The Bathurst Regional Avicultural Society held its inaugural Bird Show on the 14 June 2009. Almost 350 entries were benched for judging—a pleasing result for the club which was only formed in November 2005. Judges for the occasion included Gary Hyslop (Budgerigars), Bill Christianson (Canaries), Grant Bastin (Finches and Zebra Finches) and Peter Naylor (Parrots). The quality was especially notable in the canary and Zebra Finch sections.

Some of the canary entries came from the Sydney area, but it was country exhibitor Allan Rees from Forbes who won Grand Champion. His Open Clear Buff Yorkshire Hen beat a high quality field of canaries for the top honour. Local Bathurst Zebra Finch breeder, John Hadley, won the Grand Champion in this section. His Young Marked White Hen backed up its Grand Champion win at the Dubbo Bird Show two weeks earlier. John Hadley also had a very successful day with final results showing that he too won three Reserve Champions in what was a competitive section.

Canberra breeder Brett Lewis had a worthwhile trip to Bathurst with wins for both the Grand Champion Finch and Grand Champion Parrot. The winning finch was a lovely Red Painted Firetail. A notable class in the finch section was one of 14 Gouldian cocks. The Grand Champion Parrot was awarded to a Normal Bourke’s Parrot cock. Brett Lewis also exhibited birds in the Zebra Finch and Canary sections. Trevor Weal from Bathurst exhibited the Grand Champion Budgerigar. The top bird was an Open Greygreen Opaline hen.

All exhibitors had an enjoyable day with the club catering for both morning tea and a BBQ lunch at no cost to exhibitors. The club is already looking forward to next year’s show which will be located at a bigger venue. It is certainly pleasing to see another country show up and running.

      
Grand Champion Parrot—a Normal               Grand Champion Budgerigar—an
Bourke's Parrot cock—exhibited by              Open Greygreen Opaline hen—exhibited
B & B Lewis                                                          by Trevor Weal

     
Grand Champion Canary—an Open              Grand Champion Finch—a Red Painted
Clear Buff Yorkshire hen—exhibited             Firetail cock—exhibited by B & B Lewis
by Allan Rees


Grand Champion Zebra Finch—a Young
Marked White hen—exhibited by John
Hadley

Customs and Border Protection has cracked its third wildlife smuggling attempt in Western Australia in the last month with the arrest of two men in Perth.

The first man, a 53-year-old Australian, was arrested for allegedly attempting to smuggle 39 parrot eggs into Australia through Perth International Airport. He was stopped by Customs and Border Protection officers when he arrived in Perth on a flight from Bali on Sunday 6 September.

During a baggage examination, officers became suspicious that the man may have been concealing prohibited items under his clothing. Further examination revealed the man was carrying 39 parrot eggs concealed in a specially made vest. The man was subsequently arrested and charged by Customs and Border Protection investigators with attempting to smuggle wildlife into Australia.
The eggs were secured by the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service and have been sterilised because they are such a high biosecurity risk. Illegally imported bird eggs can carry diseases that have the potential to devastate our poultry industries and kill our native wildlife.

Customs and Border Protection investigators then executed warrants on premises at High Wycombe, where another man was arrested and charged with the alleged possession of CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) specimens and wildlife smuggling offences.

Customs and Border Protection National Manager Investigations, Richard Janeczko, said wildlife smuggling is a serious crime.
"Customs and Border Protection continues to investigate and prosecute wildlife smuggling attempts into and out of Australia in a bid to end this cruel practice.

"This illegal trade endangers the animals involved, creates a risk to our environment and involves the possibility of transferring diseases to our poultry industries and native species," Mr Janeczko said.
The first man appeared in Perth Magistrates Court on Monday 7 September.
Under the national environment law, the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, the import and export of wildlife is strictly regulated.

The maximum penalty for breaching this law is $110,000 and/or 10 years jail. Customs and Border Protection supports the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts by enforcing this legislation at Australia's borders.



More photographs can be sourced from http://www.customs.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=5768.
Australian Customs and Border Protection