Welcome to your Monthly Edition of the ANBC Gazette

Dear Fanciers,

The time is quickly approaching for the Club and Zone selections. I’m sure that everyone is hopeful of having their birds selected for their respective Club teams, in preparation for the big days ahead. Each Zone likely has information on how to prepare birds, and it should be readily available to their members. Zone Carers are also available for any information or assistance regarding these preparations.

The truth is, most breeders aiming for their birds to be selected for Zone teams have been preparing for a few weeks now, leaving no stone unturned in their preparation regime. This will likely include a change in diet, feather maintenance, and beginning the process of spraying the team. I encourage everyone to review ANBC Attachment 6 to ANBC By-Law 10, and ensure that all your members are aware of the details outlined in that attachment.

The ANBC is also preparing for the end-of-financial-year requirements and the very important 2025 AGM, which will be held in June following this year’s National in Cairns. Motions for the AGM closed yesterday.

March marked another exciting milestone for the ANBC with the announcement of a new sponsor, NCA Custom Cages. Led by Josh Portch, the team at NCA Custom Cages are now the official cage suppliers to the ANBC. Their high-quality craftsmanship will be on display once again at this year’s Nationals in Cairns, where attendees can look forward to viewing another impressive showcase from the NCA team.

NCA have generously provided another cage to be raffled off as part of the ANBC event – details are in the NQBZ section of the Gazette.

CGU, the ANBC insurance underwriter, has introduced a new requirement for events expected to attract more than 500 attendees or that run for more than one day: an Event Risk Assessment must be completed and submitted.

To support clubs in meeting this requirement, CGU has provided a template which Canary & Cage Birds hold. This can be used if your club does not already have a risk assessment format in place. The template outlines various potential risks—many of which may not apply to your event. Clubs are encouraged to delete or mark fields as “N/A” where appropriate. The purpose of the risk assessment is to demonstrate that clubs are actively identifying potential risks and taking steps to mitigate or prevent them. Completing the assessment will also help affiliates be prepared to respond effectively should an incident occur.

The requirement to provide estimated attendance figures is simply to assist in understanding the scale and overall risk exposure of each event. Please note: this does not affect the insurance policy coverage—only the underwriter’s requirement for risk information.

Key Points:
Notification of Events: Clubs must notify the Canary & Caged Bird Federation of Australia (CCBFA) of their event name, dates, and venue/address (if known) by the end of October for events planned in the following calendar year.

Insurance Certificate: Upon payment of your club’s affiliation and insurance renewal, a general insurance certificate will be issued as usual. This will enable clubs to begin making bookings.

Events Requiring Risk Assessment: All shows, sales, auctions, conventions, and other events that either:

1. Exceed 500 attendees, or;
2. Extend over more than one day

must submit an Event Risk Assessment to the CCBFA Secretary as soon as the venue name/address and event dates are known. If using the same venue in future years, only the event date and estimated number of attendees need to be provided.

Once the Event Risk Assessment has been submitted and approved, an amended insurance certificate will be issued, officially endorsing the event. Only then will the event be fully insured.

Our ANBC supporter shirts are currently in production, just in time for the big event in Cairns this May! Check out the preview below – don’t they look fantastic?

There’s still time to place an order! While new orders won’t arrive before the nationals, you can still get your hands on one by contacting me directly.

Finally, the official ring colour sequence from 2025 to 2030 can be revealed. It is:

2025 – Black
2026 – Dark Green
2027 – Violet
2028 – Gold *******
2029 – Dark Blue
2030 – Red

ANBC has officially changed to Gold in 2028*****. This change has been confirmed by Coditech.

Warm regards,
Neale R Love
ANBC Secretary

Dear Budgie Enthusiasts,

The ANBC working committee has been working diligently behind the scenes, exploring many and varied ideas on how to improve the National Show and the organisation of the ANBC. They are getting closer to presenting a proposal to the ANBC delegates for consideration, which hopefully will meet the approval of those delegates and the membership as a whole, and see our wonderful hobby become even better into the future.

Further work is being done in regards to attempting to secure a more financially viable future for the ANBC with regards to easing the financial burden on the zones. Not an easy task in these trying financial times but I’m happy to say we are making some progress. We just have to keep taking those little steps to success.

I might be dreaming, but I have a vision of one day the ANBC being on an equal footing with the big hitters of the recreational world such as the Australian National Kennel Council, Masters Swimming Australia or Little Athletics etc. and receive similar recognition and financial backing as those organisations receive both from government departments and the commercial world. Let’s make those dreams a reality!

Warm regards,
Russell Ogden
President – ANBC

ANBC Judges Coordinator

With just under 8 weeks until the ANBC National Show, the excitement is building.

Based on the shows I’ve attended as an Exhibitor and Judge, the signs are incredibly promising for what looks set to be an excellent National Show. Exhibitors are brimming with enthusiasm, and there’s a palpable sense of anticipation in the air.

Feedback from other States and Zones reflects similar sentiments, reinforcing these positive impressions. The quality of birds being benched is remarkable, showing great promise across all Exhibitor Statuses, an encouraging sign for the competition.

As always, condition of the birds can play a pivotal role in some Judging decisions, which is to be expected at this stage of the year. We’re also seeing a few Exhibits on the show bench that are not comfortable in their cages, just not enjoying being in a show cage, a natural occurrence and somewhat expected at this stage of the year.

For exhibitors, the next six weeks are crucial. Use this time wisely to ensure your show team is in peak condition and provide them with additional time in the show cage to acclimate. Don’t hesitate to seek advice from your State or Zone National Team Carers, who can offer valuable tips and guidance as you prepare your birds for the upcoming State or Zone selections.

Regards
James Bader
ANBC Judges Co-Ordinator

Colours & Standards

Included in the minutes for C & S dated 17th May 2023 was a determination reviewing a motion looking to adopt an Australian Standard for Melanistic Spangles.
That determination for future action was redirected back to States and Zones to liaise with their breeders to accumulate data for consideration by C & S.

To date C & S have only received one response from a SA breeder regarding results with one pairing. To achieve any analysis of data greater participation is required to allow C & S to draw any conclusions or outcomes.

In the interim the following instruction remains as to exhibition of this varietal variation and the position will remain unchanged in the Standard as currently described. Birds must be penalized for lack of markings and also penalized for markings that are considered too heavy to meet that current descriptors.

We again urge States and Zones to seek the required information and data collection and if not forthcoming the situation with Melanistic Spangles will simply lapse through a lack of interest.

Garry Menzies [email protected] is the C & S contact should any further interest be forthcoming.

Regards,
Peter Glassenbury
ANBC Colours & Standards Coordinator

WBO Noticeboard

Join us in the UK for a spectacular weekend celebrating 100 years of The Budgerigar Society! This milestone event promises top-tier competition, insightful lectures from international experts, and a grand gala dinner to mark the occasion.

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)

Size Counts

By Dave Turner

One of the pleasures of stewarding is that you learn how diverse the approaches taken by different judges can be. This is not intended as a criticism because there is no absolute standard for judging the quality of a budgie and each and every one of us has their own priorities. One judge surprised me by telling me that size, and by that he meant bulk, was all important for him. Size, including head size, spot size and length of feather (but not it seems length of tail or flights).

In the early days of the fancy much of the appeal of the budgerigar lay in the multiple colour mutations that had emerged in the domestically bred population and which were carefully nurtured. Budgerigar genetics seemed focussed largely on colour. Genetics for Budgerigar Breeders first published by the BS in 1961, with a second edition in1986, refers to the pioneering work of Cremer and Duncker in the 1920s and 1930s. In the 1930s when Dr M D S Armour wrote the first edition of his booklet “Inbreeding Budgerigars”, reprinted in 1952, one of his prime concerns, on my reading of the text, was how to achieve a buttercup yellow in the yellows which we now call dilutes. The yellow, as a colour, has now largely been replaced by the lutino where it easier to breed a bird with a clear yellow colour. Indeed even in the 1986 edition of Genetics for Budgerigar Breeders the first 111 pages are devoted to the genetics of colour while the only the last 25 pages, chapter 15, cover the general topic of genetics. However the principles described in those final pages seem to have been taken to heart.

The Modern Bird

Over the past 30 or so years by careful selection, line breeding and inbreeding we now have a large heavily feathered bird which is miles away from the originals imported by Gould over a century and a half ago. The illustrations to the article by Eric Peake in the July/August 2016 issue of The Budgerigar shows how far the birds have “progressed” in the last thirty years. This comes at a price: at the same time a number of problems which have existed for years have started to emerge in an aggravated form.  The principal of these problems seem to me to be fertility, longevity, hardiness and feather related conditions like cysts, excessive feathering affecting eyes and in the extreme feather dusters. Meanwhile the old scourge, French Moult, always seems to be lying in wait. The extent and frequency of all these problems arises from our breeding programmes which have been focussed on the physical manifestations of the characteristics that we regard as desirable. Those programmes are based on the traditional tools of population selection, line breeding and in breeding.

This can occur in nature when through a chance mating the genes supporting a favourable characteristic are doubled up to fix that characteristic. The characteristic can be the result of a mutation or a pre-existing recessive gene. However that visible characteristic can easily be lost by a subsequent “wrong” mating of the bird manifesting it, and it returns beneath the surface in the next generation.  To effect any change in the general population requires an isolated group within which any genetic “advance” can avoid being washed out by dilution. A graphic example of what can be achieved by selection in flowers showing both an increase and decrease in flower size is shown on the Scitable website under “The Breeders Equation”. Here the researchers took two hundred exemplars of both large and small blooms of yellow monkey flowers and let each group breed by random matings but in isolation for only six generations. The results were spectacular. The importance of isolation was only identified in the 1930s by Dobzhansky and the identification of its key role was an important step in explaining how Darwin’s thesis of evolution could in fact work. The budgerigar in the wild ranges all over large areas of Australia constantly seeking fresh sources of rainfall and food. As I understand it, the constant movement and dispersion of the wild budgerigar results in there being no isolated pockets of the population where a new variant could take hold even though from time to time “sports” are observed.

Line breeding

Once the colour mutations started to emerge in birds in captivity breeders started to apply the principles of controlled breeding that for centuries had been used for domesticated animals and birds, such as pigeons and poultry, in order to fix characteristics by mating the new mutant back to parents and other related birds. This is of course line breeding which was practised initially and most notably by breeders of thoroughbred racehorses and subsequently copied by breeders of cattle, sheep and other domesticated stock. Recently it has been established that ninety five per cent of all modern thoroughbreds trace their lineage back to the Darley Arabian, a stallion that was imported in 1704: the other two stallions Godolphin Barb and Byerley Turk also imported in the early 1700s do not have such a predominant influence. One of the most celebrated horses descended from him was Eclipse who was never beaten and had to be retired to stud for lack of competition.

How much of Darley Arabian’s gene base is still present could now be established for any of his descendants by genetic DNA analysis but as both the dam and sire of such a horse almost certainly share their ancestry there is a good chance of a significant genetic influence. If as budgie breeder you have a computer program that gives you a read out for common blood for a prospective pairing you have probably also been made aware of the importance of particular birds in your stud. This is where getting a detailed pedigree from a breeder can be very valuable.

When I came back into the fancy at the end of 2001 I was lucky enough to purchase a very decent hen from Gerald Binks. In its pedigree was a Jim Moffat bred light green cock bird from 1998. I went back to Gerald for more birds over the years looking for the same line. Some of the other birds purchased did not have an identifiable pedigree because they had been moved from their parents but several were light greens so could have been from the same line. Even after 14 generations the original Moffat bird shows up in some prospective pairings at 2.4 %. The likelihood is that the percentage is even higher. You may comment that my birds have not achieved the same level of success as did those of Jim Moffat but there are a number that have managed to scrape the odd CC here and there! I at least am grateful for the contribution that that bird has made to giving me satisfaction in my chosen hobby. There are other birds from other well known fanciers that play a similar role.

The problem with traditional line breeding is that it seeks to establish the characteristics of one bird. That bird will not be perfect in all its characteristics: after all which breeder is going to sell the Eclipse of their stud? There is a danger that you reach an effective road block to further progress. This line breeding is however only one form of inbreeding and is relatively difficult to achieve with budgerigars due to their relatively short life span these days and therefore the limited number of pairings that can be achieved without recourse to artificial insemination.

Inbreeding

Our understanding of the effects of inbreeding only really developed in the 20th Century. It started with the rediscovery of the importance of the work of the Czech monk Gregor Mendel. Mendel’s painstaking and voluminous experiments with peas which he collated meticulously would have been totally wasted effort without his mathematical insights reviewing the data he had assembled and discerning a pattern to those results. Mendel identified the fundamental principle that heredity of characteristics is transmitted by discrete parts of living organisms which we now call “genes”. Forty or so years later at least three subsequent researchers working more or less contemporaneously to identify the mechanics of heredity also “discovered” similar patterns but sadly for them they had to be disappointed and to recognise that that they were not the first. An explosion of further research took place and the complexity of the operations of these “genes” was soon revealed, in particular the complexity of their interaction with other genes. As at that time the actual genes could not be isolated, researchers had to work with the physical manifestations, the “Phenotypes” that the genes in the “Genotypes” produced. They soon discovered that when you moved away from pure bred phenotypes and their hybrids and started re-hybridising their offspring the expected results, such as we are familiar with in relation to greens and blues did not occur over a large series of crosses.

The famous statistician Sir Ronald Fisher, initially a spare time enthusiast of Mendelian genetics who ended his career as the Balfour Professor of Genetics at Cambridge University, considered the impact of the interaction of multiple interdependent genes producing a particular physical trait. If you have three different genes affecting a trait, this makes a total of six gametes, a gamete being a sperm cell or ovum each having only half the gene’s constituent parts, making up the three genes. Assuming there is no gamete that is common to each parent, because three gametes come from each parent which gives you a total of sixty four potentially different combinations, giving rise to potentially sixty four different phenotypes. Increase the three to ten interacting genes gives you a total potential population of separate genotypes in the region of fifty nine thousand. What inbreeding does is to reduce the number of differences in the genes shared by the two parents and thereby reduces the number of potentially different phenotypes.

Inbreeding, however, has a depressive effect described by Dr Armour as bringing the dirt to the surface in many ways such as manifesting inherited recessive weaknesses or defects. However it also concentrates the good features in a small number of specimens and these are the ones the breeder selects in the hope that by combining and then recombining them progress will be made to establish with a degree of consistency the good features that we seek. It is a complicated process which is made more difficult by the fact genes do not act as we tend instinctively to think by mixing in the good to improve the bad, like red and yellow to produce orange. Also we tend to judge the value to a breeding programme of a particular bird by its visual appearance in relation to that of the models and drawings established by the BS and not to consider other non visual characteristics that are equally important. Consider for example that stunning hen bird that wins CCs because it looks like a cock bird but then stubbornly refuses to breed. This could be because having concentrated on the visual appearances you have also concentrated non visually evident genetic factors that are prejudicial to reproduction.

Stud Size and the Bell Curve

The maintenance of a good stud is based on good animal husbandry without which no breeder can hope to make progress. If they don’t breed or rear healthy chicks you are obviously without hope and will soon give up in despair. However, you can develop a family of promising birds and then it dies out and there is seemingly nothing that you can do about it. You feel that you know a fair amount about budgies and that you have followed all the advice of the pundits which in the past has worked for you. You check all the possible factors that you may have changed.  This decline may not always be your fault and this where size counts once again. This time it is not bird size but stud size.

Even the top breeders produce some very average birds and less than average birds. The quality profile of any line in any stud is distributed along a “bell curve”, the top of the bell representing the average with the smaller numbers curving down either side to rotten on the one side and show stoppers on the other in the really good studs. The bell curve is drawn by charting the birds in relation to their quality on the base axis moving from left to right and numbers of birds achieving the different levels of quality in the family on the vertical axis. The difference in stud quality moves the top of the curve further to the right or the left but with sufficient numbers of birds in the stud it will always describe such a curve. Careful selection of birds within the stud and introduction of some new blood from studs of an equally high standard with some shared ancestry will help to maintain the standard: think of the references to Darley Arabian and Eclipse above.

If the example of racehorses fails to convince you, think of the leading breeders from whom you have bought birds and their connections with one another. Those leading breeders from my discussions use not only their best show birds but also the more average related birds, which if they breed more readily are more likely to produce the bird with the winning combination of genes. They will also have access to other related birds from the studs of other breeders with whom they have regular exchanges. If you have only a small stud your bell curve will be more erratic and you may not have sufficient birds of average to good quality in any one family or line to keep making progress or even to keep it going. In producing a line of show birds by inbreeding you are in effect on the way to breeding a subspecies way different from the wild type original budgies.

If you read Edward O Wilson’s book “The Meaning of Diversity” you will see that he identifies the crisis line for the survival of a separate species as a population of fifty birds. The mathematics of decline below that number are inexorable. Assuming that such a population has a maximum breeding life of two seasons and the population is divided equally between young birds that can’t breed and adults that you want to breed with you are left with barely twelve pairs to produce the 25 replacement youngsters of quality that you want to retain. Remember that inbreeding brings the dirt to the surface and that you want enough birds on the right hand side of your bell curve to continue to maintain quality of the family, let alone make progress, so that you must breed at least 50 youngsters in that family. At this point you can start to see the size of the problem. A poor breeding season (you know the feeling) won’t wipe you out but two will and you need to bring in new blood and start rebuilding.

Don’t Despair!

There are some ways around this problem other than building a bigger aviary with more breeding cages thereby increasing the number of birds in your breeding stock. You should consider first why you have rejected certain birds from those that you have bred and why you have retained those you still have. Perhaps you want to reduce your numbers but you have retained birds that are unlikely to breed such as those really good hens that refuse to lay in favour of “lesser” hens that may be truer to the female type of bird. The same goes for cock birds that look fantastic but lack energy. You should not count those birds in the numbers of your breeding stock.

My own weakness relates to colour varieties especially those which are recessive and which I am struggling to improve. I will pair up lesser birds in order to preserve the recessive colour in the absence of the availability of better birds either within my stud or from outside which carry that trait.  Some of you may be rejecting birds because, dare I say it, they are opalines. Some of the best birds that have benefitted my stud I was able to acquire because they, as opalines, were of less interest to the breeder and most importantly were available and that at a more reasonable price.

If you can maintain your progress with these sorts of birds, despite their drawbacks, you are less likely to run into the sand.  Another alternative, less demanding than partnership which is always an option, is to work closely with another fancier who has birds from a common source and with whom you can exchange birds. This requires each of you being prepared to sacrifice a good quality bird in exchange for another bird of equal quality which both of you would normally have retained. Above all you must remember that in following the path of inbreeding you are always walking on the edge of a dangerous feature hence the coded reference to the Giants Causeway in the title to this article.

The Importance of Seasonal Feeding for Breeding Success in Budgerigars

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

Natural Triggers for Breeding
Wild budgerigars breed opportunistically, responding primarily to rainfall. Rainfall leads to an increase in seed germination, resulting in an abundance of fresh, nutrient-dense food. This environmental shift provides the necessary dietary stimulus for breeding activity. In captivity, breeders can replicate these natural cycles by adjusting feeding regimes and environmental conditions to encourage reproductive behaviour.

The Role of Diet in Reproductive Stimulation
Budgerigar reproduction is heavily influenced by nutritional changes. In the wild, periods of lean feeding (maintenance diets of dry, lower-nutrient seeds) are followed by an influx of fresh sprouted seeds, greens, and protein sources when conditions improve. This shift provides a powerful stimulus for breeding by triggering hormone production and gonadal development.

If budgerigars are maintained on a highly nutritious diet year-round, their bodies do not receive the necessary dietary cues to enter a reproductive phase. Without this variation, birds may fail to respond to other breeding stimuli, leading to inconsistent or poor breeding results. Seasonal cycling of diet, therefore, is essential in signalling the birds that conditions are ideal for reproduction.

Gonadal Development and the Importance of Time
For cock birds, successful breeding is not instantaneous. Testicular growth and increased semen production require time—often several weeks to months—following the introduction of breeding stimuli. Without a gradual build-up of hormonal changes, sperm quality and fertility rates can be suboptimal.
Hens also require gradual conditioning. They need increased nutritional support, particularly in the form of calcium, protein, and energy-rich foods, as they prepare to lay and incubate eggs. A sudden shift in diet without prior preparation can lead to poor clutch viability and weak chicks.

Understanding the Hormonal Cycle
Budgerigar reproduction is regulated by a complex interplay of hormones, primarily gonadotropins, testosterone (in males), and oestrogen (in females). These hormones fluctuate in response to environmental cues such as:

• Photoperiod (day length): Longer days stimulate hormonal activity.
• Dietary shifts: Increased access to high-energy, protein-rich foods signals readiness to breed.
• Social and environmental factors: The presence of mates, nest boxes, and rainfall-like conditions (misting, increased humidity) can trigger reproductive behaviours.

Without proper hormonal cycling, birds may either fail to breed or experience reduced fertility and clutch viability.

Simulating Natural Conditions for Optimal Breeding
To improve breeding success in captive budgerigars, breeders should implement seasonal feeding strategies that mimic natural conditions.
Maintenance Diet (Non-Breeding Season)

• Primarily dry seed / pellet mix with fresh food once weekly.
• Limited protein and fat intake.
• Encourages birds to remain in a rest phase, preserving reproductive energy.

Pre-Breeding Conditioning (6–8 Weeks Before Breeding)

• Gradually introduce sprouted seeds, dark leafy greens, and higher-protein foods (such as egg food or pulses — the edible seeds of plants in the legume family, such as lentils, chickpeas, beans, and peas.).
• Increase calcium intake to prepare hens for egg-laying.
• Maintain consistent light exposure to simulate longer daylight hours.
• Increase “rain” events on the aviary roof either using misters or the garden hose.

Breeding Diet (During Active Reproduction)

• High-energy foods such as soaked and sprouted seeds, fresh vegetables, and soft foods.
• Increased protein intake (egg food, legumes, or insect-based proteins if appropriate).
• Ensure continuous calcium availability for eggshell formation.

Post-Breeding Recovery

• Gradually reduce high-energy foods.
• Shift back to a maintenance diet to allow birds to rest and recover.

Conclusion
By modifying environmental and dietary conditions in sync with natural breeding cycles, breeders can significantly enhance reproductive success in budgerigars. Seasonal feeding ensures birds receive the right nutritional signals at the right time, leading to improved fertility, healthier chicks, and more reliable breeding outcomes.

Understanding and respecting the natural physiological rhythms of these birds is key to maintaining a thriving, sustainable breeding program. With careful planning, breeders can replicate nature’s cues and enjoy more consistent and successful breeding seasons.

Jim & Judy Fletcher (Tas)

John Scammell – Scotland

Words by Donald Bruton

In the 2019 show season, John managed to exhibit at 8 shows and ended up with a total of 32 challenge certificates – putting him in to the Top 10 CC winners for 2019 – the only Scot to do so!  He was also second in the 2019 Country Wide Seed Breeder of the Year awards for the intermediate section.

John is a hard worker at the shows he attends; always helping out and usually with a ready smile for everyone he meets and talks to.  Quiet and unassuming, shift working patterns sometimes prevent him from attending his local club meetings and occasionally shows.   He also has quite a sense of humour when the mood takes him!  Most of his emails end up with some remark or other with “LOL” at the end!  This is his third time in the budgerigar fancy, the first when he was only 13.  He freely admits he gave them up when the “ladies” took up his fancy!

Slightly Unusual In Shape

His aviary is slightly unusual in shape as he has had to fit it in to the bottom of his small garden, living as he does in a fairly new housing estate to the south of Edinburgh.  The aviary is 8 foot at the left, sloping down to 7 foot at the right, with a double-glazed door in the centre of the end facing his house.  The door provides light through its half window as well as additional security from its locks, this adds to the usual burglar alarm.  The total length is some 8.5 metres but to the rear it narrows, which can be seen in the photos of the flight where the perches are rather unconventional, running as they are along the length of the flight itself.  The aviary has two windows 30 inches by 33 inches, glazed and then with security mesh over them; an airvac plus two vent axia extractor fans, all three on timers, provide ventilation.  The floor is laminated.  Every time I have visited John I am astounded by the cleanliness of the aviary, as they say, “you could eat your dinner off the floor!”

Cages are traditional 28 inches by 16 inches with wire fronts and he uses square perches; John has 24 of these in four rows of six.  Nest boxes are plastic with an inner glass door; he tells me that the hens seldom break an egg against these doors even when the box lid is being opened.  He likes the glass door as it allows him to see into the nest box and make sure the sittings hens are alright without pushing them off their eggs.  The nest box measures 10.5 inches long, 8 inches high and 7 inches wide and has a wooden concave, to which shavings are added. In the breeding cages he provides plastic chick hides measuring 4 inches by 4 inches by 7.5 inches long.

John’s practice is to strip the vent area quite hard of both the cock and the hen before putting them into the breeding pen.  I previously did this as well but not as hard as John and given his excellent breeding results I have adopted this practice.  It is one that others may wish to consider, he really does remove a lot of feather, which in his view assists successful mating.

Premium Wild Bird Food

John uses Buxton’s 50/50 seed and Buxton’s Premium wild bird food – the NO MESS blend- in separate dishes in both his flight and cages.  In the flight the birds love the wild bird seed and go through as much of that as the regular budgerigar seed mix.  He started feeding the wild bird food to his budgerigars after an aviary visit where another fancier did so.  He decided to give it a try with his birds and finds that not only is it taken readily by them but it is usually the first feed dish that they go for. These feeds are supplemented with freely given millet sprays, oyster shell grit, mineral and iodine blocks.  He doesn’t provide them with cuttlefish.

He restricts his outcrosses to only 2 or 3 cocks a year, keeping to the same bloodlines.  A strategy which has paid off for him in 2019, winning as he did most of the barhead and young bird shows at his local club. He relies heavily on keeping his breeding team young, especially the hens and uses mainly current year hens in his pairings.  He tries to pair up so that he can use the new rings when they arrive.  For John a good breeding season is measured not just in terms of numbers but in quality, but he hopes to breed an average of 100 chicks a year.  Perhaps a good way of judging his progress is to look at the birds in his sales cage (which he lets me do every year) and each year I keep remarking “Many of these are too good to sell” and he replies “Well I can’t keep them all…. but just look at what is left in the flight”.

John Scammell offers up a wee tip to fellow exhibitors.  In common with many budgerigar fanciers he removes the cage dividers and turns his cages into flight cages after his breeding season is over.  He keeps the usual two back to front perches in the cage but adds a third perch at right angles to them.  The birds then naturally perch facing him, allowing him to easily judge and compare their frontal head qualities as well as shoulder width.  Being a canny Scotsman, the third perch is affixed to the other two with a small lump of bluetack!” – a very cheap fix!

I only hope that John repeats his success on the show bench in future years – time will tell!  Maybe his shift work will allow him to show at the Club Show then.

History of Some of the Oldest Clubs

Once all the due diligence was completed, we then looked for a Management Committee to operate the Club. From the first meeting the club had direction with a new Constitution, By Laws, Vision Statement, and a Marketing Plan to establish growth within the Canberra & surrounding regions. The main aim for the club was to be “Inclusive for the love of Budgerigars from pet owners through to Show breeders.

The club used a Facebook page that my wife and I started just after Covid thinking only 50 people would be interested in joining – well this page now has over 1,200 members (Australia wide).  This became a major platform for the launch of the Club.

Past members and new members started to flow and social meetings were arranged. The Club went on a media drive which included an article in the Canberra Times and two other local community magazines plus two Radio Studio interviews (ABC & 2CC Canberra). This gave the Club a great opportunity for growth and awareness in the Canberra area.

Canberra Budgerigar Club also wanted to encourage a public education platform for Budgerigars which took place in May 2024. Using Social Media again we were able to sell over 30 “public” tickets (plus Club Members) to an event with our local “The Unusual Pets Vets” Franchise (Dr Hsu) who provided a slide show on Budgerigar health and Q & A.  The interest shown for this platform has proven the appetite for another session planned for this year.  After the success of this education platform, CBC and The Unusual Pet Vets introduced a “Members Card” for a discount off the consultation – a real benefit for any member and especially those who have a pet bird.  CBC has also have taken the opportunity with a local child care centre to promote “Who has a Budgie at Home?”. This allowed young children (those who were brave) to be up close with a budgie and understand more of Australia’s most loved little parrot.  This trial programme has also seen interest from other centres & institutions to follow up with.

CBC has a service where we offer a re-homing service for budgies which at times has extended also to parrots and we match them with new owners.  This has meant over 200 birds have had the opportunity to live their lives out with other enthusiasts. Through this service the Club also receives donations, cages and other items for Club use.

None of this could have been achieved without the enthusiasm of our members & volunteers who are always willing and ready to give time to assist us whenever we conduct such events.  Many of our breeders have noticed significant improvements in their budgies from information gained from guest speakers and tutoring from our senior breeders that have far more knowledge than others.  We now have several novices exhibiting in shows and we feel this will also grow with time if that is the direction they’d like to go.  The key to our success to date has been valuing ALL members and building and utilising the skills they have to make the Canberra Budgerigar Club what is today.

While other zones have been dealing with floods and cyclones, the BCV has faced its own challenges with unseasonal weather, leading to delays and cancellations of several shows. Unfortunately, the Ballarat Diploma Show had to be cancelled, and the Riverina Show was postponed to 30 March. Despite these setbacks, the shows that have gone ahead have seen fantastic turnouts, highlighting the ongoing enthusiasm and optimism within the community.

Members of the BCV have been actively promoting and sharing their passion for this fantastic hobby. A standout example was the recent Red Hill Show, where the team from Eastern Districts did an outstanding job showcasing the hobby to the large crowd in attendance. A big thank you to everyone who took part and continues to make our community such a vibrant and welcoming one.

March was a highlight on the BCV calendar, with our Adult Bird State Championship proving to be a fantastic day for all involved.

The move to our new venue in Rowville was a great success, providing a fresh and welcoming space that helped create a vibrant atmosphere throughout the hall. Around 800 of the best Adult birds from across Victoria were showcased, and members enjoyed a day of friendly and spirited competition.

Congratulations to the United Club for securing the Shield for an incredible seventh consecutive time! A big well done also to Riverina and Eastern District clubs for rounding out the top three.

We extend our congratulations to all Class winners and Major Award recipients, including our Beginner and Intermediate breeders who proudly took home Best of Variety medallions. Special mention goes to Peter Thurn for winning Grand Champion and John Ennis for taking out Reserve Champion—outstanding achievements!

A heartfelt thank you to all members who generously offered their time across various roles throughout the day—your help made running an event of this scale possible and efficient.

Finally, thank you to all clubs for your continued participation and cooperation. It’s days like this that showcase the strength of our hobby here in Victoria. We’re already looking forward to the next one!

The United Diploma Show was a fantastic success! Congratulations to Ian Hunter on taking out the United Diploma for the third consecutive year—an impressive achievement! This also marks his second time winning the Alan Rowe Perpetual Trophy, which was introduced in 2024. The show attracted strong entries, with approximately 250 young birds and 60 adults exhibited on the day.

Well done to all who participated and helped make it another great event on the calendar!

The Border District Budgerigar Society recently held their annual Diploma Show, with a strong showing of quality birds on display. The award for Best Young Bird (Diploma) went to a striking Normal Sky Blue Cock exhibited by B & M Wise. Best Opposite Sex was awarded to an Opaline Hen from G & P Dickson, while the title of Best Adult Bird went to a Dominant Pied Cock bred by Tony Butt. Congratulations to all exhibitors on a successful event!

Congratulations to Barry and Marie Wise on taking out Grand Champion and Best Opposite Sex at the rescheduled Riverina Show — an impressive feat with 312 young birds benched! A big shoutout also to Chris Slaughter, who claimed Champion Adult Budgerigar, and Terry Anderson, awarded Best Opposite Sex Adult Budgerigar.

Well done to all exhibitors on a fantastic show!

A special thank you to all the volunteers who make these events possible.

Regards,
Peter Thurn
President – BCV

It’s been another busy month in NSW with Club Annual Shows each weekend.  Hills Club had 300 birds supplied by 35 exhibitors with Grand Champion from Adrian Corner, a Dominant Pied Light Green Cock and Champion Opposite Sex from Andre Ozoux, a Spangle Double Factor Yellow Hen.

Cyclone Alfred certainly made its presence felt in South East Queensland, forcing SQBBA to cancel the Futures Show due to the uncertainty surrounding the cyclone’s development. Despite this setback, the Fraser Coast Budgerigar Club went ahead with their event, where a stunning Double Factor Spangle owned by B&D Card took out the top award.

As South Queensland prepares to host the 2026 ANBC National Show, the SQ National Committee had secured a venue 18 months ago and paid the deposit, allowing them to move forward with detailed planning. However, not everything went to plan. A phone call from the venue manager delivered unexpected news: the centre would be redeveloped, and the deposit was being returned. After some understandable frustration (and a few expletives), the search for a new venue began once more—a challenging task given the strict requirements for hosting birds. Thankfully, the committee is now close to finalising a new venue, and while the process has added some stress, the team is ready to move forward.

Last year, four clubs—Wynnum Redlands, Ipswich, Gold Coast Hinterland, and Toowoomba—came together to launch the inaugural All Queensland Super Show, which was met with great success. Building on that momentum, the clubs are thrilled to announce the return of the event, now proudly named the 2nd Annual Tummy Rite All Queensland Super Show, thanks to the generous sponsorship of Dr Michael Evans from Applied Nutrition, the makers of Tummy Rite.

Judges Con Herouvim and Derrin Ray will travel from Victoria to assess the local birds and will also join Dr Evans in delivering a special presentation on Saturday afternoon. The evening will conclude with a dinner at Brothers Leagues Club, offering a great chance for local breeders to connect and unwind.

The Budgerigar Society of Bundaberg held its highly anticipated Annual Show on Sunday, 23rd March. Esteemed judges Carol Gough and Brad Hargraves had the honour of assessing the stunning collection of birds on display.

The highlight of the day came when Craig Cook, a Novice member from Benaraby, stunned the crowd by winning the coveted Grand Champion Bird of Show. His exceptional Spangle Grey Green Budgerigar impressed judges and attendees alike, showcasing remarkable quality and beauty.

Congratulations to Craig on this outstanding achievement, and a warm welcome to him as the newest member of the Bundaberg club. We look forward to many more contributions from you in the future!

The recent floods in North Queensland have made life very difficult for many of our members especially in the Cairns, Townsville and Bowen areas with members being flooded in and without power for long periods of time. Although I haven’t heard of any loss of property or injuries amongst our members it certainly affected their lifestyle and wellbeing. It also had a big impact on their birds. We just hope everyone is safe and life gets back to normal soon. And they are still able to prepare and present some birds for selection for the upcoming Nationals.

I’m sure all our members send the best wishes to those in our hobby residing in South Queensland and Northern NSW that have also been affected by the lead-up and aftermath of cyclone Alfred. It certainly is a strange and devastating time of year.

If you haven’t registered for the Nationals as yet, you better get your skates on and do so. Time is fast running out. Finally, congratulations to Raffle #3 winner, Bruce Schuster. Bruce wins the pair of Ray Slade birds, and if he’s not a Dominant Pied breeder, he might just be now.

Warm Regards,
Russell Ogden
NQBZ President

A big thank-you to Josh Portch of Noosa Custom Alloy for donating a moveable high-quality aluminium and stainless-steel wire front baby cage for budgerigars.

Details:  Medium size mobile flight cage valued at $2800.00 plus accessories.
Size: 1950-L x 950-W
Stainless Steel 316 grade cage fronts.
2 x slide out litter trays
8 x Hardwood perches
1 x Main Door
1 x Smaller Feeder Door
2 x Drinkers
1 x Transparent Seed Hopper.
Freight will be paid by NQBZ Inc. to winner.

Raffle to be drawn on Presentation Night in Cairns.  25^th May, 2025.

Tickets are $10.00 each.
Please ring Michelle Fidler on 0457088108 or Bruce Schuster on 0426731339.

🎟️ North Queensland Budgerigar Zone Inc. proudly presents Raffle 5!

Up for grabs is a superb TRIO of budgerigars from the renowned Joel Keune Stud:

🔹 Cock – Spangle Double Factor Yellow (JVK-037)
Bred from a BIS Double Factor cock and a top-quality Spangle hen from Glenn Schiller.

🔹 Hen 1 – Cinnamonwing Grey Green (JVK-109-23)
Sired by a Gary Gazzard Light Green cock and out of a Grey Green hen who is a full sister to the 6th-placed Light Green at the Nationals.
🔹 Hen 2 – Dominant Pied Grey Green Hen   (JVK-036-23)
Sired by a Light Green Spangle cock and a Dominant Pied Grey Green hen

🎫 Tickets: $20.00 each
📞 Contact:
Michelle Vidler – 0457 088 108
Bruce Schuster – 0426 731 339

📍 Raffle drawn at the Presentation Dinner during the Nationals in Cairns – 25th May 2025

Your support is greatly appreciated, and we wish all entrants the very best of luck!

Novices move to Amateurs
The Townsville and District Budgerigar Club Inc is only a small but dedicated club with only having three novices in this section, it was very competitive at each show. With the determination, willingness and dedication to win their points and their required time, all three novices gained enough points to move up to amateurs in the same year within months of each other. Here is a brief description on how our amateurs got started.

Name: Bruce Sutcliffe
When did you join the club: 2018
What made you get into budgies: I’ve always had an interest in birds, it has only been in the last 10 years that I’ve got into budgie breeding. I joined the budgie club to get more information and understanding about budgies from more experienced breeders.
What’s you most memorable accomplishment this far: 12th place in the Yellow Faced class in Tasmania at the 2024 nationals, and Champion Bird of Show at the November club show in that same year.
What variety’s do you breed: Ino’s, Yellow Face, Dominant Pieds, Normals, Spangles, Lacewing, Opalines.
                         

Name: Bevan Fagg
When did you join the club: 2018
What made you get into budgies: I’ve been around birds most of my life. My parents involved me from a young age as they too were also in bird clubs. It wasn’t until 2018 that I started breeding budgies and joined the Townsville club.
What’s your most memorable accomplishment this far: 16^th place in the Crests in Tasmania at the 2024 Nationals, Champion Opposite Sex at the November club show the same year.
What variety’s do you breed: Crests, Fallows, Spangles, White cap, Recessive Pieds, Normals.

Name: Matt Hart
When did you join the club: 2021
What made you get into budgies: I had budgies as a kid but lost interest when I became a teenager. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve found my passion for budgies again, which has led me to join the local club to gain more information about the genetics of the birds, which I find very interesting.
What’s your most memorable accomplishment this far: 10th place in the Normal Greens in Tasmania at the 2024 Nationals, Champion Novice at the Mackay Budgie Bash 2024.
What variety’s do you breed: Opalines, Spangles, Normals, Dominant Pied’s, White cap, Ino’s.
                      

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 the Trill™ 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.

All tours are minimum numbers required. Full refunds will be made should a day trip not proceed. Contact Bruce Schuster (Show Coordinator) on 0426 731 339 for further details.

Western Australia has had a busy month with two of our clubs holding major shows, firstly with the South West Budgerigar Club of WA holding it annual Young Hens Championship, Young Bird Derby and AGM on the 16^th of March 2025, the show was well attended with some 140 birds benched. Metropolitan Budgerigar Club of WA held its annual Club Championship Show, once again a show well attend with over 130 birds benched. Looking forward into April The Rare Budgerigar Club of WA will hold a table show this month on the 6^th of April 2025 and Metropolitan Budgerigar Club of WA holding a table show also on the 26^th of April 2025. WABC has made some progress towards being able to host the 2028 National Show with a suitable venue now sourced with a tentative booking for 2028 made with confirmation being hopefully later this year or early next, WABC can will now focus on looking at a budget and trying to raise the funs to hold the Nationals.

South West Budgerigar Club of WA – Young Hen Championship Results
Champion Bird in show open – Les Trumper
Best Intermediate – Barry Giudice
Best Novice – Les Woodcock

South West Budgerigar Club of WA – Young Bird Derby Results
Champion Bird in show open – Les Trumper
Best Intermediate – Barry Giudice
Best Novice – Brian and Sandie Bell

Metropolitan Budgerigar Club of WA – Championship Show Results Young Bird
Champion Bird in show open – Les Trumper
Best Intermediate – Dale Rayner
Best Novice – Karen McPherson

Metropolitan Budgerigar Club of WA – Championship Show Results Adult Bird
Champion Bird in show open – Les Trumper
Best Intermediate – John Patterson
Best Novice – Maitland-Smith Family

Cheers
Les Woodcock
WABC Secretary

Much of the March meetings of the BCSA affiliate clubs have focused on Show Preparation, with both the BSSA and the North East featuring presentations on the topic. Senior members in the fancy presented on their experiences as bird carers, and the strategies they use to give the birds the very best chance of winning. March was chosen as the month for this, with the Murphy Classic rounding out the month, and preparations beginning for May.

Join Dr. Rob Marshall for an In-Depth Discussion on Vitamin A Deficiency in Budgerigars

🗓 Date: Tuesday, April 1st 2025
📍 Location: Unley Community Centre, 18 Arthur St Unley

Dr. Rob Marshall will be presenting on the critical role of Vitamin A in reproduction and the diseases associated with Vitamin A deficiency in budgerigars. This is a valuable opportunity to gain insights into avian health and learn how proper nutrition impacts breeding success.

Attendees are encouraged to prepare a list of questions related to budgerigar health and disease, as Dr. Marshall will be answering them directly during the meeting.

In an interactive session, he will also be seeking insights from Troy and Kelwyn on the unique challenges of breeding exhibition budgerigars in the South Australian climate.

This event is open to finch and parrot breeders, veterinarians, and any other interested parties. Don’t miss the chance to engage with one of the leading experts in avian health!

🗓 Date: Sunday April 6^th, 2025
📍 Location: Enfield Community Centre
Time: 10:00 am to 1:00 pm

All BCSA accredited judges are required to attend the meeting, convened by Judges Coordinator, John Mulley. Agenda has been sent.

🗓 Date: Wednesday April 9th, 2025
📍 Location: Hectorville Community Centre, 47 Reid Avenue, Hectorville

Entertainment will be Stock Reduction (what to keep, and what to move on), as well as anything else to do with getting ready for the shows in May.

Bird of the night will be Black Eyed Self and Dilute.

🗓 Date: Sunday April 27th, 2025
📍 Location: Crystal Brook Council Hall, Crystal Brook

This event will be an Open Show, meaning any financial member of the Port Pirie Budgerigar Society or any other affiliated Budgerigar Society is eligible to exhibit. The show will be conducted under the official rules of the Port Pirie Budgerigar Society of South Australia Inc. If entry numbers permit, it will also be recognised as a BCSA Status Movement Show. Birds are to be benched between 9:30 a.m. and 10:00 a.m., with judging commencing promptly at 10:15 a.m. Birds must not be removed before 2:30 p.m. or without the Show Manager’s direction. Entries, either written or electronic, must be submitted to the Show Manager, Bob Simpson, at 12 Barkla Street, Kadina SA 5554. He can also be contacted on 0407 189 975 or via email at [email protected].

The Tasmanian Budgerigar Society held its Summer Diploma Show on Sunday, 15 March—the third show of the Tasmanian showing season. The remaining shows will take place in the second half of the year, with the exception of club selection events for the Shield Show, where the Tasmanian Zone Team for the Nationals will be chosen.

The show was well supported, with 211 young birds, 46 adult birds, and 8 unbroken caps exhibited by fanciers from across the state. Judging duties were carried out by Peter Thurn (VIC), an ANBC judge, and Dale Ward (TAS), a probationary judge.

Grand Champion was awarded to John Burt (Novice) for his outstanding Albino cock, which also claimed Champion Young Bird in Show. John’s Albino has also been named the Budgerigar Council of Tasmania’s Feature Bird of the Year—a huge congratulations to John on this achievement.

Other major awards included:

• Champion Opposite Sex: Michael Jones (Novice) with a Lutino hen
• Champion Adult Bird: Derek Poole (Open) with a Grey Green cock
• Champion Adult Opposite Sex: J & J Fletcher (Open) with a Spangle Normal Wing hen
• Champion UBC in Show: S & D Walkley (Intermediate)

BRASEA continues to support all shows across Tasmania and awarded its special prize at the TBS Summer Show to the Best Recessive Pied, exhibited by the Buckingham Family.

Congratulations to all the major winners—not only at this TBS event but also at the earlier NTBS and CBS shows held in February. All three shows were well run, well supported, and featured a strong standard of birds.

Best Regards,

Dale Ward
B.C.T President

I’m really excited about the partnerships we continue to form at the ANBC – it’s a real vote of optimism about the state of the hobby in Australia.

Remember to stay connected and up to date by visiting the new ANBC website at https://anbc.org.au. Regular updates and information will be posted there to keep you informed.

Thank you for your continued support, and here’s to another exciting month for all budgerigar enthusiasts!

Neale R Love
Editor, ANBC Gazette
[email protected]
Mob 0421 471 781