POTLUCK - 1:00 P.M.
MEETING - 1:45 P.M.

PLEASE BRING YOUR OWN TABLE SERVICE

A - G SALAD
H - P DESSERT
Q - Z HOT DISH

BY THE YARD - WORK IS HARD - BY THE INCH - IT'S A CINCH!

Our ANNUAL FEATHER SHOW (or Bird Exhibit, as it was called in the newspaper) was quite a success this year, and I'm sure that it was because Janet & John Gilleo were so well organized. There were 73 birds entered; not as many as last year but that was your editor's fault! You see - I forgot to explain about the exotics - and the differences in their entrant requirements as compared with the other birds. For this - I will most humbly apologize - and do hope that those of you who were affected by this will not have the same problem next year. (CAL) However, those who were there really enjoyed the happiness which was felt by all the visitors as well as the contenders. So many questions, problems, requests for help, requests for advice, and just plain "What kind of a bird is that?" - that it was a joy to have been there as a member. And so, again to Jan & John, a Big Thank You for a job well done, from your President and Everyone.

I jotted down a few comments which might be interesting:

the Feather Show Chairman should be on the Executive Board
good - team - work
have the judge (after finished judging) explain why the better bird won
make the Feather Show a Learning Process
trophies were a great addition
Feather Show is an excellent place for beginners to learn How, Why, and most of all the Values in SHOWING YOUR OWN BIRDS IN COMPETITION.

The winners for this year were:
Red Factor - Joe Fanfa
Type - George Santos
Domestic - Charlotte A. Le Doux
Exotic - Chuck Arella
Hook-Bill - Ruth Melody
Best Canary - Joe Fanfa
Judge's Special Award - Marjorie Zeller

THE BIG SHOW

Rowland announced his latest appointments - Lona Schmalz and Marjorie Zeller will be in charge of the decorations for the Banquet.

Many volunteers are needed Thanksgiving Eve for setting up the Staging. It won't take long if you all come and help! Besides - use it as another Learning Process - we all have to learn sometime!

I understand that some of you have not yet picked up your RAFFLE TICKETS to sell. Please do so at the meeting - if you don't - they will be mailed to you.

Show cages are available from the Hansels - Red Factor - $8.50
Single Breeders - $9.00.

Continuing now with more bits and pieces-

There is an excellent article on AIR SAC MITES in the September Issue of the Watchbird Magazine. this should be "required reading" for all canary and Gouldian breeders.

More about the Newcastle Episode in Florida. Dr. Bernice Levine's "Blue Ribbon Pet Farm" and "Pet Farm", both located in Florida, have been found to have birds with exotic Newcastle Disease. Birds shipped from these farms have now been traced to 39 states within the continental United States. Approximately 700 are expected to be in California. This report should be used as a warning to anyone thinking of purchasing birds at this time - POSTPONE your purchase until you are positive of the source of those birds your are considering.

Chuck is still waiting for you members to volunteer your help on his Club Portfolio. I'm sure many of you have some pictures and articles which he could use - so tell him about them.

THE WESTERN BIRD BREEDER'S PET FAIRE scheduled for October 11 and 12 has been cancelled because of the Newcastle Threat. So we will be holding our October meeting at the regular time - the Second Sunday, October 12, in Santa Clara. This meeting will include reports from the recent AFA Convention.

The next Executive Board Meeting will be held October 24 at Ruth & Glenn Mitchell's.

Several have asked for a listing of the shows:
Oct. 31 - Nov. 1,2 - Fresno, Calif.
Nov. 8-9 - Modesto, Calif.
Nov. 13,14,15 - Jacksonville, Florida - Nat'l. Cage Bird Show
Nov. 14,15,16 - Gold Gate Avian Society
Nov. 28,29,30 - SANTA CLARA VALLEY CANARY & EXOTIC BIRD CLUB

SHOW CAGE TRAINING - Jim Cummings, Victoria, B.C.

The question has arisen as to when to start putting the birds into show cages so as to get them used to the cage.

I read a recent article by a veteran breeder who has been showing since 1928. He places the birds selected for showing in a three foot long cage, giving them a couple of days to settle down. Then he places three in each show cage and sprays them. While they are drying, he used a training stick to get them to use the perches. A few days later, he places two birds in a show cage and repeats the spraying, again using the stick. A couple days later he places one bird in the cage and sprays it. He has found this very satisfactory.

There are also different opinions as to washing birds prior to a show, with various formulas, baby shampoo, mixtures with glycerine, others with poppy seed oil and so forth. Prior to an annual show I washed two birds using prescribed soaps, etc., the remainder I started spraying about three weeks prior to the show with plain water, once a day. By the time the show day came around, the sprayed birds had acquired a sleek, well-groomed appearance, as a result of them grooming themselves after each spraying. They thus used their natural oil to make the feathers water-proof. It was very noticeable after a while, how the water rolled off the feathers whereas at the beginning the birds looked very pathetic after their first spraying. To spray or not to spray is your decision, but the birds do look better!

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