Cage & Aviary Birds

FOLLOWING THE UNFORTUNATE cancellation of the 2022 Scotland's National Bird Show, plans for the 2023 event are well underway. Run by Scotland's National Bird Club with financial support from the National Council for Aviculture, this year's show will

OWING TO PERSONAL circumstances, Simon Devaney has resigned from the Budgerigar Society General Council (GC). Terry Tuxford, GC official, commented: “We thank Simon for his valuable contribution during his time on the GC. In accordance with the rules

“On entering Sclater Street, what purported to be a crest-bred canary was perceived on the adjoining tenements.” A lucky survivor of the great Club Row riot of 1923. For the full sorry tale, see page 14. Photo: Cage & Aviary Birds ■

THE PLUMAGE OF city-dwelling great tits (Parus major) is paler than that of their country cousins – and this is believed to be down to diet. The yellow pigment of the birds’ breast feathers comes from the insects they eat, which in turn obtain nutrie

AS A BIRDKEEPER, it can be challenging when you choose to go on holiday. Coupled with being a parent and tied to the dictation of the school holidays, it becomes a further challenge to figure it out. In recent years, I have resorted to a pet sitter,

A SHOCKING CRIME has been perpetrated against one of the world's most endangered parrots, which is facing multiple threats in the wild. The fascination, scandal and tragedy surrounding Lear's macaw (Anodorhynchus leari), is never-ending. The species

A GUY on holiday near me recently asked if he could see my Borders. After chatting, it appears that he has kept birds on and off for some time, still has his show cages and has bred 19 chicks from six hens (plus of course some cocks!) So there must b

AS I TYPE this, the thermometer is nudging 30°C in the late-summer heatwave – and yet in only a few weeks we'll all be at Stafford for the fancy's big autumn jamboree. I can remember at least one Stafford National when the morning dawned with a heavy

I KNEW it was important to keep fresh eggfood topped up every couple of hours, so with me at work my wife stepped in and helped. For this I can't thank her enough. Before I knew it, the pairs were ready to go back down again. In the previously unprod

FOR any newcomer who considers taking on foreign finches, I have an invariable piece of advice: visit the breeder. The advantage here is that it gives you the opportunity not merely to ask questions but actually to see where the birds have come from,

BEING elected as the chairman of the Parrot Society UK last November was an honour and this will be my first National Exhibition in that role. I am not new to the National, having assisted on the day as a trustee for many years. My interest in keepin

ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO The Fancy in 1923 DARK, dark is the night – indeed, so dark that we see not; welcome would be a ray of light! While the more devout were indulging in prayer, another section of the community was appealing to be saved from a horr

IT WAS made clear last year that the National Exhibition brings a sense of community and culture to the fancy that is unparalleled, and this year is set out to be just as brilliant. For Johnston & Jeff, one of the main topics of the year so far has b

THE National Exhibition, organised by the Parrot Society UK (PS), is the largest and best-attended hobbyist breeder bird event in the UK. This year's event will be on Sunday, October 1. It is located at the Stafford County Showground, which is well s

ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO Focus on foreign birds TODAY, many species of foreign birds are becoming scarce in aviculture. A century ago, the trend was the other way: the foreign fancy was gaining ground. The adverts in Cage Birds show the huge range of sp

Editor: Rob Innes. Tel: 01959 541 444 Email: birds.ed@kelsey.co.uk Deputy Editor: Laura Welch. Tel: 01959 541 444 Email (News): birds.news@kelsey.co.uk Email (Club News): birds.general@kelsey.co.uk Design: Focused On Design Ltd Email: design@focusedo

What is the variety like? SIMPLY put, a combination of the cinnamon and the opaline on one bird. When I started with budgerigars there were lots of opalines and cinnamon opalines about. Now, if I were about to just keep one variety – and one colour –

BRISTOL BS held the 2023 one-colour competition at Little Stoke Baptist Church, Kingsway, Little Stoke, Bristol BS34 6JW on June 12. The members’ competition for specialist and rare varieties attracted 26 entries and was judged by Colin Brickell, the

BEVERLEY CBS open show on November 5 will be held at Beverley Racecourse. This new venue will allow the space needed to accommodate the increasing entries of recent years. The excellent facilities will greatly improve the show for both birds and exhi

ON JULY 9, the UK Budgerigar Club staged its inaugural national open show, hosted at the Parrot Society's Summer Show at the Staffordshire County Showground. Jon Ashby reported on the event in Cage & Aviary Birds August 2 issue. UKBC National champio

ABERDEEN BS – September 14, Northern Bowling Club, Orchard Road, Aberdeen AB24 3DP, 7.30pm. Club business and inter-club comp date to discuss. New members welcome. Enquiries: 01358 721 550. ANDOVER CBS – September 16, Burghclere Down Community Centre