Ephemera: oiseleurs
Just as I was preparing the article on the oiseleurs of Paris, John Canepa sent me some old photographs showing a French bird market and its customers. ... Read More
Lizard canary
Practice: hens who know best
A Lizard canary hen on the nest, nothing unusual about that. Now take a closer look: the nest is on the floor. Why some hens do this I don’t know, but I trust their instincts.... Read More
History, part 8: the oiseleurs of Paris
Anyone who wanted to buy a pet bird in Paris in the late 1600s would have known exactly where to find one: the quai de la Megisserie, a bustling area on the right bank of the Seine (1); or, if it was a Sunday, on the Vallée de Misère and the Pont au Change at […]... Read More
Book Review: Markus zum Lamm Die Vogelbilder
Marcus zum Lamm (1544-1606) must be one of the best kept secrets in the history of the canary. Most people with an interest in the subject have never heard of him. ... Read More
Lizard canary basics, Part 10: tiny details, big impact
Let’s start with a riddle: What am I? All canaries possess them, but I have never seen any writer on canaries mention them. You will see them in photographs, but rarely in drawings. They are an insignificant detail in every variety except one: the Lizard canary. Answer: they there are two tufts of feathers either side of […]... Read More
Sweet Bird of Youth: the sequel
I finished Lizard canary basics, part 9: Sweet Bird of Youth by asking if any of the eight juveniles I had photographed were going to be stars of the future. Would we see their names in bright lights? In the best Hollywood tradition, the article left the leading characters facing an uncertain future; to find […]... Read More
Lizard canary basics, part 9: Sweet Bird of Youth
Fans of Paul Newman and Geraldine Page are going to be disappointed. This article has nothing to do with the film, or with Tennessee Williams, other than the title. But what a title! Much better than ‘Juveniles’ which was my original choice. ... Read More