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BRITISH BIRDS,
MULES & HYBRIDS
Written By Bernard Williams |

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ISBN 10 digit: 0-9554037-0-7 ISBN
13 digit: 978-0-9554037-0-5 |
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Foreword
IT
IS some years now since a book on British Hybrids has been written by an
expert in this field and, in my opinion, the time is ripe for this new
offering. As Features Editor of Cage & Aviary Birds I have been fortunate
enough to get to know, and become friends with, the author’s of this book’s
predecessors – Walter Lewis, Victor Carr, Peter Lander and Bob Partridge:
every one of them a world expert. So it is fitting that this new book should have been written by Bernard Williams, a man who is just as well qualified
as those already named.
In
reading the text and studying the illustrations, in advance of publication,
I have been most impressed. The text brings much of what has been written in
the past up to date and the illustrations are unsurpassed in their quality
and inventiveness. Until now Hybrids have never been viewed in this way.
It is not only the people who
breed British birds and Hybrids who take an interest in our native birds. So
it is not just these specialists who will gain from reading this book.
I recommend it to the
breeders and keepers of all types of birds.
Roy Stringer
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About
Bernard Williams
Bernard’s fascination – no - obsession – with
birds began in the 50s as a lad growing up in Staffordshire.
In 1986 Bernard
felt the time was right for a specialist Mule& Hybrid
society in his part of the country, so he invited about 40 people to a
meeting and formed the Staffordshire British Bird and Mule Club.
which 20 yrs later holds shows of 700 British birds mules & Hybrids.
Bernard’s involvement with the National
Cage & Aviary Birds Exhibition dates back to the late 60s when he was
an exhibitor. He became a trader selling a wide
range of ceramic trophies." At one point I was supplying
Trophies to 500 Cage Bird Societies
around the world".
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“I’ve judged at
most of the major shows on more than one occasion,
and feel very honored to have been asked to judge again at the
National British Bird and Mule Club Show.” also in 2004 I
was asked to join the committee.
I suppose I considered the
ultimate advancement would be running the National
Exhibition of Cage & Aviary Birds, But I never, ever dreamed I would
end up doing just that. Being asked to be show manager of
the National is a bit like being appointed manager of the England
football team. It’s the biggest honour ever bestowed on me.”
Bernard is still very active within the hobby being a Committee member of
the British Bird Council, the National British Bird and Mule club and also
Staffordshire British Bird and Mule Club also a life member of Staffordshire
B.B & M.C. And
still Judges events every year somewhere.
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About
this Book
This book has
been written in hardback with over 113 colour pictures, it contains 160
pages covering all British birds and their hybrids, there are 9 different
colour plates of hybrid family groups see examples opposite.
Also
included is an expectation chart explaining your chances of producing all
hybrids and which birds give you the best chances of success.
The book has
over 33,000 words explaining everything from Pairing, Feeding, Housing, General
Management, Exhibition and many useful tips.
And travels
back in time to tell you about some winning hybrids from yesteryear.
see the first pictures of the Linnet x Crossbill, Crossbill x Bullfinch and
Goldfinch x Crossbill in any UK book, lots of the bird photographs in this
book were taken by Tony Tilford and the late Dennis Avon the best
UK photographers specialising in aviculture.
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BOOK REVIEWS
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Excellent book, 17 Oct 2006
Without doubt this is by far the best book on this subject I have
read that has been published in the last 50 years. A book with
everything for champion and novice alike, interesting text and 5 star
quality photographs, a must for the book shelves of every breeder and
keeper of British birds.
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24th Oct
By letter
Dear
Bernard, Thank you for sending the book promptly, read it over the
weekend and was very impressed.
Well put
together, Excellent Photographs and a first class read.
Yours
Andy Early
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17th Oct By Email Hello Bernard,
I recently purchased a copy of your book from you for my father, which
he loved! He found it to be very informative and one of a kind. We
live in California, USA
sincerely,
Serko Soultanian
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Cage & Aviary Birds October 12th 2006 issue
by Roger Caton
Over the years there have been some excellent books
published about British Birds, Mules and Hybrids by expert authors
like Walter Lewis, Victor Carr, Peter Lander and Bob Partridge. The
latest offering BRITISH BIRDS, MULES & HYBRIDS, written and self
published by Bernard Williams is a worthy successor to their
well-known publications. In this book, Bernard draws upon
40 years experience of breeding and showing
British Birds and their Hybrids and as manager of the National
Exhibition in its later years. He founded a very successful British
Bird club in Staffordshire that still puts on large shows. Every
potential cross of British birds is commented upon and rated for
degree of difficulty. Some have never been achieved. Although he does
refer to some crosses as easy, he makes the point that no hybrid
breeding is easy when compared with breeding most other birds. He has
arrived at his ratings based upon his own experience and how many
times a particular hybrid has been seen on the show bench. This book,
running to more than 33,000 words and 160 pages has been produced in
hardback, is liberally illustrated with 113 colour photographs mostly
taken by top bird photographers Tony Tilford and the late Denis Avon.
This is the first time that pictures of the Linnet x Crossbill,
Crossbill x Bullfinch and Goldfinch x Crossbill have appeared in any
UK book, The nine colour plates that each show two British birds and
the hybrid they produce (never shown in this way before) are very
impressive.
Another new approach is the
easily understood, quick reference double page expectations chart that
explains your chances of producing all of the hybrids and which of the
birds, and which combination of cock and hen, give you the best
chances of success.
The subjects of pairing,
feeding, housing, general management and exhibition are dealt with and
there are many useful tips.
This book gives a new
insight into breeding British bird hybrids and explains that luck has
a part to play so even an inexperienced breeder can come up with a
hybrid that champions have been trying to breed for years. Its a
valuable addition to the list of birds books currently available and I
recomend it.
Roger Caton |
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To See More Visit My Website at
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Above Aviary and inside his
Birdroom |
Expectation Chart |