Czech town hosts 80th canary song contest

The Czech town of Havlíčkuv Brod is gearing up for the 80th international singing competition for Harz canaries next week. Around 30 breeders from the Czech Republic, a dozen from neighbouring Slovakia, and half a dozen from Austria are expected to participate this year in an event which has been held without interruption since 1936. Czech breeders of the canary have dwindled from the 1960s, when there were around 3,000. The female canaries sing best after Christmas and in January with the males reaching a peak performance a few months later.

Author: Chris Johnstone