Aviary Chatter

The Rare Budgerigar Club of W.A. Inc Issue 111 March 2012

The Rare Budgerigar Club of W.A. Inc

Club Patron Mr Bryan Pearce

Executive Committee of Management 2010

PRESIDENT BRYAN PEARCE 9342 8237

VICE PRESIDENT COLIN CHAPMAN 9375 8424

SECRETARY ATTILA KISS 9248 2422

TREASURER ATTILA KISS 9248 2422

COMMITTEE OF MANAGEMENT

Show Manager Betty Rea

Assistant Show Manager Colin Chapman

Show Stewards John Green, Colin Chapman

Tony Piercy, Jordan Dunn

Show Secretary Rose Dunn

Assistant Show Secretary Colin Chapman

Lovebirds Colin Chapman

Accessories Officer Wayne Bender

Trophy Officer John Green

Magazine Editor Betty Rea

Assistant Editor Bryan Pearce

Ring Registrar Barry Fletcher

Librarian Wayne Bender

Catering Officer Carole Pearce

& Barbara Howell

Transport Officer Wayne Bender

Many thanks to everyone who volunteered for a position and congratulations.

Disclaimer The opinions expressed in this magazine are those of the AUTHORS only and are not necessarily those of the

committee or members.

ABN 22413194003

2.

MEETS THE 1ST

SUNDAY OF EACH MONTH AT

SENIOR CITIZENS HALL PATRICK COURT

GIRRAWHEEN

OFF GIRRAWHEEN ROAD DOORS OPEN AT 12-45 PM

MEETING COMMENCES AT 1.15 PM

COMMITTEE MEETING

Meetings will be held at the Pearce home. The meeting will be held at 2 p.m. on the

Thursday following the monthly Table Show bi-monthly as advised.

All members who hold any sort of position are encouraged to participate and all members are

welcome to attend.

RING ORDERS ALL RING ORDERS ARE TO BE PLACED WITH BARRY FLETCHER. ORDERS WILL NOT

BE ACCEPTED BY ANY OTHER COMMITTEE MEMBER

Phone 9377 3003

Payment must be included with your ring order

Closing date a week prior to the 25th

of the month.

UNCODED RINGS AVAILABLE AT EACH MEETING

ALL CORRESPONDENCE

To the Secretary

Mr Attila Kiss PO Box 25, Ballajura, WA 6066

CONTENTS

FRONT COVER ……………………….……………………. PAGE 1.

COMMITTEE POSITIONS…………….……………………. PAGE 2.

CONTENTS & INFORMATION…….……………………… PAGE 3.

FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK ………………. ………..……. PAGE 4.

SHOW SCHEDULE 2011 AND NOTICES…….…………... PAGE 5.

NOTICES AND INFORMATION….……………………… PAGE 6.

FINANCIAL REPORT ………………..…………..…..…… PAGE 7.

THE PRESIDENT’S REPORT………………………….…. PAGE 8

THE WORLD SHOW 2012……….………………...…..…… PAGE 9.

CONTINUED ……………………..……..………………..… PAGE 10.

FAREWELL TO THE KIPLINGS …………………..…...… PAGE 11.

TIMES PAST ………………………………………..…….... PAGE 12.

THE STATE SHOW RESULTS …..……………………….. PAGE 13

THE STATE SHOW PICTURES … …….…………............ PAGE 14.

QUESTION AND ANSWER. …..………..……………. …. PAGE 15.

THE WILD BUDGERIGAR ……………………..………... PAGE 16.

MEMBERSHIP LIST FOR 2011 …………………………….. PAGE 17.

BREEDERS’ DIRECTORY…….………………………..…... PAGE 18.

3.

From the Editor’s Desk The AGM was attended by most of our active members and we are grateful to

everyone who accepted nomination for a position - we may be small in number but

our members have shown very willing to take an active part in the club, allowing us

to continue meeting and holding shows.

Congratulations to all office bearers. We welcome Barbara Howell as an official

club member this year. Barbara has already been with us for some time, assisting Carole in the

kitchen, thanks Barbara and Carole for all your hard work.

RBC is in its tenth year. The Annual Show this year will be our tenth. The Club had its first official

outing at Osborne Park Agricultural Show in 2002. Early in 2003 we attended the BIG (Birds Interest

Group) display in Claremont, with a display of birds, and club personnel present to answer questions

from the public. Dr. Phil Clark attended the inaugural show in 2003 giving a talk to members while

the judging was in progress. His topic concerned illnesses that affect our birds, treatment of these

illnesses and prevention of diseases.

MBC have also just had their AGM. Congratulations to Alan, who was returned as president for a

second term, and to all of the new office bearers.

Festivals, Celebrations and Coming Events

March - need to order Green rings for 2013 - Fordates see page 6.

Preselection for the nationals May 20th

at coodanup

MBC Auction june 23rd

Bassendean

Round and About - who’s doing what

SOUTH WEST BUDGERIGAR CLUB (MANDURAH) INC

THIRD SUNDAY OF EACH MONTH 11-30 A.M.

EXCEPTIONS FOR 2011 - No Club Shows in: February or May and December will be the 1st Sunday.

COODANUP COMMUNITY CENTRE, WANJEEP ST. COODANUP

Contact Jan 9534 3261

METROPOLITAN BUDGERIGAR CLUB OF W.A. INC FOURTH SATURDAY OF EACH MONTH 11-30 A.M.

BASSENDEAN COMMUNITY HALL, OLD PERTH ROAD

BASSENDEAN

Contact Rita Posthuma 9399 3845

Wise Words from Wilma Do you have chicks in fully enclosed nest boxes gasping for breath in hot and humid weather? If your

boxes have sliding doors, remove door and replace with a wire door cut from 2X 1 cm mesh. The

solid door can be replaced when it is cool enough. Yes, of course other sized mesh can be used!

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Editorial deadline If you have material to be included in the magazine, please get it to the

editor as early in the month as possible. The deadline is the 15th

of each month but it may not

be possible to fit in anything received at the last minute until the following month.

4.

PROPOSED SHOW SCHEDULE FOR 2012

Date Event Show type Monthly special

February 5th

A.G.M.

No Show

March 4th

Table Show Graded Clearbody

Greywing

Olive

Mauve

Fallow April 1

st Table Show Graded Lacewing

Clearwing

Violet

Crest

Cinnamonwing May 6

th Table Show Graded Lutino

Dilute

Spangle

Spangle DF

Emphasis on Young birds

June 3rd

Table Show Graded Albino

Black Eyed Self

OpalineASC

Opaline AOSV

Yellowface Blue

July 1st ANNUAL

SHOW

Open Graded

Double points

August 5th

Interclub

Challenge

Graded

September No show

October 7th

BRASEA HOSTED BY

R.B.C.

November 4th Table Show Dominant Pieds

Recessive Pieds

Dark Eyed Clear

Dutch Pied

UBC NOVEMBER 24

th Wanneroo Show Open Graded

Double Points

DECEMBER 1st Osborne Park

show Open Graded

Double Points

December 2nd

Christmas Party NO SHOW

ACCESSORIES TABLE

Please note that only non-perishable items will be held in stock. You may however order

other products through Wayne. This is because there has been a lot of waste in the past

with items passing their use-by date and needing to be sold cheaply or discarded.

Have you had a look at the club’s website yet?

http://www.rarebudgerigarclub.org.au

5.

REVISED SEED PRICES

Buy your seed through the club – a good deal for you and a little bonus for the

club.

20kg Budgie Breeder $42-00

20kg Budgie Mix $30-00

20kg Small Parrot $28-00

20kg White Millet $36-00

20kg Hulled Oats $23-00

20kg Plain Canary $50-00

20kg Canary Mix $32-00

Seed orders taken by Wayne (9447 5107) *** Please have your orders in AT LEAST one week prior to the show

so that seed can be ordered in time for the weekend. ***

RING ORDER CLOSING DATES 2013 RINGS [GREEN]

[1st Order 20th March 2012]; 31st August 2012; 30th November 2012; 28th February 2013 and May 31st May 2013]

RING PRICES FOR 2013 RINGS WILL BE 55c EACH. Please refer to your Club Ring Order Form as some surcharges apply.

RING ORDER CLOSING DATES 2012 RINGS [GOLD]

28th February 2012 and 31st May 2012 [Final]

Please make sure order and payment are with Barry at least a week before these dates.

Happy Birthday

RBC turns ten this year - here is a little Club history:

The founding members were Judy and Kevin Higgins at membership No 1,

Ken Hall No 4, Lionel and Norma Kipling No5 and Graeme & Laurie McDonnell at No 10.

Our longest standing current member is Wilma Bunter member No. 11 with Colin Chapman

at No. 12. The Bitmeads come in at No.16, Betty Rea at 26 and Bryan Pearce at 27. These

are followed by David Kaljuste No 30, John Green No 38, Linda and Malcolm Hinde No 49,

with a big jump to No 86 Margaret Brown and No 99 Barry and Melanie Fletcher.

Wilma Colin

Neil and Laura

Betty Bryan 6.

FINANCIAL REPORT for 2011

Receipts Payments

Membership 717.00 Ink 315.48

Benching 241.50 Stamps 198.00

Show Cages 25.00 Stationery 88.95

Raffle 676.90 Raffle 140.42

Accessories 155.50 Accessories 89.00

Rings 357.00 Rings 254.45

Advertising 50.00 Trophies 1046.20

BRASEA Sale 50.00 Affiliation Fees 300.00

Interest 0.48 Insurance 65.00

Donations 110.00 Website 91.74

GST 604.00 Printing 0.00

Seed 3690.64 Seed 3389.51

Commission 0.00 Hall Hire 960.40

Bond 1400.00 Bond 1400.00

Kitchen 311.95 Kitchen 223.70

BRASEA Raffle 450.00

Interclub Raffle 200.00

TOTAL IN $9,039.97 TOTAL OUT $8,562.85

Surplus 477.12

TOTAL $9,039.97 TOTAL $9,039.97

Bank Balance on 1/1/12 $6,379.43

The Bank Balance Includes:

Provision for BRASEA Show: $450

Provision for Interclub Challenge: $200

INTERNET BANKING There have been several inquiries about Internet banking by members who would like to pay their membership

and purchases via Internet banking. This has been arranged with our bank – Bank West. If you would like to

use this system please remember to inform the treasurer about your deposit so that he can justify the deposit in

the account book and the books will balance.

Account name: The Rare Budgerigar Club of W.A.

BSB: 306 114 ACCOUNT NUMBER 011 673-9 NARRATION: YOUR NAME

7.

The President’s report for the Year 2011 As presented at the AGM February 2012

We have reached the end of another year of our club and the beginning of

another.

This year we’ve had some successful major shows, our Open Show and the

BRASEA. Our members supported these two very well but it was

disappointing that we did not have a great deal of participation from the other

clubs’ members.

We raised a considerable amount of money towards this year’s BRASEA Show,

so perhaps we can make it a bit bigger and better.

The Christmas wind up was enjoyable. There was plenty to eat, followed by the

trophy presentation and from the feedback that I received from the members

everyone seemed to have had a great time.

This year also saw the implementation of some breeders getting together to

breed and improve the Australian Yellowface. Hopefully we will start to see

some improvement over the coming year or so.

Finally I would like to thank all the committee members for their great effort

throughout 2011 and all the members who participated during the year, it

makes for a smooth running club. The club ran so well that most of the time I

wasn’t needed.

Many thanks to you all. The only area we are lacking in is a few more members

at meetings; but on saying that, we still managed to keep good numbers of birds

on the bench, which says a lot for our members.

All the best for 2012

(signed ) Bryan Pearce. r

Goldenface Breeders Group (W.A.) UPDATE: There are now a dozen members of this group with six

having received birds from interstate through the group. This is in an

effort to improve the quality of the W.A. stock. Some members have had

some success in breeding while others have had a bird die or have had

the chicks they produced die.

It’s not too late to apply to join this group if you are interested - ask Betty

for a membership form.

The reason for this venture is to try to ensure that W.A. has some DF Goldenface ready

for the Nationals in 2013.

8.

The World Show 2012

by Ghalib Al-Nasser

There is always an air of excitement when attending the World Show

wherever it is held and those who used to attend the National Exhibition

of Cage & Aviary Birds of yesteryear will understand that excitement. I

have attended a number of World Shows in the past but this year’s show

was with a difference as I was invited to judge.

The World Show is the show of the legislative world organisation

Confederation of Ornithologique Mondiale (COM) which was formed

in 1952. The show is hosted each year in a different country in Europe

and this year’s show was hosted by COM Spain in Almeria situated in

southern Spain on the Mediterranean Sea. This was in fact the 60th COM

show. There are 40 countries affiliated to COM stretching as far as South

Korea in the east to Chile in the west.

Roberto Sabbatini and Ghalib Al-Nasser

COM structure has two executive committees each consisting of seven members; the COM Board of

Directors and the judges’ committee called the Ordre Mondial Des Juges OMJ. Each committee has

its own president, vice president, secretary and members of the board. The affiliated countries are

divided into two groups A & B depending on their size and the number of OMJ judges that they have.

This year’s show had 105 judges invited from 13 countries mainly from Europe but some from

Argentina, Brazil & Colombia.

The two conveyors of the British team, Richard Lumley & Gary Mann, took 30 hours each way for

the journey and did 3,500 miles round trip to attend this event on our behalf; so our sincere thanks go

to them for this tiring and thankless task.

With my fellow Italian judge, Roberto Sabatini, we commenced judging the 327 budgerigars entered

on the Monday morning. However, the show had received an entry of 26,367 from 2971 exhibitors

coming from 17 countries. It is mind boggling indeed. As always, the host country supplied the

biggest team and on this occasion Spain’s team was 11,836 (44.9%) and the Coloured Canaries,

always the largest, with 48% of the total entry. Our COM-UK team was 142 (0.54% of the total entry)

from 29 exhibitors.

Friday to Sunday was spent at the show looking at the wonderful birds and the various mutations that

you normally do not see at our shows. It was a great time meeting the 30 plus fanciers from our

country who attended the event as well as some from Gibraltar, and also making new friendships with

so many judges, fanciers and workers as well as renewing old friendships.

Saturday night was the gala night with over 400 attending and our table consisted of 8 British and our

friend from Israel Avi Rubens. It was again a wonderful evening with the family of nations sitting

together eating some wonderful Spanish food and listing to some lovely Spanish & Italian singers and

flamingo dancers. The finale of that evening was when each country was called to the stage to be

presented with their national flag and singing the national anthem. I only hoped that there were more

of us to get to the stage and I wished that we were as great as our name indicated Great Britain. The

speaker also announced the number of medals each country has won and it was announced that we

had won 5 gold, 1 silver and 3 bronze medals. Of course Spain, as to be expected, won 44% of the

total medals awarded.

On behalf of COM-UK and the 29 exhibitors, I would like to record our sincere thanks to Richard

Lumley & Gary Mann for their tremendous work in collecting our team from various points of

delivery at home and making the long journey to the show and back again delivering the birds to the

various exhibitors on Monday & Tuesday. Their work is much appreciated. Our congratulations are

also extended to Geoff Capes, Roger Carr, Bernard Howlett & Louis Spiteri for winning gold medals

and to Roy Aplin who won a silver and two bronze medals as well as John Ward who won a bronze

medal.

Many thanks to Ghalib Al-Nasser for providing this very up to date report from the World Show

which was held at the end of January 2012.

We made an appeal in the schedule for exhibitors to donate birds so that we could sell them at the

show to raise funds for COM-UK and again I would like to thank Richard Lumley, Willy McKay,

Rob Bunting, Chris Smith, Gary Mann and myself for donating birds that were sold and raised some

funds for next year’s show.

My final appeal is for more exhibitors and more birds for next year’s event in Belgium.

Awards won by Roger Car, Geoff Capes and Roy Aplin

New book release Dr Rob Marshall’s Book

The Budgerigar

415 pages, hard cover, with more than 2,000 colour photos and illustrations.

This definitive work provides Budgerigar breeders with detailed information on all

aspects of keeping and exhibiting. The first 7 chapters cover the relationship

of the wild budgerigar with its natural environment. Nutrition required for

breeding success with exhibition budgerigars, genetics and breeding systems

needed to produce show features are covered in the next 9 chapters.

Health and diseases are covered in the final 13 chapters.

$114 plus $16 courier postage for Australia

Overseas delivery Aus$35 - Bulk orders cheaper

ORDERS/CREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED

Phone: 02 9871 6036 www.birdhealth.com.au

772 Pennant Hills Road, Carlingford. N.S.W. 2118

Dates for 2012

State Selections May 20th 2012

Interclub Challenge August 5th

2012

BRASEA October 7th

10.

Another notice advised members that Mrs Brown was decorating ashtrays with the club design, an ideal gift for Christmas. Cost 80c each.

Club activities mentioned

include not only shows and

meetings but a car rally,

jumble sale and a ladies

tennis morning. A raffle

hamper was also being

organised for Christmas.

Farewell to the Kiplings Lionel and Norma came to the Club for the last time, before the AGM started on February 5

th , in order to

present some history to the club. They had a time capsule that had been buried on the 18

th of February 1979

and raised on the same date in 2004. The envelope bore the Kwinana Apex Club sticker and contained a

magazine dating from 1978, a Festival of Kwinana sash for reserve Champion dating from 1975 and three

photographs from the inaugural Kwinana Festival Show held by the West Coast Budgerigar Club of W.A. in

1975. There was also a chart of the distribution of points for varieties and the “ideal budgerigar” illustration.

These objects will be held in trust by the RBC as they are of historical significance.

The West Coast Budgerigar Club ceased to exist in its own right shortly before RBC came into existence and

many of our original members were West Coast members who no longer had a club. Having read the magazine

that was buried in the time capsule it is very evident that the Kiplings were actively involved with that club, as

they were with RBC in the early days. Norma served at the Show Secretary’s table with Laurie McDonnell for

some years and Lionel was the Treasurer, Vice President, emergency judge, transport officer, Lovebird

co-ordinator and a great spokesperson for the club.

With the passing of time both Lionel and Norma have experienced health problems and have now given up their

Lovebirds, having sold off their budgerigars some years ago. We wish them well as they concentrate on family

and other interests and thank them for all they have contributed to the club.

DONATION The Kiplings have very generously donated their bird books to the RBC

Library. These include both Budgerigar and Lovebird books, so please make use of them. Thank you Lionel and Norma.

11.

White T-Shirts handed to Norma

Kipling at the meetings could

have the club logo (as on the

cover of the magazine) painted

on them for $1-50. $1 for the

club and 50c for paint. Another

of Norma’s many talents!

An article in the “Budgie Review” was a report about

the first magazine having arrived from the Biggest

Bird Club in the world, with 12,000 members world

wide, including one in Australia . The club

comprised many branches with the central committee

in Munich, Germany. Their Library was in five

languages, including Japanese! There were also

details of the points system used, and their awards.

Membership Rates were:

Family.................$6-00

Adult...................$4-50

Junior..................$2-00

Pensioner Family ..$2-50

Pensioner Single.....$2-00

One of the Juniors

mentioned in the

magazine was Lisa

Kipling

Times Past

12.

THE STATE SHOW -COODANUP February 19th 2012

Juveniles Best in Show C & B Gearing

Best Opposite Sex G&D Armstrong

Reserve Best in Show G&D Armstrong

Very Highly Commended N. Wheatley

Highly Commended C & B Gearing

Commended J. Patterson

Best Open C & B Gearing

Reserve Open G&D Armstrong

Best Intermediate C Alder

Reserve Intermediate L. Trumper

Best Novice J. Patterson

Reserve Novice J. Patterson

Young

Best in Show C & B Gearing

Best Opposite Sex C & B Gearing

Reserve Best in Show C & B Gearing

Very Highly Commended C & B Gearing

Highly Commended M. Gearing

Commended A. Jaeschke

Best Open C & B Gearing

Reserve Open C & B Gearing

Best Intermediate C. Alder

Reserve Intermediate R. Minn

Best Novice A Robbins

Reserve Novice A. Robbins

Adults Best in Show J. McMahon

Best Opposite Sex R. Levy

Reserve Best in Show M. Gearing

Very Highly Commended R. Levy

Highly Commended A Jaeschke

Commended M. Gearing

Best Open J. McMahon

Reserve Open M. Gearing

Best Intermediate C. Alder

Reserve Intermediate C & J Huck

Best Novice Daley & McJannett

Reserve Novice J. Patterson

Congratulations to all winners!

13.

THE STATE SHOW -COODANUP February 19th 2012

Winning Juveniles (Gold rings)

Winning Young (Magenta rings)

Winning Adults

The WABC raffle was drawn at the show.

Winners were:

1st Bob Glasheen (left)

2nd

Christine Morgani

3rd

Gary Armstrong

Karen Morgan made and donated the glass lamp (held by Bob)

and Bernie Van Dyk organized a donation of seed from Triangle

as well as painting the show cages. Thanks to all concerned.

Congratulations to all winners and thank you to everyone who

bought /sold tickets and helped to raise funds for the WABC.

2015 looms closer by the minute!

14.

Q & A Section Q . One of my friends says he had a nest with Albinos, Clearbodies and

Lacewings in it - can this be possible?

A. Yes it is, because Clearbody (and we are talking Texas Clearbody

here), Ino and Lacewing are multiple alleles. As these are sex-linked

varieties the hen can only carry one gene for these, the cock will

necessarily be carrying two different ones, that is, he will need to be split.

Below are some tables showing combinations of cock and hen that would allow for three

varieties to be produced in one nest. Sex linkage allows for them to be expressed in this way.

It will not work with a Lacewing hen because the cock would then need to be a

Clearbody/Ino and both of these are dominant to Lacewing. For this reason all cocks would

be either Clearbody or Ino split for Lacewing and all hens would be Clearbody or Ino visuals.

Clearbody cock/Lacewing X Albino hen 25% Clearbody/ Albino cocks

25% Albino/ Lacewing cocks

25% Clearbody hens

25% Lacewing hens

Albino cock/Lacewing X Clearbody hen 25% Clearbody/ Albino cocks

25% Clearbody / Lacewing cocks

25% Albino hens

25% Lacewing hens

Vale Garnett Skuthorpe Garnett was a breeder of renown, specializing in Clearwings and Recessive Pieds. He was a member of the Budgerigar fraternity for many years.

In 1989 he was Treasurer of the West Coast Budgerigar Club, and after Keith Rymell’s resignation in April also of the WABC.

The 1997 Judges Panel included Stan Loynes, Bryan Pearce, Carole Pearce, Irene

Phillips and Garnett Skuthorp as Senior Judges. R.I.P.

Electronic version Aviary Chatter is available in electronic format, emailed at the beginning of each month.

Many members who are on the internet have chosen to have their copy in this format, saving

paper, ink etc. and reducing the amount of paperwork under which we are being buried on a

daily basis. Please let me know if you would prefer to have your copy emailed.

The magazine is exactly as you get on paper except that you get FULL COLOUR because

some of the colour pages are reproduced in black and white for the printed copy.

If you are uncertain, you are welcome to have a trial period, and receive both for a month or

two to see which you prefer.

The Ed.

15.

The Wild Budgerigar

The native Australian bird is known by several names including wild-type budgerigar, bush

budgerigar, parakeet, shell parakeet, undulated grass parakeet, zebra parrot and lovebird.

Surprisingly there are people who do not realize that it is an Australian native bird, mistaking

it for an English bird, possibly due to the recognition given to the English type show bird.

There is a vast difference between the original bird and the showbird of today. Apart from

the obvious size difference the shape of the bird has changed, with emphasis on the large

head and shoulders of the showbird.

So what do we know about the wild type bird? It is endemic to Australia with thousands

living in large groups in the central and northern arid areas. They breed prolifically, a

technique that allows them to survive challenging conditions.

Probably due to the fact that the nest is overcrowded as the birds, near mature chicks often

leave the nest before they can fly and exist on the ground, where they learn to seek out their

own food assisted by the parents. One can only imagine how many are lost to predators

before they even learn to fly!

Budgerigars are nomadic, moving about to seek areas where food is available. They are not

seasonal breeders ( in the sense that some birds are) that breed regularly for example in

spring. They are triggered into breeding when the rains come, as this is an indication that

seeds will germinate and there will soon be an abundance of food.

The bird is a colony breeder, breeding in hollows in trees, laying their eggs on the soft

sawdust like material in the dead wood. The hen will scratch out rubbish to make herself a

place to lay. They do not bring in “nesting material”. If they cannot find any tree hollows

they will find another suitable place, some resorting to digging burrows in the damp earth of

river banks.

The wild budgie is known to breed large clutches of eggs, often laying up to ten eggs to

produce ten live chicks. Unlike some other wild birds they do not lay their entire clutch

before starting to incubate and, like our own birds, often start to sit on the eggs from the time

the first or second egg has been laid.

They eat wild seeding grasses, native vegetation and strip the bark from the plants on which

they perch on. Water is often scarce and they will drink from mud puddles if no other water

is available. Instinctively they will seek antidotes to problems they encounter, for example

gnawing on charcoal to counteract the effect of drinking polluted water. Eucalyptus leaves

act as an anthelmintic (worm treatment!) with long narrow leaves being chosen over broad,

more strongly flavoured leaves.

If conditions are favourable the birds will continue to breed indefinitely with the hen

beginning to lay again as soon as the initial nest of chicks has fledged.

Although the wild budgerigar is light green in colour the chicks have a bluish tinge and do

not achieve their adult colour until they are about a year old.

In captivity they breed successfully if kept in aviaries that mimic natural conditions

and will live compatibly with other small birds as long as they are not overcrowded.

Condensed from Budgerigars in Focus.

Rob Hugo At the time of going to press we await an update on Rob’s condition. Two weeks ago we

were notified that he was in hospital and not expected to last until the end of the week.

Somehow he has managed to hang on to life, our thoughts and prayers are with his family.

16.

MEMBERSHIP LIST FOR 2012

NAME RING CODE Wayne Bender WB

Neil and Laura Bitmead ACE

Margaret Brown

Wilma Bunter 1BW

Anne-Marie Calder-Anick

Colin Chapman KC1

George Clarke GC

Rose and Jordan Dunn

Andy and Wendy Fenn

Barry and Melanie Fletcher BGF

Christine Gardiner

Janet Gardiner

Cec. and Brenda Gearing C&B

Michael Gearing MG

John Green JAG AG

Malcolm and Linda Hinde HQ

Gina House G&G

Sharon House

Rob Hugo HR

Mary Iveson

David Kaljuste DK

Attila Kiss AK

William MacAulay

Jan McMahon MC/DPS

Bryan Pearce BP

Carole Pearce

Anthony Piercy

Betty Rea BMR

Don’t throw out your used postage stamps! BRASEA is just part of

a group collecting these and handing them on to be sold for

fundraising that benefits many worthy causes. Donations may be

passed on to Betty Rea, the Gearings or Rob Hugo or posted to

Warren at BRASEA, P.O. Box 141 Croydon N.S.W. 2132.

For more information on rare varieties see the website www.rarebudgerigars.co.uk

Budgie Tales - Strange but True

A breeder noticed that one of the breeding cocks was absolutely obsessed with wrecking the

newspaper on the floor of his breeding cabinet. Often hens do this as a preliminary to nest making

and starting to lay. Having chided the bird and telling him that he should be concentrating on his

mate and chicks the breeder observed that the bird was actually pecking along the edges of the writing

on the newspaper, in effect cutting out some of the words in a colourful advertisement.

After replacing the newspaper with plain butcher’s paper the bird completely ignored the paper and

devoted himself to caring for his family.

17.

BRASEA Coming Auctions

Over 350 quality Budgerigars each auction Next Auction

MARCH 25th 2012 Inspections 8 a.m. Auction commences 9 a.m.

YMCA Hall 184 The River Road, REVESBY

For more details warren@brasea.com phone 02 9747 6642

BUDGERIGARS

BEST FRIEND OR NATIONAL CHAMPION

The book contains sections on: Budgerigar Care and Management

The Pet Budgerigar Genetics

The Rare Varieties and Breeding them

Available from Betty Rea for $50 plus p&h if applicable

BRASEA and

THE RARE BUDGERIGAR CLUB OF W.A.

Working together to promote the RARES

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