Canaries

TTS Canaries were introduce into the mines about 1911 and were used for many years. During my time down the pit only the Mines Rescue used them to practice with and they were fazed out in 1986 due to modern more reliable gas monitors. They used canaries because they were 6 times more sensitive than anything else to the toxic gas.Always wondered how they found it in the 1st place because it is odourless tasteless and you cannot see it

Sentinel species

PeterP and Priscus

Thank yoo

I can remember canaries still being kept at a pit in the early 1990s. At the mines recue station in Boothstown they had an aviary with a few dozen canaries in it. There was always at least one canary on duty kept in a cage outside the aviary.

They used Canaries, as opposed to Budgies, because Budgies had trouble smelling owing to their squashed-up nose!

why did they not use parrots cos they can speak and warn the miners, or even use, wait for it,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,A minor bird