Picture of Zeus, taken 2 days ago.
He has developed nicely with what appears like a longer tail. But I believe, he is not yet at his peak form. only time will tell.
Monday, September 29, 2008
Zeus (2)
Picture of Zeus, taken 2 days ago.
He has developed nicely with what appears like a longer tail. But I believe, he is not yet at his peak form. only time will tell.
New Addition - Merbok
Oh my God! got a gift of 3 merboks from a friend. How eh? to keep them? Went out to buy 2 cheap cages and 8 plastic cups. Lucky I have a spare Magpie cage.
Below is the Thai Merbok at day one after arrival in a paper bag, bath, fed 5 green beans and sunned:
Already have his growling sound (derak):
Pikat candidate 1:
Pikat candidate 2:
Below is the Thai Merbok at day one after arrival in a paper bag, bath, fed 5 green beans and sunned:
Already have his growling sound (derak):
Pikat candidate 1:
Pikat candidate 2:
Saturday, September 27, 2008
History and Nature of Bird Singing Contest in Singapore -By Mr. John Yim
History and Nature of Bird Singing Contest in Singapore
By Mr. John Yim
After World War II
A decade after the second World War, in September 1945, bird lovers in Singapore begin to own birds, i.e. in the mid-1950s. At that time only birds like the Magpies, canaries, Budgerigars, Java Sparrows, commonly called the Fortune Telling birds, Zebra Doves (Merboks) were kept. Also owned by a few bird lovers were Shamas, White Eyes, Bulbuls and China be-spectacled thrushes. Lack of the correct knowledge in keeping and in obtaining the proper type of feeds prevent many others in keeping them.
I started then to keep half a dozen Canaries and about 10 nestling and wild Magpies.
Singapore Cage Birds Society
Around 1956 families of the British Armed Forces in Singapore who were fond of pets kept a few birds and they usually bring along their pet birds to their friends’ quarters to compare notes. The main topic was the display of their birds to show to others. Discussions on how to improve their health, colour of plumage, tameness and postures, but not so much on their songs.
Gradually a Society called the Singapore Cage Birds Society was born. This Society met once a month at various places of members. On the invitationsby a few committee members like Mr Fraser Bryner (?), Miss Stevens, Mrs Mitchell, and some others whose names I am unable to recollect, I used to attend their bird displays or shows on a few occasions. Most of the birds on displays or shows were not necessary be songsters. Birds like Budgerigars, Canaries, Java Sparrows, Magpie Robins head the list followed by a few colourful Lorikeets, even a Hanging Parakeet and a Lesser Yellow Crested Cockatoo were on display. Someone also brought along a Guinea-pig on one occasion. It was very interesting to observe the age group bringing their birds. Some tender age children carried them in light wooden cages and whereas elderly ladies pushing theirs in prams.
More Birds in 1960s – Places of Meetings/Displays
In 1960 more variety of birds came in at the 3 birdshops in Rochore Road – Ms Lim Chye Huat, Eang Siang and Ann Soon Hong.
Many bird lovers began keeping birds as a hobby. In the heart of Chinatown, Ann Siang Hill Coffee Shop became a hive of bird activities on Sunday mornings and in the evenings on weekdays. No doubt bird lovers have already gathered there with their pet birds two years earlier, there were quite a number of birds could be viewed but not so many were keen in competing their birds for songs, but rather on betting with bird fights. Three types were common – Wah-Bees, White-eyes and Magpies, the later for fighting purposes.
Later when these fights became illegal, birds were in there for challenging of their songs and also for acquiring more variety of songs and tunes from other birds. Bettings were also carried on their length of singing.
To many their attitude changed. Letting their birds fight and bleed seemed cruel. A new sense of feeling prompted these bird lovers. Birds with loud songs and a good variety of songs fetch high prices. They began bringing in their birds for training. The logic was that a concentration of caged songsters exposed in a limited area will cause their own birds to create another tune and simultaneously their own birds have many chances of picking up different tune from others. This is true till the presentmoment at the various bird singing contest and meeting places of bird lovers. Birds exposed in this way also gather stamina and acquire display.
Venues elsewhere
Of course elsewhere bird lovers held such-like meetings and displays, like the 3 birdshops in Rochore Road, at Verandahs of Pork-sellers along South Bridge Road, Petain Road Car Park, Alkaff Garden-cum-lake, the large compound of the Church of England, Mt. Rosie, Mt. Faber and also at Central Park.
In the various venues different kinds of birds are being displayed according to the types of fruits and flower trees and the surrounding shrubs. Not surprisingly wild birds of the same specie did appear to challenge in their songs. Anyway, through my experience a good number of White-eyes did appear in the grounds of the Church of England: Bulbuls and Shamas in Mt. Rosie and Shamas, Bulbuls and Wah-Bees in Central Park.
Bird Lovers Meetings/Displays:
Not long after at these places of meetings and displays bird-lovers and their friends used to gather and have bettings to see which bird has the most varieties, stamina and play. They were judged by their friends and sometimes with one or two outsiders to help select the best bird. Usually the more people who were in favour of one particular bird, that bird is declared the winner. The losers combine to pay for the winner’s of winners’ lunches and drinks. This would carry on week after week on Sunday mornings with a larger group each time.
Birth of Club Burung Singapura:
By 1963, we saw the birth of the Club Burong Singapura headed by Dr. Tay Kah Seng who himself was a keen lover of birds and animals. The first Bird Singing Contest was held the following year at a school compound. All the four types of birds – Thrushes, Shamas, Bulbuls and White-eyes competed. Judges were difficult to find. Old timers of bird-keeping who have either kept one specie or all the four species at one time or other, the later were only a few, were called to assist in the judging.
Judging posed no problem as there were not so many birds to judge than at the present moment. Moreover, half of those competing were either fighting shy, loose face, or due to fright and only manage to remain still and lack form in their cages.
Judges were instructed to give points or marks on:-
a) Loudness
b) Variety
c) Stamina
d) Posture
At that time only 2 or 3 judges were required to view and select the birds in each section. No doubt there was slight confusion in the beginning, as in most cases to other events too, being first-time in bird competition, but eventually all went well and ended up well. Prize winners were happy to bring home their trophies.
Word went round after this competition and gradually the momentum of Bird Singing Competition caught up. By 1964 there were more bird owners and more bird lovers have keen interest in owning many and different species at one time in order to prepare for future competitions..
The following year 3 to 4 competitions were organized by the ClubBurung Singapura and Community Centres. A few years following this period more competitions were organized by various Community Centres in a year. By 1970 there were at least 10 competitions in a year, but 5 years later as many as a dozen were organized. I remembered there were 14 such competitions in 1976 organised by the various Community Centres. Mind you, in one competition alone there were over 760 birds of the 4 popular species participated. Comparing this figure with the mid-60s there were less than 200 birds in all..
Comparisons:
Birds of the 1960’s, 70’s and 80’s were different by way of their songs, structure and stamina. The present day birds have all their qualities. Bird lovers have gathered much knowledge and are very well conversant with different species, and the considerable time spent and care given to their birds. In other words they treasure them much more than their own children. I do not mean all of them.
Those in the 1960’s were not well built, but plumpy, songs and stamina were limited and postures not stylish at all. The present birds have all the following qualities: loudness, stamina, variety, posture and or physic, display and fierceness.
Take for instance the Thrushes. They are bigger, stylish and with louder songs and plentiful of variety.
The Shamas have longer built bodies and with longer tails and very fine display.
The Bulbuls having longer and well shaped crests. On the other hand the White-eyes are definitely much longer in their body structures and having bigger white-ringed eyes. Their song drag on much longer and louder.
Overall I can see the Bird Singing Contest in Singapore will go a long way because of its popularity, cheap in the entrance fees in competing, various types of birds are easily manageable, knowledge of keeping them is a household word and last but not least judges have abundance of experience and they are strictly keeping on the fair and just judging.
John Yim
12th August 1983
Note: This article has been reproduced here with Mr. John Yim's consent
By Mr. John Yim
After World War II
A decade after the second World War, in September 1945, bird lovers in Singapore begin to own birds, i.e. in the mid-1950s. At that time only birds like the Magpies, canaries, Budgerigars, Java Sparrows, commonly called the Fortune Telling birds, Zebra Doves (Merboks) were kept. Also owned by a few bird lovers were Shamas, White Eyes, Bulbuls and China be-spectacled thrushes. Lack of the correct knowledge in keeping and in obtaining the proper type of feeds prevent many others in keeping them.
I started then to keep half a dozen Canaries and about 10 nestling and wild Magpies.
Singapore Cage Birds Society
Around 1956 families of the British Armed Forces in Singapore who were fond of pets kept a few birds and they usually bring along their pet birds to their friends’ quarters to compare notes. The main topic was the display of their birds to show to others. Discussions on how to improve their health, colour of plumage, tameness and postures, but not so much on their songs.
Gradually a Society called the Singapore Cage Birds Society was born. This Society met once a month at various places of members. On the invitationsby a few committee members like Mr Fraser Bryner (?), Miss Stevens, Mrs Mitchell, and some others whose names I am unable to recollect, I used to attend their bird displays or shows on a few occasions. Most of the birds on displays or shows were not necessary be songsters. Birds like Budgerigars, Canaries, Java Sparrows, Magpie Robins head the list followed by a few colourful Lorikeets, even a Hanging Parakeet and a Lesser Yellow Crested Cockatoo were on display. Someone also brought along a Guinea-pig on one occasion. It was very interesting to observe the age group bringing their birds. Some tender age children carried them in light wooden cages and whereas elderly ladies pushing theirs in prams.
More Birds in 1960s – Places of Meetings/Displays
In 1960 more variety of birds came in at the 3 birdshops in Rochore Road – Ms Lim Chye Huat, Eang Siang and Ann Soon Hong.
Many bird lovers began keeping birds as a hobby. In the heart of Chinatown, Ann Siang Hill Coffee Shop became a hive of bird activities on Sunday mornings and in the evenings on weekdays. No doubt bird lovers have already gathered there with their pet birds two years earlier, there were quite a number of birds could be viewed but not so many were keen in competing their birds for songs, but rather on betting with bird fights. Three types were common – Wah-Bees, White-eyes and Magpies, the later for fighting purposes.
Later when these fights became illegal, birds were in there for challenging of their songs and also for acquiring more variety of songs and tunes from other birds. Bettings were also carried on their length of singing.
To many their attitude changed. Letting their birds fight and bleed seemed cruel. A new sense of feeling prompted these bird lovers. Birds with loud songs and a good variety of songs fetch high prices. They began bringing in their birds for training. The logic was that a concentration of caged songsters exposed in a limited area will cause their own birds to create another tune and simultaneously their own birds have many chances of picking up different tune from others. This is true till the presentmoment at the various bird singing contest and meeting places of bird lovers. Birds exposed in this way also gather stamina and acquire display.
Venues elsewhere
Of course elsewhere bird lovers held such-like meetings and displays, like the 3 birdshops in Rochore Road, at Verandahs of Pork-sellers along South Bridge Road, Petain Road Car Park, Alkaff Garden-cum-lake, the large compound of the Church of England, Mt. Rosie, Mt. Faber and also at Central Park.
In the various venues different kinds of birds are being displayed according to the types of fruits and flower trees and the surrounding shrubs. Not surprisingly wild birds of the same specie did appear to challenge in their songs. Anyway, through my experience a good number of White-eyes did appear in the grounds of the Church of England: Bulbuls and Shamas in Mt. Rosie and Shamas, Bulbuls and Wah-Bees in Central Park.
Bird Lovers Meetings/Displays:
Not long after at these places of meetings and displays bird-lovers and their friends used to gather and have bettings to see which bird has the most varieties, stamina and play. They were judged by their friends and sometimes with one or two outsiders to help select the best bird. Usually the more people who were in favour of one particular bird, that bird is declared the winner. The losers combine to pay for the winner’s of winners’ lunches and drinks. This would carry on week after week on Sunday mornings with a larger group each time.
Birth of Club Burung Singapura:
By 1963, we saw the birth of the Club Burong Singapura headed by Dr. Tay Kah Seng who himself was a keen lover of birds and animals. The first Bird Singing Contest was held the following year at a school compound. All the four types of birds – Thrushes, Shamas, Bulbuls and White-eyes competed. Judges were difficult to find. Old timers of bird-keeping who have either kept one specie or all the four species at one time or other, the later were only a few, were called to assist in the judging.
Judging posed no problem as there were not so many birds to judge than at the present moment. Moreover, half of those competing were either fighting shy, loose face, or due to fright and only manage to remain still and lack form in their cages.
Judges were instructed to give points or marks on:-
a) Loudness
b) Variety
c) Stamina
d) Posture
At that time only 2 or 3 judges were required to view and select the birds in each section. No doubt there was slight confusion in the beginning, as in most cases to other events too, being first-time in bird competition, but eventually all went well and ended up well. Prize winners were happy to bring home their trophies.
Word went round after this competition and gradually the momentum of Bird Singing Competition caught up. By 1964 there were more bird owners and more bird lovers have keen interest in owning many and different species at one time in order to prepare for future competitions..
The following year 3 to 4 competitions were organized by the ClubBurung Singapura and Community Centres. A few years following this period more competitions were organized by various Community Centres in a year. By 1970 there were at least 10 competitions in a year, but 5 years later as many as a dozen were organized. I remembered there were 14 such competitions in 1976 organised by the various Community Centres. Mind you, in one competition alone there were over 760 birds of the 4 popular species participated. Comparing this figure with the mid-60s there were less than 200 birds in all..
Comparisons:
Birds of the 1960’s, 70’s and 80’s were different by way of their songs, structure and stamina. The present day birds have all their qualities. Bird lovers have gathered much knowledge and are very well conversant with different species, and the considerable time spent and care given to their birds. In other words they treasure them much more than their own children. I do not mean all of them.
Those in the 1960’s were not well built, but plumpy, songs and stamina were limited and postures not stylish at all. The present birds have all the following qualities: loudness, stamina, variety, posture and or physic, display and fierceness.
Take for instance the Thrushes. They are bigger, stylish and with louder songs and plentiful of variety.
The Shamas have longer built bodies and with longer tails and very fine display.
The Bulbuls having longer and well shaped crests. On the other hand the White-eyes are definitely much longer in their body structures and having bigger white-ringed eyes. Their song drag on much longer and louder.
Overall I can see the Bird Singing Contest in Singapore will go a long way because of its popularity, cheap in the entrance fees in competing, various types of birds are easily manageable, knowledge of keeping them is a household word and last but not least judges have abundance of experience and they are strictly keeping on the fair and just judging.
John Yim
12th August 1983
Note: This article has been reproduced here with Mr. John Yim's consent
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Shama Meet - Melaka (2)
Today: 21st Sept 2008
No. of Shamas = 5
Mata Puteh = 4
Merbah Jambul = 1
Terkukur Pikat = 2
Merbok Pikat = 1
It is a natural extension to a "chai" place - new member, new things to do. One new Shama player came although number of birds reduced due to 2 members being busy (1 went to Genting, 1 went to K.L.). Brought my Jambul out today and ask a friend to get me a Terkukur to train as pikat just to join in the fun. I have no intention to go catch the wild terkukurs. Just want to train until I get a bird that sings when pegged to the ground. Today is a first outing for Zeus (Shama) to this place. He performed well initially but lost steam along the way. Maybe not in top condition yet. Will need to evaluate whether he is ready for the Batu Pahat comp on 5th Oct. Might have to leave him behind.
No. of Shamas = 5
Mata Puteh = 4
Merbah Jambul = 1
Terkukur Pikat = 2
Merbok Pikat = 1
It is a natural extension to a "chai" place - new member, new things to do. One new Shama player came although number of birds reduced due to 2 members being busy (1 went to Genting, 1 went to K.L.). Brought my Jambul out today and ask a friend to get me a Terkukur to train as pikat just to join in the fun. I have no intention to go catch the wild terkukurs. Just want to train until I get a bird that sings when pegged to the ground. Today is a first outing for Zeus (Shama) to this place. He performed well initially but lost steam along the way. Maybe not in top condition yet. Will need to evaluate whether he is ready for the Batu Pahat comp on 5th Oct. Might have to leave him behind.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Apollo 9
Today found 2 primary tail feathers of Apollo 9 on the floor of the aviary. He must have molted them at the most 1 day apart. 1 measured at 8" and another at 8.2" The task now is to see whether with enough live food, it can grow back to his former 9" or longer. Last molt was just 3 or 4 months ago. very strange.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Development of SR
SR has become more hardworking at home. Am happy with his development. However still a bit shy at the Merbok field (only 2nd day, so can't blame him). Hope one day Suara Rakyat would "tekan" so that his voice would reveberate in the field hehehe! wishful thinking ;)
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Shama meet - Melaka (1)
Today: 14th Sept 2008
No. of Shamas = 7
Mata Puteh = 1
This appears to be a very popular tree. We started by having the Shamas spaced out and they were calling beautifully. Nothing beats a Shama's song in natural open spaces in my opinion. And to have a number of them singing to each other in a spaced out setting is just wonderful. Towards the end of the session, we regroup ,mainly under this tree:
A close-up:
My Merbok which I have decided to name "Suara Rakyat" or "SR" due to many reasons. Mainly being a "permainan rakyat" which is a traditional sports of the people, I suppose, SR translates into the owner's hope that his Merbok's voice would one day be heard by all ;)
Not to mention the current political scenario, and the hope that "rakyat" would be heard. hehehe! anyway, this is suppose to be a fun thing. Lets leave the serious stuff behind ;)
Here he is raised to full pole vs half yesterday:
Still placed at the fringe of the field away from the fiercer birds:
Was introduced to this "jarum emas" today. Suppose to be good for the libido, against worms...... will try it on my Green Singing Finch later.
No. of Shamas = 7
Mata Puteh = 1
This appears to be a very popular tree. We started by having the Shamas spaced out and they were calling beautifully. Nothing beats a Shama's song in natural open spaces in my opinion. And to have a number of them singing to each other in a spaced out setting is just wonderful. Towards the end of the session, we regroup ,mainly under this tree:
A close-up:
My Merbok which I have decided to name "Suara Rakyat" or "SR" due to many reasons. Mainly being a "permainan rakyat" which is a traditional sports of the people, I suppose, SR translates into the owner's hope that his Merbok's voice would one day be heard by all ;)
Not to mention the current political scenario, and the hope that "rakyat" would be heard. hehehe! anyway, this is suppose to be a fun thing. Lets leave the serious stuff behind ;)
Here he is raised to full pole vs half yesterday:
Still placed at the fringe of the field away from the fiercer birds:
Was introduced to this "jarum emas" today. Suppose to be good for the libido, against worms...... will try it on my Green Singing Finch later.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Pied Bushchat
Time to pay a little more attention to the Pied Bushchats.
Bath them today, feed with tiny crickets and sun bath.
Nice little fella that I bought for an internet friend:
Bath them today, feed with tiny crickets and sun bath.
Nice little fella that I bought for an internet friend:
Chai Merbok
Today is the first time I go and "chai" merbok.
7 month old merbok that I obtained from Yusuf, a friend. B class.
Hang him at half pole and at the fringe of the field as advised by some old timers there. Tan, a fellow hobbyist said that he heard the merbok called once and was impressed. If it could maintain its voice, then I probably could compete him later on. As for me, I didn't actually hear him because I was busy chit chatting, observing other people's merboks and went off for breakfast. Was there about 10am and went back by 12.30pm.
Well, the purpose wasn't that actually (competing merboks), just want to blend in with their crowd...... then the Shamas could make a smoother transition to the adjoining field hehehe! Never good to isolate ourselves. We must move with the bigger crowd ;)
However something seems to be wrong with my camera phone. Pictures all turn out very dark. Must have been all the mishandling it is receiving. Have to brighten it with with some software.
This is my new pet - circled in red:
Scene at the other end of the field:
7 month old merbok that I obtained from Yusuf, a friend. B class.
Hang him at half pole and at the fringe of the field as advised by some old timers there. Tan, a fellow hobbyist said that he heard the merbok called once and was impressed. If it could maintain its voice, then I probably could compete him later on. As for me, I didn't actually hear him because I was busy chit chatting, observing other people's merboks and went off for breakfast. Was there about 10am and went back by 12.30pm.
Well, the purpose wasn't that actually (competing merboks), just want to blend in with their crowd...... then the Shamas could make a smoother transition to the adjoining field hehehe! Never good to isolate ourselves. We must move with the bigger crowd ;)
However something seems to be wrong with my camera phone. Pictures all turn out very dark. Must have been all the mishandling it is receiving. Have to brighten it with with some software.
This is my new pet - circled in red:
Scene at the other end of the field:
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Free Flying Mata Puteh
This was an experiment with a Mata Puteh kept much like a Pigeon.
First there was a flight enclosure to get him accustomed to his area, then the door was left open with fruits, water and pellets available in the flight enclosure so that he can fly in to eat whenever he wanted to. It worked well the first 4 days he was free with even a night spent in the enclosure with the company of a sunbird.
However of late, he appears to be taking an interest in other birds, coming into the house, roosting on top of other Mata Puteh's cage. He even took a liking to my female Shama that he squeezes himself inside the cage to eat and just hang around (as shown below).
On the night that he decided to spend the night in the house, I have to put a stop to it for a few reasons. Firstly being the danger of him flying and hitting the ceiling fan. Secondly for fear of him unknowingly venturing into the Shrike's cage. His freedom temporarily ended on the 8th of September when I caught him with a trap (he is actually semi wild). Maybe I would experiment with a Shama next ;)
Here he is deciding to become an indoor bird at night:
First there was a flight enclosure to get him accustomed to his area, then the door was left open with fruits, water and pellets available in the flight enclosure so that he can fly in to eat whenever he wanted to. It worked well the first 4 days he was free with even a night spent in the enclosure with the company of a sunbird.
However of late, he appears to be taking an interest in other birds, coming into the house, roosting on top of other Mata Puteh's cage. He even took a liking to my female Shama that he squeezes himself inside the cage to eat and just hang around (as shown below).
On the night that he decided to spend the night in the house, I have to put a stop to it for a few reasons. Firstly being the danger of him flying and hitting the ceiling fan. Secondly for fear of him unknowingly venturing into the Shrike's cage. His freedom temporarily ended on the 8th of September when I caught him with a trap (he is actually semi wild). Maybe I would experiment with a Shama next ;)
Here he is deciding to become an indoor bird at night:
Sunday, September 7, 2008
New Chai Place in Melaka
Manage to get 5 Shamas together to try out the Merbok field in Bukit Serindit.
Quite a nice place with plenty of trees to hang. So far no complaints yet. Have to get to know and speak to the Merbok president next week.
Besides the Shamas, also in attendance are 2 mata Putehs and 2 Terkukur (pikat).
I did take delivery of a competition Merbok yesterday night. Did not bring him out today. Waiting for him to get used to my place first before training him. Then there will be a lot of activities to take part in hehehe!
Ceh! after reviewing my post, I realised that the picture did not turn out well - too small. So below is a blow up of where we hang the Shamas.
The Mata Putehs:
Update:
Just got a great idea from a friend (Mr. John Yim) on how to jump start the Shama "chai" event.
This goes back to the 60's when Shama competition as we know it today was non existent.
Fellow hobbyists would be hanging out at the local coffee shop for a cuppa and of course hobbyists being hobbyists would inevitably get into a discussion about who has the better Shama. They would debate and eventually vote the winner who then get treated with "kaya" toast, half boiled egg and "kopi-o" or whatever they fancy. All debate and judgements are done with the utmost honesty and sincerity (sad to say we are losing these virtues nowadays).
So, this is what I will be brain storming with a few fellas over here to see how we could carry this out. What better place to do it than in Melaka that is well known for its historical legacy.
Draft:
1) Set a date - maybe the last Sunday of every month.
2) Get some gifts - cage cloth, cups, clocks, notepads, pens, cheap cages, breakfast.... anything that we fancy at the time.
3) Promote the scoring system that was laid out during the online competition (ahem! gotta move my butt to speed up the prizes for the winners :oops: thousand apologies)
4) Get the Shama "kaki" together for a picnic by the "Padang Merbok"
5) Then over breakfast, we vote each others' bird in or out and the winner gets the goodies (gifts la)
6) Winner gets to give a 5 minutes speech to thank the rest and highlight the good and bad points of his Shama.
of course then the issue...... in a small group, a Shama may be winning every month :shock:
then we could try another category......
7) Winner can also goes to the owner of a Shama that has improved itself vastly over others throughout the months.
note: at least one spectator from the Merbok crowd has moved forward to express interest to "chai" his Shama with us :D This is progress hehehe!
Quite a nice place with plenty of trees to hang. So far no complaints yet. Have to get to know and speak to the Merbok president next week.
Besides the Shamas, also in attendance are 2 mata Putehs and 2 Terkukur (pikat).
I did take delivery of a competition Merbok yesterday night. Did not bring him out today. Waiting for him to get used to my place first before training him. Then there will be a lot of activities to take part in hehehe!
Ceh! after reviewing my post, I realised that the picture did not turn out well - too small. So below is a blow up of where we hang the Shamas.
The Mata Putehs:
Update:
Just got a great idea from a friend (Mr. John Yim) on how to jump start the Shama "chai" event.
This goes back to the 60's when Shama competition as we know it today was non existent.
Fellow hobbyists would be hanging out at the local coffee shop for a cuppa and of course hobbyists being hobbyists would inevitably get into a discussion about who has the better Shama. They would debate and eventually vote the winner who then get treated with "kaya" toast, half boiled egg and "kopi-o" or whatever they fancy. All debate and judgements are done with the utmost honesty and sincerity (sad to say we are losing these virtues nowadays).
So, this is what I will be brain storming with a few fellas over here to see how we could carry this out. What better place to do it than in Melaka that is well known for its historical legacy.
Draft:
1) Set a date - maybe the last Sunday of every month.
2) Get some gifts - cage cloth, cups, clocks, notepads, pens, cheap cages, breakfast.... anything that we fancy at the time.
3) Promote the scoring system that was laid out during the online competition (ahem! gotta move my butt to speed up the prizes for the winners :oops: thousand apologies)
4) Get the Shama "kaki" together for a picnic by the "Padang Merbok"
5) Then over breakfast, we vote each others' bird in or out and the winner gets the goodies (gifts la)
6) Winner gets to give a 5 minutes speech to thank the rest and highlight the good and bad points of his Shama.
of course then the issue...... in a small group, a Shama may be winning every month :shock:
then we could try another category......
7) Winner can also goes to the owner of a Shama that has improved itself vastly over others throughout the months.
note: at least one spectator from the Merbok crowd has moved forward to express interest to "chai" his Shama with us :D This is progress hehehe!
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