What's in the issue

There’s nothing quite like the seriemas: two species of long-legged, long-necked birds native to southern South America. Not only do they look eccentric - they think they can sing! This week Bill Naylor shares his experience of these off-the-wall creatures, one of which - the red-legged - is quite widespread in zoos and bird parks. Something distinctly different, so it comes as no surprise that seriemas stem from an ancient lineage that also included the thankfully extinct Terror Birds! Elsewhere this week, we stick with the more familiar: British finches, canaries (some highly topical management advice), advice on the vital technique of fostering and the right way to keep breeding records. (There are wrong ways!) Plus an insider’s view of the successful Canadian National show of last autumn.