Cage & Aviary Birds

THERE ARE JUST a few days left to get your tickets for the Cage & Aviary Birds (C&AB) 2024 Avian Draw. The draw closes at midnight on December 20 and the winners will be announced on the Avian Draw Facebook page (search for “Avian Draw on www.faceboo

THOUSANDS OF WILD birds eggs have been seized during a raid on a property in Benfleet, Essex. A warrant was carried out by Essex Police's Wildlife Crime specialists within its Rural Engagement Team and a man was arrested. Officers attended an address

NEW RESEARCH ON Seychelles warblers (Acrocephalus sechellensis) has revealed that “divorce” rates in the species are linked to rainfall. A 16-year study on Cousin Island in the Seychelles has uncovered significant findings about how environmental fac

A COHORT OF cuckoos (Cuculus canorus) that were fitted with satellite tags by researchers at the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) have made their way from UK breeding sites to Africa where they will spend the winter. Tracked by both scientists and

I EXPECT many Cage & Aviary Birds readers are fed up with the debate about new colours in Glosters! It is clear that I made a wise choice in not becoming a teacher as I seem unable to get my point across. Perhaps you will allow me another try? If you

I thought you might be interested in the success of egrets here in the Fen Country. Recently we were walking past a mixed flock of egrets which included three great white egrets enjoying the wet fields. Nearby around a small lake we counted 12 great

AT THE 2024 open show of Portknockie Cage Bird Society (CBS), the winner of best in show was a Gloster canary benched by Lewis Shepherd – the same bird that took the top honours at the 2023 show. Held on November 17 at Cullen Bowling & Tennis Club, S

AS THE show season draws to a close, I can report that I have had a great time judging this year! Along the way I have seen some really good birds. Recently I had the great pleasure to judge the LCA Classic with Huw Evans. That was a good show for th

ORIGINALLY described in 1828 by the Scottish naturalist William Jardine and English ornithologist Prideaux John Selby, the Australian shelduck (Tadorna tadornoides) belongs to a group of large goose-like ducks. It is the largest duck in Australia, wh

FROM a young age I was fascinated by birds, and family trips to Paradise Park in Hayle, Cornwall, and Rhode Bird Gardens were instrumental in this. As the picture on the right shows, I was always drawn to the toco toucans. The attraction was the yell

TO BE honest, I don't like the term “easy” when it is applied to keeping or breeding. In my opinion there is no “easy-tobreed” example in any species. I have talked about this in my monthly bulletin over the past few years. It comes down to the skill

“H EY, Rob – did you know Qantas fly direct from Heathrow to Perth?” A pause, during which mental cogs could be heard to go tick, tick, tick. “So, when are we off, then?” Thus it came about that in November 2022 my old birding mate Chris Jones and I

WALTER Robert Jones was born on June 29 1937. He departed after 87 years on October 31 2024. Some 50 of those years were spent deep-rooted in the British bird fancy. My first recollection of Walter's involvement goes back to the mid-1960s. He then li

BEFORE introducing the guest speakers, the chairman opened the meeting by congratulating the main winners and other members for showing birds at the members’ show with 79 birds benched. The chairman also announced the cancellation of the aviary visit