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, meetings and shows for a very long time. We now seem to be breaking free of such restrictions at long last, although some are still adopting an over-cautious approach. We are expecting to go ahead with our full season of shows this year: the Summer Show on July 10th, the National Exhibition on October 2nd, and the winter Help the Birdkeepers Show on December 4th, all held at our regular venue of Stafford County Showground. Further details will be announced, and booking will become available, as the year progresses. We have decided that our Days Out events at various bird parks will be better served by a change to discounted entry for PSUK members, at a time convenient to them. Gathering on a specific day was always affected by inclement weather, and people’s other plans, so this alternative is more flexible. To this end, we have contacted Paradise Park (Cornwall), Birdworld (Surrey), Flamingoland (North Yorkshire), Tropical Bird Gardens (Leicestershire), and Harewood House (West Yorkshire) to confirm such arrangements. We will let you know more, again, as the year progresses. Fortunately, both the Parrot Society and these enterprises have survived the pandemic lockdowns.
Non-Parrot Society events such as the Stafford Spring Show and the EMBBA sale day at Newark are both going ahead in March, but the Think Parrots event for June at Kempton Park has been cancelled. However, the prestigious 10th International Parrot Congress at Loro Parque, Tenerife, will go ahead in September, and no doubt will be well attended by parrot enthusiasts from all over the world.
All this assuming, of course, that the Russia/Ukraine conflict has not escalated into a more serious global situation! What else can possibly be thrown at us next?
On a lighter note, although we may yet be in for some cold weather before Spring properly starts, we now have more daylight hours, while plant and bird life are both visibly stirring. All of which confirms that, whatever mankind may bring to the table, Nature continues her inevitable cycle, and that life goes on. Hopefully, this will include those of you breeding parrots, and may you have a successful season!