Meet Me In The Toilets!
Over the many years that we have been a part of the Budgerigar World team, Yvonne and I have been to a great many shows to take photographs of some of the leading exhibits of the day. As many of you will know, we use a specially adapted show cage to photograph the birds that allows for the removal of the cage bars from the shot. You would never believe the assortment of cupboards and rooms that we have used as our ‘studio’. Top of the list must be the toilet. I hate to think just how many budgerigars have been photographed in either the ladies or the gents; usually with Yvonne standing guard at the door.
The reason I mention this is the concern that has been expressed as a result of a valuable show bird dying soon after returning home from a show recently. Fortunately this is a rare occurrence. We know that shows can be stressful for our exhibits but we try to minimise this as much as possible by training the birds as to what to expect. In fact, there is no doubt that most budgerigars enjoy their outing on a Saturday or Sunday and their showmanship confirms this.
Handling budgerigars is stressful for them and this is why, when taking our photographs, handling is kept to a minimum. The practice that we have adopted is to place the door of the exhibition show cage adjacent to the door of the photographic cage and the bird will usually quite happily hop from one cage to the other. We then take our photographs and the bird is returned to his original cage in the same manner. Whenever possible it is totally ‘hands off’!
On The Web
The traffic on the Budgerigar World web site remains realistically high with between six and seven hundred visitors each week. Not many by some site standards and claims but still a satisfactory number from our prospective. On the site I have been running a Budgerigar World Helpline for more than a year now and receive on average three questions a day. Many are from pet owners and garden aviary colony breeders – all out there to be converted to exhibition budgerigar fanciers. In fact I had my first question from Pakistan last week. The others, about 30%, are exhibition breeders from all over the world – mainly beginners and novices.
During the responses to the questions I often suggest that people seek out experienced breeders in their areas or contact their local Budgerigar Society. It is amazing that so many people are unaware of our existence. To try and help this situation we have recently launched a new web site. This is www.clubcorner.co.uk and is a directory for clubs and societies and can form a point of contact for prospective new members. Registration is totally free of charge but I need the details of Clubs and Societies to enable me to put the information on the web. Please post or email me the details of your club. The type of information we will publish is club name, location, times and dates of meetings, contact details, special events etc. If the club already has a web site we will add links to this.
BS Links With SBS Lost
The Scottish Budgerigar Society held it's E.G.M. on Sunday 16 July, at the UCP club, Bridge of Allan. The agenda was the result of the ballot, which was sent out to all paid-up members. There was a large return of papers with approximately two thirds of members voting. The result of the member's vote was; those against disassociation from the BS 38%; those in favour of disassociation from the BS 62%. There was a long debate after the result was announced and voting procedures were put into action. The outcome was of those who voted: 68% in favour of accepting the decision of the members ballot and a letter to be sent to the Budgerigar Society informing them that the Scottish Budgerigar Society was now officially no longer affiliated to them.
Club Show News
Plans are well underway to make the BS World Championship Show 2000 a huge success. An added attraction to the show in this Millennium year is the presentation of a stylish mantle clock for every exhibitor benching five birds or more. This is in celebration of the Budgerigar Society 75th Anniversary and is a limited edition timepiece that will be treasured for years to come.
A further attraction at this event, held in Doncaster each year, is the opportunity to win a fabulous Bransby Bunny birdroom valued at £770. For every three birds benched you will receive a free entry to a draw, which will take place at the show on Sunday afternoon. Bransby Bunny will be exhibiting at the show and so this will give fanciers the opportunity to inspect the quality of their birdrooms for themselves.