 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
. WE OFFER A MAIL ORDER SERVICE , WHICH MEANS YOU CAN MAIL YOUR ORDER IN TO US WITH YOUR PAYMENT AND WE WILL U.P S. YOUR ORDER TO YOU. ONLY IF YOUR LOCAL DEALER DOES NOT CARRY THE ABBA PRODUCTS LINE |
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
IF YOUR LOCAL DEALER DOES NOT CARRY ABBA PRODUCTS E-MAIL YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR A CATALOG |
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE AMERICAN 51ST NATIONAL CAGE BIRD SHOW All Rights Reserved by: G. A. Abbate, Warren, NJ
"This was the largest US National Cage Bird Show in history?" so remarked many fellow fanciers during the course of the event.
Yes, indeed, the 5lst National Cage Bird Show looked really big and the huge facility where the show took place also looked impressive. The 51st National Cage Bird Show was held on November 18, 19th and 20th, 1999 in the Buffalo Convention Center, right next to the Hyatt Regency Hotel where most of the visitors and exhibitors lodged in the heart of down town Buffalo, New York. As far as I am concerned it was the largest National Cage Bird Show that I personally have seen and attended in North America. This show could have been called International? In fact, a good percentage of the exhibitors and visitors were from across the border of Canada. People have traveled from far away places, such as Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, some Caribbean Islands that unfortunately I can't recall the names of the Islands, and of course from throughout the USA, namely, from Florida, the Mid West, California, New Jersey, etc. In other words every state of the Union was probably represented.
The entire membership of the International Canary Club and especially Mr. & Mrs. Sacca should be congratulated for the job well done in hosting the 1999 National Show which was well organized and well managed. Also, thanks to the cooperation of many other fellow fanciers from many parts of the country who have worked relentlessly to assist the ICC membership and the Saccas to carry out all the details of this great event. In my opinion it was so well organized that it made me proud to be a member and supporter of the ICC.
The highlight of this year's National was the inclusion of the division for the Spanish Timbrado through the perseverance of Alberto Berrios. He not only encouraged the National Board of Directors to include the Spanish Timbrado, he succeeded, and he also managed to bring in the Ambassador and Judge of the Spanish Timbrado, Mr. D. Alvaro Guillen Garcia from the Federation of Spain called FOE. This was a very unique occurrence in America. In fact, Mr. Garcia in an emotional deliverance during the National Banquet stated, "Now I will die in peace since I saw, exhibited and I judged the Timbrado Canary in the US National Show." Of course, Mr. Garcia spoke in Spanish, while literally crying, and Alberto Berrios translated to the audience. As Mr. Garcia wept many of the attendees started to do the same and all the tears gave the impression that a new river would start any minute at the Banquet Hall and join the nearby Niagara River? The Banquet was attended by perhaps nearly a couple of thousand people (this Banquet had the largest attendance that I have seen in my lifetime in North America).
For those of you who are not familiar with the Timbrado, it is a Spanish creation. Mr. Garcia has been characterized by Alberto as the Ambassador of the Spanish Timbrado. He is a very dedicated and very responsible individual in promoting this wonderful Song Canary. I believe that he has been instrumental in encouraging Alberto Berrios, of Tampa, Florida, a prodigy of Mr. Garcia, to start the American Timbrado Club, which Alberto is now the President.
The top winners of this first Exhibition of the Spanish Timbrados of the 1999 US National were as follows: Best Single In Show – Alberto Berrios, Second Best Single In Show – Alberto Berrios, Third Best Single In Show – Eider Ferreira from Chicago, Ill.
Best Team and Second Best Team in Show was Pamela Cale all the way from San Diego, CA. The Third Best Team in Show was won by Vanessa Johnson, all the way from Grand Prairie, TX. The above mentioned fellow fanciers really love their Timbrados. Look how far they traveled to show them off.
The Timbrado Canary is bred in many colors such as, variegated green, variegated blue, white, etc., etc. Again, I repeat, what makes this canary different is not the color but his song. He really is a constant singer. The song is so pleasant to listen to that in my opinion it will surpass any other song canary.
The Timbrado Canaries these days are now widely bred not only in Spain, but also throughout the rest of Europe, the US and perhaps in many other parts of the world? I might add the Spanish people are very meticulous in cultivating and preserving the originality of this unique canary. In Spain and in many other parts of Europe they have many specialty Timbrado clubs. In fact now even in the USA there are two specialty Timbrado clubs that I am aware of. Besides the one mentioned above the other is The American Association of Spanish Timbrado Breeders. In charge of this club are Mr. & Mrs. Jack Fout from San Diego, California. Their Web Site is: http://members.home.net/timbrados The American Association of Spanish Timbrado Breeders. I am sure that if you visit their Web Site many of you will find it very interesting, as I did. .
Briefly let me enlighten you as to what the Fouts and other Timbrado breeders do in San Diego. They have a yearly show. In fact, in 1999 they had Senor Jose Clemente Lillo who judged their show. According to Mrs. Fout the show was well attended by many breeders, not only from California, but also from other parts of the country, and the many visitors who visited this event were all delighted with the song of the Timbrado.
I personally know Senor Lillo. I met him for the first time during the COM World Show in 1976 held in Genova, Italy. He was judging the Timbrado and I was judging Color Bred. We became friends and we had many cordial visits while I traveled in Spain and other parts of Europe while attending caged bird shows.
The winners of The American Association of Spanish Timbrado Breeders Show held in San Diego, CA on December 8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th, 1999, were: Best Young Spanish Timbrado – Bea Fout. Best Young Spanish Timbrado Team – Bea Fout. Best Old Spanish Timbrado – Bea Fout. Best Old Spanish Timbrado Team – Bea Fout. During that show was also a Roller Song Contest judged by the same Senor Jose Clemente Lillo. The winner of the Best Roller Team was Kim Kubasek. Best Old Roller Team was Faustina Cuellar. Kim Kubasek also took Best Young and Best Old Roller Single.
The show, according to Mr. & Mrs. Fout had 94 entries, which I think was a good showing for this relatively rare Song Canary in America.
Another colorful highlight of the Show was the presence of Mr. W. Lumsden of Kirkcaldy, Fife, Scotland, who is known as the Father of the Fife and the founder of the Fife Canary Club of the UK. Mr. Lumsden has attended many National Shows. He is so obvious through the show halls with his colorful clothing that is really outstanding, even above the very colorful birds. He always dresses in his typical Scottish Plaid Kilt, knee high socks and tam. He actually was the attraction of the Show! Occasionally upon request he would display a sort of a Scottish dance, even without the Pipers the dancing looks real good. You could spot him anywhere. Spontaneously he loves to be photographed. Will he travel next year to Puerto Rico?
Among the big winners at the National were my friends from Miami, Florida, Robert and Nora Tricardo who distinguished themselves with Melanin Color Bred Canaries. Our Veterinary friend, Dr. Frank Scandaglia, from Staten Island, NY, practically won all the Lizard section. Our fellow member and friend, Frank Reitano from Brooklyn, NY, distinguished himself with Belgium Fancies and also Rocco Crichigno, also a member of COM USA, Inc. from Brooklyn, NY, distinguished himself with Frill Canaries. Also our fellow member, Gunter Giesecke from Maryland distinguished himself with the Top Kellogg's Award for Best in Division Melanin Color Bred, Division 9A, where his Bronze Pastel Mosaic scored the highest points in that Division.
There were lots more winners but the Show Hall was always full of fanciers/visitors that it was impossible for me to approach the winners and list them all. I am sure the list of all the winners was published some place. I would love to read about the rest of the winners myself.
Another emotional moment during the Banquet was when Joe and Mary Tarsitano from Livonia, Michigan were called to the podium to receive an award for outstanding, dedicated service to the National Cage Bird Show Club. She graciously and humbly accepted the award. Also it was a joyful moment for many of us who know Mary and Joe. Not only has this hard working couple contributed to the National, but also the whole bird fancier community has benefited from Mary and Joe's contribution. I personally congratulated Mary and Joe, and warmly I thanked them for all their help they have also given me personally in the past and I hope the future will be just as good as the past to carry forward this wonderful hobby of breeding and exhibiting caged birds.
During the course of the show I had the pleasure to meet so many new people and to spend some time with old friends, including Tony Farrugia from Livonia, Michigan, who also distinguished himself with Color Bred Canaries, Melanins, as well as Lipochromes. It was also fun to spend a few hours with my old friend, Ignacio Perera and his lovely wife, Terry, from Miami, Florida. Ignacio pointed out to me many faults on birds that were awarded top in the show, and he also pointed out to me some excellent specimen of Color Bred which injustly awarded low points on the characteristics which some of these birds displayed their best. These are the disadvantages of hiring so called expert Judges from overseas, which many of them don't even breed birds or some of them never bred a good bird, but they just love to judge and come to the USA and freeload. I agreed with Ignacio Perera 100% on all the faults that he showed me in those birds.
There were also many other fanciers there that I wish I could remember their names, but also it would take a lot of pages to mention them all. To all of you who read this article and your name has not been mentioned, I want you to know that I admire and respect you.
In conclusion of this article I want to remind you that the National Cage Bird Show will be held in San Juan, Puerto Rico, at the Caribe Hilton Hotel on November 16th through November 18th, 2000. If you would like to make reservations to stay at the Caribe Hilton their phone number is 1-800-468-8585. I hope I can make it and meet again with many of you.
|
|||