MONTICELLO, NY —Craig Russell, president of the Society for the Preservation of Poultry Antiquities will return to the Catskill Exotic Bird Club on Thursday, April 9, at 7:30 p.m. at 20 Crystal St. Accompanying Craig will be a collection of some of his most unusual and rare chickens. Probably the most knowledgeable poultry historian living today, Craig will give an entertaining presentation about rare and weird breeds of chickens and their relatives at the April meeting of the Catskill Exotic Bird Club.

By the time Russell was 12 he was showing poultry at the Lycoming County Fair. He started his collection of Dorkings in 1967, the year he graduated from high school. While in the U.S. Army in the 1970s, Craig visited breeders and poultry shows in Great Britain and Europe. Returning home in 1973, he began gathering more Dorkings, along with guineas and turkeys. Since 1998 he has been president of the Society for the Preservation of Poultry Antiquities.

The public is invited, and admission and refreshments are free. Call 845/794-7966 or 747-9370.