Avicultural Society of Canberra Inc

 

Another month has come and gone, some members made enquiries as to

where my information for March got too, it never eventuated as “Muggins’

simply forgot, “How you ask?” Sometimes I get a bit busy with life in general

and it simply “slipped my mind”-I apologise!

As stated I have been busy with starting a new job, finished old one today (9th

April) with a new one to start the 12th so the by time our April meeting “rolls

around” I will have been at it five days, it involves a few more “lurks and

perks” rather than daily dealing with my fellow “Asylum Seekers” that use

the Barton Highway at either end of the work day so I am looking forward to

a change of lifestyle to some extent!

 

I have to extend an early apology to the Society as I won’t make Friday

night’s meeting as I will be on my way to an overnight stopover at Figtree enroute

to the Shoalhaven Bird Sale at Nowra the next day.

 

Also I have had the opportunity to attend three Bird Sales during March,

namely the Orange, Yass and Gunnedah Sales.

The first Orange held the 6th of the Month, was well attended I think the figures

that Morrie Meagher, the Orange Societies tireless President, ran passed

the attendees at the Sale Dinner Saturday night where in excess of 5000 birds

and 2000 people through the doors, not a bad effort for the small band of Orange

club workers. The Saturday night Sale Dinner was well attended with

several people from interstate in attendance, including people from both Victoria

and South Australia as well as “local” New South Welshmen-some of

them not so local!

 

We were treated to an informative presentation by Alan Birrel on the Macaws

that are available in this country and the housing of those birds in many different

designed enclosures, by different breeders- had Bungendore “John” attended

he may have gleaned information on where he could have picked up

his next pair of Buffons Macaws, I remember “Young” John got quite excited

when he attended a past AVES Convention up at Grafton and met a German

Lady that was breeding this species in her unit back in Germany.

 

The next sale I got to was at Yass, I am sorry I cannot remember the numbers

for this sale, but well patronised considering that the Yass Sale and the Canberra

Finch Society sale “clashed” again - they are geographically too close

for that caper, I have heard both sides, and because Yass Club uses the Basket

Ball Stadium, which is on the Yass Showground they have to “revolve”

around the Yass Show Societies Show timetable, which is governed each year

by the Sydney Royal Easter Show. Therefore too utilise the Basket Ball Stadium

facilities they have to utilise the day allocated by the Show Society.

I may be out of order but the Canberra Finch Society and the Yass Bird Club

need to negotiate with this problem!

 

The last sale for March was Gunnedah held this year on the 27th March, as the

normal date that the Namoi Valley Society hold their sale is the first weekend

in April but as most people realise this year that “clashed” “headlong” with

the arrival of the Easter Bunny and other activities.

This is the “Social Sale” of the NSW Bird Sale Calendar and this year did not

disappoint, its catch up time for me with “birdos” from various Australian

States and Societies, I actually got away later that I anticipated on my trip

North, also had to have a wheel alignment performed on my Hilux at

Boorowa, you may well ask why and it comes down to the price of that mechanical

operation being close to 50% less that it would cost in the ACT region.

More business at Cowra and I finally got rolling, rocked into Gunnedah

around 7PM after what equates to a six hour drive for me, 594clicks, and that

will horrify most of you stay at home types, but double that for the round trip

and it equates to six of my work day trips - “bugger all”!

 

Does the “Superlux” good to have “blow out” carrying a bit of a load, out

across the Liverpool Plains, after arrival I checked my birds in, and having pre

-booked letting the Namoi Valley Society know the number and type of cages

that I would have they had organised a suitable table near the front of the hall

especially for me.

After the birds where set up, into the Motel - had a “panic filled call from the

Motelier” whilst I was setting the birds up to make sure I was still coming, I

reassured he that I was in town and would be there ASAP. Into my room, and

soon into deep and meaningful conversation with others of similar minds,

over a couple of “sherbets”, showered and onto the club for a pre-organised

dinner with some of our club members and acquaintances from around the

“traps”, a few more drinks and bird talk. Attempted the trip back to my Motel

 

and was intercepted behind the neighbouring Motels side gate by everybody’s

mate “Big Lyndon” with a bottle and the encouraging words of “Get some of

this into you John!” - so a few shared capfuls of what I was told was American

Honey Bourbon, with words of “You will know about this in the morning”

then I was on my way once more! The big “fella” was right; I did have a

slight tremble to the hand at next morning’s daylight! Not too worry!

Traditional breakfast at the place opposite the park, with one of the “hosts”

saying “I seen you here before!” I said “Yes last August” (I was in Gunnedah

at 7am on my way to the AVES09 Convention and partook of my morning

repast at his establishment right after I had refuelled) as well he would have

seen me at previous pre “Gunnedah Sale” brekkies!

So then on out to the Showground and Sale and gave the birds a tidy up, and

then too wait for the onslaught!

Sale over I personally had not parted with a bird, back to the Motel courtyard,

a few more beers, I mentioned to “Robbo” from Cowra that I had to go down

and upgrade the accommodation and water drinkers on two breeding pair of

Kuhli Galahs that had arrived at the sale from a colleague in Toowoomba, (I

had a spare pet carrier and one that come back from a previous transaction,

with coop cups installed), a bit of catching and screeching and the two pair

where transferred and watered.

All over back up to my rooms landing and “Robbo” made a verbal note that

that exercise had only taken me three and a half hours, time moves slowly in

the bush!

But I was able to point out to “Robbo” that I had gleaned a mass of information

(How many of you know about the two subspecies of Crimson Rosellas

that inhabit Kangaroo Island, for instance) and that I had sold one Cockatoo

whilst out and about. Showered and back to the Club for the BBQ, another

good but late night-in deep and meaningful conversation with many, including

the proprietors of Molecular Diagnostic Services. Maybe we should all utilise

the facilities offered by this local company, not only for sexing our birds

but they run disease testing services as well!

They have also financially helped our Society with Sponsorship and advertising.

Again that evening I touched base with many old acquaintances and put faces

to names, two of whom where young and enthusiastic aviculturalist that have

both produced interesting articles.

 

Up early the next morning and I traditionally head to “Ron’s House” for brekkie

on Sunday, where I can spread my cockatoos out in a car space, feed and

water them whilst I have my own breakfast and keep an eye on them.(May

well sell another cockatoo down the line from answers to questions one gentleman)

As it “panned out” that morning their where three Society Presidents partaking

of a “healthy breakfast” at the one table, under “Ron’s Arches”, these being

Ron Hills, Hunter Valley Avicultural Society President, Ian Sheffield who

has recently taken over the “reigns” from Maryanne Spjelko for the same position

with the Parrot Society of Australia NSW as well as “Yours truly”, also

floating about was Joe Habib whom will shortly take over from Ian Ward as

President of the NSW Avicultural Society, also at our table also sat Anthony

Catt, who along with his wife had to watch their Hunter Valley Pet shop,

complete with valuable live birds and other animals inside burn to the ground

back early this year, the shop was torched by arsonists. Sunday Anthony was

accompanied by his mate Adam.

 

The “Catts”, where recipients of some monies collected from proceeds of a

raffle organised, by some of Anthony’s Hunter Valley mates, and drawn at the

BBQ the night before. This was to help the Catts with a kick start to recovery.

Then it was on the road early and home mid afternoon. On my way home I

snapped some pictures of items that as Aussies we take for granted, like signs

warning of the possible imminent collision with “Skippy’s” Koala’s etc, for a

new found friend of mine Theily Demoor from Holland whom I met at last

years AVES Convention.

She is putting together a presentation on Australia which she will present to

her people later this year. I took some photos of “Aussie” Road trains whilst

on a South Australian trip at Port Augusta a couple of months beforehand.

The Gunnedah Sale Figures where down on Orange, about 4500 birds and

lesser people than Orange also!

I always find these Sale get togethers informative as well as social, and I’d

encourage my fellow members to take the opportunity and attend some future

sales.

 

Now a change of tact!

Earlier this week I received a phone call, from a member of both our Society

and the Canberra Finch Club regarding the possibility of the Avicultural Society

of Canberra and the Canberra Finch Club co-running a Spring Sale, to go

ahead with this venture is not my decision and it will not happen in 2010.

(Dates for Spring Sales have been set by both Societies for 2010).

 

The proposal needs some/a lot of thought by all our society members, which

is why I make mention of it here I have spoken to Mick Logan about the

phone call and also spoken to Graeme Reardon of this as well, as I mentioned

above I cannot make the April meeting as I am committed elsewhere, but

please give the idea of a combined sale some thought and discussion and we

will get a decision sometime after that.

 

I may apologise in advance that there maybe several other future meetings

that I will miss with other commitments involving me doing presentations to

other societies, some interstate, which have a similar meeting night to our

own.

 

I hope I don’t become known as the “absentee President” I can assure members

that I “Fly the Canberra Flag” whilst out and about!

So until next time we cross paths stay safe.

Regards

John McGrath