A joyous day with birds

Five-year-old Jannatul Maida was having the day of her life to see so many colourful exotic birds up close under one roof.

The exuberant young girl was seen enjoying herself and moving from one stall to another with her father at the fancy birds and pigeons exhibition in the city yesterday, held at Chittagong Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (CVASU).

The exhibition was jointly organised by Chittagong Bird Breeders' Association, Chittagong Fancy Pigeon Breeders' Association and Association of Avian Veterinarians, Bangladesh. Workshops and training for pet bird owners were also organised during the event.  

Sakhawat Hossain, father of nursery student Jannat, said, "My daughter loves birds very much. I brought her to this exhibition since it's a great opportunity for seeing varieties of fancy birds and pigeons in one place." 

Emon Chowdhury, a student of Premier University, and his two friends were among the hundreds of bird lovers who thronged the day-long exposition with their family and friends.

"We didn't want to miss this chance of seeing so many beautiful birds at the same time," Emon said in between taking photographs and selfies with his friends and the colourful birds.

Shamsul Arefin, deputy commissioner of Chittagong, told reporters at the exhibition, "Never before have I seen such a large number of birds at one place."

Chief patron of the exhibition, CVASU Vice-Chancellor Prof Goutam Buddha Das, said, breeding of pet birds needs to be encouraged to save wild birds and such breeding of birds could "generate income as well".

Near about 50 species of 150 fancy foreign birds and 100 species of around 200 pigeons were on display as well as on sale during the event, said Dr Saddam Hossain, executive secretary of Association of Avian Veterinarians, Bangladesh.

Budgerigar, Cockatiel, Lorikeet, Goldfinch, Eastern Rosella, Western rosella, Sun Conure, Blue Crowned Conure, Love Bird, Long-tailed Finch and White Finch were a few to name among the fancy birds displayed at the show.

A few noteworthy varieties of pigeons were Jacobin, American Fantail, Bokhara, Potter and Shakar.