condition. From my experience with canaries, as well as observing behaviour I also make physical checks on the birds before deciding whether to pair them. So, as well as a zebra finch needing to look fit, I want to ensure that the hen has a swollen vent that is gearing up for egg-laying. This was very obvious before I paired up for the first round. However, even though the hens…

Kealy and Kearns take the 2024 EOTY awards IRISH FANCY CANARY SOCIETY THE Irish Fancy Canary Society (IFCS) held its fifth Exhibitor of the Year (EOTY) in 2024, writes club secretary Tom O’Regan. All shows in southern Ireland partake in this event for the Irish fancy canary section. Since it started in 2018, numbers in the section have risen. Each year, we have different winners of this award – points are allotted for best champion, novice and colour awards with only four shows counting for the overall award. This year, both sections were well contested. In the champion section, John Kealy (Wexford) won EOTY, winning best champion Irish fancy on four occasions along with numerous colour awards that boosted his tally to 290 points – well ahead of other exhibitors.…

COLCHESTER CBS – May 15, Stanway Village Main Hall, Villa Road, Colchester, Essex CO3 OHR, 7.45pm. Meeting. General chat and breeding updates. Enquiries: 07484 688 334. DAGENHAM CBS – May 17, Wantz Hall, Dagenham, Essex RM10 7DX, 10am-12pm. Song bird competition with the winner being chosen by the members. Enquiries: 07852 959 447. DARTFORD BS – May 21, Royal British Legion Hall, South Darenth, Kent DA4 9AB, 7.30pm. Special guest speaker - Steve Chennells talking on bird ailments and their remedies. Enquiries: 07885 186 429. DUNBARTONSHIRE BS – May 19, The Rock Bowling Club, Pier Esplanade, Dumbarton G82 1JJ, 8pm. Meeting. Visitors and new members always welcome. Enquiries: 07951 110 570. GATESHEAD & NEWCASTLE BS – May 14, Swalwell Community Centre, 74 Clavering Road, Newcastle upon Tyne NE16 3ET, 7pm.…