The bird song contest in Thailand is an annual singing competition for male Oriental magpie-robins. It is a unique cultural tradition in Thailand that dates back over a hundred years. The contest takes place in late January in various provinces across Thailand, with the largest event held in Nakhon Sawan province.
When did the bird song contest start in Thailand?
The bird song contest originated in the late 1800s during the Rattanakosin period in Thailand. King Rama V was an avid bird enthusiast and is credited for starting the tradition of holding competitions to judge the singing abilities of wild Oriental magpie-robins. The first organized contest was held in 1889 in Bangkok and was supervised by the king’s court. This kicked off an annual tradition that continues today.
Why is the Oriental magpie-robin used in the contest?
The Oriental magpie-robin (Copsychus saularis) is chosen for the bird song contest because the males are renowned for their complex and melodious calls. They have an extensive vocal repertoire and are able to mimic other birds as well as human-made sounds like car horns. Their singing voices stand out from other birds in Thailand. The Oriental magpie-robin is also admired for its beautiful black, white and grey plumage. It is a common resident bird found in gardens and urban areas across Thailand, making it easy to locate contestants.
How does the bird song contest work?
The bird song contest follows strict rules and procedures. It works like this:
- Contest officials and bird owners set up large circular traps made of cloth or wire in forests and orchards to catch wild Oriental magpie-robins.
- After capture, the birds are transported to the contest site in cages where they are identified with leg bands and kept in small sunglasses-shaped cages.
- The actual contest consists of two rounds – a qualifying round and a final championship round which takes place on a staged arena.
- In the qualifying round, all the magpie-robins sing at the same time in their cages. Judges evaluate the songs and select the best 16-20 birds to advance.
- The finalists compete head-to-head in a tournament format. The cages are uncovered one by one to provoke the birds to sing. Judges compare their voices to pick winners of each battle until a single champion is crowned.
While the contests used to allow wagering, betting on the birds is now prohibited by law. The champions gain fame but no prize beyond bragging rights.
What is the significance of bird singing in Thai culture?
Birdsong contests are important cultural and social events in Thailand. They reflect the Thai people’s love and appreciation of birds, especially the Oriental magpie-robin. The tradition stems from Buddhist beliefs that see animals and nature as worthy of compassion. Birdsong is also admired for its perceived beauty, tone, and ability to convey emotions.
In the past, champions were prized as pets or status symbols. Owners took great pride in training their birds to sing and mimick sounds. Today, the contests are a way to carry on traditional practices and enjoy a beloved pastime.
Where are the major bird song contests held?
The three largest bird singing competitions are held annually in the provinces of Nakhon Sawan, Narathiwat, and Chachoengsao. Here are some details:
- Nakhon Sawan Competition – Held in the city of Nakhon Sawan in late January. It is the biggest contest in Thailand with over 800 birds competing in some years. There are festivities like parades and fairs.
- Narathiwat Competition – Held in the southern province of Narathiwat in mid-January. It also attracts hundreds of magpie-robins each year and includes cultural performances.
- Chachoengsao Competition – Held east of Bangkok in Chachoengsao province in late January. The contest scene here is more community-based rather than commercialized.
Smaller contests are held in many other towns and villages across Thailand from December to February as part of local traditions.
What happens at the bird song competitions?
The bird singing competitions are lively community events that draw crowds of spectators. Here are some key things visitors can experience:
- The sounds of hundreds of magpie-robins vocalizing simultaneously in the qualifying round cages.
- Watching the judged performances in the battle arena as bird owners passionately cheer for their contestant.
- Looking around the bird cage encampments and market stalls selling bird supplies.
- Enjoying the festive atmosphere with music, entertainment, and food stalls.
- Witnessing the excitement and celebration for the champion bird and owner.
For many visitors, the highlight is simply enjoying the incredible chorus of natural birdsong performed by the talented wild magpie-robins.
What is the role of bird owners and trainers?
The bird owners and trainers are essential to the competitions. They have extensive knowledge about magpie-robins and skills in breeding, housing, training, and handling the birds. Owners invest significant time and effort to prepare their birds for the contests.
Their key responsibilities include:
- Trapping and acquiring good specimen birds from the wild before contest season.
- Keeping the birds in aviaries and training them through exposure to sounds and songs.
- Transporting the birds to contest sites a few days before the event.
- Registering and handling the birds during the competition.
- Caring for the birds’ health, diet, and well-being during transport and on-site.
The best bird trainers have experience, patience, and dedication. They serve an important role in the annual tradition of the bird song contests.
What does the future hold for the bird singing contests?
While the bird singing competitions remain hugely popular today, there are concerns over their sustainability and ethics. Some key considerations for the future include:
- Animal welfare – Some practices like trapping wild birds and keeping them in small cages raise animal rights issues. Competitions may need to better educate owners and regulate treatment.
- Declining populations – Excessive trapping for contests is believed to disrupt magpie-robin populations already pressured by habitat loss and urbanization.
- Loss of traditional culture – Younger generations have less expertise in bird training, threatening the cultural knowledge transfer.
- Modernizing the contests – Competitions may need to adapt their practices and presentation for new audiences.
Addressing these challenges will be important to ensure the bird song contest tradition continues sustainably and ethically into the future.
Province | Contest Month | Estimated Birds |
---|---|---|
Nakhon Sawan | January | 800+ birds |
Narathiwat | January | 500+ birds |
Chachoengsao | January | 300+ birds |
Key Magpie-Robin Contest Locations
Conclusion
The bird song contests in Thailand showcase a unique cultural tradition and national passion for the vocal talents of the Oriental magpie-robin. While controversial at times, the competitions offer an opportunity to revel in nature’s music and bring communities together to celebrate generations of shared knowledge and practices around breeding, training, and enjoying songbirds. Ensuring these contests are sustainable and responsible will be key to their future, but they will likely continue charming crowds for years to come through their delightful and complex birdsong performances.