When down from the basement there arose such a clatter,
That I ran for the stairs to see what was the matter.
I raced down the steps and turned down the light,
Glancing first to the left and then to the right.
It was then that I noticed the now empty spot,
In the cage where the Cockatoos should be but were not!

The Goffins are missing I yelled to my spouse,
While I shuddered to think what they’d do to the house.
My fears were well founded I soon came to know.
As I surveyed the destruction in the bird room below.
Feeding doors had been opened, the dishes all tossed,
Bags were ripped open their contents all lost.
The marauders unfastened from the cage tops each toy,
which they tossed at the occupants below with such joy.

The other birds sulked as they viewed the whole mess,
This Cockatoo duo had created such stress!
I searched through the room, my frustration profound,
Those two fiendish beasts simply weren’t to be found!
It was then that I noticed the Senegal staring,
As his eyes flashed with anger I saw he was glaring
Towards the side of the room at an overturned pail.
I followed his gaze and saw a flash of white tail.

Holding my breath as I approached with great care,
Was it possible both could be hiding in there?
I snatched up the bucket and the villains were exposed,
They knew they were busted and for a second they froze,
Then the Cockatoo shriek and scrambling of feet,
They raced for their cage in hasty retreat.
I slammed the door shut as I trembled with rage,
Don’t you two ever, ever come out of your cage!

They stared at me smugly cheeks puffed with contentment,
Their mission accomplished they ignored my resentment.
I’ll clean up tomorrow.
I said aloud with a sigh
As I walked toward the steps one ‘Too said “bye bye.”
As I turned with a grin I felt suddenly calm,
Their sweet little voices could act as a balm.

For along with their mischief, they brought love and fun,
It was hard to stay angry despite what they’d done.

My jangled nerves and life’s hectic pace,
Had made me forget what was in my face.
I didn’t need gifts, fancy stuff from the store.
I had all I needed, my birds and much more!

My dear friends and family, my health and my spouse,
Everything that mattered was right here in this house.
So Santa I thank you but I don’t need a lot,
I’m learning to be grateful for all that I’ve got.
If you come down my chimney to leave something new,
Just leave me some padlocks so I can lock up the ‘Toos!!

I wish you all the happiest holidays and the brightest new year.

It is called:
THE  VANCOUVER CANARY CLUB CLASSIC
November 13, 14, 15 th, 2009

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC:
Sunday, November 15th, 2009
from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Admission: $2.00 per person

The event will be held at the same location as the previous few years:
Lochdale Community Centre
490 Sperling Avenue (Hastings & Sperling)
Burnaby, BC, Canada
View Larger Map

Date: Saturday, September 19th, 2009
Time: 2:00 PM – 4:00PM
Place: Coquitlam Community Center (Dogwood Pavilion) Crafts Room
624 Poirier Street (corner of Poirier and Winslow Street)
Coquitlam, BC

I am an avian rescuer, by that, I mean that I adopt birdies that are defective or were abandoned, etc. In general, those are not canaries but other species whichs anatomy and physicology I am quite informed about. But I am pretty clueless about canaries.
One thing puzzles me: the shape of the vent/cloaca in canaries.
In budgies, for example, the abdomen is basically (if no conditions are presented) “roundish”, no protuberances, basically the vent is not really raised nor shaped in any particular way. Basically, the vent is represented by a hole in the lower abdomen. Canaries’ feathers are so much fluffier and the vent is not so easy to watch/see. I have got the impression that the vent appears in a sort of protuberance, so to speak, and is not lying almost “flat” against the abdomen. There is like a roundish protuberance behind the vent. I am supposed to have females (and they behave like such, although I never bred them or anything). But I am not sure if I am explaining this right and need to see pics of how a female cloaca/vent is like because I want to make sure my canaries have a normal vent and tha the shape I see is not the result of some tumor or something weird in the area. Could you send me a drawing of how a vent should be like and/or tell me if there is away to know if the bird has a tumor? (I can’t take it to the vet because I already have been taking care of sick birdies and am broke – btw, my females seem healthy and normal, it is the vent that makes me wonder).

The Memorial Service for Jack Gorton will be held on:
Saturday February 28th, 2009
Time:  10:00 am.
Place:  Ryerson United Church
2195 45th West Avenue ,Vancouver, BC

Thanks for sending in the photo, Mostafa!

If you would like to send in a photo of your canary, please click here – send in photo.

Date:  Sunday, September 21, 2008

Time:  To be announced
Place:  Lockdale Community Center
             490 Sperling Avenue
             Burnaby, BC

The Vancouver Canary Club will be hosting a BIRD MART on Sunday, September 21, 2008.
The Bird Mart is a fundraiser for our upcoming VCC Fall Show.
We are looking for Buyers and Sellers!

• For Buyers:  We will have many avian products, bird feed, cage accessories as well as birds – canaries, finches, and perhaps other types of birds.
• For Sellers:  You can have a table spot to sell your goods for $25.00.

If you are interested in renting a table or would like more information, please contact us by clicking here:
http://www.vancouvercanaryclub.com/contact-us/

Please come out and support the VCC Fall Show!!!

“HOW DO YOU TELL IF THE CANARY IS FEMALE OR MALE? I BOUGHT A YELLOW CANARY AND IT’S HARD TO TELL IF IT’S A BOY OR GIRL. SHE DOESN’T SING LIKE A MALE DOES.”

 ——————–

Hi, Sabrina!

Usually, the males sing and not the females.  However, we’ve had females that sound like they were singing.  They would trill and tweet kind of like a male canary.  It’s really difficult to tell a male from a female until breeding season.

To check, and if you’re feeling brave enough to hold your canary, gently blow on its vent to move the feathers so you can see it’s underbelly.  The male will have a penis like a very small swelling next to the vent.  If the vent is smooth and round, torpedo-shaped, then it is female.

More experienced breeders can tell just by looking at their birds if they have other canaries of same type and colour to compare it to.  It may be more difficult to sex younger canaries. Hope this helps!

Classifications:
Silver cap
Gold cap
Silver cap, broken
Gold cap, broken
All non-capped
Any Blue or Brown
Any other colour

Lizard Silver Clear Cap	Lizard Gold Clear Cap
Lizard Silver Non-Cap	Lizard Broken Cap

*** We’re looking for photos of canaries from each classification! Please, email us! ***

Classifications:
RED GROUND INTENSIVE
Red Intensive
Rubino Intensive

RED GROUND FROST
Red Frost
Rubino Frost

YELLOW GROUND INTENSIVE & FROST
Yellow Intensive
Yellow Frost
Lutino Intensive or Frost

WHITE GROUND DOMINANT & RECESSIVE
White Dominant
White Recessive
Albino Dominant or Recessive

IVORIES
Rose Ivory Intensive
Rose Ivory Frost
Rubino Ivory Intensive or Frost
Yellow Ivory Intensive or Frost
Lutino Ivory Intensive or Frost

MOSAIC (DIMORPHIC) MALES AND FEMALES
Red Mosaic
Red Ivory Mosaic
Rubino Mosaic
Yellow Mosaic
Yellow Ivory Mosaic
Lutino Mosaic

***  Rubinos, Lutinos, Albinos are red eyed Lipochrome once from either Inos or Satinets.  Being Lopochrome White Ground, it is impossible to distinguish either mutation;  so we call them Rubinos Red Ground, Lutinos Yellow Ground or Albinos White Ground.