The ornamental birds of the Voermans family in Wagenberg have been the most beautiful in the world for twenty years. Year after year, father, son and grandson participate in the world championships and go home with a medal. But now that father Wim is struggling with his health and grandson Wouter is studying abroad, Werner Voermans is on his own for this World Cup.
With a feeding can in his hand, Werner walks in his shed past the cages full of brightly colored parakeets. Countless diplomas and assessment forms hang on the wall next to the aviary. “My father and I have been participating in world shows since 2002 and later my son Wouter joined us,” he says. “In all those years, the three of us have won 64 medals, 32 of which were gold.”
“I get my relaxation and pleasure from this.”
The love for birds has a long history in the Voermans family. Both of Werner’s grandfathers already kept them and through father Wim he also became infected with them. Ultimately, Werner also stabbed his own son Wouter (19). “I just think they’re beautiful. Every fool has his flaw and I get my relaxation and pleasure from this.”
Together they had 200 birds and the three of them selected the most beautiful parakeets for each World Cup. “We then trained them.” Werner runs his hand over the bars of the cages containing the competition birds. “You try to get them used to people. Because the better they show themselves, the better they can be assessed. This way you continue to select and the best go to the World Cup.”
“This is the first time in twenty years that I am not at the World Cup.”
But this year Werner has to go it alone. His son has put the hobby on the back burner because he is studying abroad. Father Wim’s health is failing him. “My father is 82 and is on oxygen. So then it just doesn’t work anymore,” says Werner. He did not want to include all the birds of father Wim and son Wouter. So he decided to bring them together and keep the 100 best birds. “I think it’s a shame, but there’s no other way.”
Ten birds will leave next week with the bird association for Spain, where the World Cup will be held on January 25. But Werner himself stays at home. “Normally I always travel with my father, but he can no longer come with me. So this is the first time in twenty years that I am not at the World Cup,” says Werner.
Or, despite everything, will birds still win a gold medal? “You never know that in advance. But I still have confidence in it and my father is still following everything closely.”
