Chairmans Blog

Well, we are still not sure what the situation is with regard to coronavirus – at the time of writing, half of the UK adult population has been vaccinated, and infection and death rates are falling fast. But now there is the worry of an interruption in the supply of...

As always, I look back at what I wrote this time last year, and, indeed, the year before that. In 2019 I had just come back from puffin-watching on Skomer Island; there was a veterinary conference to attend imminently as well as a Council meeting; and then two spring...

I thought that last month’s (May) magazine had a good mixture of practical articles for all branches of parrot-keeping from pet parrots and children, through the diet of wild Military macaws, with considerable scientific support, to the breeding of ever-popular grass...

I write this column on what was supposed to be ‘Freedom Day’, with the releasing of all Covid-related restrictions. In the event, it is not to be, with probably at least another month to go before such restrictions are eased. This in spite of the fact that a large...

At long last it would appear that we will be able to go ahead with our major event of the year, The National Exhibition on Sunday 3rd October, at Stafford County Showground, as well as our Help the Birdkeepers Show on Sunday 5th December, at the same venue. Nothing is...

Arrangements for our long-awaited National Exhibition on Sunday 3rd October, at Stafford County Showground continue apace, with many bookings already made and enquiries coming in. Traders are booking space, and specialist clubs are booking for the Exhibition side....

Just in the last few days of my morning dog walks, there has been a noticeable chill in the air, even though we have had some hot sunshine in the middle of the day. The footpaths are covered with fallen leaves and sweet chestnuts, the Autumn Equinox is upon us, and...

Sadly, I was unable to make our long-awaited National Exhibition at Stafford County Showground as I fell victim to the severe cough and cold that has been doing the rounds. Fortunately, I tested negative for Covid-19, but still felt rough for a few days, and did not...

Having got through a moderately successful National Exhibition at Stafford County Showground, following the waning of the Covid-19 pandemic, and the relaxation of restrictions, we are now hoping that our final show of the year – the Help the Birdkeepers Show, on 5th...

Another year dominated by the worldwide pandemic of Covid-19, but with improved treatment regimes and a massively successful vaccination campaign, we appear gradually to be returning to some form of normality. We have held one face-to-face Council meeting, and our...

As I write this column, the cloudless sky is bright blue, and there is a thick frost on the grass. Garden birds are increasingly active around the feeding stations, including local feral ring-necked parakeets, and the consumption of mealworms has increased. In the...

At this time two years ago, we were heading for the first major lockdown in response to what became a worldwide Covid pandemic. We all know what an effect that had on family life, working patterns, schooling and travel, as well as the forced closure of our events,...

Well as I write this page, Spring has definitely sprung, with temperatures in the south-east of the country set to hit 18-20 degrees. We also have an exciting innovation to announce, as detailed elsewhere in this issue, and that is our first ever Pet Parrot Gathering....

Preparations for our first ever Pet Parrot Gathering at Stafford County Showground on Saturday 9th July, as well as those for our regular Summer Show on Sunday 10th July at the same venue, continue apace. A few days after you read this, we will be having our next...