Continuing from last week, AUSTIN MIDDLEMISS recalls some of the classic characters he’s known in the fancy, this time featuring the inimitable Big Lol and late great Billy Watson.
HUMOUR
RETURNING to humorous characters, no article would be complete without a mention of Tony’s cousin Lawrence Thompson, or “Big Lol” as he is affectionately known. The stories are legion; sadly, many of the best can’t be repeated in polite company.
On trips down to the old National Exhibition, Lol would regale us with stories which had us in fits of laughter the whole way, and invariably he slept all the way home on the return journey. Hewn pretty much from the same rock face he worked at all his life down the coalmine, it’s fair to say that Lol’s skills were based on graft not craft. Tony and I went across one time to see the birds and the new block of cages Lol had built. We tended to put favoured birds in eye-level cages, but Lol wasn’t quite so fussy and had placed a batch of birds he liked along the bottom row.
Denne historien er fra January 31, 2018-utgaven av Cage & Aviary Birds.
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Denne historien er fra January 31, 2018-utgaven av Cage & Aviary Birds.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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The World's Best-Known Hummingbird?
Intensively studied, the gem-like Anna’s hummingbird is a welcome visitor to the gardens of America’s most populous state: California. Bill Naylor investigates its life history
The charm of the English Cinnamon
Despite its long and complicated history, the true Cinnamon canary is still with us – in the hands of a tiny group of breeders. DONALD SKINNER-REID reckons it deserves wider appreciation
Spangles: a personal overview
FRED WRIGHT relates a budgie story of over-exploitation, consequent problems and abundant potential for the future
New converts to old breeds
Old and rare canaries have a reputation for adding fresh interest and challenge to the hobby. PETE HOOK and NICK JOY agree, and explain the birds’ charm to Dave Brown
Themed aviaries are a hit with the public at annual Stafford show
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Pieds with potential
More than just a lesser variety, the dominant pied will introduce challenge and change into most studs, reckons CLIVE WAKEMAN. Here he discusses pairings to try and others to avoid
Club News
Welcome to the club and show pages – the bit that’s all about you Results: convention, specialist & rare and Breeder of the Year
Canaries Month by Month:
With Christmas around the corner, BRIAN KEENAN is well into his winter programme, and reckons he might deserve a nice outcross
Smart Choice, Docile Nature
Dave Brown welcomes the masked grassfinch to his birdroom and shares advice on this lovely Australian species
The truth about the ‘flying toad'
Odd local names and weird superstitions can’t hide the beauty and elegance of the nightjar, a species that has made a fascinating subject in a few zoo collections, reveals BILL NAYLOR
