Colin Davies (Cooden Beach Hotel)

Senlac Rotarian, Colin Davis, stepped into the breech and spoke to the club about one of his hobbies, keeping exotic birds. Colin often speaks to bird clubs so he abbreviated his from the normal 1 ½ hours to 30 minutes. As you might say, short but tweet (You're fired - Ed!).

Colin’s interest started when he was 5 years old as a lad in Devon when he was given his first bird by his father who was a very keen keeper and showed his birds regularly. Colin went to shows with and learned much from his father and his interest is still as intense as ever. He now has some 60 birds of different species which he keeps in ten aviaries in his garden. Colin showed photographs of many different species (sorry reader, I could not manage to list them all) some of which he has in his aviary. He described their looks, habits and from where they originate. A number he has bred himself, others he has bought in the UK but all of his birds have been born in captivity as have their parents and they have only known a life in aviaries. If released they would stand little chance of survival.  Colin also has ducks on a pond in one of the aviaries and the ringed teal Is his favourite. The ringed teal is a small, colourful and beautiful bird with, as Colin said, not enough meat to make a meal!