Avian Science Notes May 2025

Contents:

·       New California Avian Bowl State Champions

·       Lassen County 4-H hosting Avian Bowl in Susanville

·       Once again, Avian Bowl is back at the OC (Orange County) Fair

·       California Animal Health and Food Safety (CAHFS) announces fee increase

·       CALENDAR

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New California Avian Bowl State Champions

     This year’s State Avian Bowl Qualifier was held at UC Davis.   Due to the poultry show bam, it was not possible to have the Qualifier at its usual time (late February) and at its regular home venue, the Greater California Society of Poultry Fanciers Show in Fresno.   All involved are grateful to State 4-H Director Dr. Kimberly Sinclair Holmes and to Dr. Erica Pettey, State 4-H Animal and Equine Sciences Specialist for allowing Avian Bowl a spot at the State 4-H Field Day.

      While it was different being on campus, the building was welcoming and Dr. Pettey supplied treats for the 4-H families, coaches, teams, and interested individuals who came from as far north as Lassen and as far south as Ventura county.  El Dorado represented the Mother Lode area, Napa and Sonoma counties were there for the wine country.    Stanislaus, Madera, Fresno had the valley covered and  Contra Costa carried the flag for the greater bay area.

      As usual, assisting Dr. Bradley were Dr. Linda Teagle and Mr. Aaron Teagle.   Junior Avian Bowl was very interesting.   All team members took a 12 Q multiple choice test.   The Ventura Eggplosions  were the only 4 member team and because there were 4, the lowest score was dropped.    They had the highest average team score and that is usually a very good predictor of who will win the head to head competition.  In Game 1, El Dorado Bird Brains beat the Stanislaus Fantastic Flock.    Fresno Silkie Girls faced Napa Naked Necks in Game 2, with Naked Necks winning by one question.  El Dorado Bird Brains met Ventura Eggplosions in Game 3 and the Ventura team eggploded with a victory.   In the loser’s bracket, the Silkie Girls knocked out the Fantastic Flock and then went on to beat the Bird Brains.

    Back in the Winner’s bracket, the Naked Necks put the Eggplosions into the Loser’s bracket.  It was in that bracket that the Silkie Girls narrowly defeated the Eggplosions.    The Naked Necks had won every game and then met the Silkie Girls who emerged from the loser’s bracket.  The Naked Necks did not remain undefeated, as they lost by 15 points to the Silkie Girls.   That meant each team had one loss.   In the final game, the Naked Necks ran away with the game.

     So, Ventura Eggplosions seeded #1, ended up in 3^rd place.   #3 seeded Silkie Girls came in 2^nd.  Seeded #2, the Naked Necks emerged as Champions.  They are Cole Damron and Penelope Paukert.   The pair were well coached by Dr. Amanda Paukert who happens to be the wife of Dr. Martin Paukert, a National Avian Bowl Champion himself.

    All the Senior Avian Bowl teams came in pairs, so no score was dropped when averaging the written test scores.   The Madera/Contra Costa Feisty Frizzles did well on the written test and were seeded #1.  Following closely behind were the Napa Omelet Queens as #2 seeds, and Madera Free-rangers as the #3 seeds.    In Game 1 the Omelet Queens blanked the Free-rangers.   However, in Game 2, the Feisty Frizzles put the Omelet Queens into the loser’s bracket.   Regrouping after that loss, the Omelet Queens gave the Free-rangers their second loss.    In the championship game, the Omelet Queens played well, but were defeated by the Feisty Frizzles.   So in Senior Avian Bowl this year, the written test seedings exactly predicted the final outcome.   Our new Senior Avian Bowl Champions are Kadence Erickson from Madera county and Tess Morici from Contra Costa county.    Their veteran Avian Bowl Coach is Samantha Downey.   The ever-busy teacher, she was over-booked the day of the Qualifier.   So Mrs. Evon Morici stood in for her.

      All the competitors deported themselves well.   The officials all agreed that overall,  the contestants were some of the best prepared they’d seen in many years.

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Lassen County 4-H hosting Avian Bowl in Susanville

   Do you want more Avian Bowl practice?   A change of summer scenery?   Well then contact the Lassen County 4-H Office BEFORE July 1^st.   Call (530) 251-8285 or email Sandy Fortin at sfortin@ucanr.edu.          As their Emerald Star Projects, Molly Dickson and Megan von Helf will be hosting an Avian Bowl in the Rabbit Barn of the Lassen County Fairgrounds in Susanville on July 19^th - 3 PM.

    Some 4-Hers have trouble finding Avian Bowl team mates of the correct age.   You can register a junior or senior team now.   However, if you need a team to join, Molly & Megan want you to register now and they will place you in a team of your age category.   What a deal!

    They are welcoming all 4-Hers and FFA members between 9 and 18 to their Avian Bowl.   Go and compete for prizes to be awarded to the top 3 junior and senior teams.

    Lassen county is a favorite with travelers looking for natural beauty, great fishing, and hiking.   And now they have Avian Bowl!    If you have never been, Susanville is a 3 ½ hour drive from Sacramento.

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Once again, Avian Bowl is back at the OC (Orange County) Fair

You might not be able to take your birds to the county fair this summer, but you can find great Avian Bowl competition in Costa Mesa.  Dr. Bradley will be judging.  

Competition begins at 5 PM on Wed., July 23^rd.

$50 - 10 will be awarded  to the first through fifth place teams, respectively, in both Junior and Senior Avian Bowl.  Plaques will go to both Champion Junior and Senior teams.  In both Divisions, there will be rosettes for 1^st through 5^th place teams.

Entries, fees, and all paperwork due by Sunday, July 6^th.   On-line entries only at:

www.ocfair.com/oc-fair/competitions-contests/animals/

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California Animal Health and Food Safety (CAHFS) announces fee increase

      Our nationally-recognized diagnostic laboratories (CAHFS) have increased their necropsy fee to $35 for up to 2 backyard chickens.   *Note: DIAGNOSTIC - the labs in the system are NOT treatment facilities.    You may take a recently deceased bird for necropsy.   You may also take sick bird and the veterinarians will observe it, humanely kill it, and perform a necropsy.   Anything you take into the Lab stays at the Lab.

    Refer to https://cahfs.vetmend.ucdavis.edu for information on how to collect and treat specimens, submitting birds, location of Labs and hours of operation.

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                                  CALENDAR

July 19 - Avian Bowl at the Lassen County Fairgrounds, Susanville; details above

July 23- Avian Bowl at the Orange County Fair, Costa Mesa; details above