Well, often this is basically true. But that doesn't mean improvements can't be made! Understanding various aspects of nutrition and how it is supplied to the body can be a lifetime study, if undertaken in depth - yet the basics are actually quite simple, and will still allow you and your pet bird a fair amount of choice.

Seeds or pellets must be as fresh as possible when bought, and need to be stored properly to ensure they stay that way. Improperly stored seed and grain products are apt to develop moulds, dust mite infestations, or worse; all of these can affect your bird's health. (*hint* - a cupboard is too warm, a fridge is too damp - but a freezer is both cold and dry. Be careful of condensation, though!)

Many pet birds don't receive adequate vegetables or greens in their diet. These can be served fresh, steamed, baked, or stewed - any way the bird will eat them - and should be given regularly, as a large part of the daily diet. You wouldn't want to live on bread alone, why should your bird?

"In Flock Talk number 12, you wrote 'Bourkies will use a nestbox, but do seem to do better with an open-topped narrow pyramidal design, rather than the usual closed rectangular shape more commonly seen.'

"Can you say a little more about the nest boxes you've described above? This is the first I've heard of this type of box and I can't picture it."

My answer;

"It's a rather tall, narrow nestbox. To make one, take a piece of plywood 5 or at the most 6 inches wide by 12 -14 inches long, and attach foot-high sides on the long side, narrowing to a 2 inch gap at the top.

"Make one side panel do all the narrowing - keep the other at a right angle to the floor. Shape the ends to fit, and put an entry hole near the right hand side of the side panel which is at a right angle to the bottom, about 1/4 of the way down from the top.

"This is where the nest box will be entered - so use climbing wire inside, on the narrow end closest to the entry hole. The birds will nest at the bottom end of the box, well away from the entrance hole, so you can put an inspection door there if you like.

"Some people make both side panels narrow towards the top, and put the entry hole about 1/4 of the way down on one of the narrow ends - this box looks a little more pyramidal than the first, but works similarly, except it will stick out from the side of the cage far more than the other will.

"Which version of this bourke box is more effective for you will depend on your set-up. It is important not to allow the box to get too wide, as the birds seem to feel more secure in the narrower longer space."

Welcome to the Companion Birds ezine


For bird people who care.

Hello! Welcome to the fifteenth issue of Flock Talk - I hope you like what you see! If you have comments, criticisms, or stories to share, please send them to Robirda

Bird Site Report

The Red Siskin Recovery Project
http://www.afa.birds.org/redsiskin.htm

The 'El Cardinelito', or 'little cardinal', as this wild finch with the beautiful colours and wonderful song is affectionately known, has been on the list of threatened species for many years now.

Earlier in the century, these birds were used to produce rare fertile hybirds with the common canary, thus starting the genetic lines which let to the production of the popular 'red factor' canaries of today. Ironically, their popularity has all too often served to foster illegal trade in this 'parent' species, which has greatly sped the decline of the wild red siskin population, and hindered efforts to encourage the growth of the wild population.

Some breeders and zoos are trying to do something about this, by helping each other - and anybody else who is interested - learn how to help keep this species from disappearing from our planet. Read this site carefully, and you will find how you too can help save the red siskin.

Sources Wanted

Feature Article

Some of you may remember Frank Parkenings from the review in issue four of his charming and informative website, which features his Fife canaries. Well, recently Frank has discovered another miniature breed of canary, and has agreed to share what he has learned with us, about the as-yet little known bird known as the

by Frank Parkenings
Berlin, Germany

As you may know, my favorite type canaries are Fife Fancies. I have bred them for more than ten years. I love these always-vital little birds. But two years ago I visited a friend, and felt in love with another small type of canary: the Raza Espanola.

I have seen some every year I visited the BUNDESSCHAU, our national cage bird show of the greatest German breeder's association, the AZ. I never noticed them really. But when I saw them in a big aviary, I said to myself, "Frank," (that's what I always say, if I am going to be serious) "buy them, they are wonderful singing birds!"

Indeed, the first thing I noticed was the song. It is totally different from any other song I have heard from canaries. It sounds like a mixture between the canary and the European Serin (Serinus serinus). Indeed, GW Walker's excellent book, 'Coloured, Type, and Song Canaries' (AVON, 1994, p. 142) mentions that it is possible that this breed was at least partly created through hybridization of the German Roller canary with the European siskin.

Raza Espanola is a relatively new kind of type canary on the show bench. Its development actually began in 1931, when members of the 'Union de Canariculture de Barcelona' decided to create a breed of canary quite different from any in existence at that time. Their criteria specified that the new bird should be a miniature canary of smooth feathering and that song should be of no consequence.

But it took the passage of years, some of which brought the Spanish Civil War, World War II, and troubles with the Confederation Ornithologique Mondiale, (an international organization of bird people known mostly as 'COM') before this new breed would be established on the national and international show bench.

Walker's book states that Spanish breeders were not seen at World shows for some years, and that the Raza Espanola was first exhibited at the World Show in Valencia in 1976. As always, once a breed is introduced, it takes several more years for people to become familiar with it. The last BUNDESSCHAU included only about 50 Raza canaries.

Razas are very small sized canaries, and should ideally be no more than 11.5 centimeters long (4 1/2 inches) The German Standard of Excellence assigns these values:

Size - 25 points. Back and breast; 25 points. Head and neck - 10 points. Feather quality - 10 points. Wings and tail - 10 points. Legs - 10 points. Overall presentation - 5 points. General condition - 5 points.

Specifically, it requires that the back and the breast should be flat and slim, not round. The head should be small and oval, similar to that of the Lizard canary. The beak should be small. Feathering needs to be perfect, without any absence of feathers.

The wings should fit tightly to the back, and the end of the tail should be V-shaped. Legs should be short, with a length of 14 mm (9/16ths of an inch).

The bird should sit with an perfect angle to the perch of thirty-five degrees. It should not be too nervous, and both the cage and the bird should be in top condition.

The two pairs I bought last year were about six months old. That was in January 1999. They had their first chicks in April 1999 at about nine months old. There weren't any problems. Most of my Razas are yellow birds, with some light varigation. (this is known as a 'ticked' canary)

In Germany there are only a few enthusiasts of this lovely little canary. It is said that it is only a bird for those who live in Mediterranean areas, because they need heat and full sunshine. In my opinion all canaries like sunshine but don't need heat necessarily. My Razas have so far been as vital as my Fifes during the winter - and winter can be very cold in Berlin.

In Spain you can see very often Razas and other small canaries in small cages hanging on the wall of a house. They sing the whole day thru. My stock began with a very good green male, who is both very small and an extremely good singer. I have noted that most and maybe even all Razas are excellent singers, with strong, loud voices. Some sing with open beaks and some with closed beaks. I think it is possible that some breeders crossed their Razas with Timbrados or other very small song canaries.

Who knows? Maybe one day soon you will see from me a new website, with more about my new little birds. Though at first it will be rarely seen, I am convinced that the good qualities of this addition to the family of canary breeds will become more and more popular as people everywhere become acquainted with, and then demand to see more of, the beautiful little Raza Espanola.

by Frank Parkenings
http://www.geocities.com/parakenings.geo/
Berlin, Germany
Copyright © March, 2001

Help Needed

Signing Off

Well, I guess that's it for this time - hope everybody has a safe and happy time over the next couple of weeks! The next issue is due out April 1st - no foolin'! Until then, may you and your birds enjoy all the best of everything!

R C 'Robirda' McDonald
March 18, 2001
Vancouver, BC, Canada

As the embryo of the fertile canary egg develops, the head of the chick changes position and moves from the 'pointed' end of the egg toward the air cell in the 'blunt' end, gradually tucking its head under the right wing.

Since the unhatched egg is a closed system and there is little gaseous exchange between the embryo and its outside environment, the gaseous exhange within the egg, caused by blood circulation in the allantoid, (a membranous sac that develops from the posterior part of the alimentary canal in the embryos of mammals, birds, and reptiles) evenually fails to meet the need of the developing chick.

This elevates the level of carbon dioxide within the egg, causing spasms in the embryo's neck muscles. These spasmodic contractions cause the chick to jerk its head and the beak ruptures the membrane that leads into the air cell.

The chick's lungs begin to function for the first time as it begins breathing the air in the air cell. At this time the left-right cardiovascular shunt in the embyro's immature heart closes and the cardiopulmonary system begins to function normally. The elevated carbon dioxide levels also cause the abdominal muscle to contract which in turn, causes the yolk sac to be pulled into the adbominal cavity, to begin slowly absorbing into the body.

As the chick continues to breathe the air in the sac, the carbon dioxide continues to rise to as high as 10%. This starts the muscle contractions in the neck of the chick to begin again. During one of these spasms, the egg tooth on the chick's beak chips through the shell, forming a tiny hole known as a 'pip'.

Now the exhausting work of the chick begins. Alternating between spasms and contractions of the muscles on the neck, back, and abdomen, the chick struggles and shifts position from the pip hole, ever so slightly.

The neck muscle contracts again and another 'pip' is made. These small 'pips' are always made in a counter-clockwise direction. The chick shifts, a muscle spasm occurs, another chip is made, etc. Finally, the nearly exhausted chick has chipped enough of the shell to form a cap, and begins kicking. This action of kicking causes the shell's cap to be pushed away and the chick struggles free from the confines of the egg.

This process, from breaking into the air cell and pipping the egg, takes about three hours in a small species, like the canary. The interval from pipping to kicking free can take as little as 30 minutes, if all conditions are right.

There are a number of fatal flaws that can occur during the final hours of the chick's development and hatching. A common condition that occurs in eggs more round than oval is that the chick is positioned with it's head in the wrong end of the egg, away from the air cell. This is lethal in a majority of cases as the chick literally suffocates. It can never enter the air cell.

If the chick's head is under its left wing, this is fatal in nearly all cases, since the chick is genetically 'programmed' to turn counter-clockwise, and its body gets in the way of the pipping process. The malposition of the feet being over the head of the chick is usually lethal also. In this case, the chick can never kick free of the shell. *

So, once again nature gives us the gift of a new hatchling. But the true miracle is that this frail little bundle of life manages to hatch at all!

* References:
1). Olsen GH, Duval F: Commonly Encountered Hatching Problems, 'Proceedings of the Association of Avian Veterinarians, 1994, pp379-385.
2). Richie BW, Harrison GL, Harrison LR, editors: Avian Medicine: Principles and Applications, Lake Worth, FL, 1994, pp457-478.