Heritage Breeds
This is International Heritage Breeds Week. 16-22nd May; aiming to to raise global awareness about endangered heritage breeds of farm animals. Many of our traditional livestock and poultry breeds have been replaced with more ‘improved’ breeds in modern animal agriculture, at the expense of a massive loss in genetic diversity. Worldwide, about one domesticated livestock […]
Avian Influenza Prevention Zone to be Lifted
Avian Influenza: keepers advised to remain vigilant as heightened biosecurity measures lifted Changes to Risk Level The risk of avian influenza infection in wild birds remains low (rare but does occur). However, the risk of HPAI H5 exposure to poultry and captive birds across the whole GB has reduced from medium (occurs regularly) to […]
Softly fascinated by watery nature
New YouGov research, released by the Mental Health Foundation, has found 65 % of people find being near water improves their mental wellbeing and is their favourite part of nature. A new scheme in London called Blue Prescribing will allow up to 300 people experiencing poor mental health and with limited access to water in […]
Changes to what Bird Gatherings are Permitted
From the 21 April 2021, certain bird gatherings can take place in GB provided you notify the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) at least 7 days before the event and that you meet the requirements of the General Licence. This includes markets, shows, sales, exhibitions of pigeons, budgerigars, canaries, parrots, cockatiels and birds of […]
Avian Influenza: Enhanced Biosecurity is still mandatory.
Following outbreaks in East Staffordshire (HPAI H5N8) and Cheshire (LPAI H5N3) toward the end of the month, DEFRA urgently reviewed the risk of avian influenza to both wild and kept birds and the implications of preceding with the lifting of the housing measures component of the Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ). The GB-wide AIPZ requiring […]
Blue-billed Teal
What’s in a Name? In the latest version (v11.1, January 2021) of the International Ornithological Congress (IOC) master list of bird names, the Hottentot Teal has been changed to the Blue-billed Teal. This decision was made in concert with the BirdLife South Africa List Committee, as the former name has become offensive. The simple truth, […]
Dutch Barnacle Goose found in China
A Dutch-ringed Barnacle Goose has recently been re-sighted in Henan Province in eastern China, an astonishing 8,200 km from its natal home. The bird, which is colour-ringed with the combination ‘Yellow T Blue V’, was ringed as a juvenile male at Westplaat Buitengronden, one of the species’ breeding colonies in the south-west of The Netherlands, in July 2019. […]
Welcome to our new President
Richard Hedges has just taken over the presidency of the BWA. Acting as elected vice-president for the last three years, Richard is a real enthusiast for the larger domestic breeds, as well as the Silver Appleyard Miniature duck. He is a Goose judge and regular on the show circuit, and few people have done more […]
We are still in love with our birds
We are still in love with our birds Find out how the experts manage a zoological collection of exotic Phasianids, Columbids, Fischer’s turacos, Lybiidae & Passerines. Entrance to Waddesdon Manor and grounds (when restrictions allow) for up to 2 adults and 3 children, an aviary tour, afternoon tea and a biography of Walter Rothschild: The […]
Heavy Ducks at High Noon — Saturday 13th Feb
Following his talk in the autumn that focused on heavy ducks, one of our council members, Tom Davis, will be doing a more general talk on domestic waterfowl and their husbandry on Facebook live. He keeps Chinese and Sebastopol geese; and on the duck front: Aylesbury; Pekin; Black Muscovy; the 3 colours of Rouen, White […]
