By Michael Esposito
BRIMBANK has one of the highest populations of canary breeders in Australia.
Though news to many residents, the area is full of canary enthusiasts with spectacular aviaries full of the brilliantly colourful birds.
The Australian Canary Association in Sunshine West has more than 100 members, making it one of the biggest canary breed clubs in Australia, and Brimbank is dotted with several other specialist club members. One of these members, Ray Micallef, a Keilor East resident who specialises in gloster canaries, has about 60 of them in his bird room at home.
Ray has bred gloster canaries, characterised by their Beatlesque mop-tops, for 39 years.
He has judged in competitions all around the country and has won several Australian championships. Ray’s advice is to only breed a crested canary, known as a corona, with a non-crested canary (consort), else they come out “a little bit messy”.
Ray’s avian passion sprung from his family’s involvement in pigeon racing. When he moved to Keilor East he decided that pigeons would be too large to keep, so he became interested in canaries – which he exhibits rather than races.
“Once you let go of a canary, it’s hard to get them to come home,” he said. The Australian Canary Association, headed by president Charlie Cassar, is open to all breeds of canary. It is based at the Maltese Cultural Centre on Talmage St, and members meet at 8pm every second Monday of the month. For more information, call Charlie on 9363 2716.
