A familiar parasitic disease is decimating wild populations of doves and band tailed pigeons in California's central coast. Trichomoniasis, or canker as it is known to pigeon fanciers, is a virulent strain of a single-celled protozoan parasite that gets into the lining of birds' mouths causing lesions that affect their ability to breath and feed. The disease which infects species of doves, pigeons and raptors is passed from bird to bird by "billing" during courtship or by shared contaminated food and water. The California Dept. of Fish and Game stated that outbreaks occur periodically at this time of year when bird numbers reach a point that trichomoniasis can spread readily through the population but the disease poses no threat to human health.

The Squab Producers of California, a growers co- operative of 75 farms in the San Joaquin Valley, is the largest squab processor outside China. The plant handles more than one million birds annually. Most go to Asian markets such as Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea and San Francisco's Chinatown, but high-end restaurants in the U.S. and Canada are also large markets.

Squabs go to market at 26-30 days, about two thirds of the time required by a typical chicken. The meat has a protein content equal to chicken and a fat content between that of chicken and red meat. In the words of Bob Shipley, President of Squab Producers of Ca., "Most chefs consider it the ultimate poultry."

The beneficial effect of sunshine on the physical and mental health of pigeons is well known to pigeon fanciers. Ken Chatwin took this to heart in a recent renovation of his loft and fly pen. At the February 25th club meeting Ken provided us with a tour of his loft which now has wide windows and new nest box fronts which allow much more light to the interior of his loft for the benefit of both the birds and their owner.