POTLUCK - 1:00 P.M.
MEETING - 1:45 P.M.

PLEASE BRING YOUR OWN TABLE SERVICE

A - G SALAD
H - P DESSERT
Q - Z HOT DISH

This is February - when we celebrate the birthdays of our two greatest Presidents and also Valentines Day. I'm wondering if each of us - in his own way - could make it a point to remember these three dates each day of this month. Could we think of something good about our country - and express our love toward some living being - just once each day of this month? ????

Enough for philosophy---

It's too bad that so many of you missed the last meeting - Howard had planned an excellent program. At the opening of the meeting Chuck introduced us to all the new officers (or should I have said that he introduced all the new officers and appointees to us)? Whatever!!!! Glenn Michell started the speeches with the subject: Set your goal.

Pair your birds correctly; check Head, body, color, all these factors important for breeding. Birds do not throw a quality which they do not have!

Margaret Roche spoke on Record Keeping and explained why records are so vital for reference from year to year.

Joe Gordon explained about color feeding for red factors, specifying that the proper coloring ingredient is Rosanthin Red #10. If you're going to show red factor birds you must color-feed. Should start color-feeding when the birds are hatched. Color-feeding should continue until they start the baby molt.

Leonard Quieto spoke about a hospital Cage - use a 40 watt bulb in a large metal cage (that is, a cage with metal top and bottom). Usually when a bird starts putting his head under his wing for most of the day, he isn't worth trying to save.

Rowland Skirrow closed the program with information about building an aviary - but it was just too much information to try to include in this brief resume. However, he says to ask him for help, or refer to the book "Building an Aviary" by Carl Naether & de Vriends.

Jim Mocko at this point made an excellent Bird Cage - "Right before our eyes," - as someof the members said. He made it look so easy that we all wanted to go right home and try for ourselves.

All told - it was a most interesting program - thank you Howard.

Well, your vice-president thinks you must be the smartest club in the U.S.A. He asked you to give him your questions (anything about birds) and none were forthcoming, but he says he will give you another month! He is also asking you to come forth with any suggested subjects for our meetings. And would you be interested in securing some "noted" speakers who might require a fee? Or, do you have still other suggestions for our programs? Now is the time to tell him.

At this meeting we will start a new program for the Pot-luck. Those who bring food will be given a ticket for their lunch. You will then not have to pay for your lunch. This should resolve the various problems which have arisen.

Your DUES must be paid by the February 10th meeting or your name will not be included on the roster.

Canary bands are still available from Leonard Quieto.

Howard in his show report says that he already has appointed the Show committee, and the Trophy committee, and several other appointments. He needs 62 definite appointees to put on the show, and there are still many jobs to fill, so he will greatly appreciate anyone offering to take any of them. He announced the meeting of the Catalogue Planning for Feb. 11, at 7:30 at S.C.H.S.

The raffle donors for February - Nickie McClatchie, Rowland and Mae Skirrow, Jim Mocko

The next Exec. Board Mtg. will be at the Hansel's in Los Altos, February 22nd, at 8:00.

This meeting will be a real old-fashioned work-shop. - Feb. 10

Sorry to report that we have had another case of STOLEN BIRDS right here in our own area. SO - LOCK YOUR AVIARIES!!!!

There have been reports from various parts of the country of problems with Pachecko virus and Ornithosis. Urge the people that you communicate with to be verycareful of new birds, where they go for feed, who enters their aviaries, and any other prudent measures to avoid contamination of their birds. The problems mentioned do not necessarily need bird to bird contact to spread. (They can be spread by humans.)

Mary Volpe wants two (2) female weaver finches, has a pair of Fisher Love Birds for sale @ $70.00.

Lona Schmalz has for sale One Pair of Normal Red Rump Parakeets.

Charlotte Carter wants a pair of Red Factor Canaries.

Don't forget the AFA Regional Convention in San Francisco - Feb. 16, 17, 18th - at S.F. Airport Hilton.

This is all
Charlotte

WINTER BIRDS WORTH WATCHING

Winter brings great birdwatching to the Peninsula. Both migrating birds and ones that are here year-round take advantage of the wide variety of habitats, mild winter weather, and abundance of food, especially after the rains. Birds seen in Santa Clara Valley in the winter fall into three categories: permanent residents, transients passing thru, and birds that winter here. From December to the end of February, the transients are almost all gone; all the birds here will stay for the rest of the winter. In March and April, birds that will not stay for the summer migrate north, leaving only the permanent residents.

The variety of habitats for birds includes baylands, tidal flats, marshes, swamps, grasslands, oak woodlands, streambanks, redwood forest, backyards and parks. Each place has its own kind of feathered inhabitants, the variety often depending on the time. One of the most popular spots in the winter, especially for duck and shorebird lovers, is the Baylands. Right now, hundreds of thousands of ducks and shorebirds, both residents and migrants, are wintering there.

Among the million or so birds on the shores of sloughs and the bay are the abundant Western sandpiper, long-billed and short-billed dowitchers (they look like sewing machines as they poke their bills up and down in the mud), willets, godwits, avocets and black-bellied and semi-palmated plovers. Gulls abound all over the Baylands but distinguishing species of gulls is a real challenge. Size and color, of both body, beak and feet are key characteristics for adult gulls, and the differences are often subtle.

Shorebirds depend on a very specific habitat. The wetlands of the bay may appear to be dull and empty to the human eye, but without the abundant life sheltered and provided by the mudflats, the sandpipers and other shorebirds would be in danger of extinction. Year-round bird residents of this area are herons, egrets and several raptors (birds of prey). Tall great blue herons and black crowned night herons also nest here. The common egret has a yellow bill and dark feet and legs and is larger than the black-billed, yellow-footed, snowy egret.

By summer, many bird species that live in swamps, grasslands and forest will return from the places they went for the winter. Most birds that migrate through here in the winter travel from north to south and back again - many thousands of miles. There can be more to bird watching than checking names off a list. Recognizing bird species by their characteristics is a definite art and can instill an appreciation for their beauty.

(I have included this article principally because I would hope that we all have a deep interest and great respect for all of our friends in the Feathered Families.)
Charlotte.

ABOUT PARROTS

From New Delhi, India we learn that a fossilized bird, believed to have lived 180 million years ago has been discovered in South India. J. Swaminathan, deputy director-general of the Geological Survey of India has just informed reporters.

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