Champion Waterfowl Online 2020
We cordially invite you to submit entries for a virtual show of domestic waterfowl. These will be judged on the quality of the birds rather than of the photos, but the photos will provide the evidence for applying the standards to the birds. Pet birds will be judged on condition alone. View the show details […]
Major step towards single global bird taxonomy announced
Credit: Text – BirdGuides News and Photo – Ian Bollen The International Ornithologists’ Union (IOU) has formed the Working Group on Avian Checklists (WGAC) with a view to produce and maintain an open-access global checklist of bird species that will unify different taxonomies. The checklist will be kept on the IOU website and is intended to serve as the […]
Show stopper…
The BWA Champion Waterfowl Exhibition for 2020 has been cancelled. An on-line mini show will launch in September.
IWWA – Captive Waterfowl Survey
2020 Waterfowl in Aviculture Survey Conducted every five years, the International Wild Waterfowl Association (IWWA) survey tracks population trends. The results of this survey are the most accurate representation of waterfowl numbers under human care. Now we have the ability to reach waterfowl keepers across the world, maintain the privacy of respondents, and sort large […]
We’ll have to hold off with the crowd scenes.
We are sad to report that we are postponing the Spring Open Event, as a result of the recent government advice. It is anticipated that the peak of COVID 19 infections will be in May. During the current crisis, we should be considering how best to care for our birds and support members who may […]
Up-close and personal
Regular feeding brings waterfowl up-close and personal at Martin Mere. Despite Storm Jorge, our Annual General Meeting had a warm welcome at WWT Martin Mere this weekend. Principal honour in our annual awards went posthumously to Christopher Marler – not only for his huge contribution to the Association, but recognising his breeding achievements over a […]
Oiled King Eider survives 24 years after being cleaned
A recent ringed bird recovery shows something truly remarkable: the oldest known wild King Eider – was a 24-year-old oil spill survivor cared for by International Bird Rescue. This finding proves once again that rehabilitated, formerly-oiled birds can survive many years after treatment and release back to the wild. The latest discovery involves a male […]
AI Restriction Zone in Mid Suffolk now lifted
Following the outbreak of Low Pathogenic Avian Influenza A virus subtype H5N3 in a commercial chicken flock in Mid Suffolk on 10 December 2019, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) have today lifted the 1km Restricted Zone. This follows from the required surveillance in the Restricted Zone being completed with negative results. […]
DNA proves Stone Age humans enjoyed Duck Dinners
This is the face of a woman who lived 6,000 years ago in Scandinavia. Thanks to the tooth marks she left in ancient ‘chewing gum’, scientists were able to obtain DNA, which they used to decipher her genetic code. It seems likely that she had dark skin, dark brown hair and blue eyes. Dr Hannes […]
AI and Biosecurity
There’s never a good time to hear that there’s been a Bird Flu outbreak. Low pathogenic avian influenza of the H5 strain was confirmed at a commercial chicken farm in Mid Suffolk on 10 December 2019. All birds on the premises will be humanely culled. A restricted zone of 1km is in place around the […]
