When the birds are not competing against each other on Sundays, they accompany owners in their daily lives: perched in street market stalls, nestled in the passenger seat of taxi cabs or hung in wooden boats that cross the long Demerara River just west of the capital of Georgetown. It’s very comforting to my ears,” he said. He now has more than 40 distributed between his home and those of friends. Hours later, his aunt forced him to return it and punished him by rubbing a spicy ointment in his eyes, but his love for birds remained. He recalled how at 6 years old, he stole someone’s bird from the roadside, mesmerized by its song. Among those attending but not competing was Ryan Boodhoo, a 42-year-old importer and contractor, who felt the birds present were not as competitive as he would like.īoodhoo estimates he has won more than 1,000 races since he began participating 25 years ago: “For me, it’s not just competing. Sunday’s race attracted a smaller crowd than usual given the heavy skies and recent rains. They don’t sing for pleasure or because they’re happy: they sing to defend their territory or attract mates. The winning bird has poise, bravado and grit. The races also are not for birds that are easily excitable or get shy in front of a crowd. If they are molting, the birds don’t compete because their energy levels plummet when shedding feathers. In the weeks leading up to a race, owners care for their birds like professional athletes, giving them vitamins, calcium and wild seeds mixed with honey. “More people, more bets, more fun,” he said, adding that he has seen his business grow about 2% and hopes it will become even more profitable as the oil wealth flows, creating more jobs and expendable income.
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