NEWS FROM DOWN UNDER
by Doug McClary
JUNE 2012
We are now in winter, recognised down here as June, July and August. We have endured a coldish autumn so it could point to a long three months. Most of the trees here are natives so it is not common to see deciduous trees with their autumnal colours and fall of leaves. It is almost a pleasure to find a carpet of leaves. These are the little things that are missing in our way of life. When I talk to other Brits when out and about, the thing they seem to miss most is the pub and the way of life associated with good pubs. My visit to England and Scotland was made all the more enjoyable by being able to call in to pubs and to enjoy some real ale. After the bland stuff they sell out here it was a real treat and I am amazed to find so many in Britain drinking Australian beers which are tasteless compared to the rich flavours of English ale. Our last evening in Exeter was spent at the local pub, to which we were able to walk and then enjoy a good meal and good drinks. Believe me, when you live in a country without good pubs, it is then that you appreciate how good locals are for social enjoyment, and to be able to stroll to one was especially good.
No Shows
It is looking more and more as if there will be no shows in Victoria this year. Amazingly, fanciers are waiting to see if the vaccine trials are a success before they go to the expense of making their birds safe. I cannot believe that so-called fanciers are willing to risk their birds rather than spend a few dollars. Good fanciers will grab at any straw to ensure the safety of their birds. I couldn’t wait to get my birds done. The other thing is that with known and proven vaccines available worldwide, the Australian authorities refuse to allow them in, preferring to impose on us an unproven poultry vaccine. This involves two vaccinations of half a ml each. It just goes to prove how far down the pecking order the pigeon fancier is in the eyes of paid Government officials. Racing fanciers however have nearly all vaccinated their birds so that they will be able to race within the State later in the year. Meanwhile we await the results of blood testing. Should the trial fail, goodness knows what will happen. The virus was found in Sydney, New South Wales in the loft of a fancy flying breed fancier who had travelled down to Melbourne to buy birds and transported the virus home with him. All his birds were put down by the authorities in that State and so far there have been no further reports reported. I would imagine that fanciers up there must be holding their breath and I can imagine that the prospect of having all birds put down will curtail anyone else reporting suspicions of the virus.
Cleaning the lofts (feathers)
I felt unable to do a lot of cleaning when I got home but have since given the lofts a thorough cleaning. This involves lifting the metal grills and removing the build up of feathers after the moult and dried droppings. It is always good to get that particular clean over, knowing that the moulted feathers are finally disposed of. When I got home the birds were a little overweight so steps have been taken to reduce the amount of corn provided. I can feel the difference already with a more ‘corky’ feel to the body with resulting better balance.
Vaccination
I had vaccinated my birds prior to coming across to England – otherwise I would have felt most vulnerable while away. It took me back to the time in England when we had no vaccine when paramyxovirus struck and how delighted I was when Harkers brought out the first product for vaccination. Eight years without having to vaccinate and now I am back to jabbing the birds again.
Possums
The possums in our garden are a real nuisance. They emerge at night and chew everything they can find. Last year we hardly picked a tomato – all tomatoes are grown outdoors – so this year I had to cage them in. The result was a bumper crop and plenty of organic salads. Last week I made a start on trimming a tree above my main loft, when I heard a loud thump on the metal roof, and there spring off the roof onto nearby bushes was a large possum. They look like large rats with bushy tails. This particular one had built a nest in that tree so little wonder I kept finding possum droppings on the roof. It must be quite disturbing to the birds having possums running about above them. I believe I have mentioned before, but at dusk we occasionally see them walking along the electricity cables using their extreme sense of balance. From time to time one stretches from one power cable to another and cause a flash and a bang and a likely interruption to electricity supply. The greenies like to protect these pests but most people with gardens find them a real nuisance.
Walking the beaches – dolphins, gannets
Several readers tell me that they enjoy some of my accounts of life out here and that they can almost see for themselves this beautiful area. I am no John Harwood of course and I love John’s descriptions of life in his part of the world but I do sometimes like to try to explain how good things can be. Since return from England we have enjoyed some wonderful mornings and every day on the beaches is different. My main walk takes in several smaller beaches and coves and it is amazing just how the waves move the sand about so that each beach seems to have a different appearance day by day. The other morning I stood and witnessed a shoal of fish being worked by lots of seagulls and gannets while just out a little further there was a pod of dolphins frolicking in the still waters of the bay. Our new dog, Pippa, a border collie is a water freak and simply loves diving into the waves when there are waves, or swimming around when the waters are calm. When the waves are rough she gets so engrossed in the water that she forgets all about us and we leave her to come home on her own. Port Phillip bay is a huge one, some 40km across so that we can just about see the other side. Being almost land-locked we don’t get a lot of heavy breakers but it is surprising how the winds whip up the see to move the sand around. We see most of the shipping going into and leaving the port of Melbourne and in the summer months, this includes seeing the cruise liners. To sit outside on our balcony in good weather, with that view across the bay takes some beating and while the exchange rate is keeping us poor financially, we are enjoying a good quality of life.
Wood Pigeon
The photo was sent to me by a friend who lives near the cliffs at Torquay. John is crippled and bedridden following a dreadful assault when he was one of my dog handlers in that town. He passes some of his time photographing what comes into his garden and has sent me some remarkable photos including a hoopoe, wheatear and black redstart. When I first saw the photo of the wood pigeon I thought at first that it was one of Alistair Tankard’s stock birds (sorry about that Alistair!) but the study of the eye is remarkable and may be enjoyed by eyesign enthusiasts.
Vaccination in Australia
Word has come in that the results of the vaccination trials have been successful and that the poultry vaccine for Newcastle Disease which is licensed only for poultry provides a good degree of protection against paramyxovirus. The trial was undertaken by Dr Colin Walker, the pigeon veterinarian who used his own lofts for the trial under the direction of the relevant Federal Government department. Sixty birds were chosen and split into three teams of twenty. The first twenty were given a live vaccine for their first shot and the inactivated vaccine, 28days later. The second group had the inactivated vaccine injected twice, i.e. with 28days between. The dosages were half a ml each time. The third group birds were not vaccinated at all. After the first vaccination both sets of birds built up encouraging degrees of protection with the inactivated version providing the greatest protection. After the second vaccination, both sets built up excellent protection with the second group having the highest readings. Blood tests were taken to ascertain the protection and the third group which was also blood tested, recorded zero readings, indicating that there was no cross-infection. The second group will be retained for at least the next twelve months when they will be blood tested every couple of months or so to measure just how quickly the protection reduces with time. Fanciers in Victoria mainly, with some help from other States and the Australian National Pigeon Association and other fancy clubs, met the cost of the trial. At least we now know that protection is available to us and we are hoping that the vaccine can be re-labelled for both pigeons and poultry, and then be supplied in smaller doses to suit loft sizes. What amazed me when I attended a meeting of the Melbourne Pigeon Society was how many fanciers were waiting for the results of the trial before vaccinating, exposing their birds to unnecessary risk. Some of these fanciers lived in PMV hot spots yet failed to protect their valuable birds.
In Conclusion
That seems to be my lot for another time. I am enjoying reading all the results of the Nationals and classic races in Britain at this time of the year and feeling a little sad that I no longer race. Ten days ago one of my show racers escaped from the loft – his first time out. He came back after eight days and provided me with some pleasure. Ann and I have enjoyed watching the Diamond Jubilee celebrations and as Brits have felt justly proud at seeing such organisation. Only the British can do it like that. I am still here at 3 Kunyung Road, Mount Eliza, Victoria 3930 and my email remains
