Bird breeder's sadness at theft

Jim Shepherd had 14 birds and six eggs taken

An Angus pensioner is considering giving up his 60-year hobby of breeding and showing budgies after 14 of his birds were stolen.

Jim Shepherd, 79, discovered the aviary in his garden had been broken into on Saturday morning.

It was the second time this year he has been targeted. In February two of his birds and some eggs were taken.

Mr Shepherd spends about six hours of every day tending to his birds, which number about 200.

However, the aviary in Montrose Street was broken into overnight on Friday and 14 of the birds and six eggs were taken.

The burglary put the life of three newly hatched chicks at risk as their parents were taken.

Mr Shepherd had to blow on the chicks and warm them with his hands before putting them in the nest of another mother who had one chick.

I would always keep a few birds, but I wouldn't make it my life and I certainly won't keep so many Jim Shepherd

He said: "I was toying with the idea of getting rid of the birds altogether because I'm nearly 80 now.

"It's a long-term job this breeding birds, to try to breed winners takes you about five years at least, so perhaps it's maybe time for me to say goodbye.

"I've purchased expensive birds in the past and they've died within weeks, and don't think I'm the happiest person when that happens, but theft like this to me is personal, I mean why after all these years do they target me twice?"

Mr Shepherd believes the person who took his pets knew what they were doing because they stole his best birds.

He estimated that some of the adult birds were worth up to £400 and he does not believe he will get them back.

'Big hole'

Mr Shepherd was supposed to attend a display of his birds on Sunday in Dundee but was too upset to do so.

He said he put a lot of effort into raising his birds and even neglected his children a bit when they were younger because he spent so much time in the aviary.

However, despite his setbacks, Mr Shepherd does not believe he will give up keeping birds completely.

"It would leave such a big hole in your life," he said.

"When I look round and calculate things I don't really think I've got a friend that doesn't keep birds.

"I would always keep a few birds, but I wouldn't make it my life and I certainly won't keep so many."