INSIDE COMMUNITY EVENTS B2 TERRACE STA NDARD Raising rhea They’re not cuddly, but they’re fascinating to watch. An exotic bird farmer collects many species on north Terrace acreage. By CRIS LEYKAUF A DEEP, sonorous booming sound greets us as we enter the rhea field. About 17 of the exotic tall birds are in the rough pas- ture — some have hunkered down into small depres- sions, hastily welling up as we come in the gate. The booming noise is coming from one of the two full-grown males. He’s gota jong black and grey neck and malevalent cyes. Farmer Joe Huber steps in front of me as the bird stalks quickly towards us. The male rhea dips his neck at Huber, looking for an open- ing. Huber reaches out and grabs the bird’s thick neck. The two engage in the od- dest wrestling match I’ve ever seen. As Huber holds the bird’s neck it wrilhes wildly, booming and scratching at the ground in frustration. RUFFL Eventually the rhea gets tired and runs 10 a far corner of the field. Huber goes to a small shed ta gel grain, leaving me with the other birds. But the male rhea is sill keeping an cye on me, and sees a gteal opportunity. I’m out of my league — with a dog or a horse, I'd know what to do — but how do you defend ¢ yourself against a charging bird? Run? Act aggressive? ] opt to scream and Huber comes running oul of the shed. Later he tells me the birds can easily draw blood with their long beaks and sharp talons, Great. I make sure Huber doesn't stray loo far as we watch the exotic birds. Huber first started raising thea about three years ago. He bought his first pair for $4,000. Their oil is valuable, he ED FEATHERS — This male rhea isn't mad. He's actually displaying his explains, as it resists high temperatures well, and can be used by machinists. But in Terrace it’s hard to find a market for it The birds can also be eaten, and Huber says the meat tastes like ground beef. Non-fertile rhea eggs also have some value — they’re a beautiful green shade and can be carved and made into stuaning artwork. Their hide too is very strong, and is considered high quality. But Huber is more of a farmer than a salesman. He’s a bil out of his league when it comes to marketing. *T don’t know what is going to be the future now. It didn’t turn out the way they said it would,” he sighs, looking over the flock of rhea. Even selling the birds isn’t that lucrative for Huber. However he did sell three of SE re feathers for the white female in front of him. Spring is the time for courting. VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR Commitment to others unites voluntee FIVE MORE NOMINEES have been added to this year’s contes! for Volunteer of the Year, sponsored by the Terrace Standard and Overwaitea. The last day for entries is April 9, so please bring them in soon, Helen Haselmeyer brought in a dual nomination this week for Thelma Lindstrom and her son Leonard. Both are volunteers for the Terrace Regional Museum Society. For the last 12 years Thelma has been in charge of the cataloguing system at the muscum, keeping track of thousands of antiques, and recording new dona- tions. Her son’s been help- ing her since 1990. It’s a huge job, and at times tedious, but it’s im- perative the museum have a detailed list of inventory. A couple years ago Leonard tried to convince ihe museum — society's volunteer board to com- puterize ils data base. The muscuni finally got a grant and director Mamie Kerby asked Leonard if he'd make a recommendation on a system. Unfortunately a ready- made software package for museums cost about $36,000. The museum didn’t have that kind of cash so Leonard checked with the BC Museum Association and found a generic data base program which could be adapted. Then he spent a month working full time customiz- ing the program to handle. the muscum’s needs. “It was a fair bit of pro- gramming to do,” he ad- mits. As he has a degree in computer science that made him uniguely qualified to help. “Tt doesn’t have quite as Mamie Kerby of the Terrace area before many of the pioneers passed away,” writes Frank, ber- self onc of those pioncers. Kerby collected many of those old-time stories, then decided to preserve a variety of the old log buildings in ‘We are indebted to Mamie for her far- sightedness to preserve our past histories and for the time and energy she has given.” — Aileen Frank on Mamie Kerby’s dedication. many bells and whistles,’ he says of the program he wrote, ‘bul it’s wiltten spe- cifically for them.” - Coincidentally, Mamie Kerby was also nominated this week, by a former volunteer of the year, Aileen Frank. “Some 15 years ago Mamie Kerby saw the need to preserve the past history which lived. Kerby and her husband Fred were instrumental in establishing Terrace’s Herilage Park, a fantastic tribute to our cily’s past. the pionecrs had The buildings now house thousands of artifacts. Ever since then Kerby has maintained and organized them — he asks about $200 each — so he's lost the dis- tinction of being Terrace’s only thea farmer. The situation might not be that bad, if Huber had stuck just to rhea. But the 66-year- old has developed a love for exotic birds in his retire- men. 66-year-old Ted Huber has developed a love for exotic birds in his retirement. Pairs of peacocks parade about his 46 acres on Dover Rd., north of town. One has a nasty streak, despite hav- ing been raised by Huber since a chick. , That particular bird likes patrolling the top of the var- ious bird coups — all the better to leap on an unwary passing head. He’s done that to both Huber and his wife. I keep a healthy distance from the peacock, and try to keep un- der the various roofs, Added to Huber’s collec- tion are yellow and red golden pheasants, a pair of Reeve’s pheasants, silver pheasants, chickens, goose, ducks and more, Its im- possible to cstimate how many birds Huber actually has. While showing off the gorgeously plumed crea- tures he shares stories of other lost rare birds. Coyotes are guilty of steal- ing a number, and some- times the birds also manage to escape. When I ask him how he’s managed to bring such in- ercdible birds to Terrace, he the museum — ‘‘a must-see site for visitors and tourists,’’ writes Frank. The museum is also an important part of northwest school curriculum, and is a valuable resource. ‘We are indebted io Mamie for her — far- sightedness to preserve our past histories and for the lime and energy she has given,’’ said Frank. Despite her long history with the museum, Kerby protested it was too soon for her to be nominaled for volunteer of the year. “I'm still in heavy duty,” said the 75-year-old grand- mother. She estimates she probably has another year of full time volunteer work with the museum left, bc- fore a paid curator will take over. Kerby’s volunteering started long before the mu- scum began. She was in- volved with girl guides, brownies, Sunday school, a youth division of the YMCA, and the hospital auxiliary. Another voluntecr nominated this week is Louise Morton. Betty Stewart put Morion’s name forward for her 18 years of work with Meals-on- Wheels. Stewart is the pro- gram manager for Terrace Home Support Services, which runs the food support program for the elderly and disabled. “This volunteer job is not high profile, in fact, most people don’t see her doing, her volunteer work, except for the Meals-on-Wheets ate The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, April 8, 1998 - BI SECTION B PROUD PEACOCK — Ted Huber's peacocks prefer to perch on roofs and fence lines, so they can get a good view, Huber says the Terrace winters aren't too hard on the birds, though this one did lose a toe nail to frostbite after a particular- ly cold night. says he often gets them shipped air mail from Sas- katchewan. Huber’s hobby — isn’t cheap, He estimates it cost recipients writes Stewart, Morton says she first gol involved with Mceals-on- Wheels when a friend from church convineed her to volunteer, For some people, Morton is their only link to the com- munity. Even those who have family in town are sometimes left very much alone. Morton says she’s mil some fascinating people aver the years, but it’s al- ways hard for her when she learns of the death of those who have become — her themselves,”’ friends. Louise Morton As for what’s kept for volunteering with one orga- nization for so long, Morton suys she enjoys being able to help people. ‘T've been blessed with good heath,’’ says Ibe 66- year-old. ‘I like to think that if 1 needed help some- body would be there for me too.’ him close to $1,000 to feed all the birds during the winter months. And that’s despite the fact he often gets frce spoiling fruils and veg- Audrey Green Our final candidate this week is Audrey Green, nominated by Sandy Bul- lock. Green moved to Terrace from Kitimat in 1986 and immediately leapt — into volunteering, joining the Mills Memorial Hospital Auxiliary. Since then she has held every execulive position and says she’s currently becn recycled as first vice- president. “She gives tirelessly of her time by coordinating the first photo program (new born pictures), looking after car seat rentals at the hospi- tal, scheduling volunteers to operate the gift shop, and running the gift shop her- self,’ wrote Bullock, In 1997 Green voluntecred almost 400 hours for the hospital auxiliary alone. Her interest in. the auxil- iary has led ber to be a etables. ‘It’s ponna stop here,’’ he says of his collection. ‘‘T would like to get more but it costs quile a bit,’’ rs board member on the former Regional Health Care Society. And she’s now a liaison with the Terrace and District Community Health Council. , For the past several years Green's volunteering branched outin a new direc-: tion — the music festival. She started as a casual volunteer and is now the. building manager, coor- dinating, the three festival. Sites. “T enjoy the people I meet. more than anything,” says: Green, ; If you'd dike to nominate a: volunteer you'll find a form: on page B2 of this weck’s. paper. : All these nominated will be invited to the Volunteer Bureau’s annual luncheon. And (he grand winner — Voluntecr of the Year — will be treated to dinner for two at the Bavarian Ino restaurant.