SPANGLED BUDGERIGAR BREEDERS' ASSOCIATION NEWS
May 2008
Reported by Ghalib Al-Nasser, Chairman

As part of its drive to meet members by moving to all parts of the country, the Spangled BBA held its Spangle Day incorporating the AGM at another new venue in Bristol, hosted by the Bristol B.S., making it a truly national society. The President John Cosby opened the meeting and was very pleased to see some 45 members and fanciers attending and thanked them for bringing birds to the show. In the absence of the chairman Stuart Forbes and vice chairperson Marion Wixon he handed over the meeting proceedings to Ghalib Al-Nasser. Ghalib welcomed Ken Fagan as the speaker for the day and said that there is not much to say about Ken that has not already been said in the profile that appeared in the March issue of The Budgerigar. He said that in the short period of time that Ken has been in the fancy he has truly made his mark on the show bench.

Ken, with the aid of a power point presentation, explained his early days in the hobby and how he started when he received a show schedule of Herts & Essex BS from Bob Crisp. He did not realise then the affect this hobby would have had on him. In his early years Ken obtained stock from John Wilson, Doug Ball, Trevor Clarkson, Huxley & Marchant, Geoff Tuplin and then extended his visits to overseas to buy outcrosses from Rene Heylen (Belgium) and Jo Mannes (Germany).

He explained his initial set up through to the new birdroom that was opened last summer. He showed the audience the way he set up his breeding cages in both the old and new birdroom facing each other forming what he terms the “corridor effect”; enabling the birds to see each other during mating and with an incredible noise level that stimulates the birds much better. He informed members that he gets very good fertility this way rather than the conventional way of cages facing flights with 85% better results than in his previous set up. Another reason for the good fertility that he experiences is the fact that he lives in an area with woods surrounding him. Ken said that there is a high oxygen level due to the trees with high humidity as well, and in the summer the birdroom is in the shade.

With the aid of a photographic cage with different coloured backgrounds he showed many of his winning birds of the past two years and some of the young barrheads of this year. Some of the goldenface and yellowface youngsters of this year are of super quality.

Ken further explained his feeding and management techniques as well as the families that he is concentrating on and what he looks for in his selection of breeding pairs. Exhibition forms an important part of the hobby for Ken and he hopes that he will do well at the B.S. club show one year. He has just joined the B.S. Judges Training Scheme and he wants to develop a good eye for the birds and he has found the aid of the photographic cage useful to do just that.

He loves showing his birds and with the large number that he breeds every year he is able to rotate his show team from one show to another without causing stress to the birds.

The President John Cosby with the speaker Ken Fagan (kneeling)
with the winners at the Spangle Day

At the AGM, a minute’s silence was observed in memory of the late Pat Martin. Stuart Forbes welcomed members to the 21st AGM; he commented on the successful turn out for the day and thanked the Bristol BS for hosting the Day on our behalf. Marion & Clifton Wixon were unable to attend due to Marion’s recent operation. Ghalib Al-Nasser was elected to the chair that he vacated in 1996 and thanked Stuart for the sterling work that he has done for the society over so many years, taking over as treasurer in 1993 and chairman in 1996. Stuart was made an honorary life vice president and was presented with a ceramic clock by the outgoing president John Cosby. Eric Peake was inaugurated as the new President and Cy Thorne was elected to the post of President Elect.

 
The outgoing President John Cosby making a special presentation
to Stuart Forbes the retired chairman

Marion Wixon stood down from the post of editor, so the post is currently vacant, and she joined Clifton as joint secretaries. Janice Al-Nasser took over from Stuart as the treasurer. All other officers remained the same and were announced as: Ghalib Al-Nasser and Stuart Forbes, Life Vice Presidents; S. Amos, J. Attwood, F. Canham, B. & C. Heale, R. Molkentin, F. Silva, R. Stringer & R. Thumwood, Vice Presidents; Ghalib Al-Nasser, Chairman & Publicity Officer; Janice Al-Nasser, Treasurer; Clifton and Marion Wixon (88 Highworth Crescent, Yate, Bristol BS37 4HL. Tel: 01454 881334 e-mail marionwixon@blueyonder.co.uk), Joint Secretaries; Rod Clarke, Vice Chairman & Patronage Secretary; John Cosby, Membership Secretary; Sue Clarke, Trophy Steward; Bob Allen, Les Martin, Cy Thorne and Ian Brickwood, committee members. The society has its own website (www.spanglebudgerigars.co.uk) to view.

 
John Cosby, the outgoing President making presentation to Jerry Donovan for BIS

It was decided by the committee that the next Spangle Day will be held on 26th April 2009 (week 17).

 
The new President Eric Peake with the outgoing President John Cosby

The new president Eric Peake, in closing the meeting, gave a special THANK YOU to the host society and especially the ladies who provided the refreshments throughout the day.