Editor's letter (July 9 issue)

Hands up if you love fundraising! Hmm... thought so. And yet raising money is a key part of keeping bird clubs afloat – and never more so in these tough economic times. 

You can always raise your annual subscription to ensure your club stays out of the red, but it’s not always a popular move, which is why you need to find new, imaginative and fun ways to boost the coffers.

Clwyd Budgerigar Society is one club that has done just that. If you’ve read our news story on page 3 of this week's issue, then you will already know that it recently raised a welcome £500 through two key sponsored events. Andrew Parsons had all his hair shaved off while Fran Smith agreed to stay silent and not smoke for 30 minutes.

Last week we also reported on Wirral Birdkeepers’ unique fundraiser (“Wanted: 130kg of birdseed”, July 2) in which it plans to smash the record for building the world’s largest bird-feeder in August.

These kinds of initiatives are prime examples of thinking “outside of the box” to not only generate much-needed funds but garner some much-needed publicity too. Local newspapers and radio stations love covering these kinds of events (as do we at Cage & Aviary Birds), so it’s a great way of getting your club mentioned in the press. Such mentions can help to win the public over to your cause, as well as spreading the birdkeeping message and, who knows, you may attract a few new members to your club, too.

So, if you’re looking to raise club funds, think about doing something a bit different such as a sponsored event or breaking a world record. And, as ever, let us know about it so we can publicise your endeavour in our pages.

In this week's issue (July 9)

Nick West looks at efforts to save one of the world's most recognisable birds, the toucan, in British aviculture.

Rosemary Low visits the World Parrot Trust, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary, and interviews the curator of Paradise Park in Cornwall.

Our companion parrot columnist Dot Schwarz explains how she cooks for her birds - and why.

Jeff Hulme explains how he cage breeds linnets.

Brian Keenan shows you how to prepare your young canaries for the show bench.

Graeme Hyde highlights the gorgeous-looking wood duck from Australia.

Plus, don't miss your chance to win one of 10 DVDs we're giving away, courtesy of DVD Productions.

ON SALE JULY 9.

The sparrowhawk debate

I've got sparrowhawks on the brain at the moment. Not literally, but we've had so many letters about them recently that we decided to do some investigating to discover the truth about them. No doubt it will just generate more letters! So are sparrowhawks really destroying our songbird populations? Or are they being needlessly persecuted? Everyone has their own opinions on this, what seems to be the hottest of hot topics in the bird world at the moment. Keep your eyes peeled for our special report in an upcoming issue of Cage & Aviary Birds and maybe we can put the matter to rest once and for all!

A tea-light holder with bird feet

How's this for a freaky, avian-inspired, tea-light holder? Designed by Michael Hilgers on behalf of Rephorm, its bright orange feet appear to grip the balcony railing like a living bird.

There's a similar solar-powered light and an ashtray available.

But according to the official website shop, only the ashtray can be purchased. It retails for €34.90.  Just in case you were thinking of adding one to your real collection of living, breathing feathered friends.

Sometimes Superb dancing is not enough

I was enjoying the Red-capped manakin's dancing last week. This week, it's the dance moves of the Superb bird that are impressing. As you can see from this video, though, some females want more than just fancy footwork.

Editor's letter (July 2 issue)

In recent issues we’re reported on bogus adverts for non-existent African grey parrots (“Fancier falls for parrot scam” June 4 and “Reader pursues the birdman of Cameroon” June 25). And in this week’s news section we highlight a similar scam that involves toucans (“Reader lifts the lid on internet advert scams”, page 4).

Typically, in these kinds of scams, contact between the seller and purchaser occurs via email. The seller then requests a payment up front, usually by money order or wire transfer. The location of the birds is usually somewhere in the United States or the UK, but then the scam artist will concoct some kind of story about the birds currently being in Africa, which means the money will now need to be wired to Cameroon.

In some instances, the “seller” will send pictures of the birds in question, but often these are stock shots or photographs stolen from other websites.

Now, if a stranger asked me to send £400 to Cameroon, I’d be suspicious, but a surprising number of people fall for the scam. So how do you spot one?

First, be wary of ads that offer birds, usually large parrots or hard-to-come-by exotics, at strangely low rates. 

Second, watch for a limited grasp of written English. 

Third, be suspicious if the seller is out of the country, and especially if they claim to be doing missionary work in Cameroon or similar. 

Four, pass it up if they request that you pay for the bird in advance using a money order, because once cashed it can be almost impossible to trace and you’ll never get your money back. In fact, if they want money up front and you haven’t seen the bird at all, then it really is a case of buyer beware.

In all cases, when buying birds through advertisements, you need to exercise a degree of caution. And remember, if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

In this week's issue (July 2)

Top breeders of Gloster, Fife and coloured canaries share their tips for surviving the moult.

In our monthly Hot Debate two canary stalwarts take opposing views as to whether specialist societies are killing our hobby.

Nick West reports on efforts to save the rare blue-crowned laughingthrush.

Dave Brown takes a look at the crested zebra finch.

Judy Higgins explains how to make pedigree certificates for your exhibition budgerigars.

Plus lots more!

ON SALE JULY 2.

New birds please

I'm feeling very Wimbledony! Is that a word? Yes! If you're fed up of wathching humans play tennis, though, here are some rather sporty birds in action. This is actually an advert for something, which I am certainly not endorsing - mainly because I've never heard of it before. But the cartoon is pretty nifty.

Birds perform Jacko dance moves

Michael Jackson is no more. But his dance moves live on in a unique tropical bird - the Red-capped manakin. The little birds, found in lowland forests of Central and South America, have got some serious moves. During courtship, the males moonwalk along branches. If that doesn't get the women, nothing will!

An apartment block for birds

If you thought humans were the only ones to live in communal apartment blocks, think again.

Editor's letter (June 25 issue)

I’ve heard some interesting stories in my time, but when lovebird expert Dirk Van den Abeele got in touch recently to tell me about a lovebird hen that managed a virgin birth last Christmas I was lost for words. Apparently the hen had magically hatched an egg without ever having had contact with a male bird.

Initially I did wonder whether he might be pulling my leg, because I’d never heard of such a thing before. But, as as Dirk explains in his feature “A Christmas miracle?” (see page 11 of this week's issue), the process is called parthenogenesis and, while rare, it’s not unheard of.

If nothing else, this story just goes to show that birds are endlessly fascinating, and just when you think you have a handle on them, they do something so unusual or surprising that you realise you could never possibly know everything there is to know about them. Perhaps that’s what makes them such popular creatures, loved by so many, birdkeeper and non-birdkeeper alike.

Talking of surprises, I have to say this month’s article on fancy pigeons is sure to become a talking point. Is it just me, or do the legs on those striking pigmy pouter pigeons look a little too human? I’m sure there are supermodels out there who would kill to have a set of pins like the ones in Graham Bates’s piece entitled “Little smashers” (see page 13 of this week's issue).

Once you get over the quirkiness of their appearance, these do sound like terrific birds which are a pleasure to keep and a good challenge to breed if you’re looking to exhibit them.

And if that’s not enough quirkiness for you in one issue, don’t miss Jim Wright’s look at the half-sider budgerigar bred by the Freakley and Ainley partnership (see page 20 of this week's issue). We’ve published pictures of this particular bird before, but it still provokes a strong reaction.

Enjoy the issue!

In this week's issue (June 25)

Nick West looks at the liocichla family of birds and discovers these Asian babblers need our avicultural help.

Judy Higgins unravel the genetics behind breeding crested budgerigars.

Vet Alan Jones explains how birds are sexed and why it can help with a diagnosis.

Brian Keenan offers advice on how you can help your first-round canary chicks get through the moult.

Rosemary Low argues that the African grey parrot has not been saved by the EU import ban.

Hawk Eye suggests that the bird world could learn a lot from the horse world in terms of curbing indiscriminate breeding.

PLUS: Don't miss our four-page falconry supplement and your chance to win a pair of tickets to the International Festival of Falconry!

Less bikinis and swim shorts, but more birds

There's too much rubbish on TV these days. Pop Idol, Popstars, American Idol, Big Brother. Yuck! I eagerly await a reality TV that involves the search for someone talented enough to produce an original TV show. Bring back Baywatch!!! Anyway, I have, therefore, turned my attention to a much better type of TV - London Zoo TV. I'm now well clued up on my Burrowing owls and tropical birds. If you've never been to London Zoo then it's definitely worth checking out the videos on its website. And even if you have visitited the zoo, the videos will still be well worth a look. You never know what you might learn!

Is there a bird under there?

Working on this magazine, we get to see all sorts of birds, from the ordinary to the extraordinary. With some of the mutation breeds, I often wonder how the birds manage to see through their thick, bushy feathers. Where are their eyes?! Here's an interesting bird - a type of mutation parakeet. I don't see too many cuddly-looking birds and, by the look of it, this bird doesn't see too much of anything!

What's on this week?

EVENT: London & Counties BS Seminar and Young Bird Show WHEN: June 21 WHERE: Centenary Hall, Smallfield, Surrey WHAT'S IT ALL ABOUT: The seminar will be given by Ron Pearce and Marcel Buhler, and judging of the Young Bird Show will be by Alan Joyce. Entries will be taken on the day. TO FIND OUT MORE: Tel: 01903 297975 or email: malcolmparsons@btopenworld.com

The world's first known nut-eating dinosaur?

Because you can never have enough stories about the possible links between today's birds and yesterday's dinosaurs, National Geographic has published the results of yet another study that explores this issue.

According to the story by Christine Dell'Amore, a 110-million-year-old skull, found in the Gobi Desert in 2001, had a beak-like jaw powerful enough to crack nuts. Scientists now believe the creature, Psittacosaurus gobiensis ("parrot reptile of the Gobi"), ate like a parrot because a large number of stomach stones found with the fossil suggests that it must have eaten hard, fibrous nuts and seeds.

The short video below gives a little glimpse at what the skull looks like -- now imagine a parrot this size (the creature is believed to be 3-foot-long) perching on your shoulder! 

Editor's letter (June 18 issue)

In this week’s issue we’re kicking off with a new 10-part series looking at the Avicultural Society’s efforts to save certain exotic species in captivity.

  These efforts by Britain’s birdkeepers to breed birds as diverse as toucans to bulbuls have taken on special significance thanks to the ban on wild-caught bird imports to the EU. When this “temporary” ban was introduced back in late 2005, many of us laboured under the misapprehension that as soon as it was lifted, we’d be able to replenish stocks. 

The cold hard reality hit when the ban was extended indefinitely in July 2007. With no new birds coming into the country, we would have to make do with those birds already in our care.

Now, three-and-a-half years after the ban was first introduced, it’s no exaggeration to say that the situtation for some of our exotic species is becoming “make or break”. 

It’s clear from talking to those who breed exotics in the UK that more co-operation and communication is needed between birdkeepers, whether professional or otherwise.

Indeed, we have been surprised, and in some cases shocked, at the responses we have received when approaching certain birdkeepers for their help in compiling the articles that comprise this series. In one instance, we were told that the birdkeeper in question simply wasn’t interested in taking part; another wanted to know what was in it for him before rudely hanging up the phone.

If this is the response we get in our efforts to help promote these species, is it any wonder that our birds are at risk of dying out in aviculture? Thank goodness, then, that many co-ordinators of the Special Interest Groups went out of their way to help. We hope you enjoy reading about their efforts in the weeks to come...

In this week's issue (June 18)

7 cost-effective ways to protect your cockatiels from the summer heat.

Saving exotic species in aviculture, the first of a new weekly series.

Understanding sex-linked varieties of budgerigars.

A two-page planting guide for your aviary.

The joy of free-flying macaws in the mountains of Utah.

Plus much more!

ON SALE JUNE 18.

Novel cuisine

Here are a couple of, erm, unconventional dishes to tempt the gourmet in sunny Iceland... Click on the link above, then scroll down to the lovely Puffin picture, then scroll down a bit more.

Bird crime expert to appear on national TV

The National Theft Register's John Hayward will be starring on tomorrow's Crimewatch UK Roadshow. No, John hasn't been committing a string of armed robberies or anything like that. He will, however, be offering top tips on how to protect your pet birds, particularly parrots, from would-be thieves. The show kicks off at 9.15am on BBC1 and will be available watch on bbc iplayer for a week following the show's screening.

What's on this week

EVENT: Welsh Budgerigar Society Specialist & Rare Variety Show WHEN: Saturday, June 13 WHERE: The Memorial Hall, off Chemical Road, Morriston, Swansea. WHAT'S IT ALL ABOUT: The society is hoping for a very good turnout for this competition, which will be judged by Clifton Wixon and Terry Tuxford. Admission is £1, with birds accepted from 8.30am until 9.45am on the day. there will also be a talk by Ron Payne at 10am. TO FIND OUT MORE: Contact the show secretary. Tel: 01495 226332.

How the US papers got ‘parrot fever’ all wrong

The way in which an outbreak of parrot fever in 1929-30 was reported in the press should serve as a cautionary tale to the media and the scientific community, a historian has claimed.

Jill Lepore, chair of the History and Literature Program at Harvard University, says that the public is “easily confounded” by messages about public health and that the scientific community and media have a duty to act responsibly.

Writing in the June 1 issue of The New Yorker, Ms Lepore traces the history of the furore over a psittacosis outbreak that gripped the USA in January 1930.

She says it began when one Simon S. Martin bought a parrot for his wife for Christmas. The bird died, and soon Mr Martin, his wife and daughter became seriously ill. They were diagnosed with “parrot fever” and within 48 hours, epidemiologists from across the USA had arrived on the scene, and newspapers were running the story.

On January 6, Dr Charles Armstrong, from the Hygenic Laboratory in Washington, was appointed head of the investigation. Lepore claims that, for the sake of Armstrong’s research, it was a case of the bigger the outbreak the better; a nationwide sweep was conducted to find purchasers of recently imported parrots. But by January 15 newspapers had grown sick of the story and had turned it into a national joke.

In a radio interview last week, Ms Lepore said: “They sold lots of newspapers by blaring headlines that reported deaths that turned out to actually have been due to pneumonia, for instance.

“And [they] reported death counts and issued post mortems where no autopsy had been conducted. But within days, newspapers suddenly turned around and were telling parrot jokes.”

Ms Lepore says a pro-parrot lobby formed which insisted that the parrot fever had been brought about by the imagination of a journalist. But, in late January, scientists too began dying and Charles Armstrong himself was admitted to the hospital with a fever – although he later recovered.

Later, in a report, he wrote that there had been a total of a 169 cases of psittacosis nationwide and 33 deaths.

“It’s a great cautionary tale about how easily confounded the public is about messages that are sent by the scientific community and public health community and from the media,” said Ms Lepore.

“The parrot fever outbreak made a good story, the parrot fever jokes made good jokes, but neither of them actually bore much resemblance to the facts of the matter.”

Click to listen to the radio interview.

Editor's letter (June 11 issue)

Welcome to this week’s vermin-themed issue, which we hope will provide every birdkeeper with some useful tips and advice for keeping those unwanted furry creatures, whether rat, cat or fox, away from your precious birds.

We know how heart-breaking it can be to spend so much money and devote so much time and effort to breeding and nurturing your stock only to find they’ve been decimated overnight by intruders of the four-legged kind. (Unfortunately, if it’s the two-legged kind you should probably call the police.)

Long-time contributor Bill Naylor offers some great tips for vermin control in our Birdkeeping Know-How section (see page 10 of this week's issue), including how to make sure your birds are protected from those predators that don’t immediately jump to mind, such as weasels, mink and blood-feeding ticks.

We’ve also rounded up eight products on our Marketplace page that will help keep the rats and cats at bay. 

And it that’s not enough, the DIY pest-control supplies company PPC Supplies has also very kindly agreed to give away five of its best-selling non-toxic rat killing kits to five lucky readers. Each kit is worth £34.99 and comes with everything you need to get rid of rodents in the birdroom or aviary. To enter, simply fill out the coupon on page 5 of this week's issue and send it to us by the June 30 closing date.

On that note, we hope everyone’s having an enjoyable, successful and vermin-free breeding season! And if you’ve got any great tips on how to get rid of rats and other foes, why not share them with us all? We’d love to hear them.

Bird trade and import ban research

A university student has begun a study of the wild bird trade to find out how it affects bird conservation. Cage & Aviary Birds reader Phillip Greenwood, 32, from Wales, is studying Wildlife Management and Conservation as a mature student. His Masters degree thesis will focus on the trade in wild birds, including attitudes to the current EU ban. Mr Greenwood said: “I chose this topic because I wanted to know more about how the pet trade operates and how it influences conservation. My two main areas of interest are aviculture and the ornamental aquatic trade, particularly those species still harvested from the wild. “With ‘sustainability’ be-coming a global buzzword, I wish to see if it is also applicable to the pet trade.” He added: “I have a strong personal interest, because for about 12 years I had a large, productive, mixed collection of exotic birds, which I found incredibly enjoyable and rewarding, and also kept tropical marine fish. “I am curious about how some species are ‘ranched’ in the wild and offer a sustainable income for indigenous people.” Now Mr Greenwood hopes that birdkeepers will be able to help him understand the subject better by taking part in an online survey. Some of the questions that he asks in the survey are: ■ With the ban on import of birds, do you think that it should also be applied to all wild- caught animals? ■ Do you agree with the ban on importing wild birds? ■ If you do not agree with the ban on wild birds, why? ■ What changes, if any, would you like to see take place in aviculture in relation to animal trade or conservation? Mr Greenwood said: “Getting the thoughts of other birdkeepers, bird-lovers and conservationists on the topic will be a huge help. “The thesis has no bias, it has no agenda to fill, and I am certainly not anti-pet-keeping. Hopefully I can derive some interesting insights into the topic.” To take part in the survey, visit www.animalcareresearch.org.uk

In this week's issue (June 11)

Why the glorious goldfinch makes a first-class aviary bird, perfect for muling and hybrids.

A look at parrot diets in the wild and how we can use this information to ensure our own birds get the foods they require.

Introducing Isabel satinette canaries and their amazing colour combinations.

Top tips on keeping rats, cats and other vermin away from your birds. We also have five non-toxic rat removal kits, valued at £34.99, to give away to five lucky readers!

How to help your lovebird chicks fledge successfully.

And for something a little different, don't miss our new weekly series in which 1960s celebrities pose with budgerigars! This is the first time these amazing photographs, taken by an ex-Hollywood photographer, have ever been published - and they're brilliant!

ON SALE JUNE 11.

RSPB Scotland helps convict Maltese hunters

We've been keeping an eye on the hunting situation in Malta recently. The hunting of birds has become a huge problem there and a crackdown on those hunting illegaly was promised this year. It was interesting to hear, then, that the RSPB Scotland has played a part in convicting two men who murdered a protected lesser spotted eagle. The RSPB’s head of investigations in Scotland, Bob Elliot, was over in Malta helping the society's partner, BirdLife Malta, when he witnessed the men commit the crime. The hunters' attempt to hide the evidence was also caught on camera. Mr Elliot said: "I have been staggered at the sheer scale of the slaughter in Malta, which must have the highest number of incidents of anywhere in Europe.” So, hopefully, this latest conviction will send out a clear message that the senseless murder of rare birds will not be tolerated. You can find out more about how the RSPB Scotland helped to convict the hunters by clicking this link, where you will also find a video showing some of the destruction such bird killers have caused.

What's on this week?

EVENT: Trent Valley BS annual young stock show. WHEN: Sunday June 7. Show entries accepted 9.30-10am. WHERE: Village Hall, Willington, Derby. WHAT'S IT ALL ABOUT: Budgie breeder Jeff Attwood will be guest judge, with club members hopeful of a very decent turnout. Judging begins 10am and Jeff will give a talk and seminar at 2pm. TO FIND OUT MORE: Tel: 01283 215255 or 01332 862551.

Editor's letter (June 4 issue)

A few weeks ago I asked whether birdkeepers were interested in conservation (Editor’s Letter, May 21). And I’m pleased to see that the response has been positive, as the letters we have published in this week's issue will attest. Thank you to those who took the time to write; I hope others will follow suit.

This favourable response is in stark contrast to a show I attended last year in which one particular reader hounded me on the topic, insisting that it had no place in the pages of Cage & Aviary Birds and that he would cancel his subscription if we continued to run news stories of this nature!

Obviously, our editorial interests will always lie with captive birds. But we think it’s important to see the links between the birds we keep and their wild cousins. Surely we can learn from each other. If we know how birds behave in the wild, it might help us to understand their needs that little bit better in captivity; and in captivity we can study birds at close quarters to find out more about their habits that may help scientists out in the field.

My only concern is the ongoing belief that releasing captive-bred birds into the wild is a solution for dwindling populations. While it might sound like a wonderful concept, the very real fact is that captive-bred birds are generally conditioned to human contact, which would put them at risk if they were let out into the wild. And there’s also the issue of habitat loss. We could run the world’s most successful breeding programme of, say, red-tailed cockatoos, but if there’s no natural habitat and sustainable feeding grounds for them in the wild what would be the point?

There are obviously ways around this – running breeding projects with minimal human intervention and protecting habitats wherever possible. But this will only work if we all agree to work together, regardless of which “side” we are on.

Serial letter writer becomes a published author!

Regular readers of Cage & Aviary Birds' letters page will be familiar with the name Patricia A. Greenburgh.

Ms Greenburgh pens us regular letters about all manner of bird-related topics, all tapped out on a what appears to be a manual typewriter. She is so prolific we cannot hope to publish all her letters due to space restrictions, but they are welcome nonetheless.

We were delighted when Ms Greenburg informed us earlier in the year that she was having her first novel published. Miraculous and the Silver Man is about a Roman warrior who is cursed by his cowardly enemy and forced to roam the streets of Bath as a ghost. Here he meets the young David -- known as the silver man -- who helps him turn his fortune around.

The book (ISBN 978-1-84748-459-8) is priced £5.99 and is available through WH Smith and Amazon.co.uk here in the UK, and Barnes & Noble in the USA.

We wish Ms Greenburgh much success with her book, but hope it doesn't stop her from continuing to write to us on a regular basis!

In this week's issue (June 4)

We take a look at a foreign songbird rarely seen in British aviaries: the Taiwan yuhinas.

Richard Lumley and John Hartin battle it out in our Hot Debate, which asks "are continental exhibits really that good?"

Jim Theaker sings the praises of the British magpie, which is often given a bad press.

Pauline James offers some possible causes and cures of feather-plucking in lovebirds.

Kate Gammond warns that the breeding season can bring a drastic change of mood to your parrots.

Peter White introduces the Manila parrotfinch, an enigma in the wild and a rarity in aviculture.

Brian Keenan takes a hard look at the future of the Yorkshire canary fancy in the UK.

Lee Marshall offers some advice on broadening your budgerigars' diet.

Plus, don't miss our Open Shows calendar for June 2009 to January 2010, a must-have to plan your exhibition year.

ON SALE JUNE 4.

Eddie the eagle, move over

Sometimes in life you see things that just leave you speechless, which isn't very handy when it comes to writing a blog! But I stumbled upon this video the other day and, well, I really have no idea what's going on in it or why it was made. It is just brilliant, though. So check it out...a skiing ostrich!!

What's on this week?

EVENT: Scottish Northern BS Young Bird Show WHEN: Sunday, May 31 WHERE: Longmore Hall, Keith, Banffshire. WHAT'S IT ALL ABOUT: Club officials hope their Members Young Bird Show will prove to be a popular event, especially as it will be followed by a bird and equipment sale at 1pm. New members are more than welcome to join. TO FIND OUT MORE: Tel: 01340 820043

The magic of canary flight

We see birds flying about us all the time, whether in cage, aviary or the wild, but how many of us have seen them flapping their wings in slow-motion?

This above clip shows a succession of canaries doing just that. It's quite surreal to see these beautiful feathered creatures flying against an inky background -- and if you'll forgive the cliche, it's the closest thing to poetry in motion you're ever likely to witness.

Watch, enjoy and marvel.

[Thanks to our sub-editor Margaret for the tip-off]

Editor's letter (May 28 issue)

The practice of selling birds at auction is a thorny topic in birdkeeping circles. This is because poorly organised auctions, in which birds are sold in questionable conditions (cages too small and dirty, for instance), reflect badly on the fancy. And this, in turn, gives those that wish to ban birdkeeping perfect ammunition to fire in our direction.  

Hawk Eye touches on this controversial topic in this week’s column (see page 17 of this week's issue). He reckons that many birdkeepers regard auctions as “nasty affairs that we’d be better off without”. But he feels that few people voice their opinion because they fear being labelled an anti.

Sadly, keeping quiet in this instance doesn’t help our cause – or our birds – very much, which is why it’s pleasing to see that the Bird Strategy Group is prepared to tackle the subject (see page 2 of this week's issue). The group plans to look at ways in which auctions can smarten up their act and will most likely include these measures in its revised Avian Welfare Strategy. As ever, we will keep you posted on the group’s findings…

Another topic that frequents these pages more than any other is the problem of birds “going light”. It’s pleasing to have avian vet Brian Stockdale clear up the myths and misinformation about this health issue in this week’s Vet Clinic (see page 8 of this week's issue). This is required reading for anyone who keeps birds that have lost weight without an obvious reason.

And finally, if you love garden birds as much as the ones you keep, you might be interested in our reader offer in which you can purchase a bird feeder for a reduced rate. If you subscribe to Cage & Aviary Birds you can knock a further 10 per cent off the price. Full details are on page 17 of this week's issue.

In this week's issue (May 28)

Leading partnership Marshall & Shotton answer our queries on yellowface budgerigars.

Rosemary Low meets a remarkable woman who has created a haven for parrots and war veterans.

Dave Brown introduces us to a young zebra finch fancier with success on his mind.

Barry Mills describes how he prepared and paired off the canaries in his stud this spring.

Test your knowledge with Walter Lodge's quick bird quiz.

A leading avian vet explains all about 'going light' and what it means for our birds.

Plus all the usual news and views from across the birdkeeping world!

ON SALE MAY 28.

What's on this week

EVENT: Walk With Birds WHEN: Wednesday, May 27 at 10.30am. WHERE: East Linton, East Lothian, Scotland. WHAT'S IT ALL ABOUT: A walk from East Linton to Hailes Castle to see and hear the newly arrived warblers. TO FIND OUT MORE: Contact Lesley Johnson. Tel: 01875 815142, lesleybird1 @ hotmail [dot] co [dot] uk

Editor's letter (May 21 issue)

More birds than ever before are threatened with extinction, according to the latest IUCN Red List of Threatened Species released last week. The total number of Critically Endangered bird species now stands at 192, two more than the last update in 2008 (see our news story of page 2 in this week's issue).

When I hear these kinds of statistics being quoted I generally feel a bit overwhelmed by it all. And then I wonder how this kind of news ties in with birdkeeping. Are our readers interested, or would they rather just read straightforward avicultural news and the latest club and show reports?

It’s a funny question – and one to which I haven’t quite received a satisfactory answer. I tend to think that birdkeeping can no longer be seen in isolation, and that to be taken seriously in today’s modern world, and not hidden away behind closed doors as it so often is, it must be seen to be actively helping its wild counterparts.  

And if birdkeepers love all birds, regardless of whether they’re captive or wild, surely they must also care about the conservation status of wild species? And isn’t there a case to be made about giving something back to the conservation of those species?

The Parrot Society UK is one body that seems to embrace this view, having donated many thousands of pounds over the years to worthwhile conservation projects, one of which has recently reaped a prestigous international award (see our news story on page 5 of this week's issue). But how many other clubs and societies donate money to causes that help save wild birds?

What do you think about this topic? Are you concerned about wild bird conservation, or do you feel that those sorts of stories have no place in our pages? I would love to open the debate and eagerly await your views...

In this week's issue (May 21)

Bob Baggs looks at the increasing popularity of an African group of birds known as pytilias.

Ray Steele explains how inbreeding can produce quality 'strains' of budgerigars.

Paul Cotton reveals six curious things you might not know about lovebirds.

News editor Duncan MacRae visits a special aviary designed to impress Elizabeth I.

Brian Keenan poses some tough questions about the future of the Yorkshire canary.

Willy Newlands highlights a fascinating pheasant from Afghanistan that he feels deserves more attention in Britain.

Plus lots more!

ON SALE MAY 21.

Lucky ducks

A banker in Washington, USA, came to the rescue when a brood of ducklings hatched on the ledge of a building recently. Joel Armstrong caught eight of the birds as they leapt to the ground, then he lifted the remaining few to safety before escorting them to a nearby river. And apparently he did the same thing last year! Check out the video here.

Mockingbirds can remember if they've seen you before!

A new study reported in the US journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences has shown that mockingbirds can attack people who have threatened them in the past, proving that they are able to recognise individual humans. 

According to an article published in today's Guardian:

Mockingbirds can remember people who have threatened them and even start dive-bombing them if they see the person again [...] An urban population of the songbirds ignored most passers-by, but took to the air when they recognised people who had approached their nest days before. When the birds spotted a previous offender, they started screeching and set off to harass the person with swooping dives, at times grazing the tops of their heads.

You can find out more here and here.

Snowball on TV

You might be familiar with Snowball, the medium sulphur-crested cockatoo who's made a name for himself as a bit of a dancer. Now it seems he's become a bit of a TV celebrity in America, putting in an appearance on the The Late Show with David Letterman. 

It's worth watching just to see him do a little poo at the end -- the bird that is, not Letterman!

Editor's letter (May 14 issue)

Judging by the number of people overloading their trolleys with bedding plants and all manner of terracotta pots at my local garden centre this past weekend, now is the time to get busy in the garden. If you’re thinking about putting up a new aviary we’ve done some leg work for you and listed eight ready-made ones on the market, or if you want to cut costs and build your own, then Mark Perry provides some hot tips. Even regular contributor Bill Naylor’s got into the act, showing you just how easy it is to build a pond that your birds will love. And if that isn’t enough, our resident team of experienced fanciers has also provided some handy tips on buying aviaries, building aviaries, fitting aviaries out and stocking them with birds. We hope you find our focus on aviaries helpful and inspiring – let us know how you get on! In this issue we’re also running a competition to win the much-anticipated book, Birds of the Horn of Africa, the first-ever field guide that details all the bird species that live in the north-east of the African continent. Anyone interested in foreign birds will appreciate this newly published title by A&C Black. We have five copies, valued at £29.99 each, to give away. 

Last, but by no means least, I was very sad to learn of the death of Ron Evans, the IOA president. I was fortunate to meet Ron on several occasions, most recently at last year’s Bird Show of the Year, and he greeted me like an old friend, hand outstretched with a beaming smile on his face. He was always frank in his views but never at the expense of his good manners. The fancy will be all the poorer without him, and I offer my condolences to his family at this difficult time.

In this week's issue (May 14)

Learn how to keep and breed the bronze-winged mannikin with Phil Mead.

Gary Bralsford tells us all about his experience with the exotic tropical mockingbird.

We focus on aviaries: how to build your own; 8 ready-made ones you can buy; and tips from our experienced team of fanciers. 

Nigel Beevers takes a look at French moult in budgerigars.

Bernard Williams finds the British fancy going strong in Gozo and Malta.

And a coloured canary fancier braves our 60-second interview.

Plus lots more!

ON SALE MAY 14.

Corvids' intelligence is something to crow about

If we ever needed proof that birds are brainy, then the Behavioural Ecology Research Group at Oxford University have supplied it. They now have video evidence that the corvids in particular have fantastic memories, the ability to employ complex social reasoning and a remarkable aptitude for crafting and using tools. Just click here to see crows, scrub jays and magpies show us how it's done.

What's on this week

WHEN: May 10, 8am-10am. EVENT: Wildlife Guided Walk. WHERE: Regent's Park (Nature Study Centre), London. WHAT'S IT ALL ABOUT: Guided walk looking at common and unusual birds in the Park. Binoculars and good footwear essential. All walks are lead by Royal Parks wildlife officers. Booking essential via the park office. TO FIND OUT MORE: Tel: 020 7486 7905.

True blue?

If you've been reading the mag, you'll probably have read about the "blue sparrow mystery". A guy in Sydney, Australia, spotted what he described as an unusual-looking bird in his garden. It looked just like a sparrow, he said, but it was blue. Surely this can't be right...can it? Experts are baffled. Could it be a new type of bird? Or is there a perfectly logical explanation? Perhaps it's the lighting, some say, or maybe it's been eating some sort of blue food that has affected its colouring. Click here to see the photo yourself and tell us what you think.

Editor's Letter (May 7)

Give me a child until he is seven and I will give you the man. So goes this old Jesuit motto which implies that the best time to indoctrinate a person in a lifetime of religious belief is when they are young. No doubt it works for other interests as well, such as a love of reading and an appreciation of Nature. And how many of today’s fanciers can trace their interest in birds to their time as a youngster? Recently we’ve run several news stories in which youngsters have been found to harm birds (“Lads caught on camera”, April 23, and “Crossbow youths target geese”, page 4 of this week's issue). When kids are allowed to run riot, have no role models in their lives and nothing constructive to do with their time, is it any wonder these incidents happen? Furthermore, I’m no psychologist, but if a child has no respect for himself (through lack of parental care), then how can we expect him to respect other creatures? On this issue I usually feel that teachers get a bad press, but now I’m not so sure. Walking to work across the Millennium Bridge I run across countless school groups making their way to the Tate Modern. Recently I got caught behind a whole gaggle of youngsters, not more than six or seven years old, several of whom erupted in squeals of fear when they saw a common gull sitting calmly on one of the bridge’s suspension arms watching them walk by. I’m not a particular fan of seagulls myself, but he was a beautiful creature, a juvenile I suspect, with pristine white feathering and lovely brown tinges to his wings. I had hoped the teacher accompanying the children would have put their fears to rest by explaining that the bird was beautiful, something to be admired, rather than feared. But no. “What a yukky and horrible bird,” he told the children, as he ushered them out of harm’s way. A simple “He won’t hurt you – and isn’t he gorgeous?” might have made the difference between a youngster who may grow up detesting anything with feathers and a future birdlover...

Is this the best advert on television?

It's official: I've been living under a rock this past month. Apparently this advert for Robinsons Be Natural squash is all over the TV but I've never seen it. Thank goodness then, for art editors who tip you off, and the ever-brilliant YouTube for hosting it.

What a fantastic ad! The detail in it is astonishing.

The boots designed for bird feet by the door.

The "human" clock that says "hello, hello".

The pigeon reading the news about a cat who's a criminal.

The packet of worms in the fridge.

My only quibble? Why isn't the greenfinch reading Cage & Aviary Birds? Guess you can't have everything.

In this week's issue (May 7)

Dave Allen answers our questions on what it takes to become a judge of lizard canaries. Willy Newlands and John Newsome take sides in our hot debate on whether pheasants are falling out of fashion. Eric Peake tells us all about the song thrush that captured his heart. Pauline James takes a look at white-faced mutation cockatiels. Judy Higgins reports on budgerigars that pull out chicks' down or feathers -- and how you can eliminate the problem from your breeding room. Plus lots more! ON SALE MAY 7.

A new lovebird

In last week's issue we ran a cover story about a new lovebird -- the pale fallow taranta -- of which there is believed to be only two in the world. The birds, a mutation of Agapornis taranta, were bred in Germany. We have since discovered the breeder has a website, which features some great photographs, including a sequence of pictures showing a young pale fallow from chick to fledgling. You can also view a short video of some of his lovebird chicks.

Birds are stars of Kenilworth attraction

If you're at a bit of a loose end this weekend, then you might want to get yourself down to Kenilworth Castle in Warwickshire. Its stunning Elizabethan garden has finally been recreated, after five years of hard work and it's opening to the public tomorrow (Saturday, May 2). The best part of the garden has to be its fabulous aviary, which is currently home to six Lizard canaries, two Guineafowl and three pheasants. One of the pheasants has already laid eggs. To find out more, contact English Heritage on 0870 333 1181 or e-mail customers@english-heritage.org.uk

What's on this week

EVENT: International Dawn Chorus Day WHEN: Sunday, May 3 WHERE: Events will be held throughout the UK. WHAT'S IT ALL ABOUT: A worldwide celebration of nature's daily miracle, sponsored by wildlife trusts and comprising hundreds of events events across the globe. More are being announced in the UK on a daily basis so there is bound to be something in your area. TO FIND OUT MORE: Visit www.idcd.info, tel: 0121 454 1199 or email: neil.w@bbcwildlife.org.uk

Taxidermy pigeon lights

A chandelier made from 20 stuffed pigeons. Image courtesy of Treehugger.

We all know pigeons, of the feral variety, get a bad press, with many regarding them as no more than "rats with wings".  But even if you think the only good pigeon is a dead one, would you consider having them stuffed and turned into lighting fixtures to hang from your ceiling?

Me neither.

I first discovered this bizarre, and somewhat morbid, concept in a recent issue of the Sunday Times Style magazine. Apparently the taxidermy lights are the brainchild of the designer Alex Randall of Jericho Hands (who undertakes commissions just in case you were thinking of turning your award-winning exhibition budgerigar into something similar).

Kenya Cretegny, who has a set of taxidermy pigeon lights hanging in her boutique on Marylebone High Street, describes them as "something that's really edgy but also beautiful and soft". 

I love birds, but I think this is pushing things just a little too far, don't you?

You can see more images of other "taxidermy lights", including a duck and a squirrel, on the Treehugger website. Be prepared to be awe-struck.

Editor's Letter (April 30)

Most of us probably don’t think twice when we pick up the paintbrush to redecorate the birdroom or paint a cage – we simply want to get the job done as quickly and cheaply as possible. But if you read David Alderton’s special report in this week's issue on the safety of the paint we use for these relatively routine jobs, you might think twice about what you dip that paintbrush into. Without wishing to scaremonger, David points out that some paints contain up to 10,000 different chemicals, some of which can be harmful to human and bird health. In fact, come next January, the EU is bringing in new controls on paints to help minimise these health risks. You can find out more, including where to source bird-safe paints, in David’s report. This issue also includes a report on a new mutation lovebird, the pale fallow taranta (see our cover story). According to the author Dirk Van Den Abeele, who is president of the Belgian Lovebird Society, there are only two of these birds in existence, which were bred by a fancier in Germany. Regardless of whether you agree with the creation of new mutations (I know some people believe there’s no point in trying to improve on nature), this is a fascinating account of lovebird genetics. Finally, if you like pottering around in the garden (as many birdkeepers do), don’t miss your chance to obtain a free herb garden pack – there’s one for every reader. Each pack comprises six popular herbs (parsley, basil, thyme, coriander, oregano and chives), an instructional DVD that shows you how to create your own herb garden, and a three-piece tool-kit (trowel, fork and planter) to get you started. To claim yours, just add £2.65 towards postage. Full details are on page 18 of this week's issue. Please allow 28 days for delivery.

In this week's issue (April 30)

Introducing the pale fallow taranta lovebird, a rare mutation bred in Germany. Great advice on hand-rearing British birds if the parent birds refuse to do it. A look at crowned pigeons that will dazzle in the aviary. Meet the man who kept the Norwich canary fancy alive in County Antrim. Plus, we have a free* herb garden pack for every reader (simply pay £2.65 postage), which includes six popular herbs, an instructional DVD and a three-piece tool kit. ON SALE APRIL 30.

New Scottish TV drama

I can't take my eyes off of the RSPB's Loch Garten osprey nestcam. It's better than Eastenders! The female, EJ, is a regular to the area and she arrived back in Loch Garten on March 25. Only this year, she's got herself a new mystery man! Odin turned up on the scene on April 3, untagged and unannounced. The RSPB say they have no idea where he came from or how old he is but is treating EJ right and obviously knows how to romance the ladies. When I first began watching the nestcam not much was happening, as you might expect. EJ was snuggling up on top of her newly laid eggs. There was no sign of Odin, but it was only a matter of time before he made an appearance. I was multi-tasking at the time and, not being a woman, I'm not very good at it. But I think Odin took over nest-guarding duties to let EJ get out and stretch her wings. They were both shuffling around in the nest before one of them took to they skies. They really are amazing birds. The RSPB reckon the couples' eggs should hatch in about 5-6 weeks, so stay tuned.

Free advice is one click away

I've just hear about a veterenary website that has recently been revamped and had a cage & aviary bird secton added to it. The site, which also covers birds of prey and backyard poultry, is by no means a replacement for proper veterinary treatment, but it can offer good advice on your ill or injured birds. Vet Help Direct can also help you find a vet near you, as well as help you get your birds sorted out with insurance. As always, when it comes to sick or injured birds, you should give your local vet a call. They can often just give you advice and peace of mind over the phone free of charge. But this website is worth a look.

What's on this week

EVENT: Spangled Budgerigar Breeder's Association Spangle Day and AGM. WHEN: Sunday April 26. WHERE: Ellesmere Town Hall, Shropshire. WHAT'S IT ALL ABOUT: The morning session will be devoted to the spangle, birds accepted 10-10.30am and judged by the Association's president, Eric Peake. All members, fanciers and guests are welcome. The afternoon session, from 2pm, will be the AGM. TO FIND OUT MORE: Contact Ghalib Al-Nasser. Tel: 020 8289 8879, email al-nasser@ntlworld.com

Should the Budgieman budge?

Here he is! The one and only Budgieman! He performed regularly outside the Tate Modern in London until the council told him to clear off, saying he needed a licence to perform. I shall say nothing more, other than ask you to watch him in action.

Editor's letter (April 23 issue)

I wasn't too sure whether to laugh or cry when I first heard about the “budgieman” – real name Don Crown – late last week. 

I had never seen his performances, complete with catchy tunes and a small collection of talented budgerigars, out the front of the Tate Modern – despite the fact that the Cage & Aviary Birds office is close by.

But the magic of the internet soon solved that, and not long later I was watching videos of him on my computer, some of which we’ve now posted on this blog for everyone else to enjoy.

The fact that Mr Crown is no longer allowed to “busk” at this popular tourist site (see our news story in this week's issue) should worry all birdkeepers, for no matter what you think of performance artists, “budgieman” did a lot to broaden the appeal of birdkeeping – and his absence means visitors to London will no longer get to experience the joy of seeing budgerigars close-up.

It’s particularly sad that children will no longer get to see the show, because part of budgieman’s magic was inviting youngsters to interact with the birds – no doubt many returned home to badger mum and dad for a budgerigar of their own!

A quick glimpse at the “fan mail” section of his website demonstrates his popular appeal. “We were totally amazed at the birds, you and the act in general, it was the most down to earth and one of the most rewarding things we have seen,” writes a visitor from Australia. “Our son and daughter-in-law were entranced as we were, and as previous owners of budgies we know how many hours you must have spent in training them, but how happy they seemed.”

Fortunately, not all is lost, as budgieman plans to continue visiting schools with his ensemble of talented budgerigars, providing the sort of positive PR that our hobby so desperately needs.

In this week’s issue (April 23rd)

Phil Mead tells us how to breed the purple glossy starling, that iridescent marvel from tropical Africa. Top avian vet Neil Forbes explains how he treats leg-injuries in parrots – and how we can learn to prevent them. British bird great Bernard Williams reports on a tricky season with chaffinches. David Shelbourne profiles Jo Brauns, a Fife canary superstar from Belgium. And we report on some disturbing proposals to change the law on birdkeeping in the USA. There’s all our usual news and views from the fancy, our club and show round-up – and a draw for free tickets to Chester Zoo.

Owl saves exotic parakeets

New York state has enlisted the help of Hootie, a battery-powered owl, to deal with its monk parakeets problem. While the birds look beautiful, they have taken to building nests at the top of utility poles in Queens and Brooklyn. This is a major problem, as when the nests get wet they can explode. So it seems Hootie is a much more humane way of getting rid of the birds! One worker said: “These birds don’t go easy. They hover right around you, and if they have eggs in the nest, they’ll attack you." Hootie has been doing the business, though...when his batteries aren't run down!

Parrot refuses to sing for his supper on reality TV show

Never work with children or animals. That's what they say. I always feel that's pretty harsh but,of course, it's only a matter of time before the saying really does ring true. The other day on Britain's Got Talent (another of those mind-numbing reality TV shows aimed at making fools out of desperate people and lining the pockets of Simon Cowell) a parrot fancier appeared on stage accompanied by her best pal, African Grey Harry. Harry is quite the singer, apparently. And, moreover, he's one hell of a dancer...or so bus driver Louise Moores proclaimed to the world. All that was left to do was to get Harry to prove it. Easy, right? Harry remained silent, staring back at the audience and judges in apparent confusion and disbelief. I know how he feels!

I write about birds!!!!!!!!

I have a lot of bother explaining to people what exactly my job entails. Last night was a prime example of this. I met a guy who asked what I do for a living. "I'm a journalist," I replied. "I work for a magazine publishing company." "Oh, that's great," he said. "What kind of things do you write about?" "I write about birds," I said. "Birds? What, like FHM or Nuts or something?" "No, not those kind of birds," I said. "I write about proper birds." "Oh, proper birds. So, Esquire or Arena then?" "Emm, no," I said. "I write about proper, proper birds." I started flapping my arms and whistling. At this point, he left to talk to someone else. Where am I going wrong?!

Editor's letter (April 16 issue)

Is it a coincidence that we have three letters in this week’s Cage & Aviary Birds talking about the price of birds? 

Given the current economic climate, perhaps not. But all our correspondents raise valid issues of concern, not the least George Woods (see our Letter of the Week), who claims that we are selling our birdkeeping heritage down the river – or, to be more precise, to fanciers on the Continent – all in the name of making a quick buck.

The price of birds has always been a thorny topic, because there have always been – and always will be – people in the hobby who don’t do it for the love, but for the money. You may not agree with the idea of treating birds as commodities, but as long as such dealers are not breaking any laws, whether relating to animal welfare or wildlife, then there’s little that can be done. A bird is only worth as much as a person is prepared to pay for it, so if fanciers in mainland Europe are happy to stump up enormous prices for British-bred birds, then good luck to them.

But – and it’s a big but – if the methods being used are dubious (or, as Mr Woods puts it, “disgusting”), then we need to question what’s going on. If readers have thoughts on the issue, or, better still, evidence that laws are being broken, then please let us know. Dodgy dealings in which birds are harmed or badly treated have no place in the hobby, whether here in the UK or abroad.

Finally, on a brighter note, our classified sales executive Wayne Lashley is in training for the London Marathon, to be staged on April 26. He’s raising funds for Action Medical Research, a great charity that funds pioneering medical research. If you’d like to help him reach his ambitious £2,000 target, then please feel free to sponsor him. I am sure he would appreciate the support.

In this week's issue (April 16)

Judy Higgins explains how to produce top-quality budgerigars in vibrant colours, such as violet and olive green.

Duncan MacRae investigates the success, or otherwise, of a program to breed black-cheeked lovebirds in captivity.

Bill Naylor salutes the beauty of goldfinches.

Brian Keenan warns us of the dangers of mite in the canary birdroom.

Pauline James meets a successful breeder of brown-throated conures.

Plus our usual round-up of news, club news and show reports.

ON SALE APRIL 16.

I'll just have the salad, please

I was just reading an interesting article about some of the most foul food in the world and was surprised when I spotted that birds eggs had made it into the top 10 most disgusting delicacies. These are no ordinary eggs, though! Apparently, 100-year-old eggs are considered to be quite the tasty treat in China. According to the article, they are created by taking a normal egg and coating it in lime, ashes, and salt before burying it for a few months. Once the egg is dug up, its "yolk will have become greenish-black, while the albumen, formerly white, will now be dark brown in colour". Yummy. Coming in at number 1 on the list is bird's nest soup. Again, people get stuck into this one in China and other parts of South East Asia. And it really is made from birds' nests! Not just any old nests, however. These are the nests of Oriental Swifts, which are not made with twigs and leaves, but with a cement-like substance secreted from the birds' salivary glands. I think I'll stick to chicken nuggets and spaghetti hoops.

Happy Easter

We've got a lovely four-day break to enjoy here in the UK, so until next Tuesday may I take this opportunity on behalf of all the staff at Cage & Aviary Birds to wish you a happy Easter. We hope it's a chocolate-filled one.

What's on this week

EVENT: Breakfast with the Birds WHEN: Saturday April 11, 7.30am WHERE: Birkenhead Park, The Wirral, Merseyside - meet by the Swiss Bridge. WHAT'S IT ABOUT: An early morning ranger-led walk around the Victorian park looking a various nesting birds and new arrivals. You can also have breakfast at the Cappucinos cafe. Booking essential. TO FIND OUT MORE: Ring the visitor centre, tel: 0151 652 5197 or see www.wirral.gov.uk/news

Editor's Letter (April 9)

Back in February art editor Kevin Pruitt and myself dedicated a chunk of time to putting together an entry for the 2009 Newspaper Awards. While there are loads of different awards for magazines (such as the PPA Magazine Awards) and for journalists, these are the only industry awards that are dedicated to newspaper and news media production, and so they are a rare chance to receive some acknowledgement from our peers. Cage & Aviary Birds has achieved some success at these awards in the past. We won the Special Interest Newspaper of the Year award in 2000, were commended in the Special Interest Newspaper of the Year category in 2003 (the winner was Antiques Trade Gazette) and gained another commendation for Most Outstanding Use of Colour in 2007 (the winner was the Guardian). Last year, we didn’t enter, only because as a new editor I simply overlooked it (too busy trying to grapple with everything else, I suspect), but this year I was determined not to miss out. Thank goodness we made the effort, because last week we discovered that we have been shortlisted for the Most Outstanding Use of Colour – the same category in which we were commended two years ago. We are up against Angling Times, Church Times, Fishing News, Garden News and MCN. The winner will be announced on April 22. Wish us luck! On another topic, it’s interesting to see the subject of the Budgerigar Society’s open show date raise its ugly head again (see the letter from Ray Fox in this week's issue). Funnily enough, the latest issue of The Budgerigar contains a form of proxy for members to have their say on a range of resolutions being decided upon at its upcoming AGM. If the BS can send a form like this with its magazine, why couldn’t it have done the same with its vote for the open show date? Or am I missing something?

Best buddies

Who says birds and cats don't get on? Though judging by this cockatoo's amorous behaviour I'm amazed he wasn't eaten alive!

In this week's issue (April 9)

We answer the 10 most frequently asked questions about keeping and breeding British birds. We offer an easy way for birdkeepers to cut costs: join a Local Exchange Trading Scheme. We do a brief round-up of anti-mite and anti-parasite products on the market. We meet Galway budgerigar fancier Declan Mullally. We continue our interview with one of the Border canary fancy's all-time greats, Charlie Norfield. Our companion parrot columnist discusses harness training your bird. Plus much more! ON SALE APRIL 9.

The amazing lyrebird of Australia

I wish I'd found this video in time for April Fool's Day.

We all know the lyrebird is an amazing mimic, but see if you can spot the fake sounds in this clip.

Will National Pet Month tickle the fancy?

National Pet Month is in full swing having been launched on April 4. I've been hearing about hundreds of events taking place all over the UK aimed at promoting pet welfare, such as free vet checks, discounted microchipping and educational days at primary schools. But I've heard very little about any bird specific events. Cats and dogs are all well and good but they're rubbish compared to birds. So come on...are any bird clubs getting on the National Pet Month bandwagon to help promote bird welfare and birdkeeping in general? If not, why not?! It would be great to hear what you're up to and it may even inspire others to join in the fun. If you or your club haven't got anything planned as yet, but you'd like to get involved, then check out the National Pet Month website for advice and ideas.

Up-coming hot debates - have your say

Those of you who read our paper edition on a regular basis will know that we run a monthly "hot debate". In our most recent issue (April 2) two canary fanciers take opposing sides in regards to the question "should canaries be closed-ringed?"

In the months ahead we have several great debates lined up, and we'd love you to have your say on them. Your comments can either be left in the form below, emailed to us (with "hot debate" in the subject line) or popped in the post (the address is in the menu bar on the right).

Here's a rundown of the debates we have planned for May, June and July:

• Have pheasants fallen out of favour? Have your say by FRIDAY MAY 1.

• Are continental exhibits really that good? Have your say by FRIDAY MAY 29.

• Are specialist societies killing our hobby? Have your say by FRIDAY JUNE 19.

Let us know what you think, or if there's a particular topic you'd like us to concentrate on then drop us a line and we'll see what we can do...

Belfast Zoo's latest developments

EVENT: Belfast Zoo's annual photographic competition. WHEN: From April 3 to September 25. WHERE: Belfast Zoo, Antrim Road, Belfast. WHAT'S IT ALL ABOUT: The zoo is looking for visitors who are budding or amateur photographers to take pictures of its creatures. Stunning birds on show include Cabot's tragopans, great Chinese cormorants and East African crowned cranes. Cash prizes are on offer for the best snaps. TO FIND OUT MORE: Tel: 028 9077 6277, email: events@belfastzoo.co.uk

Photo of the day

It's not often I get to escape the confines of the Blue Fin Building for a lunch break, but after being immersed in a ton of paperwork and having spent an hour on the phone to a contributor, I decided to get some fresh air.  I popped down to the river, which is a brisk three-minute walk away, and soaked up a little Spring sunshine. I snapped this picture on my BlackBerry, if only to prove that London does look rather wonderful when the sun comes out - if only it would happen more often!