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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1995-08-16, Page 18Page 18 Times -Advocate, August 16, 1995 [ 1 AlliY Exotic animals develop bond with caregivers Rose Marie VanErp feeds Leah, their six -week-old Siberian Tiger cub, while her husband Ber- nie watches. Brenda Burke T -A staff PARKHILL - With about 1,000 exotic birds, near- ly two dozen deer and buffalo, plus a handful of elk. rheas and a six -week-old Siberian Tiger cub named Leah to look after, Bernie and Rose Marie have their hands full. "We've had everything but pot -belly pigs," said Bernie. Although the couple enjoys the variety of animals they own, the birds are what keep them busy on a full-time basis. They operate VanErp's Aviary and Bird Supplies on their 100 acre farm, south of Park- hill. "It keeps you out of mischief," said Bernie of their bird collection that includes parrots, doves, finches, cockatiels, canaries, peacocks and many other species, some of which are rare or en- dangered. Bernie. who has periodically been president of the 100 -member London and District Caged Birds As- sociation during the past 20 years, said he was "born in birds." His parents raised birds in Holland when he was a child and he later introduced the world of birds to his wife, Rose Marie. Every fall the couple take their birds to Windsor, London, Hamilton, Montreal and Toronto bird shows and re - tum with several awards. But if isn't just going to shows that take time; car- ing for the birds takes hours of commitment. Young birds just a few weeks old need to be hand - fed every two hours and require steady heat. "To get up in the middle of the night you have to like it," said Rose Marie. "It takes years to learn...I've only had 34 years of experience." Owning an aviary means you can't leave the farm with just anyone. Specialized help is needed be- cause, said Rose Marie, there are "different things for different birds." Although fruit is an important part of most birds' diets, special formula food must be purchased and it's not available locally. "The closest product is 60 miles away," said Ber- nie, who also orders some of his bird food from Montreal. Not only is bird food a challenge to find. special- ized veterinarians are also hard to come hy. The VanErps have the only bufffalo in Middlesex County. Last spring they sold some of their stock to Saskatchewan where efforts are underway to increase herds. "There (are) very few good vets (that) specialize in just birds," said Bernie. "In Guelph they're start- ing to train with the exotic stuff." Wh ,p breeding and selling exotic birds. it also takes special time and care - to order to tame them. Bernie feels all his parrot -type birds need a human touch and react favorably to hand -feeding when very young. "Otherwise they don't know people," he said. "These little birds, we handle them a dozen times a day and that's all they know," adding the birds get attached to human nurturers and look to them as re- placement parents. "It's like a baby coming out of an incubator," said Bernie. referring to the special care the birds need during their first few weeks of life. A bird that is hand -fed early develops a bond with its human owner and later makes a tame pet. said Bernie who added one of the main criteria of bird buyers is how well a bird handles or how tame it is. But according to Bernie, it's not just birds that have the capability of developing close bonds with humans during their first weeks of life. One elk Bernie bottle-fed as a baby "follows you around like a pup." The VanErps have also bottle-fed their pet tiger, Leah, since she was three • days old. If she -had been fed this way when she was three weeks old, ex= plained Bemie, she would have resisted the bottle. Bernie feels many people get the wrong idea about animals in captivity. He says biologists, for example. tend to list an animal as endangered without considering how many are safely in captiv- ity. And. he added, keeping animals in the wild to produce on their own is not necessarily the best way to ensure a growth in population. Animals in captivity tend to produce more off -spring, since they are relieved of their young earlier and are also safe from hunters and predators. Bernie also feels increasing restrictions on owners of animals in captivity is unnecessary. "It'll be like gun registration (for birds)," he said, adding the government lacks the money and know- how to implement such a system. Like gun registra- tion, Bernie feels bird registration could prove cost- ly and unnecessary. This endangered parrot, from VanErp's Aviary, is worth $2,800. The price of parrots range widely from $150 to $3,000. CMHC looks for native groups HAMILTON - In an effort to bring housing services closer to clients living in rural areas in On- tario, Canada Mortgage and Hous- ing Corporation (CMHC) an- nounces that it is seeking community-based native organiza- tions, firms or individuals to man- age its properties under the Rural and Native Housing Program. The Rural and Native Housing (RNH) Program was created in 1974 to help low-income people living off-reservc in rural areas gain suitable, adequate and afford- able homes to own, lease -to - purchase or rent., Funding for new projects under this program ended in 1993, but OMHC wants to ensure continued support and quality service for its clients. Reunion held . in Cromarty Roberta Templeman STAFFA - About 30 relatives at- tended the Livingston reunion. held at the Cromarty Presbyterian Church on Sunday afternoon. Rel- atives attended from the United States, Belle River, Sarnia, Lon- don, Stratford, Orangeville. Clin- ton, Kirkton, Exeter, and surround- ing area. The afternoon was planned by Mary Elliott and Rob Hamilton, which included lots of reminiscing and visiting, followed by a bountiful supper. Family members gathered at the home of Rob and Bev Templeman on Sunday, where games and a barbecue were enjoyed. Sisters Marjorie Drake, Jean Freele, Dorothy Hess and Betty Love, visited at Dot's cottage at the Pinery recently. Workshop • Esther Smale and Roberta Tem- pleman represented Staffa Wom- en's institute, at the London Area Tweedsmiur History workshop, hosted by Huron West District and held at Holmesville this past week. Personals Kristen and Courtney Skinner visited on the weekend with their grandparents Bob and Bernice Norris. Members from Cromarty Church, joined with the congrega- tion of Hibbert United on Sunday for service led by their minister Irene Richardson. Sorry to hear that Hazel Harburn is a patient at University llospital in London. Marjorie Drake is the planner for the August meeting of the Staffa Women'k Institute, which will be held on Wednesday August 23, in the township hall at 1:30 p.m. Guest speaker will be Gail Smyth Mitchell, who will show pictures of a recent trip she en- joyed, to the Holy Land. Anyone interested in viewing these pic- tures will be very welcome. A continental breakfast kicks off the opening of Saturday's Lucan Heritage Festival. Shown dishing up the breakfast items is Lynn Boyd, Megan Anderson and Paul Dale. Saturday's Heritage Festival in Lucan provides a chance for old friends to get together. Above, Art and Eva McLean chat with Kay Lankin. Mrs. Lankin's grandfather operated a leather business in Lucan 85 years ago. Rose Broderick picks out her favorite muffin during a bake sale at the Bluewater Rest Home in Zurich on Saturday. The staff did all the baking and the money raised will go towards a new mobility van. Davis wins racing trophies Harley Davis received a first and third place on the holiday week- end. H. Davis SAINTSBURY - Eight-year-old Harley Davis was awarded the first place overall trophy in the Summer Series in 60 cc Motocross and third place" trophy in 80 Beginner at Riv- erside Raceway, Port Hope on the holiday weekend. Hazel Davis recently visited with relatives Mary Brown, Eileen Car- roll, Blanche Walters, Georgina Dobbs and Viola Coates at the Ex- eter Villa. Several from St. Patrick's attend- ed Heritage Day celebrations at Lu - can on Saturday, enjoying the pa- rade, old photos, and music in the arena, some of which was supplied by Ross McFalls and Friends. Joyce Simpson and Hazel Davis [tended the bridal shower honour- ing cousin Came Cuthbert at the home of Susan Densmore in Lon- don on Sunday. The Davis' returned from a holi- day in Michigan visiting with rela- tives at Flint. Michelle Iredale has returned home following her holiday with grandparents Ron and Margaret Carroll. Parents Terry Iredale and Brenda Carroll, Matthew and Mitchell have returned home fol- lowing a vacation in Newfound- land and guests at a friend's wed- ding. The Carrolls were guests Satur- day evening for a barbecue at the home of their son lan. ACW St. Patrick's August pool party and barbecue will be held Monday, August 21, with swimming at 3:00 p.m. and dinner at 5:30 p,m. An A.C.W. meeting will be held fol- lowing dinner. Remember to bring your items for the less fortunate. WI conducts history workshop GRANTON - The London Arca Women's Institute Tweedsmuir History Workshop was hosted by Huron West Dis- trict at the Godcrich Township Community Centre in Holmes- vilte on Tuesday. August 8. London area curator Ruth Matheson chaired the meeting. when the roll call for districts was 'New Ideas' and 93 people were in attendance. Joan McCormick gave the secre- tary's report. F.W.I.O. provincial curator Marcie Johnston was the morn- ing speaker who gave tips on different aspects of keeping a history hook and also demon- strated how to remove thc card - hoard hacking from an old pic- ture. The afternoon speaker was Ron Latham from the Huron County Historical Society who told about the formation in 1964 and the work of thc Soci- ety. He also commented on a history of the Women's Insti- tute which will be contained in thc Society's annual publica- tion 'Historical Notes.' Interesting displays of tea pots were commented on by Auburn W.1., the historical Bel - grave Fair by Bclgrave W.L. plates and handkerchiefs by Dungannon W.I. Antique dishes and quilts by Londesbo- ro W.I., and signature and auto- graph quilt by St. Helen's W.I. Huron West branches dis- played their Tweedsmuir Histo- ry books. A brown bag lunch was enjoyed at noon with bev- erages and a welcome sr ick provided by Huron West. The 1996 workshop will he held on August 13 hosted by Elgin West District at the Wal- lacetown Community Centre. Got a news tip? Call 235- 1331