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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1999-01-27, Page 6PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27, 1999. Blyth man raises prize-winning birds By Janice Becker Citizen staff When told someone is raising prize-winning pigeons, many might questions the value of those grey, dirty, barn birds. However, these pigeons are about as far from the common fowl as they can be and still be related. The fancy Jacobins, Berlin Short­ face Tumblers and Bakhara raised by Gord Edwards of Blyth are beautiful birds with exquisite, extravagant feathers which create fans around their heads. When asked what drew him to the species, he says they are "beautiful birds, though their temperament is not so nice." Festooned in feathers Jacobins of the pigeon family look very grand with their beautiful headdress of fanned feathers. Edwards has been raising pigeons for 36 years, ever since his dad caught the first one when Edwards was only four. Over the years, Edwards has become a prize-winning breeder, recently earning numerous awards for his birds at the 7th Annual Canadian Jacobin Show, held in Woodstock, Nov. 28 and 29. Edwards captured awards in several categories with the most prestigious being The Drew Lobenstein Plaque for Best Silver at Canadian Nationals for his old hen entry. He also took first and third in the Bar old hen class; Almond, second for old cock; AOC, fifth, old cock; Cream, first, old cock; Red, third, old hen and Black, fifth, old cock. The show drew 3,200 birds from across Canada. Edwards' involvement started almost 10 years ago when he lived out west. Canada's top breeder was recruiting new people imto the hobby and soon enticed Edwards to become more involved. As with any show creature, these fancy pigeons have special needs to keep them in top condition and continue a good breeding line. Because of the long head feathers, up to eight inches, which cover much of the face, the birds are often unable to rear their own young. Shortly after the eggs are laid, Edwards removes them and gives them to racing homer pigeons to Breeding quality Gord Edwards of Blyth achieved top honours for his Jacobins when he showed them at. the annual Canadian Jacobin show in Woodstock last fall. raise. The birds just aren't able to see what they are doing, he says. The long feathers can also endanger the life of the bird itself. The head feathers of the Bakhara are kept clipped until preparation for showing begins. When they have reached their full length, the birds are unable to even find the water dish. Immediately after showing, Edwards says the feathers are cut to allow the bird to look after itself. With the current state of breed­ ing, Edwards says these fancy pigeons would die off in one generation if it were not for breeders caring for them and taking the eggs. It was not always this way as the birds from the late 1800s had head feathers only a few inches long which did not obscure their vision. Over the years, the birds have been breed for increased feather length. The removal of the eg’gs also allows Edwards and other breeders to produce more show birds in one year. If the pigeon was allowed to care for the young, it would not produce more eggs for at least two months. By removing the eggs, more birds can be produced. Eggs must be hatched by June for fall shows, he says. A May date is needed for the Louisville show. With his birds competing well against Canadians, Edwards says his next step will be to go up against the Americans. He hopes to go to four or five shows this year, including Louisville, Kentucky for young birds, the Canadian Classic for Jacobins, the Canadian Nationals in Winnipeg, and possibly the Eastern or Central Jacobin meets in Pennsylvania and Michigan. He will take more than 30 pigeons to each show. The secretary of the Canadian Jacobin Club, Edwards says the 42 breeders are spread across Ontario and to the east with several in the Belleville area as well as local breeders in Sarnia, London and Stratford. Writer suggests input from Chatham-Kent Continued from page 4 Twp. Now they want to amalgamate with Wingham, East Wawanosh and Morris. Then there is Wingham that wants East Wawanosh in their power circle. However, East Wawanosh has expressed the desire to join with Morris, while Morris prefers to marry Turnberry. Haven't they talked to one another? The fear has been expressed that the Harris government will impose something, as was done a year ago in Kent County, where the whole county was joined together, including the city of Chatham, in one municipality. That has been McKillop finalizes lottery list McKillop Twp. councillors pul together the list of advance funding recipients al the Jan. 5 meeting. If approved by the Ontario Lot­ tery Corporation, the monies will go to: the Alzheimer Society, $1,000; the Ausable Bayfield Con­ servation foundation, $500: the Huron Adult Day Centre, $1,000; the Seaforth Lions Club, $534; Town and Country Support Ser­ vices, $1,000 and the Huron Hos­ pice Volunteer Service, $ 1,000. Council accepted a request for maintenance and repair to the Bolton 2 Municipal Drain. W.E. Kelly and Associates Ltd. were going now for a year and it would be prudent to send one or more open-minded persons with municipal experience over there to find out how it has worked. The Kitchener Waterloo Record sent a reporter to Chatham-Kent to find out and, surprise, surprise, opposition to the idea has all but disappeared. Small communities that feared to lose their identity found that they still have it. The signs at the old borders are still there and there is no intention to take them down. What is mostly overlooked is that the present boundaries were set when there was no automobile, no hired to prepare a report. A schedule of permit fees for the on-site sewage program was set. The rale for an operator and grader was set at $60 per hour with a $30 minimum. telephone, no electricity and no internet. If anyone wants to speak with a counsellor in Chatham-Kent he/she can pick up the phone anywhere in the region and express an opinion. If one wants an eye-to- eye conversation one can step into the car and drive up with a reasonable time. The Record reported that such things as snowplowing and road grading are vastly simplified. No crossing or driving down on graded or plowed roads of neighbouring municipalities with the blade up to get to another road that needs work. All is now co-ordinated and little or no duplication takes place. ties of Ontario membership fee, totalling $470, was paid. The road and general accounts, in the amounts of $13,995 and $261,000.06, were approved for Let's forget the present boundaries. These made sense 150 years ago but not anymore. Stop the mindless and uninformed discussions and go to Chatham-Kent to find out facts before we are told, after the next THE HURON-PERTH CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD JUNIOR AND SENIOR KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION FEBRUARY 1-5,1999 In order to register for Kindergarten, children must be four (4) years of age on or before December 31, 1999. Parents are required to bring the Baptismal Certificate, Birth Certificate and Immunization Record Card of the child you intend to register. Parents should contact their local school. The following schools offer Kindergarten classes: Parents who expect that their child will enrol in the optional French Immersion Program in Grade 1, in future years, have the option of enrolment for Junior/Senior Kindergarten at either their local Catholic School or the French Immersion Centre (St. Mary's School, Goderich or Jeanne Sauve School, Stratford) at which they expect to enrol thier child for a French Immersion Program. St. Joseph's School (Kingsbridge)529-7646 St. Patrick's (Dublin)345-2033 Our Lady of Mt. Carmel (Mt. Carmel)237-3337 St. Patrick's (Kinkora)393-5580 St. Joseph's (Clinton)482-7035 Holy Name of Mary (St. Marys)284-2170 Precious Blood (Exeter)235-1691 St. Mary's (Hesson)595-8929 St. Mary's (Goderich)524-9901 St. Ambrose (Stratford)271-7544 St. James (Seaforth)527-0321 St. Joseph's (Stratford)271-3574 St. Boniface (Zurich)236-4335 St. Aloysius (Stratford)271-3636 Sacred Heart (Wingham)357-1090 Jeanne Sauve (Stratford)273-3396 Louise Martin, Chairperson of the Board election, what to do and how to do it. From where I sit it seems that a "City of Huron" would make a lot of sense. Let's find out some facts. Adrian Vos East Wawanosh. Gaetan L. Blanchette, Director of Education