BCSA Report Oct 2026

South Australia – September 2026

September has been a busy month for the Budgerigar Council of South Australia and its affiliated clubs. There have been meetings, auctions, planning for the year ahead and plenty of activity away from the traditional show bench.

The month opened with the Budgerigar Society of South Australia continuing its focus on member education and participation. Its September meeting provided an opportunity for newer fanciers to ask questions and draw on the experience of established breeders. Meanwhile, North East Budgerigar Society followed with its September meeting at Hectorville. In addition, its September Mega Auction generated plenty of interest. The online event featured 39 birds from a strong group of South Australian breeders. It again demonstrated the role online auctions are playing in connecting breeders and providing another avenue for clubs to engage with the wider fancy.

Auction activity remained strong throughout September. The BSSA continued its regular online auction program. Auction 19 featured birds from Kylee Walsh, Dave Miller, Chris Murphy, Ken & Janet Harris and others. South Australian fanciers were also kept busy following a wide range of interstate sales promoted through the weekly Budgie Bulletin. This ensured members remained connected with activity across the national fancy.

September also brought some difficult decisions regarding the remainder of South Australia’s 2026 show calendar. With H5N1 threatening, and a sudden drop in participation levels, a number of remaining bird shows and exhibitions were cancelled. This included Budgie Fest and the Tri Club Cup. The situation has prompted further discussion about how clubs can adapt their activities, create new reasons for people to participate and make the hobby more accessible to both existing and prospective members.

The BCSA Annual General Meeting was held via Zoom on Wednesday, 23 September. This brought members and delegates together to review the past year and begin looking towards 2027. The AGM provided an important opportunity to reflect on another significant year for South Australia. It also continued discussions around administration, club support, participation and the future direction of the fancy.

September also saw the release of the Spring 2026 edition of Chatter. The latest edition features the remarkable Marshall Family story, John Mulley’s second instalment on inbreeding and line breeding, the M.J.B. Breeding Partnership in Belgium, breeding preparation, pet budgie safety and the history and development of the Australian White Cap. It continues the BCSA’s focus on providing members with a mixture of history, genetics, breeding information, exhibition content and practical advice.

With the traditional show season largely behind us, attention in South Australia now turns towards breeding, club activities and planning for 2027. Despite a quieter period on the show bench, September has demonstrated that there remains plenty happening across the South Australian budgerigar community.

Look Ahead – October 2026

October is shaping up as a quieter month on the South Australian budgerigar calendar, particularly following the cancellation of a number of remaining shows and exhibitions for 2026. With the traditional show season largely complete, attention will increasingly turn towards breeding programs, club activities and planning for the 2027 season.

The Budgerigar Society of South Australia will hold its next meeting on Tuesday, 6 October at the Unley Community Centre, while the North East Budgerigar Society returns to the Hectorville Community Centre for its monthly meeting on Wednesday, 14 October. Both meetings provide an opportunity for members to catch up, exchange ideas and continue the social and educational side of the hobby as the breeding season gathers momentum.

Later in the month, the Port Pirie Budgerigar Society heads to Maitland on Sunday, 18 October for an aviary tour and show at the home of Doug and Ruth Lange. The event provides members with the opportunity to visit one of the state’s established breeding setups, view birds in the aviary and enjoy another social gathering away from the formal show bench.

With the BCSA Annual General Meeting now behind us, October will also be an important period for clubs and Council to begin looking towards 2027, including future activities, breeding plans and ways to maintain participation across the South Australian fancy.