The Treehaven Waterfowl Trust, located in the South African province of Gauteng, is one of the largest and most important collections of ducks, geese and swans ever assembled. It was established by John and Marie Sherry. Their curator is Heidi Weingartz, who is one of the world's leading experts on waterfowl and their propagation. Several wonderful articles
on how they raise ducks at Treehaven have appeared in the Game Bird Gazette.
It is interesting that 14 of the 16 species of South African waterfowl naturally range over the Trust. Heidi says wild ducks fly into their facilities regularly to forage and roost. While at the Trust, the wild ducks enjoy protection from some of the predators found in the surrounding area.
The Treehaven Waterfowl Trust has produced an outstanding video that we believe every breeder of ducks, geese and swans can benefit from. It is a must for those just getting started raising ducks, geese and swans, and veteran breeders will find it extremely interesting and valuable as well. The video is called Successful Waterfowl Management . In the hour long video, TWT share the secrets of its phenomenal success. Through an easy-to-follow commentary and outstanding visuals, the viewer is introduced to one of the most beautiful waterfowl sanctuaries in the world and can learn all about preparing for a waterfowl collection (site selection, ponds, plants, fencing and recommended beginner ducks; food and feeding; dealing with vermin; commencing a breeding program (nest sites and boxes, breeding behavior, egg collection, incubation, hand-rearing, force-feeding, vent-sexing, pinioning and closed-ringing); and common problems and first aid procedures.The video may be ordered from: Treehaven Waterfowl Trust, P. O. Box 263327, Three Rivers 1935, South Africa. Phone 27-16 423 6740 or Fax: 27 16 423 2225. Several articles and many fine photographs from the Trust (including the photo of the family of Mute Swans
shown on this page at left) have appeared in the Gazette.
And it would be our pleasure if you have interest in cooperating with us. Kurt Landig of WPA-USA reports the following: "The Mik
ado DNA project is moving along quite well. Results of the first samples have been returned. More samples are going to be sent to the DNA lab as soon as breeding season is completed. A studbook for the Mikados will be started using the results of the DNA testing to establish the founders of the studbook. We hope tohave all of the testing and the studbook completed by the end of the year.
If you are a junior poultry or game bird fancier, check out Poultry Youth of America site. (PYA) The PYA is a site where junior fanciers just like yourself from all around the world can have some serious, yet friendly and warm conversation with other kids their age that are into poultry and game birds. There is an article archive for you to look up certain topics pertaining to your birds; there is a message board where friendly, poultry kids get to help, learn from, and interact with each other. There is a support system that helps you out 24 hours a day by answering any question you might have; all you have to do is shoot us a quick email. We have an expert committee that comprises members of different poultry fields who all specialize in a specific poultry and game bird topics. These members have passed tests and your question will be directed to them, so that you get fast quick and ACCURATE advice. These are only some of the many benefits of the Poultry Youth of America. We have many more features but best of all, you are interacting with KIDS. Kids just like yourself who are serious about poultry. From pigeons to chickens, pheasants to ducks, guineas to quail, there are kids that have poultry and enjoy talking about it with other kids. The PYA realizes that showing and exhibiting poultry and game birds can be much more rewarding and enjoyable if you can do it with your friends.
Aviornis International was formed to look after the interest of its members, a theme Aviornis UK is continuing into the present and long into the future. There are several Chapters spread throughout Europe of which the UK Chapter is one.
Aviornis International was it
self formed in 1973 by a group of aviculturists in Gent, Belgium, primarily to look after the interests of breeders of wildfowl, Galliformes (quail, pheasant, etc.), doves and parkland birds. They now have over 7,000 members in Belgium, Holland, Italy, France, Germany, Spain, Portugal and in addition the UK with members throught the world. Aviornis International pioneered a unique Ringing Registration scheme, with each member allocated his/her own number to be kept for life. There was also a serial number, ring size, year and different colour for each year. All this information could be recorded on a card sent out with the rings and then returned at the end of the breeding season to be stored on a central computer in Belgium. (Aviornis UK has since continued this scheme in the UK and now supplies Rigistration and rings throughout the world, including this service to other chapters. For more information on this important organization and the Aviornis Ringing Scheme go to www.coldarbor.demon.co.uk or www.aviornis.co.uk. One of the rings is shown on the young shelduck shown in the picture at right (photo by Joe Blossom).
Larry Newcomb who owns Red Oak Game Birds in Virginia provided some wonderful information on their methods for keeping, breeding, and marketing quail for the Game Bird Gazette. Larry is a very successful breeder of quail and the shipping foam his company manufactures is popular among those who produce and ship eggs. You can check out their ad for the shipping foam in the classified section of the Gazette or go to their website www.redoakgamebirds.com and learn all about the shipping foam, quail, and the other high quality products available from their farm.
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