There is no doubt in my mind that the efforts made to publicise the 1998 BS Show at Doncaster paid off. The number who at-tended Ñ especially on the Sunday Ñ must have broken records for quite a number of years. I cannot recall seeing so many visitors walking around.
The Budgerigar World stand was in its usual position, halfway between the main entrance and the newly allocated area for the Sales Birds. On Saturday we watched in amazement the mad rush of people eager to get to the sales area (where the Foreign Birds were staged over the years). It was virtually a river of people and I have never witnessed such a site for years. This Sales Area could become one of the most important attractions to the show and if it can be developed every effort should be taken to do just that.
On a minus note, I felt the Judging on Saturday took too long and this should be speeded up. It’s an area, which has to be looked at. Visitors to the show have to be considered. It’s not right they have to stand outside in the cold well after the hour the show should have opened. Apart from this little criticism I felt things ran smoothly.
Fanciers seemed to be divided on the success of the Wall Video. A number told me they saw nothing in it, claiming it being smaller than expected and not very interesting until the actual presentations took place. We are all entitled to our opinions because others believed it added to the atmosphere of the show. It remains to be seen whether the Fancy will regard the cost as being justified, but it was a new innovation. We need new ideas to go forward and I hope the Fancy will respond with their views on the efforts made.
There were far more stands this year - another great bonus for the Show. Fanciers look forward to seeing items for sale and knowing they can be bought at the show solves problems. It is also an opportunity for seeing goods which have been advertised and this certainly helps.
The trend of first timers winning Best in Show and Best Breeder continued this year. The Champions were certainly trounced and it makes one wonder what has happened to the U.K. Champion birds. Just a few years ago U.K. Champions were unbeatable with world-demand for their birds. The situation has certainly changed these days and its not good for the well-known names.
I was approached several times at the Show by Fanciers who said they had experienced a lot of trouble with Moths in their birdroom this year.
Quite a number are still convinced that Moths have some connection with French Moult despite the claim that it is a virus. The Moths are somehow involved, according to their views, with the spreading of the disease. Whether this is true or not has not been proved, but what is evident is that Moths and French Moult seem to appear at the same time in the breeding season.
Like most breeders, I have had my share of trouble over the years with moths but I am deter-mined to keep the problem under control.
There are appliances you can use to catch and kill moths. I use the Budgerigar World Fly Killer in my birdroom. These do attract, by means of their blue light, moths and other flies which are electrocuted when they touch the electric wires. The lights also substitute as night-lights and I have found them ideal for my needs. I also use the special Vapona Moth strips throughout the breeding season. This has also been effective.
Steps to prevent moths coming into your birdroom should also be considered and I intend doing that by copying what Americans in general do to prevent flies entering their homes, namely fitting fly screens to windows and doors. I think it should help.
Another point fancier’s should bear in mind. I know everyone likes to think they keep their birdrooms clean, but there are areas, which can be overlooked.
Take for instance your nest-boxes. I accept that everyone keeps them sparking clean (questionable!). Possibly you remove the interior, clean it and then replace it. Take a closer look at the inside corners of the outer box, especially the top ones and don’t be surprised if you find a cocoon containing a moth caterpillar. Moths like dark corners.
If you have drawers in your work tables take them out and look inside the worktop corners. You should also take a close look at the corners inside your cupboards. They are all ideal places for moths to breed.
Finally, let me refer to seed. I use metal containers, which hold three bags each of seed. I do not top up with fresh seed but use the whole lot up before adding the new bags. Moths are attracted to seed (whether its the same moth as that which is found in the birdroom, I don’t know) but they are still moths and they lay their eggs in the interior corners. Maybe we should be thinking of plastic containers. Wood would be certainly out in my view.
I have visited birdrooms, which are a spiders paradise, with cobwebs all over the place. I know the Fancy still refers to the claims of some well-known breeders who claimed years ago spiders and cobwebs kept down moths. I don’t agree because I have been to birdrooms, which were covered with cobwebs and the moths were there in abundance running along the surface of the web as if it was an open park. Maybe the spider caught a few, but it would have to be fast!
I believe cobwebs are simply dust catchers not fly catchers. If you have some in your birdroom, just give them a gentle shake and note the amount of fine dust, which falls down. My advice is to clean them up and think of an alternative method of tackling moth and fly problems.
© Gwyn Evans 1999
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