A chance meeting with fellow fancier John Young at a local garden centre turned to the discussion of why people were leaving the hobby after only dipping their toes into the water. We considered whether it was the alleged but well publicised high prices being asked that were the cause of some of the problems. Peoples perceptions being that they simply could not afford to be competitive. Alternatively, perhaps too much emphasis is placed upon the exhibition side of the hobby, which in reality is only supported by a relatively small percentage of the whole. John thought otherwise and also dismissed the idea it was the inability of newcomers – and others, to breed Budgerigars in numbers.
The thought offered by John was that in fact it was the difficulty experienced by many members of the hobby and especially newcomers, in disposing of surplus birds. There was a time when a thriving pet market had a demand that required satisfying – but sadly not so today. "Even the pretty colours don’t sell!" If true this is a really sad state of affairs. Certainly few pet birds are advertised in my local newspaper – perhaps it’s the cost of advertising and a poor response that puts people off. However, I also understand that one of the leading pet outlets in the UK actually imports their pet sales Budgerigars from Holland. It makes you speculate why? I can only assume that they only want 5 to 6 week old birds (I wonder how they get around the quarantine requirements?) and these are not available from exhibition breeders. Also, I am sure the pet shops are fed up with buying 6-month-old birds that are really OAP’s with their rings cut off!
Running the risk of saying, "I told you so," in my May editorial I stated that it was my view that the average fancier was just not interested in issues such as the ring issue date and exhibiting bought birds. In this context I asked two questions and requested fanciers give their views – only two persons responded – I rest my case. On the other hand, some time ago I asked a bird related question on how a certain variety was bred and was inundated with replies. It is clear that the issues that really interest fanciers are based on what they are in the hobby for and that is the management and breeding of budgerigars.
AI Banned and Rewarded
For information, in November last year I wrote a fully detailed submission to the Budgerigar Society General Council on the subject of Artificial Insemination in Budgerigars. The reason was because I have a few concerns in this area. These are that we in the UK are, as usual, being left behind by the rest of the world who can freely practise AI as they see fit and that the banning AI is not a rule that can be policed. Finally, the techniques employed are simple and within everybody’s grasp and can even be useful in determining a cock bird’s fertility without actually artificially inseminating the hen. For instance, we are all aware that although appearing to be fit, cock birds go through a cyclic dry period. We pair these birds up and obviously clear eggs will result. If we "milk" the cock bird before we pair up and sperm is evident then at least we have removed one doubt from the equation. Despite what some people may think, this does not present any harm the cock in any way if done correctly. At their May 1999 meetings, the GC gave the subject full debate and unanimously voted to uphold the current ruling.
In parallel to this, congratulations to American fancier Beth Ann Noonan, who received her degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Avian Reproductive Physiology last month. Much of Beth Anne’s work was in developing Artificial Insemination techniques in Budgerigars.
Congratulations also to the Scottish Budgerigar Society on the publication of their new magazine. In a modern A4 format, editor and Budgerigar World Correspondent Jim Burns has done a fine job on this challenging project. To those outside of the Budgerigar hobby, perception is so important. We must be viewed as being modern and progressive to the rest of the world. Unfortunately this is not always easy and very often due to internal short-sightedness – even my own local club suffers for it at times. I just wonder that in certain forums, how many of the prejudices of the past or just plain ignorance is holding the hobby back. It is my view that we should be allowing the future to pull us into the 21st Century rather and being held back by the past.