AU 19 GHC 9734 Blue pied late hatch.  Bred and donated by Chris and Tony Melucci.  Only great friendship could get birds like this.  When I asked

my great friend Tony Melucci if he could help with an auction bird for the

Texas Center he never hesitated, but what he's given is mind boggling. 

He picked what Chris describes as quite possibly the finest young bird in

his loft.  Chris told me that she had already earmarked it for their own

breeding loft.  As we all know Tony doesn't do pedigrees, and because

Tony's health is not the best right now, I have been very hesitant to ask

for any info from Tony himself, but Chris was forthcoming with at least

some bits of info. From what I can gather the bird's sire is a blend of

Gallo Loft (Classic Boy fame) and Tony's own fabulous long distance

lineage.  The dam is a super "super" breeder hen that was a gift to Tony

from his great friend Bill Traw.  As I recall Bill Traw has some

outstanding Van Loons.  What this bird's heritage is exactly may never be

known, but what this bird is in the hand is as near perfection as you can

get.  My friend Bobby Devorsky handled the bird right after Chris gave it

to me for the auction.  I thought Bobby was going to lose his

applesauce!  He all but fell over himself when he handled her (it.)  So,

to put it in more subtle terms, THIS IS ONE OF THE NICEST BIRDS IN THIS

AUCTION, PERIOD.  Tony doesn't much believe in pedigrees, and never

has.  He believes in the BIRD.  If any of you out there are like Tony

and believe that the bird is more important than the pedigree, then you

had best bid on this one.  Almost never does one this nice even get shown

much less given up for auction.  Thank you Tony and Chris