Take

Take a Junior Under Your Wing

By Kevin Wirick

While judging the fall show I noticed that our club has novice and junior awards but I failed to see any birds in the Canary or the American Budgies divisions. After talking to Julie Kern she told me that there was only one junior who exhibited birds in the entire show.

We as members need to help young people get into raising birds. Although I just hit 40 this year I am always reminded by my 12-year-old son on how old I am. If he is anything like me when I was growing up 30 was over the hill. As he get closer to the "over the hill" range he too will keep raising that magical number. Now what is that magical number???

The youth of today will be tomorrow's adults. We need to help them get into raising birds for the benefit of the club and the benefit of the youth. My first experience with birds was when I was about 14 years old. My foster father bought me a pair of canaries (Frills) to raise. While I took care of my one pair I seemed to take care of a few hundred other birds of his. Who said parents don't know what they are doing..?

My youngest son was raising birds when he was 4 years old. They were his pair of society finches. He would clean the cage, feed the birds and delight in the babies. He learned the joy of life and the sadness of death. He sold his birds at a local pet shop and purchased seed for his birds, anything left was his.

My wish is to have every member get a junior member started raising birds. If that junior member were one of your children that would make it easier. If not, find a child in your neighborhood or from your church that would like to learn how to raise birds. A pair of zebra or society finches or even a pair of canaries could be given to a junior to start. Most of us have used bird cages around we could give or lend to our perspective breeder.

Make yourself available to answer questions. Remember that no question is to dumb. Loan a book or two to give the junior a base of knowledge. Have the junior member keep records of his/her expenses. Youngsters need to know that raising birds can pay for their hobby but it is not all gravy.

Be sure to teach responsible breeding. Do not give inferior stock to a youngster. This will only teach the youngster that it is ok to raise so-so birds the quantity v.s. quality syndrome. How often I hear the comment from people about birds in a pet store; "Don't buy your birds from a pet store as they are not any good." The birds in pet stores are only as good as the breeders who sell them to the pet stores. I have always felt that the better your birds then the better your culls.

If you can bring your youngster to the bird club meetings. He/she will learn how meetings are enjoy the programs. When I was a junior the president put me to work. The club was much smaller then but there is no reason that the junior members cannot help out their club. Encourage your junior members to write articles on raising birds. This will be a good avenue to teach other junior members.

When the show season comes around lend them a show cage or two. Help them pick out the best birds to bring to the show. They could win a best novice or a best junior award. If they don't win help to explain why they might not have won. Keep their heads up; encourage, encourage, encourage!

You can make a difference in a child's life. Most professional agree that children who are gentle to animals are gentle to people. Keep the kids busy and out of trouble.

As we all get just a little older and our backs are just not as strong as they once were ask yourself these questions. How long do I want to carry light stands or set up the show? How long to I want to be print the newsletter and mail it or put together the yearly show book. All I ask is to give a junior the chance to help build the strength of our club and our communities

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