Canaries 101; beauty, song and an International passion.

We've all heard the expression ‘canary in the coal mine' in reference to warning humans of unsafe conditions, as well as for species trying to survive the changes we're wreaking upon the environment. It means that a creature far more sensitive than we are will suffer noticeably before we are even aware there's a problem with the air, water, soil or food.

Even so, how many of us know what a canary really is?

When people find out I raise canaries, they tend to assume I have one or two, that all canaries are the same, and that they are short-lived novelties that sing one pre-programmed song but otherwise have no personality or pet value. They think of a canary as a simple singing automaton.

Nothing could be farther from the truth.

So what exactly IS a canary?

The domesticated canary (Serinus canaria), is a small passerine that comes originally from (yes) the Canary Islands, and is actually a large finch species. While it is true that they are far more sensitive to contaminates (especially air-borne) than most other species, canaries aren't as delicate as some fear.

Belonging to the most advanced of avian varieties, canaries have amazing stamina and vigor unless overly inbred. A pampered pet can live almost 20 years. Many hardier canary breeds are so tough that in frigid climates they can withstand brutal cold AS LONG as they are fed well and kept dry and out of drafts.

Paradoxically, providing a shallow saucer of ice cold bath water each day is one of the best ways to keep a canary healthy. The cold water helps tighten the feathers and spread the oils so that those feathers become one of the very best insulators in the animal kingdom. If you want to see a happy, excited canary, gently place the saucer in the cage and stand back as he flutters and splashes with glee!

It might surprise you to find out there are many breeds of this charming little bird. This is a truly International fancy, with distinct canary breeds arising all around the globe. There are breeds selected for ‘type', or looks, like body shape, color, plumage (frills, Beatle wigs), size and even posture. Shows are held for virtually every breed. Competition is fierce and is serious business among hobbyists around the world.

There are also song breeds, with hidden, rather than visual, characteristics in the chicks that make breeding even more fascinating and challenging. Often you don't know the results of your pairings until a year later, when the youngsters develope their mature songs.

Yes, there are song trials for canaries! Results of many contests are posted on YouTube. It's worth checking out.

My chosen breed is the American Singer, which is one of several varieties bred specifically for the quality of the song above all else. Other song breeds include the German roller (sounds like purring), the Belgian waterslager (sounds like water dripping, running or boiling), the Spanish timbrado (castanets) and the Russian canary (native Russian bird songs and whistling). Each breed has a unique sound and most have song ‘standards' that the bird must adhere to, for points, in competition.

Canaries, while inheriting certain song traits, are also ‘open-ended learners', which means they continue to learn, improvise and incorporate new elements into their songs throughout their lives. Sometimes, like children, 'bad words' are picked up more easily than nice ones! Thus the challenge for breeders increases.

American Singers are the jazz musicians of the canary world. They are distinctly American melting-pot birds, weaving all sorts of melodies from other breeds, wild songbirds and even human melodies, into their repertoire. Every day, especially during the molt, I play recordings of other songs to my birds, only to find snippets or even extended tours of those songs being practiced as the birds come back into song. After a couple years, every breeder can develop a song they personally like, a distinctive ‘house song' if you will.

I adore this artistic breed, which is judged on ‘freedom' (singing a lot regardless of distractions), pleasing tone, variety, creativity, and more. They also look great and should be steady and confiding.

Scientists still wrestle with the reasons why birds sing. There are undoubtedly many reasons, among which are claiming territories, attracting mates, warning away rivals and signaling breeding vigor.

Yet some speculate it goes beyond these elemental survival functions. In David Rothenberg's book ‘Why Birds Sing', he asserts that part of the purpose of song is sheer exuberance and play.

Having formerly raised rare and threatened parrot species, I find canaries refreshing; bright, happy, beautiful and engaging. Most people don't realize that these energetic little sprites are playful and curious, have personalities and love toys. Mine have parakeet and small parrot toys, bits of paper, short pieces of yarn, and plastic latticework cat balls (the kinds with little bells inside). They will also ‘beat up' or feed parakeet toys such as weighted, rocking plastic penguins on wheels, and even completely dismantle toys that had survived small parrots for years!

I find it comforting that there are distinct seasons in the raising of canaries, each season demanding different care. My hens go to nest and hatch chicks during the coldest winter days. There is nothing more gratifying than to spy tiny, naked pink hatchlings warm and cozy under their doting Mom while outside the snow falls and winds howl.

Each pair will stay together throughout the nesting season if you allow, and the fathers help raise the chicks and feed the hard-working hen.

I use ‘double breeder' stackable cages to set my pairs up each New Year. Each cage can be divided, keeping the birds safe and separate until the male feeds the hen through the partition, after which the divider can be removed. Then the breeding pair will begin nesting.

Outside of breeding seaon, males and females should be kept apart to prevent squabbling, and males need to be kept apart at all times outside of the molt.

Pets are best housed by themselves, too, although two males, in different cages, may encourage each other to sing more. Males will also squabble with hens outside of the season, so bear this in mind if wanting to keep multiple birds.

While canaries are routinely kept in very small cages by breeders (at times -- for instance during song training and showing), for the majority of the year they should be given as much flying space as possible. A pet needs the biggest, longest cage you can provide for optimal health and longevity. In some instances tamer canaries benefit from free-flight in the home. Just be very sure to close or screen all windows and cover mirrors, keep dogs or cats away, and ALWAYS cover toilets and pots of water to prevent drowning.

Every phase of the canaries' life, from the molt to the nest, is driven by daylight cycles, which is an important reason to put your bird to bed when the sun sets and let him wake up at dawn. Never fear that your bird will be noisy and keep you awake at night. He will go to sleep with the sun.

Keeping the bird up all night or shocking him awake by turning lamps on and off will eventually jeopardize his health. More, a sudden scare really can cause a heart attack. You don't need to tip-toe around him. but try to treat his space with respect.

It is normally the male, or cock, who sings, and sings the most vigorous, sustained song. However, some hens also sing, perplexing breeders and buyers, although their song tends to be hoarser, incomplete or broken. Some song-show winners have been honestly sold as males only to later lay eggs for the new owner! The only sure way to identify male and female, outside of surgery, is when a pair produces fertile eggs. Hobbyists learn by trial and error to select probable pairs using behavioral cues.

During breeding season, each pair is best housed separately. After breeding season ends, the molt starts. Unlike parrots, canaries shed and re-grow all their feathers at one time over a several-week period. This takes all their energy, and birds become docile enough to house together by the hundreds. Everyone stops singing for a few weeks while they grow new feathers, males and females cohabiting peacefully, while the youngsters, in their own flights, start working on their own songs. As each baby boy begins to babble he can be pulled from the flight and housed in his own space so he can work on his song in peace.

All my birds are pedigreed and closed-banded. This means that a small metal ring imprinted with my assigned letters and numbers is slipped onto the leg of a tiny naked chick. The chick grows into this band, which becomes a permanent identifying tool, without which he cannot be shown or sold as a show-quality American Singer. It's also traceable and proves the bird was banded (and bred) by the breeder, as well as helping keep track of ‘who is who' for purposes of individual identification and pedigree research. It's sort of like 'papers' for a dog.

Aside from the expected dry seed diet, canaries thrive when given fresh produce such as apples, squash, carrots, broccoli, young ‘milk seeds' (as long as you don't use chemicals, let your yard go to seed and gather stalks for your bird), soaked and sprouted seeds and fresh dandelion leaves. Breeders and smart owners also provide soft/egg food consisting of rusk, minced fruits and veggies, bee pollen, spirulina, hard-boiled organic brown eggs (mashed in, shell and all) and scraped cuttlebone powder. The more variety you can provide the better. Add vitamins and freeze the mixture, feeding about ½ teaspoon per bird each day, especially prior to nesting.

There has been controversy regarding providing grit. I don't give any, and my birds do great. Chickens require grit because they have a gizzard. Canaries don't need it and can even be harmed by ingesting it.

Many of my birds become surprisingly tame and personable without any effort or hand feeding. There are accounts of tame canaries that will fly to their owner and follow them around. While they don't enjoy being petted, they thrive on human companionship.

To me, there is nothing better than sitting in my bird room, watching my feathered friends play and fly, raise their babies, and sing. If I ever need to be soothed or distracted, puttering in the bird room is about the best ‘therapy' imaginable.

There are breed clubs and canary associations throughout the world. It's worth becoming a member of one of these clubs for the knowledge, the camaraderie and the access to high-quality stock. When possible, always buy from a private breeder rather than a pet store or farmers' market or bird show; if you are invited to visit the aviary and pick out your pet from available stock, so much the better.

Try to always hear your bird sing before buying him and pick a lively, sleek, bright-eyed bird with clean feathers. If you are seeking a specific breed, do your research first so you can select the breeder who has the best birds for you.

Avoid buying a bird during the molt.

A reputable canary breeder is more concerned with his stock and his reputation than making a quick buck, and won't even offer a bird for sale unless he is in perfect health and song. Most breed clubs have lists of members with quality stock for sale.

As a pet, the canary is reasonable to purchase, very affordable to house, cheap to keep, and simple to maintain.

For those of us who enjoy going overboard, this is a pet you can collect ‘way too many of' and still have your hobby remain manageable. I personally have about 100 canaries, annually selling off most (keeping my very best, as all breeders must) in preparation for the next breeding season, as I endeavor to perfect the ‘sound' I seek. Thus, the cycle continues and I can break-even financially, allowing me to keep my hobby going even during tough economic times.

What could be better?

One of the greatest delights in my life is sharing my love and enthusiasm for this hobby with others.

Take a peek at the photos and videos for a glimpse of what (my) canaries look and sound like. Go online to see and hear other American Singers, and other breeds and to find other breeders and clubs. You'll be astounded at just how extensive this hobby is!

This is just an introduction and overview. While canaries had been somewhat eclipsed as pets by the introduction of the budgie/parakeet, they never lost their prestige or their loyal following. The hobby is endlessly fascinating, complex and mysterious enough that enthusiasts can remain mesmerized for a lifetime.

I encourage reader feedback and questions as I prepare future installments of The Canary Journal.

See you then!

Below is just a brief selection of the many canary clubs available.

American Singers Club

DRAGON Chapter ASC

American Waterslager Society

Western Waterslager Club

Border Fancy Canary Club

SOUTH BUCKS CANARY BREEDERS ASSOCIATION [S.B.C.B.A.]

Australian Fife Canary website

http://www.fifecanary.org/

ps: Send old newspapers!

:- )

You might also find of interest:

Dogs are as bright as your 2-year old (and just as manipulative!)

http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/3894072-deceptive-behavior-nonhuman-waal

Nosey bats finally figured out

http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/3623997-nosey-bats-finally-figured-out

Surprising pathogen killing frogs

http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/4196370-amphibians-in-blue-ridge-area-dying-surprising-pathogen-identified