HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1989-03-15, Page 5the
Street
he battle for hockey supremacy between Exeter and Thed-
T ford carried over into the lounge in the auditorium Friday
night as a fight broke out between supporters of the two
camps. Apparently a few lumps were exchanged between
the participants before it was broken up.
Exeter is fortunate enough to have two good hockey teams this
year providing lots of entertainment for fans. The Mohawks will be
in the semi-finals playing either Creemore or Durham in their quest
for the Ontario championship and the Hawks arc just starting a se-
ries against Lucan after getting by Thedford.
I'm willing to bet that when you walk into the arena to watch ei-
ther team there will be at least one or two fans who will stretch
sportsmanship to the limit as they constantly hurl insults and abuse
at opposing players and the officials. Perhaps they think they're
helping their favorites but more than one person who knows hockey
has suggested they might be doing just the opposite by getting the
opposition fired up with their antics. Luckily, most hockey fans are
content to cheer for their team without turning each game into a life
and death battle...after all, hockey still is a sport.
* * * * * * * * * *
Whcnit comes to exhibition hockey games between Exeter teams
you know the players are going to be a little more aggressive than
usual because they know each other...but nobody was prepared for
what happened Saturday morning. Two pee wee house league teams,
the Big V Bullets and Mac's Cats had their game called in the second
period by referee Bob Clay.
* * * * * * * * * *
If you're interested in combining good entertainment with good
dining don't wait to get your tickets to "Body and Soul" described as
an evening of dining and music presented by the New Huronia Sing-
ers. The show is Wednesday, April 26 at the Rec Centre and it will
be catered by Jenny Rowe. Only 350 tickets will be sold and you
can order yours by calling 235-2865.
* * * * * * * * * *
Renovations have started on the Exeter Sun building formerly oc-
cupied by Andy DeBocr.
Robins beat swans
as first sign of spring
EXETER - The heralded return of
the tundra swans to the Pinery Park
area over the weekend failed to ma-
terialize, but that was not the case •
with robins in this arca.
The honour of spotting the first
robin in 1989 goes to perennial bird
watcher Al DeHaan.
The South Huron high school
teacher who resides on Marlborough
street reports seeing the first Robin
Redbreast late Saturday afternoon.
Times -Advocate, March 15, 1989
Page 5
Breeding exotic birds in Dashwood
By Yvonne Reynolds
DASHWOOD - Stepping over
the threshold into Fred Leishman's
bird breeder barn transports one
into an exotic world. One is im-
mediately surrounded -by the sight
and sound of birds of every size and
every colour in the rainbow flitting
around their airy cages.
The first birds to catch the eye
are a pair of magnificent blue and
gold macaws cracking open shelled
peanuts.
An assortment of lively little
finches - Zebra, Diamond Sparrow,
Gold -breasted, Java, Star, Gordon
Blue - twitter busily next to a se-
date pair of large white cockatoos.
Bleeding Heart doves, their
splotched breasts mute evidence for
their name, strut pigeon-toed
around the bottom of one cage, ig-
noring the Peach, Olive, Lutio,
Pied, Black Mask, Cream and Fish-
er love birds across the aisle.
Leishman reaches into a nesting
box and brings out a pair of nest-
ing Conures, their brilliant yellow
and emerald green wings nestled
against orange and saffron bodies.
Four species of small parrots, 10
kinds of parakeets, and a variety of
rosellas, budgies and cockatiels add
to the palette of colours.
A flash of brilliant blue betrays
the presence of a male bluejay that
was given the freedom of the avi-
ary after Lcishman found him half
frozen outside and brought him in-
side for the winter.
Lcishman has always liked birds.
As a child, he raised chickens and
pheasants. His pet bird hobby be-
gan a few years ago with a canary
and a budgie.
Next came Smokey, the grey Af-
rican parrot, still snug and smug in
his cage in the Leishman's dining
nook.
"First you•get a male to look at,
then a female", was Leishman's ex-
planation for the way his hobby
kept growing.
As he acquired more birds, Leish-
man started building breeding cages
in the garage.
"You don't stop after that", he
confessed with a smile.
The two-storey, 32' by 22' barn
was begun last July, and the birds
moved in by Christmas. A fish
pond and fountain supply the 70
percent humidity required for incu-
bating eggs. The sunlight streams
in through the windows. Green
shrubs in tubs flourish in the green-
house atmosphere. In the summer
the plastic covering over one
screened end will be removed to let
the fresh air flow through.
Feeding and cleaning takes two to
three hours every night. On Satur-
days, Leishman cleans cages, or re-
places the applewood perches which
the hook -beaked parrots chew up in
two weeks, or goes to bird sales.
Keeping rare birds is becoming
more and more popular. Leishman
belongs to a number. of area bird
fancier clubs. Most of the birds
originating in South and Central
America come to Canada via dealers
in Holland. Leishman has learned
to deal only with established deal-
ers, after losing a $1,500 pair of
cockatoos he had bought privately
through an ad in a Toronto paper.
The birds were terminally ill before
he purchased them, and two vets
could do nothing to save their
lives.
Raising birds for profit is a long-
term affair, according to Leishman.
-He has sold some birds locally and
to other breeders, but does not ex-
pect to recoup his investment for a
few years yet.
His outlay for the birdseed, ap-
ples, peanuts, lettuce, sweet corn,
carrots and grapes for his 200 birds
was $1,500 last year, and may be
higher this year.
Next on Leishman's list is to
adapt part of his garage to house
young birds for sale.
Leishman has some advice for
anyone planning to buy a .pct bird.
Buy them young, remember that
budgies and canaries will live 10 to
15 years, cockateils about 18, love-
birds 24, and some parrots with a
lifespan of about a century will out-
live their original owner.
"Nice, tight" feathers are a sign of
a healthy bird.
Birds must be kept out of drafts
and fed a varied diet. The cage and
eating and drinking dishes must be
cleaned regularly.
A single bird will bond to its hu-
man owner. A pair bond to each
other.
Other bird owners will understand
how Leishman feels about his
birds.
"I like them. Each has its own
personality. And they arc prettier
than any dog."
You
usiness ��V����I►
Jet execs - Rick Frayne of Exeter Toyota greeted three executives of Toyota Canada at Centralia last
week as they flew in from Windsor to inspect Frayne's new dealership. Al Given, Tony Wearing and
Brian .Dunn gave the building a clean bill of health, especially since it has already become one of the
Peter's Point
continued from page 4
actually accepts coins is always oc-
cupied.
No one around here owns a type-
writer in working order, so this col-
umn goes to the editor in handwrit-
ing with my apologies. Now I'll try
to track down a copying machine.
I've already spotted a post office. I
hope it accepts cash for stamps.
The best food in London is served
in pubs. However, they don't admit
children - starving or not. One sur-
prise, though: they serve Molson
Canadian. When the kids are hun-
gry, we take them to the lounge in
the elegant Hotel Russell for dainty
sandwiches, scones and jam, hot
chocolate and tea. Or to Zia*Teresa
for spaghetti. There is an Indian res-
taurant on one side of our bcd and
breakfast, and a North Sea Fish
Takeout on the other. But our little
crew is not ready for either curries or
fillets of plaice. Alexander wonders
when we're going to have a "Canadi-
an meal". We refuse to take them to
Wimpy's Hamburgers on Drury
Lane. We came to London for the
sights, not the food. Enjoy the for-
sythia, and never mind your stom-
ach, we told him. It's minus 20 de -
best -selling dealerships in the region. hill
• factor of minus,30.
More next week.
Fred and Fred - Fred Leishman
gets some appreciation from his
white Umbrella Cockatoo
"Fred" above. At left is a Sun
Conure that doesn't look the
same in black and white.
CONTINUING EDUCATION
Confused?
by the prospect of filing your 1988 Income
Tax form
Attend Centralia College's two part seminar and
learn how to successfully complete your own in-
come tax form.
Course includes;
• actual example exercises
* emphasis on the differences between the
1987 and 1988 forms
* question and answer session
Taught by:
* Alison Lobb, business instructor, CCAT
• John McNeilly, C.A., Exeter (2nd part only)
2 evenings, March 27 and March 29
(7:30 - 10:00 p.m.)
Middlesex Hall, Centralia College
Fee; $20.00
For more information or to register, Contact
Ministry of
Agriculture
and Food
ONTARIO
Jack Riddell -
CENTRALIA
COLLEGE
Huron Park, Ontario NOM 1Y0
(519) 228-6691 Ext. .245.
Roppq. Ear euro]
DOWNTOWN • OPEN GOOD FIRI DV 1100 - 5:00
235-1211
Qanny Boy
Salad.
Duck Run nin
Bunn
FACTORY C HIGHWAY # e.3) • OPFJ�► GOOD C -R1 DAY 11:00- 500
235-1283 OPEN SUNDAY , MARGH 19, l 1100 -S:00