A Hanoi man has dedicated the past ten years to collecting ornamental birds, amassing a collection worth up to VND500 million (US$21,570). 

Duong Van Chuong, 51, started researching and collecting birds as a hobby a decade ago.

Chuong looks for birds both inside and outside Vietnam.

He is also willing to spend as much time and effort as he can to find experienced bird artisans to buy whichever birds he has set his eyes on.

“[I] remember going to Singapore three times to buy a nightingale, or twice to Indonesia to pursue a golden zosterops somadikartai [Togian white-eye],” Chuong said.

So far, the man has added 75 birds, which are priced over VND10 billion ($431,500) in total, to his collection, including such species as the Togian white-eye, whiskered bulbul, warbler, and nightingale.

Each of these birds has special features, such as the color of their feathers, that are different from the common appearance of their species.

The latest ornamental bird added to Chuong’s collection is a white hoopoe with differently-colored feathers around its neck resembling a necklace.

Chuong’s birds are raised in an air-conditioned environment of 27-28 degrees Celsius, taken care of by bird minders and having their health checked by veterinarians on a weekly basis.

“These birds will not be able to find food on their own in the wild due to poor eyesight. Their [outstanding] yellow and white colors will turn them into easy prey for predatory birds,” Chuong explained.

There have been many offers to buy birds from his collection, but their owner has refused to sell them.

“I feel like I’m energized by listening to the birds singing while enjoying a cup of coffee every morning,” Chuong said.

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