Welcome to your Monthly Edition of the ANBC Gazette

Dear Fanciers,

Well, what an exciting time February has been! The ANBC is excited to announce that we are finalising television host and producer Jamie Durie as a featured guest panellist at the Friday Night Experts On The Perch during the Trill™ Expert 49th Annual ANBC National Show in Cairns. Jamie will join Media Commentor Nic Hayes and the ANBC’s very own Peter Thurn on the panel for an exclusive one-hour live event. Mark your calendar for Friday, May 23rd at the Brothers Leagues Club, Cairns, where you’ll have the chance to meet Jamie, while diving into all the standout moments in budgerigars from 2024/25. Don’t miss #ANBC2025 and #ExpertsOnThePerch – book your tickets now. Registrations need to happen by March 31, and this event could well sell out. Registration to attend the Nationals is $30 pp, and the Friday night Meet & Greet is just $45 pp – you can find the link below:

Social Media Policy
1. Overview and Purpose
The Australian National Budgerigar Council will be recognized in this document as “The ANBC”. Affiliated Zones will be recognized as “The Zones”.

The ANBC recognises that there is a massive explosion and growth in Social Media. Indeed, in many cases it is becoming the prime means of communications for the Clubs and Members in the Zones. For the purposes of definition, Social Media encompasses a broad range of online platforms, including but not restricted to:- Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, Linkedin, Snapchat, Youtube, MySpace and many others not listed here.

The ANBC recognises the importance of social media as a powerful tool and recognises the importance of Social Media in the growth of the ANBC, the Clubs and Members in Zones and throughout Australia and the World.

 2. Scope
The Policy is guided by the principles set out in the “ANBC By-Law 1A” and must be read in conjunction with the other policies of “The ANBC”.

3. Policy Statement
“The ANBC” are committed to engaging in Social Media activity transparently, responsibly and with respect. “The ANBC” expects the same commitment from the Zones and any deviation from such commitments may be subject to disciplinary review or other appropriate action and will be deemed as “bringing the hobby into disrepute”.

4. Your Conduct in Social Media Activity
It is important that the social media activity that the Zones engage in is in accordance with the aims of “The ANBC” – as laid out in the Constitution of “The ANBC”. The conduct of each Zone has the potential to harm our reputation and as such, you must be conscious of the behaviour and wording used towards others and about issues pertaining to our hobby. The following are very relevant points –

1. Ensure your Zone does not imply that it represents “The ANBC” or the other “Zones” in any of your Zones Official posts or comments “online”.
2. Consider when posting content whether it may damage the reputation or future of “The ANBC” or other “Zones”
3. Act with Honesty and Integrity, in an ethical and professional manner and avoid conflicts with other “Zone” representatives.
4. Be polite and avoid personal, professional or hostile communications or credibility attacks and keep your comments respectful, informative and certainly never condescending.
5. Do not post images or content that are inappropriate, adverse or offensive or that discriminate, intimidate or harass or are otherwise demeaning, defamatory or disparaging about any person or indeed “The ANBC” or other “Zones”.
6. Be sure to post accurate and truthful content and promptly correct any errors that you may inadvertently make.
7. Do not deny or affirm rumours – the comment should always be “No Comment”
8. Remember that online communications may be held in the same legal standards as traditional media communication.
9. Remember content may be Global – Social Media is “omnipresent” and can be viewed anywhere in the world.
10. Notify “The ANBC” via the Secretary if you witness any negative, disparaging or inaccurate content about “The ANBC’ or any other “Zone” on any Social Media Platform.
11. Use your best judgement as there may be consequences to what you publish. If something you wish to publish makes you uncomfortable – then rethink whether you should post it or not!
12. Exercise sound judgement and common sense.

5. Promotion of Birds on Social Media
This component relates specifically to the Zone Selection Shows to select birds to represent your Zone at the Trill™ Expert ANBC National Show. None of the THREE birds selected in any of the classes or the RESERVE from any of the classes that have been selected to represent any of the “Zones” at the Trill™ Expert ANBC National Show are to be promoted or discussed in any post on any Website or Social Media page until AFTER the show is concluded. Penalties for doing so may be applied – including disqualification of the promoted bird/birds or the Zones entire Team from being able to compete at the Trill™ Expert ANBC National Show.

6. Judges Code Regarding Young Bird State Championships and ANBC Show
If an ANBC Accredited Judge has been selected from a Zone to Judge at an ANBC Show they should exclude themselves from Social Media and Exhibition Budgerigar related Internet Activity for at least ONE MONTH prior to the Trill™ Expert ANBC National Show. They are not permitted to attend the Zone Selections for that Show nor be involved in ANY ASPECT of the Zone Selection Show to maintain the integrity of the event.

 7. Compliance With This Policy
“The ANBC” will be monitoring Websites and Social Media going forward to monitor compliance in this policy.

8. Consequence of Breach
Any breach of this policy may result in disciplinary or other appropriate action as noted in our “Constitution” – which could relate to or include fines, disciplinary actions or expulsion from “The ANBC”.

Warm regards,
Neale R Love
ANBC Secretary

Dear Budgie Enthusiasts,

Reflecting on our journey over the past three years brings back vivid memories of the first live streaming of the ANBC National Show in Victor Harbour. That pioneering effort, born of necessity during COVID restrictions, was met with enthusiasm and marked the beginning of an exciting evolution in our events.

At Ballarat, we built on that success by combining full exhibitor attendance with live streaming—tweaked for enhanced visual quality and broader reach—capturing the imagination of budgie lovers everywhere.

In Launceston, further refinements to the live streaming approach extended our audience both locally and internationally. The introduction of the On the Perch segment, along with the popular Hentley Farms wine tasting, added delightful new dimensions to the experience. Now, Cairns promises to elevate the experience even further. I am confident that exhibitors, along with their families and friends, will be pleasantly surprised when they arrive at the venue for the 49th Annual Trill™ Expert ANBC National Show

Looking to the future, exciting developments are on the horizon. In 2026, SQBBA will introduce another dimension to this already successful format in Brisbane, while BSNSW is set to unveil fresh innovations in 2027. I hope this trend of continual improvement will become a hallmark of every National show.

None of these achievements have occurred by chance. They are the result of the hard work, planning, and creative spirit of our dedicated ANBC working committee. I extend my sincere thanks to all the members of the committee for their tireless efforts—especially to Troy Holmes, whose facilitation has been instrumental in our success. I am also eternally grateful to our sponsors, whose backing is a strong vote of optimism for the direction of the hobby here in Australia.

To keep our momentum, we need even more ideas from across our community. While contributions from State and Zone secretaries are appreciated, I am certain many of you have innovative ideas that could further enhance our beloved hobby. Please do not hesitate to contact a delegate in your State or Zone with your suggestions, so they can be passed on to the working committee. The more ideas we gather, the better we can continue to evolve and improve.

Finally, I invite you to support the NQBZ raffle, featuring a pair of Ray Slade birds, with the draw scheduled for 31 March. Details can be found in this Gazette.

Warm regards,
Russell Ogden
President – ANBC

ANBC Judges Coordinator

The ANBC is currently seeking nominations from your State or Zone for candidates interested in sitting for the ANBC National Judges Exam. This exam is a vital opportunity for those looking to further contribute to our judging panel and to uphold the high standards of our community. The exam consists of two parts: a Theory component and a Practical component.

The Theory part will be conducted in the candidate’s Home State or Zone during either the first or second week of March. Two ANBC Judges will be present during the exam. If a candidate’s region does not have an ANBC Judge available, a Senior Judge—or, if necessary, qualified judges from that State or Zone—will oversee the exam. After the session, the supervising judges will forward the completed Theory exam to the ANBC Judges Coordinator for marking.

Candidates who pass the Theory portion will advance to the Practical exam, scheduled for Friday, 23 May 2025, at the Trill™ Expert ANBC National Show in Cairns, Queensland.

Your prompt response and nominations are greatly appreciated to ensure we can organise the examination process efficiently. The cut off day was the end of February, but please get these to me with haste if you’re nominating.

Thank you for your cooperation and continued support.

Regards
James Bader
ANBC Judges Co-Ordinator

Colours & Standards

Early in any year the activity required by Colours & Standards is fairly minimal.

This year is no exception with only one item presented for discussion by the Colours & Standards Delegates.

Again, I remind all that the document as listed on the web is the only guaranteed source for analysis, accuracy and dissemination.

It would really be nice to see a full AOSV class with 21 birds from all states and zones at the Trill™ Expert ANBC National Show in Cairns. That will allow many spectators to see varieties they have not even viewed or bred before, which can only be a plus for the hobby.

Regards,
Peter Glassenbury
ANBC Colours & Standards Coordinator

WBO Noticeboard

The Budgerigar Society is set to mark a monumental milestone with its 100th Anniversary Club Show, a celebration of a century of dedication to the hobby. Held at the Grand Hotel, Blackpool, from Friday 6th to Sunday 8th June, this special event promises an unforgettable weekend filled with expert lectures, top-tier competition, and a grand gala dinner to honour the occasion.

🎟️ Event Programme

Friday 6th June – Setting the Stage
🔹 10:00 AM – Staging setup begins
🔹 12:00 – 6:00 PM – World Budgerigar Organisation (WBO) meeting
🔹 4:00 – 8:00 PM – Acceptance of birds for exhibition
🔹 6:00 – 7:30 PM – Lecture: *Colour Budgerigars – Speaker: Martin Stieglmaier (Germany)
🔹 9:00 PM – Quiz Night & 100 Club Draw
🔹 All Day – Trade stands set up in the foyer

Saturday 7th June – Show Day & Gala Dinner
🔹 9:00 – 10:30 AM – Acceptance of birds continues
🔹 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM – Lecture: The HHW1 Partnership: A Modern Approach to Budgerigar Breeding
Speaker: Maarten Heylen (Belgium)
🔹 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM – Judging of Birds
🔹 12:30 – 2:00 PM – Lecture: The New Way of Modern Budgerigar Breeding
Speaker: Ali Bouresli (Kuwait)
🔹 4:00 – 6:00 PM – Show open to the public
💻 Major Awards Judging will be live-streamed during lecture time
🔹 7:00 PM – Pre-Dinner Drinks in the Bar
🔹 7:30 PM – Late – Gala Dinner (£35 per ticket)
🎤 Gala Dinner Speakers:

• Grace: Grant Findlay
• Toast to The Budgerigar Society: Carlos Ramôa (WBO Chairman)
• Response: Harry Hockaday (BS Chairman)
• Toast to the Visitors: Geoff Bowley (BS President)
• Response: Gerd Bleicher (Immediate Past WBO Chairman)

(All speakers will be limited to a maximum of 5 minutes per speech.)

Sunday 8th June – Final Day & Grand Auction
🔹 9:30 AM – Show Opens
🔹 11:00 AM – 12:15 PM – Annual General Meeting
🔹 12:30 – 1:30 PM – Lecture: Medical Issues in the Budgerigar Stud
Speaker: Marcellus Burkle (Germany)
🔹 1:45 – 2:45 PM – Grand Auction
🔹 3:00 – 3:45 PM – Presentation of Awards
🔹 Final Thanks & Closure of Event

📍 Venue & Accommodation
📌 Grand Hotel, North Promenade, Blackpool FY1 2JQ
🏨 Room Rates (Including Breakfast):

• Single Room: £80 per night
• Double Room: £120 per night

📞 To Book: Call +44 1253 623434 (Option 3) and mention The Budgerigar Society
🔔 Book early to secure your stay!

🍽️ Gala Dinner – Saturday Evening (£35 per ticket)
💌 To book your ticket, contact: Adrian Richards at [email protected]
📅 Book early to avoid disappointment!

Regards,
Ghalib Al Nasser
World Budgerigar Organisation (WBO)

Dead In Shell

By Terry A Tuxford

As usual year in and year out, results from the budgerigar breeding season seem to indicate that breeders have run into the usual snags and setbacks. It seems that breeding season problems appear to laugh in the face of experience and we are all prone to them. Here in the UK, wetter and warmer winters should be in our favour but it appears not to be so and dead-in-shell is high on the agenda for many of us.

When eggs did start to appear and with satisfactory incubation underway, fertility seemed to be good but many eggs failed to hatch. On investigation it was found that often embryos had developed up to the point of hatching but then failed at the last hurdle; to break free of their shells. This is known as “dead in shell”.

The trouble seems to stem from the time when the wind and heavy rains kicked in and the weather turned generally colder. However, as the chicks were almost full term it does not point to the cause of failure to hatch being directly the hens fault for abandoning the eggs during incubation. At times, the hen may stop incubating due to disturbance and the eggs will chill and the chicks die. She then starts incubating again and the fancier is unaware that anything untoward has happened until the eggs reveal themselves as being addled. The cause in this case is more likely to be a weak chick or a dry membrane in the shell.

When it comes to breeding budgerigars there are a number of measures of success in the breeding season. These start with quantity an end with quality. We all measure progress and success in the breeding period by the number of young that we have closed rung and there is nothing more depressing than have no more than a handful of chicks on the perches from a dozen breeding cages after three-months has passed and we finding ourselves at the end of February with very little to show for our efforts.

At this point we perhaps turn to thoughts of late breeding in future years and of the benefits of pairing up in March, even if it means missing the early shows. The truth is that the majority of birdrooms these days have heat and light built in to compensate for the dark and cold of December, January and February. A number of the “old style” breeders who allow their birds to come into condition naturally as Spring approaches use neither in their aviaries and so this naturally supports later breeding.

Some of the dead-in-shell that we suffer from can be attributed to the larger, longer feathered type of bird we are trying to breed and using birds that are very closely related. Close breeding can weaken a breeding line, so perhaps our chicks are too weak at the start or if they do survive, we lose them at one or two days old and both problems may be related.

Possible causes for dead-in-shell other than hereditary causes:

Poor humidity is often stated as a major cause for egg membranes drying out making it difficult for the chick to hatch. This makes little sense as we seem to have most dead-in-shell during the winter months, and the humidity in the UK is more than adequate; even if you have good heating. Other countries may find themselves in different situations, especially those with extreme humidity when chicks risk the possibility of drowning. However, taking these all into account, the budgerigar hen is pretty smart and is able to control nest box humidity automatically with her nest box behaviour. It is possible that very low temperatures could cause the hen to sit tighter thus causing the eggs to dry out internally but is unlikely.

One of the possible causes of poor humidity could be the type of heat that the majority of us use in our aviaries; tubular heaters. They are very efficient and quite cheap to run if the temperature is set at a comfortable but not warm level. However, it is essential that they are thermostatically controlled and between 5 and 10 degrees C would seem ideal. The downside of using tubular heathers is that they emit a very dry heat. This is further exacerbated by the insulation efficiency of modern materials used in birdroom today, which do a wonderful job of keeping the outside out and the inside in.

There are a couple of methods of improving humidity in a birdroom. The first is to install a humidifier, which will enable you to control the atmosphere in the birdroom to a good level of accuracy. The second, and far cheaper, is to provide the means yourself. One way would be to place a container of water over the top of the tubular heaters. Regularly mopping the birdroom floor is another.

Many aviaries suffer from a lack of ventilation, especially during the winter breeding period. Ventilation, without draughts, is very important to maintain a healthy atmosphere. We can feel the effects of feather dust on our lungs after spending just a short while in the birdroom so why subject our birds to it 24 hours a day. Stuffy aviaries with filthy air can cause unfit birds, which in turn leads to weak embryos and young.

Poor nutrition and a lack of protein should not be a problem these days but often is. A diet of seed and water alone is not sufficient to maintain our birds in a captive environment. It is good practice to provide your budgerigars with a supplemented, high quality maintenance diet and to start building them up with high protein foods in a softfood mix at least six weeks before you start breeding.

Lack of breeding condition in individuals which are not fit enough when put down to breed creates nothing but problems. Keep an eye on your birds as the breeding season approaches and during the breeding season to make sure they displaying all the signs of being ready to breed before you consider them for pairing up.

Handling eggs is an area of concern. Eggs should only be handled when it cannot be avoided. Temperature differentials between hands and eggs and rough handling can both cause fatalities. If your hands are cold and the egg is warm handling them will cause the egg to contract internally. As the shell is porous this can draw bacteria into the egg through the shell. Also avoid marking eggs with felt tip pens as the ink can potentially poison the embryo. This is clearly a low risk item but should not be totally dismissed.

Hens being excessively disturbed at night by vermin, cats and car head lights etc. needs to be addressed. However, the worst enemy is a cock with a high sex drive; he may go into the nest-box and chase the hen causing damage to eggs.

After considering these points which can all cause dead-in-shell, it is up to you to decide which way to tackle the situation. Providing good nutrition through a complete diet is fundamental to any breeding programme and something that should be easy to tackle. Keeping thorough records, making sure any breeding weaknesses are recorded. Provide plenty of ventilation in the aviary, pair up only those birds that are fit and wait for those that are not. Do not mark eggs and minimise the handling of them. Finally, remove very attentive cocks from the hen when she has eggs.

Treatment Options for Macrorhabdus ornithogaster in Budgerigar Aviaries

By Dr Hamish Baron BVSc (Hons), MVS (Avian Medicine),  PhD, FANZCVS (Avian Medicine and Surgery)

Macrorhabdus ornithogaster, commonly known as “megabacteria,” is a significant health concern in budgerigar aviaries. Despite its misleading name, Macrorhabdus is a yeast, not a bacterium, and requires antifungal rather than antibacterial treatment. Managing infections in an aviary setting is challenging, and no current treatment effectively eliminates infection from all birds. This article discusses past and present treatment options and best management strategies for controlling Macrorhabdus in budgerigar aviaries.

Megabac-S: A Discontinued Treatment
Megabac-S, an amphotericin B-based water-soluble product, was previously manufactured by Vetafarm Australia. Amphotericin B is a polyene antifungal effective against Macrorhabdus, but the discontinuation of Megabac-S has left aviary owners and veterinarians without an easily administered treatment. Alternative amphotericin B formulations exist but are not readily available in a user-friendly, water-soluble form suitable for aviary-wide treatment.

Megabac Plus: An Ineffective Alternative
Megabac Plus is a product available in the UK labelled for the treatment and prevention of:
•    Megabacteria
•    E. coli
•    Salmonellosis
•    Other bacterial infections
However, given that Macrorhabdus is a yeast, not a bacterium, this product appears to be ineffective against it. Furthermore, administering an antibacterial product to birds infected with Macrorhabdus could disrupt the gut microbiome, potentially worsening clinical disease in infected birds and predisposing asymptomatic birds to illness.

Sodium Benzoate and Potassium Benzoate: Potential Antifungal Options
Sodium benzoate and potassium benzoate have demonstrated some antifungal activity and have been considered for treating Macrorhabdus in birds. However, their use carries risks, particularly in hot weather. Under high temperatures, these compounds can accumulate to toxic levels, leading to metabolic acidosis and dehydration in affected birds. As a result, their use should be approached with caution, especially in warmer climates and treatment should only be carried out under supervision of an experienced avian veterinarian.

Fungilin Lozenges: Limited Efficacy
Fungilin lozenges contain amphotericin B and have been explored as a potential treatment option. However, the concentration of amphotericin B in these lozenges is low, requiring an impractically large volume to achieve therapeutic dosing in budgerigars. This makes their use in an aviary setting logistically challenging and largely ineffective.

Best Management Practices for Controlling Macrorhabdus in Aviaries
Given the lack of a universally effective treatment, the best approach to managing Macrorhabdus in a budgerigar aviary involves:

• Removing symptomatic birds: Isolating and, if necessary, humanely euthanasing severely affected individuals can help reduce disease spread.
• Reducing stocking densities: Overcrowding increases stress and the likelihood of disease transmission.
• Minimising stress: Ensuring a stable, low-stress environment supports immune function and reduces disease susceptibility.
• Encouraging a robust immune system: Providing a nutritionally balanced diet, adequate hydration, and appropriate husbandry practices help birds maintain strong immune defences. This includes fastidious cleaning of the aviary floors and seed hoppers and water dishes to prevent faecal-oral transmission.

Conclusion
At present, there is no completely effective treatment for eliminating Macrorhabdus ornithogaster from all birds in an aviary. While past treatments like Megabac-S provided a useful option and achieved a ~70% success rate according to our research, their discontinuation has left aviary owners relying on management strategies to control the spread and impact of infection. The use of ineffective products like Megabac Plus should be avoided, as they may contribute to gut dysbiosis and worsen disease outcomes. Future research into alternative antifungal treatments or vaccines may offer new hope for managing this persistent avian pathogen.

Ian Wise

FMC – A New Winning Name in Scotland

Words by D Bruton, Photographs by the FMC partners

In 2018, they exhibited at only five shows and called short their show season due to the heatwave affecting the condition of the partnership’s birds. However, two of these shows gave them a Best in Show award – Edinburgh BS (which had the highest benched entry of birds in Scotland in 2018) and Kingdom of Fife BS; also, three Best Young Bird in show; plus a total of 29 Challenge Certificates.  No doubt they would have been strong contenders at the Scottish BS too but for the fact that Tom was judging it.

Goals Not Set
Davy tells me that the new partnership has not set any particular goals; he himself at the age of 72 having won most of the major awards possible in his 42 years in the hobby.  For example, in 1999, as an intermediate, and in partnership with Gerry Dragoonis, he won four best in shows, eight best young bird in show and 30 challenge certificates.  He is proud of his record of winning the Scottish BS show four times and as he puts it, “hit the crossbar” three times at the BS World Show.  He has come second best in the BS CC list, and runner up Best BS Breeder of the Year.  Davy also holds the record for winning with a young bird which won best young bird in show and went on to win best in show ten times, at shows in Scotland.

Each of the partners have a few rares e.g. dilutes, texas clearbodies, recessive pieds and albinos but they move birds around their birdrooms to create good splits to improve them.  They also have a say in each other’s pairings at breeding time.  None of the partners has ever used a French moulter in their breeding team.  As regards the use of flecked birds in the breeding cage, Davy only retains 35 birds for breeding but will tolerate the odd ticked hen but ticked cocks not at all.

They haven’t brought in any out crosses recently but do exchange birds between themselves to create some new blood in their respective birdrooms.

Davy Fisher
I managed to visit Davy’s aviary for a short visit (30 minutes) for the purposes of writing this profile on the new partnership.  For me it was like going back in time…. in the nicest possible way.  Davy has not gone back to basics as he has never gone away from them! His system works as can be judged from the quality of his adults and youngsters shown in the photographs.  Cage fronts are plastic with a large access door with only a single perch and the desktop nest box and stand inside the cage.

The seed mix is a standard one of mixed millet and canary and is given in “jam jar” feeders, with the addition of tonic seed (including rolled oats) in the flight.  Millet sprays are the Chinese version.  No cuttlefish or iodine blocks are given; Davy preferring a mixture which he and Gary Shepherd put together in place of this which is offered in finger drawers.  Davy stopped feeding grit 25 years ago, instead silica sand is offered in “drinkers” attached to the cage fronts.  Davy tells me this is soluble and can be ground down to a fine texture by the birds if they want.  The partners have their own preventative regime by adding probiotics to the water on a planned basis.  In addition, three days a month, instead of water, the birds are given a mixture of cider vinegar and pineapple juice in their drinkers.  This is given to prevent any crop problems occurring.

The Fisher aviary is approximately 4 metres by 3 meters with 18 breeding cages, a half indoor flight, two air filters and an extractor fan – industrial model.  In the flight a show cage is attached to the rear wall to allow his youngsters to become accustomed to it.  The only natural daylight comes through the wire security door, if the outer wooden door is left ajar.  His nest boxes are of the “Moffat” desktop style which he made some 40 years ago!  Slightly unusual in design in that each has a nest pan and step in the box and sits on a raised platform.  At the end of the breeding season the platform sits inside the nest box – useful for disinfecting and for storage.

Quality Over Quantity
Davy retains only 35 birds for the breeding season; his aim is not to breed numbers but to breed quality.  He prefers one of the pair to be less long feathered than the other; in the case of the hen he prefers it to be “wiry”.  This year however he has paired up a pair of long feathered birds as an experiment!  During my visit I viewed some excellent cinnamons, spangles, yellow faces and dilutes, together with a few normals.

Davy, without boasting, informed me of some of the budgerigar names both past and present that have had stock from him. He recalled in particular the late James Hunt turning up in his red Ferrari one morning.  That must have turned quite a few heads in East Kilbride!

His early learning in the fancy came from a long-term apprenticeship and association with the late Jim Moffat.  When he first met him at his home, Davy did not realise that the unassuming person digging away in old clothes in the garden was the man himself.  That meeting led to a long friendship and eventual exchange of birds between the two of them.  Davy still refers to his nest boxes at the “Moffat” nest box.

It was a real pleasure to visit the “senior” partner in FMC, it was one birdroom that caused me to reflect seriously on my own methods, but I do not think my good lady would tolerate me making yet another major change to my birdroom.

One of the challenges he faced when he joined the partnership was going from Novice to Champion but this was overcome when his birds were winning top awards at shows.

Martyn’s 5.5 by 4 metre birdroom is made from prefabricated concrete panels with a flat roof and houses a block of 12 breeding cages and a further two single wire breeding cages.  He has an air filter/cleaner and an external air extraction system running most of the time. The birdroom is also fitted with a sink and running water.

The Moon-boot
When I visited him in late November he was off work, having had his ankle fused but it had failed, and he was currently awaiting a further operation.  As a result he was wearing a “moon-boot” and his walking and standing was limited.  Because of his restricted mobility, the other partners had taken away most of his spare birds and first round youngsters.  He was left with only a few spare birds and the 28 adults paired up in his breeding cages.

Like Davy he uses desktop nest boxes, albeit slightly larger than the ones Davy uses.  He too uses only a single perch (square) in his cages, which are 600mm deep with wire fronts (450mm by 450mm). However, if the hen won’t take to an internal nest box, he fixes an outside nest box to the cage and doubles the number of perches.

The dividers between each cage are made of a heavy gauge wire.  Martyn, like his other partners, pairs up towards the end of August / beginning of September.  He does not offer softfood to his breeding pairs as he says they don’t touch it!  However, he uses the same seed mix, silica sand and additives as his partners and follows the same feeding and probiotic regime as they do.  Chinese millet sprays are given to his birds after first being soaked in Vanodine.  He too uses jam jar feeders and his top tip is not to push the jar into the hopper too far, this prevents building up of dust/clogged seed in the bottom of the hopper.

A Mix Of Varieties
Martyn keeps a mix of normals, spangles, opaline cinnamon and cinnamon hens, dilutes and also one melanistic spangle cock which he has yet to pair up.  One or two of his adults are also split recessive pied as he is interested in breeding this variety.  There were no opaline cocks present but he did say he did not have any problem using one provided it was clean headed.

Both the cock and the hen have their vent areas heavily plucked before breeding but one of Martyn’s challenges is also remembering to do this between rounds.  An insight into the type of bird that the partnership aims to breed was given when Martyn plucked a grey green cock.  They are aiming for a bird with tight feather in the body and long feather in the mask area, together with a “good blow” and good back skull.  It is also very desirable for the bird to have a lot of soft under-down feathering, which was revealed as he plucked away the main vent feathers of the cock.  He feels such feather type helps a bird to stay in show condition.  The partnership is not looking to breed overly large birds and have a good idea of what they consider to be too large for their purposes.  In over nine years of breeding exhibition type budgerigars he has not experienced French moult in his birdroom once.

History of Some of the Oldest Clubs

The reasons for the merger included the fact that with new council regulations limiting the numbers of birds and, sizes of aviaries, and townhouse development spreading into the suburbs limiting the areas for aviaries, membership and worker numbers were declining.

It was a very hard decision for both societies to make as both had very long histories and traditions and both were very proud societies and had very strong views.  After members of both clubs held special meetings in late 1998, it was decided that both clubs should merge on January 1st 1999.

A ballot was taken of all financial members to decide the name of the combined society.  This was a very contentious issue as everyone had his or her own idea what the name should be.  There was a choice of five names and the Brisbane & Northern Suburbs Budgerigar Society Inc was formed.  Seeing this was a merger, we were able to retain the history of both societies, which was very important to all concerned.  Life members from both societies became Life Members of the Brisbane Society.

The first Annual General Meeting of the “new” society was held on January 14th, 1999, at the Bracken Ridge Community Centre, Bracken Street, Bracken Ridge. During the meeting, the following individuals were elected to office: Garry Menzies as President, Lynne Miller as Vice President, Di Neale as Secretary, and Keith Gough as Treasurer. Carol Gough was appointed as both Ring Steward and Editor, while Neville Spencer took on the role of Show Secretary. Bruce Gegg was responsible for Seed Supplies, and Errol Willey was named Chief Steward. The committee members included John Fuller, Ray Duckworth, Bruce Gegg, Ken Willson, Allan Kent, and Rory O’Loughlin.

The first combined show was held on February 14th, 1999.  Champion of Show went to Les & Fran Percy from Bundaberg with Henry George winning Champion opposite Sex, Champion Young Bird:  Rory O’Loughlin, a tireless worker for Sandgate Club earned the Encouragement Award.

The Brisbane & Northern Suburbs Budgerigar Society Inc has won many of the interclub challenge shows over the years and boasts more Australian National Championship winners than any other Queensland Society.  We are proud to have as Patron one of Australia’s most competitive winners in Mr. Henry George.

Unfortunately, smaller block sizes are affecting the membership of the club now and it will be interesting to see what happens over the next few years.

Meetings are held on the second Thursday of each month at the Bracken Ridge Neighbourhood Centre, Bracken St; Bracken Ridge commencing at 7.45pm.   Shows are held throughout the year, and we compete in all the Interclub Challenge Shows. Our members continually represent our Zone in the Australian National Shows and our judges adjudicate at all shows held in the South Queensland area.

We have a number of Life Members in Henry George, Keith & Carol Gough, Garry Heuvel, Errol & Lyn Miller, Diana Neale and Jean Spencer.

February kicked off with three Diploma shows – South West (formerly Colac), Melton and Geelong. The South West event incorporated the Budgies in the Bool event, which was well attended and a great feat regionally for the hobby – in so far as it made the front page of the Warrnambool Weekly. The Club was extremely well supported by locals FitzMedia, who promoted the event. Best In Show went to Peter Thurn, and Reserve Champion of Show, while Best Young Bird went to John Ennis, and Best Opposite Sex Young Bird to Peter Thurn.

The Geelong Diploma Show was a fantastic way to round out the month—congratulations to the Geelong club on an outstanding event! With over 40 exhibitors and 550 birds, it’s clear you’re doing something right. It was a pleasure to judge, and I saw some exceptional birds across the varieties that will no doubt make an impact at the Young Bird Shield.

A big thank you to my fellow judges, Steve Grech, James Bader, Glenn Mannix, and James Smith—excellent work, team! Strong communication made a big task much more manageable. Overall, a great day for the hobby in Victoria.

Well done to all the winners and everyone involved, and a special congratulations to Heath Chasemore on taking out Grand Champion! And to Ian Hunter winning Best Young Bird and Best Opposite Sex.

Looking ahead, we’re gearing up for a busy month with five shows on the calendar, starting with the highly competitive Adult Bird Shield this Sunday. Next up, Ballarat and Riverina take place on the 15th and 16th, followed by United and Border Districts on the 22nd and 23rd.

I encourage everyone to get their birds out on the bench—these events are a great opportunity to give them valuable show experience ahead of May. Best of luck to all exhibitors!

Regards,
Peter Thurn
President – BCV

In New South Wales this month, three Annual Shows provided a wonderful display of competitive budgerigar exhibitions. The Illawarra Budgerigar Club opened the season with 330 birds entered by 36 exhibitors. A standout performance came from Adrian Corner, whose Dominant Pied Green Cock earned the Grand Champion title in the Any Age section, while James Matthews presented the winning Opposite Sex bird.

Steve Wackwitz
BSNSW President

We look forward to a fantastic show season ahead and wish all breeders the best of luck!

Garry Hibberd
SQBBA President

The northern region is set to kick off the season with the Capricornia Budgerigar Society Inc. Annual Show, scheduled for 15 March at the North Rockhampton State High School Assembly Hall. In addition to the show, the club is well into the planning stages for its Annual Auction in June—a highly anticipated event that consistently attracts robust support from both vendors and prospective buyers.

Over in Mackay, the Budgerigar Club has successfully bolstered its financial status by hosting a series of well-attended sausage sizzles. These events not only generate much-needed funds but also keep our hobby in the public eye. The friendly, engaging atmosphere at these gatherings appears to have attracted a few new members, further enriching the club’s community spirit. Excellent work, Mackay.

Other clubs in the zone have decided to hold off on additional shows until after the Nationals, although they will conduct their club selection events in early May.

Preparations for the Trill™ Expert ANBC National Show in Cairns are progressing smoothly, and we are poised to host another highly successful National Show. In support of the event, our third bird raffle is currently underway, with a pair of Ray Slade birds scheduled to be drawn on 31 March.

Warm Regards,
Russell Ogden
NQBZ President

The North Queensland Budgerigar Zone are hosting another raffle to support the Trill™ Expert ANBC National Show being held in May – this time, a pair of Budgerigars from Ray Slade. The Raffle will be drawn on March 31st 2025. Tickets are $20 each and are available from Michelle Vidler 0457 088 108.

Ann and Mick from Animal Freight Australia donated the cost of transport for the last raffle birds. They were wonderful to deal with, they took all the stress out of transporting the birds while we were in the middle of a flood with high winds and the airport was closed for a short time. If I had to do this myself it would have been very stressful, thanks again Ann and Mick.

Jo Towler, President 

2025 Trill™ Expert ANBC National Show

The North Queensland Budgerigar Zone extends a warm invitation to all budgerigar enthusiasts, their families, and friends to join us in Cairns, North Queensland, for theTrill™ Expert ANBC National Show.

This exciting event takes place at the Brothers Leagues Club, a premier venue perfect for our championship. For your convenience, accommodation is available at the Cairns Colonial Club Resort, just 600 meters from the venue, ensuring a comfortable and enjoyable stay for all attendees.

Join us for a spectacular showcase of the finest budgerigars, engaging activities, and the chance to connect with fellow enthusiasts in the beautiful setting of Cairns. Don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity to be part of a memorable event!

The Auction on Sunday will commence around 1:30 pm, concluding the Sunday show events around 3:30pm.

Finally, the Presentation Dinner at the Brothers Leagues Club will open at 6:30 pm for a 7:00 pm start.

More To Do in Cairns
For those that would like to see a little more than budgies in boxes Saturday and Sunday, Cairns offers a variety of attractions including Cairns Aquarium, Botanical Gardens and Centenary Lakes, Cairns Shopping Centre, Tanks Art Centre or a stroll along the Esplanade and Lagoon.

Saturday 24th May Evening
Dinner Cruise – Spirit of Cairns
$170 pp
Saturday Night you can relax for Dinner on the Spirit of Cairns Inlet Cruise boarding at 6:30 pm for 2.5 hours – min numbers are required.

The WABC State Show & State Derby had a great turn out with 244 birds entered Les Trumper winning the State Show Champion Bird and Mick Gearing  WABC was lucky enough to have had a sponsor for the show being Jandakot Stock and Pet Supplies, they sponsored the Rosset’s for the show as well as a raffle prize this was greatly appreciated. We also had two of our judges John Patterson and Les Trumper complete their judging assessment and have been successfully promoted Senior Judges congratulations on making senior level judges.

The WABC are continuing to look for a venue to hold the 2028 nationals, although we are still looking, a number of delegates viewed a venue recently that appears to meet the needs so watch this space. We are also continuing to fundraise money towards holding the nationals and thank everyone who has supported us so far.

Looking forward to March, South West Budgerigar Club of WA will be holding their AGM, Young Bird Derby and Young Hens Championship and Metropolitan Budgerigar Club of WA will be holding their annual Championship show.

Cheers
Les Woodcock
WABC Secretary

Congratulations are in order for all the exhibitors, whose impressive performances elevated the day’s competition. Special thanks also go to the organisers, who, despite a last-minute change of club and venue, managed to deliver one of the strongest state shows we have seen in years.

Regards,
Mick Gearing

February saw significant changes at the committee level across various South Australian clubs, including the BCSA. The BSSA kicked off the month’s events with their AGM, featuring an insightful talk on pairing considerations for producing Rainbow budgerigars.

The first BCSA meeting for 2025 brought about some committee changes. Beau Schutz was elected Treasurer, while Brice Wheaton was elected as Assistant Show Manager, and George England accepted the role of Auction Coordinator, ably assisted by John Mulley and Troy Holmes. Ian Wise stepped down from his Council roles as BCSA Treasurer, Auction Coordinator and Show Manager. The BCSA extends its heart felt gratitude to Ian for his contributions.

Finally, the BSSA is seeking expressions of interest for a bus tour to Melton Auction in July, with the potential for an aviary visit included. If you’re keen for a budgie social outing interstate, this could be the event for you! Get in touch with Janet Harris, BSSA Social Coordinator.

Preparing Your Birds Workshop

🗓 Date: Tuesday, March 4^th 2025
📍 Location: Unley Community Centre, 18 Arthur St Unley

Join the BSSA for their workshop on how to prepare birds for Show, featuring Club members Wayne Weidenhofer and Kelwyn Kakoschke showing their tricks of the trade. The night will also feature a sale night of birds, weather permitting.

🗓 Date: Sunday, March 16^th 2025
📍 Location: Peter & Polly’s, Tiddy Widdy Beach

Join the Port Pirie Budgerigar Society for their quarterly catch up, including an aviary tour at the residence of Pete & Polly on Sunday, March 16th. The event will start at 11 AM at their residence in Tiddy Widdy Beach. If you’ve never attended a Port Pirie meeting before, you’re in for a delightful experience. This unique daytime gathering includes a shared lunch and an aviary tour, offering a different and enjoyable experience. The Port Pirie Club is known for its warm and welcoming atmosphere, making it an ideal Sunday outing and a perfect day trip to the Yorke Peninsula, near the Ardrossan area. Please be sure to let Peter know if you’re coming, so nobody goes home hungry. Don’t miss out on this opportunity for a wonderful social event and a chance to connect with fellow budgerigar enthusiasts, while experiencing a Yorke Peninsula food coma in the sands of Tiddy Widdy. For more information, contact Peter Glassenbury on 0409 288 710.

In February, both the Coastal Budgerigar Society and the Northern Tasmanian Budgerigar Society held their Annual Diploma Shows, delivering a series of exceptional events for the Tasmanian budgerigar community.

Coastal Budgerigar Society Show
Celebrating its 50th year of shows, the Coastal Budgerigar Society opened the season on 1 February 2025 with distinguished judges Malcolm Randall and Robert Randall from Victoria. Highlights included J & J Fletcher’s Grand Champion Bird of Show and Champion Any Age, while the Charlesworth Family impressed with the Champion Young Bird of Show and Diploma Winner. Ian Murfett showcased the Champion Young Bird Opposite Sex and Michael Jones presented the Reserve Champion Young Bird. A robust turnout across four exhibition classes contributed to a successful and engaging event.