JEDDAH: The Haraj Bird Market in the south of Jeddah hosts a lively, weekly public auction every Friday afternoon for amateurs, hobbyists and bird enthusiasts who make their way to buy, sell and admire a variety of bird species.
The auction features a wide variety of birds, from colorful ornamental birds to domestic birds such as budgies, lovebirds, canaries, cockatiels, rose-ringed parakeets and various types of parrots, in addition to poultry and pigeons.
In one corner of the market, a group of people quickly gather around an energetic and experienced auctioneer known as “Uncle Matar.” Sellers carefully place birds of different species in cages next to the auctioneer after which buyers examine the birds’ appearance, health and pedigree before placing their bids.
Once the auction begins, the auctioneer, “Uncle Matar,” displays the birds one after the other on the table in front of him and accepts bids starting from as low as SR100 ($26), until the owner of the bird agrees on the highest bid. If the owner agrees the buyer pays and leaves with his purchase, and the auctioneer gets 10 percent from the sale.
If the auctioneer does not get a bid for the bird, the bird owner then has to remove his cages from the display.
