Budgerigar.co.uk » buffalo

Attack, Attack, Attack

Gerald S Binks — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 11:05:37 +0000

Introduction

As most established readers will be aware, I have been in this hobby for 67 years from the age of 12.

In my own area of operations I doubt if there are many who have devoted themselves so much to trying to bring the hobby into the 21st Century, as much as myself. The great difficulty was surmounting the politics of less than 10 others (in my case) who chose to undermine anyone who dared to try. They possessed an ostrich like mentality that wanted to adopt the policy of “We have always done it this way”.

But of course they got the results they have always had and the hobby is where it is today – shrinking! They refused to accept change where change was and still is screaming at the hobby to be effected. Where is the marketing of the hobby? It is totally useless preaching how good the hobby is to ourselves when the public at large know nothing of our existance.

Let me give you an up to date example which I have written about before in other publications.

Take the Budgerigar Society World Championship, for example. Outside the Dome (in Doncaster) is a massive branch of ASDA. There is not even a tiny notice saying this great show is taking place, yet there are hundreds of cars with families inside the zone passing that point. So they don’t even know they could take their families inside a big show and perhaps lead their children into a hobby that could keep them off the streets and enjoy something of what essentially would become their own personal interest.

Inside the hall, I would delegate experienced fanciers to be introduced to them to explain what the hobby is all about and what a challenge it is. It would also be promoted around the local papers – all of them! It would be promoted on local radio and even TV – but where is the attack on this area? Basically nowhere.

This is not an attack at all on the Budgerigar Society. Today all nice guys, but all looking inward instead of outward. At my age it doesn’t matter to me personally, but I sometimes cringe at what might have been today if I had been fully backed in the mid 1980s. I have mentioned this item for several years now to the Budgerigar Society – but still nothing is done. It is the first thing I do when I drive in to the Dome area – look for the show promotion.

The same applies to all shows. In the south, I see exactly the same. Nobody is delegated to take a grip and given a free range to take action. It really is a great shame after so much effort goes into the show build up by the hard working officials, whom I always greatly appreciate having run the massive Budgerigar World shows on a personal basis.

To Budgerigars

To quote my great Scottish friend Jim Moffat who sadly is no longer with us, “I am still as keen as ever on quality budgerigars”.

In recent years since stepping aside as the Budgerigar World editor and writing “The Challenge”, I have attacked the birds like crazy and have been prepared to travel anywhere, even long distances of 6000 miles, to get what I want in terms of outcrosses.

Some folk have said I am expensive but in what I term the REAL purchasing outcross world, I am not in the same class. lf you have not travelled around much you would not realise what is being charged for what essentially are visually beginner / novice type birds.

You have to use your head, go alone or at most with one friend ideally, and never in a coach! In a large group you are helpless and you can get carried away trying to buy from someone with a famous ring number or whatever after travelling a long way. So be advised. Within numbers you cannot negotiate. Remember that.

At Tanglewood

As everyone knows you cannot stand still in the hobby. From recent visits to two top shows in the south this year it is abundantly clear that apart from perhaps six birds at most, quality has plummeted on the bench and that is out of 500-700 benched.

There are a few breeders who have woken up that they have to attack quality now or give up. That is why I have attacked that myself and built up a great depth of quality so that breeders know they have a good chance of getting something to improve what they have at home. There are few aviaries around with the quality depth – perhaps only 10 in total in the UK.

Where the Moffat birds were concerned when I was gifted 50% of the stud by Jim and his family, there were some super cocks among them. They formed the basis of my red ring line today which has been taken to greater heights after working in new outcrosses. The hens at that earlier time were not quite as strong but still ideal to breed with. Jim was always looking for hens whenever we went anywhere. I wish he could see his line today. I wrote as much to his wife a short while ago saying as much – but it cannot be.

Moffat line aside, I was, and still am a grey green fanatic. The grey greens carry the size and quality so well that if you can win a big grey green class in the champion section, or intermediate section, you can go on to be a serious contender for Best in Show. So I bought in grey greens initially from Daniel Lütolf in Switzerland. I lost some which was a blow but pressed on until in 2005 I bought three young cocks which all did brilliantly and set the pattern for what I have today. They are all massive birds, great depth of mask and big spotted with 80% with round spots. Width across the cere level is excellent now and in my terminology “the buffao effect” is present in good numbers and increasing fast numerically.

Modestly he says “I am now in the position that I am uncertain where to go to bring in essential birds to prevent losing size and punch that is now fixed to avoid losing size, as happens, if you don’t outcross.”

Lütolf is a breeder who buys all over the place and produces super birds in the process and turns out massive big headed stock, which I find very interesting.

A Change of Style!

At this point the reader will begin to think “This is a different Gerald Binks to what I am used to. He’s boasting about his stud.”

I agree it is not my style at all but it arises from Robert Nawarauckas, persuading me to write about myself and my birds for the first time in my writing life.

I have never pushed or have ever been promoted in any UK magazine in this way, so allow me a bit of licence please for once in my latter years.

Two Points

Two matters to mention.

Firstly I no longer have any involvement or control over the Budgerigar World Magazine since I passed it over to Gwyn Evans at County Press in North Wales after the first 100 editions. I felt that I had to do so, both for being let down by the previous printer at a critical time, but mainly because I was feeling that I had come full circle with writing about the hobby and a fresh person should take over the editor’s role – which of course happened.

Secondly, I have not shown for many years, as is generally known. Why you ask? Well I became very disenchanted when on two occasions I was in competion at topmost national level to win Best In Show, BUT the establishment regarded me as Mr Budgerigar World and couldn’t swallow the thought of Mr Budgerigar World taking the top award and in one instance put up an awful old fashioned keyhole exhibit up instead. I couldn’t see the point after that of showing if certain folk were putting their personal vendetta politics in front of what was morally right.

Happily those few are no longer to be seen. Derrick Bowley and Mick Freeborn will verify this at any time, if asked. Both were disgusted and those involved never regained their credibility.

It is a fact that all who come here now will at some point start saying “Gerald you have to get these birds on the bench and get over the past”. So far it has not happened, but I have bought new Basil Thomas made show cages recently so I am perhaps weakening a bit. 2010 may see a difference?

The Challenge

In 2006 I was flattered to read that a signed first edition (in good condition) of “The Challenge” was advertised at £240. This was of course before the 2nd edition came out so I guess the demand value will be less for a first copy. The new edition created another 8 months work, but has already nearly sold out. I am not certain if I will produce a Third but time will tell.

There are two chapters in the book I would draw your attention to. These are the chapters on feeding. They are the most important chapters by far, as they are the clues to successful breeding. Two consecutive bad seasons and you are virtually dead in the water and may leave the hobby.

Why do I mention this? The reason is that I have continual e-mails and calls asking for help. When I ask “Have you read those chapters?” the answer is normally in the negative. Readers love to read and look at what they regard as the “juicy” bits, but don’t get down to feeding since they glance at them and feel they are a bit technical. They are not and are easy to understand in plain language. So if in trouble – get serious!

Scottish Fanciers are Travelling

These days I am pleased to say that some serious Scottish breeders have realised the quality here and are visiting annually. So far they have all been satisfied with results and recently I heard that a skyblue bred from a BA23 bird had won Best Breeder at a major show.

Reflecting on travelling a distance to buy new stock, what with fuel costs and B & B’s, I will sell, say 5-10 birds and buy one. I have done this all my birdlife having come from humble beginnings. I realised early on that it was useless buying within a distance of a 100 miles as all the stock was basically inbred as it was just circling around and it was only when I broke out of that mould that I made progress.

Today, I travel any distance to get what I want. I have just been to Germany again – a round trip of 1200 miles to obtain new birds. There are others like Roger Long, Les Martin and Brian Sweeting who do the same and it’s great fun and pleasure in seeing great birds around Europe and in my case also South Africa.

What is totally worthless is travelling in a big coach with 30 others and drawing lots as to who has the first choice on any birds available. You cannot get to personal grips with the breeder really well and it’s all a scramble. That is not the way to spend hard earned bird money. Another thing – what is the use of buying new outcrosses if your feeding system is at fault and is not reproducing numbers at home?

Tora ! Tora ! Tora !

You will all recall the film about the Pearl Harbour debacle during the second World War – “Tora ! Tora ! Tora !”. The title (effectively) meant “Attack, Attack, Attack”.

That is my attitude to this hobby and there are quite a few who do likewise – but not enough. So many just “drift” as I term it and the quality of the shows has dipped as well as numbers benched. Fanciers will only bench their best and if they feel thay have not bred the quality – the answer is obvious.

The BA23 Stud Quality

Unlike periodic fanciers who enter the hobby, have quick success and it goes to their heads, I prefer to let the birds do the talking.

This article is well illustrated. The birds can speak for themselves – you like them or you can fault them, as all birds have faults. The challenge is to reduce them to the minimum and that is the great pleasure of the hobby.

Enjoy – as they say.

Basic Terminology

Gerald S Binks — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 12:15:16 +0000

When a beginner first attends a Club Meeting or an Exhibition, he/she, sees or hears references to all manner of features, colours and descriptions applicable to the budgerigar which appear totally confusing. What are buffs? What are runners and for that matter what are splits?

This glossary of terms is here to answer such questions.

If you have heard a term used that does not appear here, please contact us and we’ll add it to the list below.

0-9 | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

0-9

A

Allelomorph

One of a pair of alternative hereditary characters

Autosome

A chromosome other than a sex chromosome

Avian Flu

Specific Virus (H5N1) that occurred in poultry in the Far East which can cause death in humans

B

Barred Heads

A descriptive term applied to young budgerigars under 3 months of age where barrings appear in the frontal zone above the cere. At the first major moult, these barred feathers are replaced with clear feathers resulting in a clean frontal area.

Bloodline

Long standing breeders of quality livestock, develop specific strains. These are referred to as bloodlines.

Bloom

The ultimate appearance of a bird’s feathering following regular spraying in preparation for show. It is a sheen.

Body Cell

A unit of living matter, containing a nucleus, of which animals, birds, fish and plants are composed.

Breeder

A term used by fanciers to describe a budgerigar bred in the current year.

Budgerigar Club

Generally a term to identify small localised and monthly Budgerigar Clubs in towns throughout the world

Budgerigar Exhibition

Standard terminology to describe all Specialised Budgerigar Exhibitions where exhibitors compete to be “Best In Show” – the top award among others.

Budgerigar Shows

Can apply to Budgerigar Exhibitions (above) but usually applies to lesser attended budgerigar competitive events.

Buff

A term which refers to a bird having longer and broader feathers than normal. They result in a rough rather than a sleek appearance and such birds are more difficult to prepare for showing.

Buffalo Effect

The author’s term evolved in 2005 to describe the imaginery line above the cere of a budgeigar with great width of face which has the added feature of the feathering dropping down either side of the beak when viewed from head on. The shape thus achieved resembles the imaginery horns of a water buffalo.

C

Cere

Means wax or waxy. Applies to the fleshy area around the nostrils in budgerigars. Sometimes called the wattle.

Chromosomes

Thread-like structures present within the nuclei of cells. They carry the inherited, genetic information that controls and directs the activities of cells. They thus affect the growth and function of the whole body.

Chromosomes, X & Y

Some chromosomes, usually the remaining two chromosomes, are called sex chromosomes. In males they form a pair and are called X chromosomes. They look alike, and therefore feature as double X, or XX. In females, the two sex chromosomes are different. One is an X chromosome and the other is shorter and is called the Y chromosome. Hence they are featured as XY.

Clear

A budgerigar totally clear of melanistic pigment is referred to as clear. More usually it refers to the areas of the flights which are described as clearflights even though they do contain melanin in specific cases.

Closed Ring

The National and Area Societies supply closed personal coded aluminium rings, each possessing an individual serial number and year. They are usually coloured by anodising the aluminium according to the Society requirements, the colour being changed annually. These are slipped on to each chick between the ages of 7-10 days.

Cobby

A bird that is short in body length and rotund

Colony System

A method of breeding birds using an uncontrolled non pedigree, system.

Colours

Varieties of budgerigars:

Cinnamon – A specific brownish tinge to a specific colour on some budgerigars
Lutino – A specific yellow budgerigar with red eyes as in albinism – it has no other markings at all
Opaline – This is one of a variety of what are called the sex linked budgerigars which include cinnamons, lutinos, albinos and others
Pied – Another variety of budgerigar carrying different colour patches over the body
Spangle – Another variety of budgerigar with specific markings
Texas Clearbody – Another variety but not especially popular among exhibitors

Composites

Birds possessing complex mixtures of colour are known as composites.

Culling

Birds that are selected by visual assessment and sold for not reaching your required standard.

D

Dark Gene

A gene that has the power to influence colour in two forms: A single dose; i.e. Dark Greens and Cobalts. Double dose; Olives and Mauves.

Dominant Character

When, on outcrossing two true breeding budgerigars showing contrasting characters, all the young exhibit the character of one parent. This character is referred to as the dominant character.

Dominant Colour

When, on crossing two differing basic coloured budgerigars, e.g. light green and skyblue, all the young exhibit the colour of one parent only. i.e. light green. This is termed dominant to skyblue.

Down

The new growth of feathering on developing chicks.

E

Egg Binding

The inability of a hen to pass an egg which may cause her death.

F

The symbol for filial [of, or due, from son or daughter] generation.

The first filial generation. The young from the first pairing.

The second filial generation produced from two F1 individuals.

Factor, Single

The inheritance of a factor from one parent

Factor, Double

The inheritance of the same factor from both parents.

Fancier

Anyone who keeps and breeds any birds for competition

Feather Duster

A recessive mutant gene appeared in the 1970’s creating a budgerigar which was double normal size and where the feathers continued to grow.

Fertile

A bird or animal that is able to produce functional germ cells (i.e. the reproductive cells produced by the merging of the male sperm with a female ovum)

Fertilisation

The union of a male gamete (germ cell) with a female gamete to form a zygote (The single cell so formed from this union)

Flighted

A term used by canary fanciers to describe a bird over one year old.

Flights

Enclosed areas allowing birds ample freedom to fly. Also describes the primary and tail feathers.

French Moult

Thought to be a viral disease that creates the fracture of both flights and body feathers at skin level, before or after a young bird leaves the nest.

G

Gene

A unit of heredity in a chromosome controlling a particular inherited characteristic of an individual.

Genotype

The genetic constitution of an individual bird or animal.

Gizzard

All birds possess a gizzard. It is a muscular organ involved in the digestive process within the gut system.

Grit

Birds do not have “teeth”. They therefore swallow soluble and insoluble grit into the gizzard which grinds up their food intake for easy absorption.

H

Heredity

Tendency of like to beget like. The evolutionary factor causing the continuance of character in successive generations.

Heterozygote

Zygote resulting from the fusion of unlike gametes. A Mendelian hybrid containing both dominant and recessive characters and therefore not breeding true.

Hikers

See Runners.

Homozygote

A pure bred. In birds, a bird which breeds true for its specific characteristics as it carries, in duplicate, only one member of an alternative pair. Such birds are described as ‘prepotent’ for their own quality.

Hybridization

A process by which the wild-type, or another species entirely, is bred into a pure-bred stud creating, “outbreeding enhancement” (heterosis) with the likelihood of heterosis being combined with outbreeding suppression.

I

Ideal, The

A descriptive word which depictes a quality of bird which is beyond the quality of birds currently being bred or exhibited. It can be words only, or in a model or printed form.

J

K

L

Late Bred

Birds that are born in the second (or third) round of laying in any year.

M

Mantle

Applicable to the sex-linked opaline variety in budgerigars where the area formed by a triangle from the wing butts to the rump, on the back, is clear of marked feathering.

Melanin

The pigments in feathering formed from the protein produced by the birds during growth. They are inherited.

Metabolism

The sum of all the chemical and physical processes by which living substance is produced and maintained. The process by which energy is made available for the uses of the organism.

Moulted

When a baby chick, in budgerigars, firstly gets its feathers, it has barrs on the forehead. It then moults at 3 months of age and the forehead is then clear. Then it is a moulted budgerigar.

Mutation

A complete genetic change which when transmitted to the offspring gives rise to hereditable variation. e.g. a colour mutation in budgerigars will have occurred if true red or black body feathers appear.

N

Necrotic

Means ‘dead’.

Nest Feather

A budgerigar in pre-adult plumage (i.e. a barred head).

Normal Colour Groups

This refers to the markings on the original wild Australian budgerigars which are light green in colour. The term has been extended to the groups of colours which carry these original markings, to differentiate them from all other forms of feather colour and markings present in other colour combinations that have developed.

O

Outcross

The introduction of a new bird, usually of high quality, that is unrelated to the home stud.

Ovary

The female reproductive organ/gland producing ova/eggs.

P

Pathogenic

Refers to an organism capable of producing disease.

Phenotype

The total of the observable hereditary characters in an individual bird or animal, etc.

Pigmentation

The colouration of a feather.

Progeny

The young bred from a breeding pair.

Psittacine

A bird of the order Psittaformes which consists of the family Psittacidae. e.g. parrots etc.

Q

Quill

The main shaft of a feather.

R

Recessive

A hidden factor masked by a dominant characteristic inherited from one parent. In budgerigar colour genetics, known recessive colours are written behind an oblique line referred to as the split line. Thus a light green/blue has a visual light green colour with the blue factor being recessive to the dominant green.

Runners

Young budgerigars that shed their primary, secondary and sometimes body feathers as a result of the French Moult virus, are termed ‘runners’. In Australia they are called ‘hikers’.

S

Sex Linkage

Involves the association of a hereditary character with sex, as its gene is sited on a sex chromosome. It applies to seven varieties of budgerigars to date.

Split

See Recessive.

Sterile

The inability to reproduce.

Stud

A word which accurately describes an aviary containing entirely related stock.

T

The Ideal

See Ideal

U

Unmoulted

A young bird that has not reached the 3 month age when it has its first moult, after which it is described as moulted.

V

Vent

The anus, or correctly, the cloaca in birds.

W

X

Y

Yellow

A fancier’s term to describe fine quality feathering which is also short in length.

Yellow Belly

A disease within the fertile egg which causes the young embryo to die. It has a distinct yellow belly when death occurs. It can be eliminated by treating the stud as a whole with an antibiotic in the water 2 months before breeding begins.

Z

Zebra Marks

Wavy markings often associated with recessive pieds which possess these features particularly around the head.

A Budgerigar “Safari” Visit to Brian Sweeting

Gerald S Binks — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 19:43:59 +0000

Last November, just prior to The Budgerigar Society Show in Doncaster, I decided to visit Brian Sweeting at his home in Bridgwater, Somerset. Arguably it is the best studs of pieds in the UK. I clearly remember seeing two magnificent pieds of his at the South Hampshire Show a few seasons ago; both massive birds either of which could have been Best in Show.

Brian’s quality strength extends to other colours of course and following my visit his adult cinnamon skyblue hen was to win Best Opposite Sex Adult at the Budgerigar Society Show. Also Best Champion Breeder of the Year for the fourth successive time; six Challenge Certificates and several Best Opposite Sex awards. In the previous year a superb skyblue pied cock took the Best Breeder Award at the same event. Quite an achievement!

The Pieds

Some while ago Brian spoke to Jo Mannes about his pieds. Mannes felt, that to improve variegation and general markings, Brian needed to pair the best two marked pieds together to produce double factor pieds, after which he should pair these double factors back to normals. This he did and it has worked really well. One cock produced five chicks – four hens and a cock. The four hens were particularly well marked, fully spotted with an almost complete band.

Instant Success

I asked Brian about the change in the hobby in the past 20 years whereby newcomers seem to want instant success rather than steering a steady learning curve.

BS: “I fully agree. Everyone wants this or that special bird from champions when they have just started. Many beginners seem to be reasonably well off and to be able to buy straight in to birds which are certainly at Intermediate level. Fanciers want to get on the fast track route before they have learned the basics.

In my own case, I have had to take the longer route because I could not find the type of bird that I wanted that was able to be purchased. With hindsight this is the best route for dedicated fanciers. They can last the distance and stay in the hobby for a lifetime having made all the mistakes with modest birds first of all. Work with bloodlines and by careful selection of all the qualities, you achieve a quality stud that others then wish to buy in to.”

Shows In The UK

My next question concerned the number of Budgerigar Exhibitions that currently are held around the country. Did he think there were too many?

BS: “My feelings are that only if a club is strong enough within its own membership to manage and also have sufficient exhibiting members, should they run a show, especially if it’s an open show.

In the south west, we support one another very well between shows. In that way we keep our entries high at almost all shows that are staged.”

Preparation For The Budgerigar Society Show

I wondered, with the Budgerigar Society Show imminent, how he approached the run up to this big event starting with the assumption that his birds were earlier out of condition? When did he select the possibles from the flights and how did he get weight on them?

BS: “Well, with the show being held in mid November, which is such a bad month these days for the most important show in the country, I have to stop showing in September. This gives me two months to prepare.

I concentrate, obviously, on the proven winning birds first and then catch up the best of the late bred birds. Young breeder birds are still growing of course and these can emerge quite easily. All spots are removed in late September as well as any damaged flights. Tails are dealt with in the same way, taking 8-10 weeks to be replaced. They are then left to fly in a small flight.

These actions help the birds to sometimes start a full moult. As soon as I see a show bird starting to moult then it is caught up and stock caged where they are far more relaxed and begin to put on weight as a result. I have never had a problem with spots not re-growing.”

Buying Outcrosses?

The next question concerned the problem of buying in outcrosses. Where did he go to buy the features he felt he needed – in the UK or did he prefer to buy abroad?

BS: “May I first mention the practice of exchanging birds for this purpose. It never seems to work out really well for both parties. For this reason I will not do that today and I certainly prefer to buy abroad and take my chances.

Regarding the UK, of the breeders I have visited in the last five years, all have good birds but none have the depth of quality to be able to release the birds you really need.

So I cross over to Europe nowadays. Of course this is not easy at present with all the restrictions in play as a result of the avian flu scares which possibly may be unfounded in the long term, if it doesn’t mutate and cross into humans.

The Budgerigar Society Show In 2004

In 2004, Daniel Lütolf from Switzerland was in the UK on a buying visit to various fanciers. I met up with him at the Budgerigar Society Show and he asked me to examine every bird in the show methodically to see how many really super birds were on show. The feeling was that there were only about 60 that reached that hard description. What was Brian’s opinion?

BS: “I think that is a bit severe. However, I have to admit I didn’t go round with that objective in mind.

One of our national problems has been the exit of a number of well known names for a variety of reasons including Christine Heale and her husband. Other names are Dave Topliss, Barry Wild, Alf Ormerod, Harry Bryan, Eric Lane and the Hallam’s, plus Jim Moffat from Scotland to name but a few.

These fanciers carried quality birds in depth and exhibited at the Budgerigar Society Show.”

A Winning Streak

I then turned to Brian’s wins in recent years. Which had given him the greatest pleasure?

BS: “I have been Buckton’s Breeder of The Year for the past three seasons – which the hobby is very grateful to receive from their company. It is much appreciated.

I have also won well at the Budgerigar Society Club Show as mentioned earlier but a great pleasure was to win the Peter Sanderson Trophy for the first two years which is awarded for the most Challenge Certificates won with birds bred by the exhibitor. This followed his very sad passing. I was very delighted to win that as he was perhaps the most popular man in the hobby up to that time.”

The Ring Issue Date

I then asked him about the ring issue date. I knew he was an adamant supporter of staying with the current date of January 1st. Did he feel the same today?

BS: “Yes, that is correct. I was absolutely rigid about sticking to it. However my views have altered after seeing poor seasons hitting fanciers year-in, year-out, and then leaving the hobby out of sheer disappointment.

I have seen the effects of good seasons arising from the European hobby moving to a 1st November issue date. They breed more birds – as a generalisation. I firmly believe that we should do the same if we want the hobby here to gather pace again.

Currently nothing is being done to address bad seasons and help fanciers and their societies to survive. The Budgerigar Society Council have to consider this very seriously. We all need help. They should remember that with two consecutive bad seasons you are dead in the water as a fancier.

Not all fanciers are able to afford super all-singing-and-dancing aviaries to cope with the changing weather patterns that we know about. A great number of fanciers are supportive of this move but don’t put pen to paper, so the result is no action by anyone.”

Selling Birds

My next question was: “Why did Mr Average have difficulty in selling his surplus stock? Was it lack of advertising after doing well on the bench or simply being inactive and waiting for the phone to ring?”

BS: “You have to be successful at some stage if you want to sell your birds easily. All the publications carry the word ‘success’ in some form or other. The front covers of the major magazines tell you that.

You have to promote yourself after getting good results. Nobody else will, except you. There is always a market for quality and it’s up to you to attack the situation and achieve that goal. Get into quality and all sorts of doors open. You will sell well and then be able to afford to buy in quality without affecting your overall budget, but you must tell people you exist at the same time.

Advertise in Budgerigar World and elsewhere. Over time it will pay dividends. The big error is to sell your surplus and put it in your pocket and do nothing.”

Quality in Europe

Having myself toured European aviaries and elsewhere, what was Brian’s opinion about the choice over there and the depth of quality that existed?

BS: “I cannot speak with any authority since I have not actually been to a show over there and that is the real test.

I have been to Germany, Holland, Switzerland and Belgium so far and seen breeders there, but these tend to be the well known breeders mentioned in the magazines in UK and at the top of the tree in their own countries. Whether they are representative of all the breeders I cannot answer.”

A Breeding Question

To trim the vents of the present longer-feathered birds we have today prior to pairing is a matter often discussed. Do you trim the vents Brian, I asked?

BS: “I always advise breeders today to trim the vents of both sexes before pairing. You need to give them every chance of providing you with fertile results. Everyone who visits here and buys gets that advice.

Occasionally, I find a breeder who is moaning about infertility and when I ask if he has trimmed vents, he admits he has not done so.

You have to trim away the dense flank feathers which curl around over the vent area. These can, in my opinion, interfere with the transfer of sperm into the females.

The “Buffalo Effect”

I raised with him the matter of my published observations when looking at a bird head on to which I had given a new descriptive term – when it was present. I refer to “The Buffalo Effect”. This is where not only does a bird have width but the feathering drops down either side of the cere giving a shape not dissimilar to buffalo horns. Did he agree?

BS: “It’s a good descriptive term. However few birds have it to any great extent. It is the next extension to width of face which we called directional feathering in the past.

I am amused that we are using the word buffalo to describe a budgerigar feature. However it fits and accurately describes the feature in the mind and I can live with that!

Beer or Wine?

I asked Brian for a final tip to fanciers. What came to mind?

BS: “Yes, I have one.

If, when your wife is watching the soaps and you find it difficult, take a glass of beer or wine and sit still in the aviary – and watch!

You will see the birds behaving differently to when you are moving around. It is very illuminating to see their differing behavioural patterns; their attitude towards their chicks and their respective partners. You will learn a great deal providing you do not overdo matters with the glass in your hand!”

Conclusion

I travel thousands of miles in this hobby to see aviaries and their owners and birds. It is a great pleasure and the visit to this south west establishment was no different.

Remember it is no use staying closeted in your own region buying stock from your immediate rivals. You have to travel to get the best from this hobby.

That reminds me – whatever happened to Sunday morning get-togethers? Half the hobby will not have heard about such things today.