Reader SANDY HAY of Portknockie CBS liked these letters from the famous birdkeeping journal of 1934. ‘Keep them short’ was the editor’s instruction – usually adhered to!
WHY should the perch for waxbills be as thin as a lead pencil, to quote Mr Cotterell in Part One of The Foreigner? I have always found birds keep their feet cleaner with thick perches.
– Haakon Kvikne, Norway.
BIRDS advertised as “slightly plucked”, and optimistically described by the Rev Sweetnam in his article on zebra finches as “slightly feathered”, are, in my opinion, worse than useless. They always die before getting a new suit of clothing. – I. Grafam, Kent.
DO your readers know (1) that budgerigars will readily take to soft food if made crumbly moist with chopped lettuce, (2) that royal starlings can be taught to talk, and (3) that Pekin robins will eat half a soft apple a day in addition to soft food and seed.
– Wm. RH Bearby, Yorks.
CAN any of your readers offer some suggestion on how to prevent Bengalese from bathing in their water pots?
– AL Robertson, SW London.
I WENT this morning into the flights where a particularly steady pair of diamond doves have a nest and young. The hen immediately started flying wildly round, but I could see nothing to frighten her. I had to go in later, and my husband was with me. She behaved exactly the same way and my husband said, “I believe it’s that crimson jumper of yours.” I put on an overall and went back, and the hen took no notice of me at all and came and sat on a branch a foot or two away from me.
This evening I went to shut the bob-hole and the hen again became demented, and I suddenly realised I had on the same red. I went out, covered up my jumper and returned, and she was perfectly tame and happy. The cock never seemed to mind the red at all. Are birds susceptible to colours?
– K Hildrick Smith, Bedford.
I AM not altogether in agreement with the views of Mr Richard Cotterell. In his article on outdoor aviaries he suggests that they are “not things of beauty”. My view is that really attractive aviaries are to be obtained. I have recently had one erected by Messrs Barnards, which in the opinion of my friends “is a joy to behold”, and I personally feel it has added much to the beauties of my garden.
– FE Thomas.
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