Bird fanciers compete in a unique international tournament in Tunisia

Magdi El Saidi - Tunisia

The idea of ​​organizing a bird tournament in Tunisia at first glance is strange. The birds and other canaries, parrots and other birds were a hobby that attracted the attention of the Tunisians, but only a few expected that it would turn into a competition governed by strict standards and special regulations. Just like other sports.

The presence of a large number of bird hobbyists created associations of bird science and education professionals, which are organized locally under the Tunisian Bird Science Network, internationally under the World Bird Network, and then a tournament in which fanciers and all kinds of birds compete to win the various prizes.

On the 8th and 9th of December, the sports hall in the city of Bredes was transformed into a private space that hosted the first championship in the Tunisian capital of bird science, in which about 1500 birds of all kinds competed. There were parallel activities to explore the strangest bird species, For the sale and purchase of ornamental birds.

Special world
The aim of the tournament is to create an exchange relationship between the different breeders, as well as to expand the base of the popularity of this activity, and to preserve some rare species of birds endangered, as confirmed by the President of the Association of professionals of education and science of birds in Tunisia, Amin al-Vertani of Al-Jazeera Net.

Tunisia has seven professional bird breeding clubs. The clubs are Tunis, Algiers, Sidi Bouzid, Sidi Ali Ben Aoun, Gabes, Sfax and Zghwan.

The competitions were also attended by a large number of amateur and bird breeders in Tunisia, attended by more than three thousand visitors from all age groups, as well as the presence of a number of Tunisian and foreign rulers and observers.

"The breeding of birds and the identification of their characteristics and origins is a stand-alone science and attracts thousands of Tunisians who are part of professional associations," he said. Country.

In front of hundreds of participants in the closing ceremony, the Tunisian Network of Bird Science honored the winning societies and awarded the award-winning breeders medals and trophies in competitions of birds of birds, birds with sharp beaks, horned beasts and others.

Sufian Boualak is one of the professional bird breeders at Gabes Association (Al Jazeera)

Growing passion
Sufian Boualak, one of the professional bird breeders of the Gabes Club, belongs to the professionals of education and bird science. He participated in a number of decorative birds in various competitions and was crowned with one of the prizes. He believes that the Tunis 2018 edition has achieved its objectives, most notably making this competition a special window to explore the world. And the importance of bird breeding among Tunisians.

"The organization of the tournament has had a positive impact on the bird breeders, and contributed to organizing the activity and giving birds lovers the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful shows that took place during the tournament, as well as the purchase of some ornamental birds of all kinds and colors of the beautiful and bright."

The prices of the birds offered on the sidelines of the competition between 100 and 1500 dinars (between 35 and 520 dollars), while my husband was offered a parrot of the rare "Ara" rare amount of fifty thousand dinars (about twenty thousand dollars), as confirmed by Organizers.

And the growing fondness of Tunisians to raise ornamental birds indoors and gardens, and created the emergence of professional associations and educators who are breeding and selling birds and buy them a professional activity from them.

Nour al-Din al-Bahri Head of the Tunisian Network for Bird Science (Al-Jazeera)

For his part, the head of Tunisia's network of bird science, Nour al-Din al-Bahari, said that the demand of Tunisians for the breeding of birds is increasing from year to year. It is a generational activity that contributed to the transformation of bird-raising activity from hobby to profession, which has always attracted attention and broadened its base.

However, it does not deny the difficulties encountered in this activity, despite the efforts of the bird science associations, and the need for further support to strengthen the culture of breeding birds and protect them from the threat of extinction.

Tunisia's network of bird science is seeking to organize the world championship in the coming years, an event that requires financial support to secure the hosting of hundreds of associations from around the world, according to the statement of the island of the island Net.