Innholdsfortegnelse for October 29, 2025 i Cage & Aviary Birds

EXTINCTION WITH NO SIGHTINGS for decades, and a few flutters of false hope, the slender-billed curlew (Numenius tenuirostris) has officially been declared extinct by the IUCN. The species had been in a slow decline since 1912, but it wasn’t until 1988 that it was classified in a high conservation concern category. Despite extensive searches for any remaining slender-billed curlews, there have been no confirmed sightings since the mid-1990s. Extinction was declared “highly probable” in 2024, and has now been made official in October 2025. Rob Innes, C&AB editor, made a special trip to see the species while it was still extant. He said: “This is such a poignant announcement. In the 1990s, there was literally one last known slender-billed curlew left in the world. It returned to the same area…

RESEARCH RESEARCHERS HAVE MANAGED to pinpoint the exact pace that helps thrush nightingales (Luscinia luscinia) to fly efficiently on long migratory journeys. A new study from Lund University in Sweden found that at the end of the summer, when thrush nightingales leave Europe for southern Africa, they do not fly at full speed. Instead, they maintain an even pace for peak efficiency. Up to now, researchers have assumed that the efficiency of converting energy into flight power is constant regardless of the speed. Using wind tunnel experiments involving nightingales, the Lund University team has revealed that this is not the case. “We have discovered that the nightingales are not equally efficient at all speeds. Their efficiency is highest at an intermediate flying speed – approximately 7-8 metres per second –…

RESEARCH NEW RESEARCH LED by the University of Sheffield (UOS) and the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) has shown that new fertility diagnostic methods could boost conservation breeding programmes. The focus is to offer a better understanding of why eggs don’t hatch. As part of the research study, published in the journal Global Ecology & Conservation, the results of 174 macroscopic examinations (a visual examination with the naked eye) of eggs that failed to hatch were compared with an “advanced” fertility diagnostic technique. This involved using a microscopic examination of each egg’s contents using fluorescence microscopy, which can reveal early signs of fertilisation not visible to the naked eye. Using this method, 65.5 per cent of 174 unhatched eggs studied had been fertilised. A visual analysis found that only 5.2…

MAGAZINES IN A BID to cut costs, the Budgerigar Society General Council has decided that the September edition of their magazine, The Budgerigar, will be the last one for 2025. Terry Tuxford, editor of the magazine, said: “This outcome was reached to reduce costs as part of an ongoing restructuring and to get the society into a more stable position financially.” This money-saving decision is in line with chairman Harry Hockaday’s presentation on the Society’s financial accounts, delivered at the BS AGM at the Club Show in June (see News, June 18). In the space of one year, with the help of new BS accountant Daniel Colwell, the Society has recovered remarkably from a very uncertain financial future. Mr Tuxford added: “One new service that is being provided to BS…

ANOTHER YEAR IS coming to an end, and we have now started the exciting job of removing leaves from roofs and sweeping paths. A monotonous job, but someone must do it. There’s exciting news at the park with the safe arrival of a young male white rhino named Marcus to his doting mother Ruby. He was named after a good friend of the wildlife park. The birds continue to surprise us at the park with two young Palawan peacock pheasants that hatched out in the incubation room, and three more roul roul partridges, bringing this year’s number up to seven being reared. Due to some of the ages of our adults in the tropical house, we will keep these youngsters and hope to add to our numbers next year. Sadly,…

THANKS TO READER Stephen Holmes for his excellent recent history of the Belgian canary in the UK (letter, left). Many canary breeders will know that the Belgian has a long and rich history, and has wielded a strong genetic influence on other varieties. An account of its more recent status in this country is most welcome and Stephen’s piece taught me a good deal. Today the breed seems to attract great loyalty – long may that continue. Stephen mentions the Belgian’s traditionally strong showing at the South Bucks CBA show each year. That prompts me to ensure readers have this canary classic firmly on their radar. This year, the event is officially known as the Mick Beckingham Memorial Show. It will be held on Saturday November 15 at the Community…

BUDGERIGARS WHAT is your set-up like? Ben: We breed in a 14ft × 10ft shed equipped with 12-14 breeding cages. Half the space is taken up by a 14ft-long, half-height flight. Having this permanent flight helps us resist the temptation to add more cages. Twelve cages are plenty for the size of our stud and the time we can dedicate. We keep all of our adult birds, both cocks and hens, together with the young birds in the flight. We don’t believe in splitting them up unnecessarily. It’s important to maintain a natural flock structure, similar to how they’d live in the wild, with a social hierarchy. What does your feeding regime look like throughout the year? Miryam: Our budgies are fed a simple seed-based diet, but we strive to…

CANARIES ASK most people to picture an Army barracks and they’ll imagine boots lined in perfect rows, sergeant majors barking orders and soldiers marching in step. What they won’t picture is the soft trill of a Border canary echoing from a makeshift cage tucked in the corner of a barrack room. Yet behind the rigid discipline of military life, there has always been a quiet undercurrent of bird men: those of us willing to risk a stern word from the commanding officer for the simple joy of keeping canaries close at hand. This is my story of juggling two lives: soldier and fancier. Roots of a tradition When I first joined the Army as a young soldier, I had to leave my Borders at home during basic training. There was…

NATIVE HARDBILLS WITH the breeding season over, it’s useful to recap. It went reasonably well here and I ended up with 34 on the sticks. Obviously, it wasn’t perfect and could have been better, but that is to be expected. The negatives included the failure to breed any redpolls, yellow buntings or bramblefinches! The latter did get as far as hatching a chick but it was gone within a day. I believe that the failings were probably due to the late introduction of the yellow buntings and bramblefinches into their flights so they weren’t as fit and conditioned as in previous years. And I believe that the incompatibility of the redpoll pair was the reason for their failure. I should add that the hen has presented a red breast this…

IRISH FANCY CANARY SOCIETY THIS is the story of the Irish Fancy Canary Society; how it was formed and where it is today, writes Tom O’Regan, IFCS secretary. In the beginning, the Irish fancy canary was known as the roller canary and at the time was very competitive. The roller classes provided then were smaller; consequently, the numbers in each class were quite large. At that time, judges placed awards according to what pleased them, since there was no recognised standard due to the non-existence of a specialist society. The formation of IFCS in 1975 introduced and adopted a standard of excellence and the Irish fancy canary came into existence. It was difficult in the beginning as show cages came in all shapes and sizes. The introduction of a standard…

COMPETITION WINNERS WINNERS of Countrywide’s September prize draw to win either a 12.5kg bag of Super Deluxe Parrot & Fruit Mix or Conure Mix are: Anthony Cahill, London; Anthony Chappell, Gloucestershire; Chris Parker, Newport; Gary Decon, Bracknell; and June Bowman, Dunfermline. Congratulations! Your chosen prize is on the way to you! Countrywide bird food is produced by Albert E James, which has been manufacturing premium dust-free bird seed mixes since 1962. RSPCA: QUAILS, PARROTS & BANTAMS SEIZED DAVID Johnson, 37, from Manchester has been given a suspended prison sentence for animal welfare failings. He pleaded guilty to nine offences under the Animal Welfare Act. The RSPCA collected more than 1,800 animals from four addresses in Shropshire. Almost 400 of those died later. Among the animals were quail, parrots and bantams.…

UPDATED ON: October 23, 2025 Avian Influenza Prevention Zones AIPZ rules apply to the whole of England, Scotland and Wales. Strict biosecurity and hygiene are required, but birds do not need to be housed indoors. Current 3km Protection Zones Mandatory housing; strictly no bird movements in or out of premises. Locality near Penrith Wybunbury Stockbridge Wetheral County/district Cumbria Cheshire Hampshire Cumbria Date of declaration October 18, 2025 October 13, 2025 October 11, 2025 September 28, 2025 Source/further info: APHA Interactive Avian Influenza Disease Map…

I HAVE been asked to write in concerning the history of the Belgian fancy canary since 1978 to today. I got my first Belgian canaries from Rod Ledsham of Rhyl and the late Charlie Hill from Frampton-on-Severn in the early 1980s. They were good birds and they kept me going. I line-bred back into them and then brought in birds from Geoff Bamber of Bodelwydden. That turned out to be a good cross into the line. I also tried the late Sid Keogh’s birds but that cross didn’t work. At that time the breeders were Rod Ledsham, Geoff Bamber, Charlie Hill, Sid Keogh, Bill Machin, Gordon Wooldridge, Tish Harnett and later the late John Banks. I apologise if I’ve missed anyone out. The competition was good and there were plenty…

SHOWS MY SHOW calendar is never complete without a trip to the National Exhibition. In that I am certainly not alone and the competitive entries this year were well over 3,000. To be honest, I didn’t get a very thorough look around the sales halls this year because I was based on a club stand. However, the quick trip I took out to stock up on supplies suggested there was a good number of visitors. I heard reports that the queue for tickets was extremely lengthy this year. Granted that the number of breeders’ tables was down, perhaps now is the time to start condensing the sales into the main hall. That’s not necessarily a grumble, just a thought. Reviews of the event online were in the main very good,…

Gold show honours club stalwart CORNWALL BS A SPECIAL gold show was held on August 17 in memory of Malcolm Moyle, reports Grenville Allen. If ever someone deserved the title of “stalwart” it was Malcolm. Even though he had not kept budgerigars for many, many years he was the club’s treasurer until his health forced him to retire, and he was a constant at club functions. The show’s success was a fitting tribute to a very popular member of the club who will be greatly missed. The gold show returned to Pool Academy after a few years away and provided lots of space for the superb entry of 520 birds. Rob Hughes, Gwyn Williams, Dave Cottrell & Dave Sturzaker were the judges engaged to cast their eyes over the exhibits…

SHOW DATES ABERDARE CBS will hold an open show on November 22 at The Penywaun Club and Institute CF44 9DE. Bring entries between 9am and 11.30am, with judging from 11.30am to 1.30pm. Any enquiries, please call Les Davies on 07765 378 191 or Luke Barry on 07568 530 201. BALLYMONEY ORNITHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION the annual open show will be held on November 7 and 8 at St. James’ Church Hall, St.James’ Road, Ballymoney. Postal and telephone entries to Colin Hill, 25 Townhead Street, Ballymoney, Co. Antrim BT53 6BE or phone 02827 663 954. No entries will be taken on Saturday morning and the show will be open to the public from approximately 3pm. DALBEATTIE CBC schedules for the forthcoming open show to be held at Dalbeattie Town Hall on November 2…

ABERDEEN BS – November 13, Northern Bowling Club AB24 3DP, 7.30pm. A talk on bird products and seeds by Alan Melvin. Enquiries: 01358 721 550. BASILDON CBS – November 10, Felmores Community Centre, Northland’s Park, Basildon, Essex SS13 1SD, 7.30pm. Annual show planning. Enquiries: 07880 707 502. BRISTOL BS – November 10, Little Stoke Baptist Church, Kingsway, Little Stoke, Bristol BS34 6JW, 7pm. Meeting. Enquiries: 07748 740 794. CARSHALTON, WALLINGTON & MORDEN CBS – November 2, Pavilion, Rosehill Community Centre SM1 3HH, 5-6.30pm. Club sales day. Also, November 4, 7-9pm. Meeting. Enquiries: Norman on 0208 644 9363. CITY OF BATH BIRD BREEDERS SOCIETY – November 4, Claverton Down Community Hall BA2 6DT, 8pm. Debrief of open show and quiz. Bring raffle prizes. Enquiries: 07504 993 583. CREWE CBS – November…