February 14, 2012 - Competitive finch warbling

sandypossum · 02-14-2012, 02:25 AM

Behold the Flemish hobby of "vinkenzetten", also known as "finch sport" or "concours de pinsons"

Vinkenzetten is a competition whereby finchers (finch owner/trainers) sit with a finch cage along a path with about 2 metres between fincher and finch. They count how many songs the finch sings in one hour, and mark this with chalk stripes on a special wooden stick. The finch cages have opaque glass windows, so that the finch has nothing to distract it. This way, undisturbed, it will sing as many songs as possible. The finches much sing the correct song; young finches learn the song by listening to experienced older birds. Some learn them from listening to recordings. If they sing other songs, these do not count. The winner is the owner of the finch that sings the most correct songs.

I have not been able to find any English language websites with info on this hobby (but haven't looked too hard yet). I first heard about it when I lived in the Netherlands. The Dutch have a bit of an amused attitude toward the Belgians, and I have to admit, this sort of thing does not help their cause to be taken more seriously.

sandypossum · 02-14-2012, 02:26 AM

Ah, can one of our Big Giant Heads please make the pics show? Thank you!

Sundae · 02-14-2012, 05:08 AM

Seems open to the possibility of cheating to me!
But as an Englishwoman I have never met the noble Belgian fincher so I am probably projecting my own snidely ways.

Aliantha · 02-14-2012, 05:19 AM

Yeah, I was wondering how they can tell if they've been cheating.

ZenGum · 02-14-2012, 05:38 AM

I guess test cricket was too exciting for these people.

I think the sound might be lovely, although I'm put off by making them all sing the same song. What song, I wonder? Finchland Uber Alles?

Clearly, some kind of Finch pie is called for.

Finch onion soup?

Griff · 02-14-2012, 05:39 AM

I love it.

sandypossum · 02-14-2012, 06:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZenGum

Finch onion soup?

Finch and chimps, perhaps?

Sheldonrs · 02-14-2012, 10:36 AM

Why does this remind me of the book "I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings"?

classicman · 02-14-2012, 01:54 PM

I love the woman in blue from the top pic...
Looks like she already fell asleep. Ha!

Sundae · 02-14-2012, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sheldonrs

Why does this remind me of the book "I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings"?

Because the birds are black...?

Oh, doesn't work.
Great book though.

02-14-2012, 02:25 AM	#1
sandypossum tri-continental dag hag Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Australia Posts: 247	February 14, 2012 - Competitive finch warbling Behold the Flemish hobby of "vinkenzetten", also known as "finch sport" or "concours de pinsons" Vinkenzetten is a competition whereby finchers (finch owner/trainers) sit with a finch cage along a path with about 2 metres between fincher and finch. They count how many songs the finch sings in one hour, and mark this with chalk stripes on a special wooden stick. The finch cages have opaque glass windows, so that the finch has nothing to distract it. This way, undisturbed, it will sing as many songs as possible. The finches much sing the correct song; young finches learn the song by listening to experienced older birds. Some learn them from listening to recordings. If they sing other songs, these do not count. The winner is the owner of the finch that sings the most correct songs. I have not been able to find any English language websites with info on this hobby (but haven't looked too hard yet). I first heard about it when I lived in the Netherlands. The Dutch have a bit of an amused attitude toward the Belgians, and I have to admit, this sort of thing does not help their cause to be taken more seriously. __________________ you're never too old to have a happy childhood

02-14-2012, 02:26 AM	#2
sandypossum tri-continental dag hag Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Australia Posts: 247	Ah, can one of our Big Giant Heads please make the pics show? Thank you! __________________ you're never too old to have a happy childhood

02-14-2012, 05:19 AM	#4
Aliantha trying hard to be a better person Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 16,493	Yeah, I was wondering how they can tell if they've been cheating. __________________ Kind words are the music of the world. F. W. Faber

02-14-2012, 05:38 AM	#5
ZenGum Doctor Wtf Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Badelaide, Baustralia Posts: 12,861	I guess test cricket was too exciting for these people. I think the sound might be lovely, although I'm put off by making them all sing the same song. What song, I wonder? Finchland Uber Alles? Clearly, some kind of Finch pie is called for. Finch onion soup? __________________ Shut up and hug. MoreThanPretty, Nov 5, 2008. Just because I'm nominally polite, does not make me a pussy. Sundae Girl.

02-14-2012, 05:39 AM	#6
Griff still says videotape Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 26,813	I love it. __________________ If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you. - Louis D. Brandeis

02-14-2012, 05:08 AM	#3
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	Seems open to the possibility of cheating to me! But as an Englishwoman I have never met the noble Belgian fincher so I am probably projecting my own snidely ways.

02-14-2012, 10:36 AM	#8
Sheldonrs Master Dwellar Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 4,412	Why does this remind me of the book "I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings"? __________________ Laugh and the world laughs with you; cry and the world laughs AT you.

02-14-2012, 01:54 PM	#9
classicman barely disguised asshole, keeper of all that is holy. Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 23,401	I love the woman in blue from the top pic... Looks like she already fell asleep. Ha! __________________ "like strapping a pillow on a bull in a china shop" Bullitt

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