Innholdsfortegnelse for November 26, 2025 i Cage & Aviary Birds

RESEARCH NEW RESEARCH SUGGESTS that many migratory bird species are struggling to adapt to the effects of changes in the climate. Migratory birds such as the swallow and willow warbler are particularly vulnerable. Scientists from the British Trust of Ornithology (BTO) and Durham University concentrated on more than 30 bird species that migrate between Africa and Europe, looking at the condition of birds at key times to assess their ability to migrate over long distances. Population declines are being recorded across the continent in many of these long-distance travellers. The research project set out to understand how changes in climate may be contributing to these downturns. Before taking the long journeys across the Mediterranean and then the Sahara Desert, these birds need to increase their weight significantly. This “migratory fuelload”…

IT WOULD have been back in 1999 when I came up with an idea that I believed would be a great way of keeping interest in our Sunday evening meetings at the NWBBBS. We were a specialist group of native bird breeders. We had members coming from areas including Shropshire, Cheshire, Liverpool, Cumbria and Yorkshire (Barnsley), as well as locals from Blackpool, Rochdale, Leigh, Wigan, etc. Owing to the difficulty of finding suitable speakers to come to meetings, I put an idea forward that I thought if managed properly would benefit everyone at the society. The idea was to have a forum that allowed for everyone to speak at the meeting. Each month, we would pick a subject and talk as a group on that one item. So the first…

OBITUARY IT IS with great sadness that I report the death at the age of 89 of the legend Jo Mannes of Freiburg, Germany, on Saturday September 13. Jo passed away peacefully at his home in the company of his wife Linda and son, also named Jo. Jo Mannes was the legend of the current age in the budgerigar world, as Harry Bryan of England was the legend of the past. Jo came to prominence when he started to win on the show bench with unique birds that were developed well beyond their current time. One such bird in the late 1980s he called “Hercules”. Jo had the knack of knowing the feather of the bird and often referred to the finer-feathered hens that he used with the big cocks…

COVER STORY: TRAVEL AS A lifelong birdkeeper, I’m always keen to hunt out bird collections when I visit somewhere new. So, during a recent trip to Hong Kong, I visited three of the city’s public parks that include aviaries that visitors can view free of charge. Kowloon Park was a stone’s throw from my hotel, which made it ideal for early-morning strolls before the city fully woke up. The bird collection here is modest though well kept. Its main focus is on parrots, but it also houses pigeon species such as Nicobar, pied imperial and Victoria crowned. I was particularly taken by the daily ritual of one of the keepers who greeted the African grey and Amazon parrots with a cheerful “good morning!” It was heartwarming to see the birds…

NATIONAL EXHIBITION, STAFFORD 2025 AS WE continue to bring you reports from this event, this week it’s the turn of the National Cockatiel Association, the Lovebird (1990) Society, Midland ZFC and the sponsored budgerigar section. More National reports in forthcoming issues. ■ National Cockatiel Association – The second show hosted at the National Exhibition by the National Cockatiel Association welcomed an entry of 80 cockatiels. Congratulations to last year’s winner Christine Dixon who won again with a pearl cockatiel. Results: best in show, second best in show, Christine Dixon; third best in show, Charles Harkin; best currentyear owner-bred (CYOB), Addie Thomson; best junior, Freya Johnston; best pet cockatiel, Jake Whitington. ■ Lovebird (1990) Society – best lovebird in show, best adult, best Fischer, best mutation, best masked, best eyering, Alan…

BASILDON CBS – December 8, Felmores Community Centre, Northland’s Park SS13 1SD, 7.30pm. Christmas meeting. Enquiries: 07880 707 502. BRISTOL BS – December 8, Little Stoke Baptist Church, Kingsway BS34 6JW, 7pm. Meeting. Enquiries: 07748 740 794. CARSHALTON, WALLINGTON & MORDEN CBS – December 2, 7-9pm. Meeting. Also, December 7, 5-6.30pm. Club sales day.Both at Pavilion, Rosehill Community Centre SM1 3HH. Enquiries: Norman on 0208 644 9363. GATESHEAD & NEWCASTLE BS – December 10, Swalwell Community Centre, 74 Clavering Road NE16 3ET, 7pm. Christmas social. Enquiries: 07530 996 570. HAILSHAM & DISTRICT BIRD CLUB – November 26, Union Corner Hall, Hawks Road BN27 1ND, 7.15pm. Members presentation followed by fish supper (next meeting is AGM to be held Jan 28). Enquiries: 07895 208 441. HAVANT CBS – December 3, Bedhampton…

I AM in total agreement with Terry Tuxford (Letters, November 5) concerning the widespread use of acronyms. The best known use of “NCA” in the UK is undoubtedly the National Crime Agency, not our beloved National Council for Aviculture (nor National Cockatiel Association, for that matter). This is annoying because the National Crime Agency is a relative newcomer. A quick check via Google suggests that, worldwide, there are 120 uses of the initials NCA in the medical area alone, according to Wikipedia! These initials are also widely used in the legal and business areas, it seems. So, as Terry says, be very careful that whoever you are talking to knows which organisation you are talking about. Dennis Webster.…

BIRDS OF PREY STOLEN CORNISH BIRDS OF Prey Centre CIC reported that two birds were stolen between 5pm on November 13 and 7am on November 14. One of the birds, a gyr falcon named Arizona, was found at the side of the road opposite the layby at Winnards Perch, Cornwall. Casper, a striated caracara, has not been found. However, through the power of social media and local sightings, hope remains that he will be home soon. Any information, please call 01637 880 544. AVIAN DRAW PASSES 10,000 TICKET SALES THINGS ARE HOTTING up in the Christmas raffle with more than 10,000 tickets sales as we went to press! Most popular prizes are a pair of Gloster canaries by Mark Cowen (707 tickets); a pair of 2025 British bullfinches from Mark…

AMAZINGLY, we are almost at the end of 2025 and what a year of decent weather that was. We have been fortunate that the autumn hasn’t given us too many hard frosts so far, although because of this, as I write, there are still many thousands of leaves to fall from our trees around the wildlife park. That said, we have now moved all the cold-susceptible species into winter accommodation, as you never know when this mild weather may change. As I’m sure everyone is aware, we have the dreaded bird flu present in the UK and Cotswold Wildlife Park – like every zoo and collection in the country – have been very busy preparing enclosures. We have been catching and moving birds and strategically placing foot mats, disinfectant foot…

FANCIERS SHOULD APPLAUD the prompt action of the Budgerigar Society in response to an unwelcome development (see News, page 4). One difficulty is that full details can’t be revealed because of the risk of legal defamation. So we need to fill in the picture for ourselves. The (relatively) good news is that with the restriction on bird movements between the UK and Europe, there is little point in conforming to the WBO’s ring-colour sequence. UK and European budgies won’t be competing in the same shows. And, given that the annual WBO ring colours have been publicised years in advance, perhaps the chief surprise is that this hasn’t happened before. Regardless, BS chairman Harry Hockaday and colleagues are surely right to tackle the apparent problem head on now. The BS’s policy…

NATIVE HARDBILLS IN A final reference to the 2025 breeding season, I would observe that sometimes, like people, birds deserve a second chance. I refer to one of the pairs of goldfinches here. The hen was bred in 2023 but not used for breeding in the 2024 season. I introduced her to a partner bred by Alan Haury in 2024 and they made up a fine pair. The hen built a nest in a woven cup at the side of one of the aviary panels. Four eggs were laid and incubated. At about the time that the eggs were due to hatch, I peered into the nest. I did so when the hen occasionally left the nest to eat and drink. On one of those occasions I was pleased to…

DONCASTER BORDER FCC THE club’s 2025 open show proved once again that quality, friendship, and passion remain at the heart of the Border fancy, reports Stuart Mason. Held at The New Hall, Bawtry, the event brought together some of the country’s leading exhibitors – with B. & P. Heathcote’s outstanding variegated unflighted yellow hen taking top honours. Despite a smaller entry, the day was filled with fine Borders, friendly faces, and a genuine sense of community spirit that defines the DBFCC. The chairman and committee would like to extend their sincere thanks to all exhibitors, supporters, and volunteers who helped make the 2025 show such an enjoyable and successful event. 339 Borders were staged and although this was a slightly lower number than in previous years, it still provided a…

CITY OF BATH BIRD BREEDERS SOCIETY THE MOST recent open show attracted an entry of 270 birds, which unfortunately was 70 down on last year, despite being probably the only mixed variety show in the South-West of England. Members happily welcomed three new members who showed and joined the society. They were impressed by the atmosphere and how friendly and professional the show was run. President Fred Smith thanked all the many attendees from the local area. Budgerigar was the biggest section and was won by Bill Willoughby’s cinnamon grey cock bird who had just recently returned to the fancy. Roger Tippett won three sections: British bird, Norwich canary and Irish fancy. Best Fife canary was won by Steve Chivers and Dave Matthews. Best Yorkshire canary was won by Fred…

CLUB NEWS IRISH FANCY CANARY SOCIETY due to avian bird flu in Ireland, The Department of Agriculture has banned all bird gatherings. This unfortunately lead to the cancellation of the Irish Fancy Canary Society’s 50th anniversary show, originally scheduled for the weekend of November 15 and 16. The society doesn’t have any timeline as to when this ban will be lifted. To say members are devastated would be an understatement as a lot of work has gone in to organising the 50th anniversary show. Hopefully, things will get back to normal very soon. PRESTON & DISTRICT BUDGERIGAR SOCIETY had its inaugural meeting on November 12 at Walmber Bridge Village Hall. There were just eight members present with several apologies for absence. However, the discussion was good, and the enthusiasm is…