Ian Wise 2025

What sparked your interest in budgerigars and the hobby?
I remember as a small boy my dad having some budgies in a flight in the garden. When we moved house he got rid of them. A few years later my best friend at school got a weekend job in a pet shop aged 15 and he got himself some lovebirds. I thought that was great, so I spoke to my dad about getting some budgies. He was very keen to do that and helped set up my first aviary.

How long have you been in the bird keeping hobby?
41 years on and off. Sold up a few times when had kids and then moved to Australia. Have actually kept birds for probably 20 of those 41 years.

How many breeding cages do you have at present and how long is your breeding season each typical year?
I only have a small shed at the moment and have a maximum of 16 breeding cages. I try not to breed in summer as it gets too hot so normally have some pairs down for 8/9 months of the year.

What club do you represent on the show bench and what is one thing you most enjoy about this club?
I currently represent North East Budgerigar Society (NEBS). It’s only a small club but they have some vastly experienced and knowledgeable members.

What varieties do you keep, and which is your favourite?
Mostly Normals & Spangles with a couple of Opalines and Cinnamonwings, but love my Dilutes and Black Eyes. Have to blame Gary Gazzard for giving me the Black Eyed Self bug. They are a challenge though.

What is your favourite moment in the hobby and why?
Favourite moment was definitely winning the Challenge Certificate for Lutino at the East Ham Show back in the late 1980’s. The UK has a Challenge Certificate for best of colour at major shows and it’s a big deal to win one.

If you could choose one bird room anywhere in the world to visit and spend a day in, which would it be and why?
Many years ago as a lad I was fortunate enough to see Harry Bryan, Jim Hutton, Ernie Sigston and Gerald Binks. All legends in the UK. In recent months I have been to visit Maarten Heylen, Richard & Michael Miller, Frank, Carol & Joe McGovern, Adrian Terheege, Paul Stannard, Roy Aplin and Gina & Alan Adams. All of those were amazing. The one I wanted to see wasn’t available and that was Mike Ball in the UK, so I’d say him.

What bloodlines have you used to influence your stud?
The vast majority of my lines are Holmes and Gazzard. I’ve had the pleasure of watching them cull Troy’s birds and then pair up. The thinking behind each pairing and the foresight to be thinking two to three years ahead shows the depth of knowledge they have.

Who are the top couple of people in the hobby you highly respect and why?
It has to be the two that have helped me the most, Troy Holmes and Gary Gazzard. Those two guys have helped me massively and have endless time for them both. They’re also two of the nicest guys you could meet.

What bird do you feel was your best bird and why?
Last year I bred a couple of Spangle hens that have both size and modern features. I think these two, if I can get them to breed, will be the biggest asset I have bred.

What other hobby/s or interests do you have?
I used to play top level darts and still throw occasionally, however sadly not with the same accuracy.

What does your aviary setup involve and how have you evolved it over the years as you’ve created new bird rooms?
I think the biggest change is going from a block of breeding cabinets to wire cages. They are far easier to keep clean and have made a massive improvement to the prevalence of illness and French Moult.

What is one staple medication/ preventative medicine you use and what do you use it for?
I add Sodium Benzoate to the water for 2 days per month. It’s a food grade additive with antifungal and antibacterial properties. It has eradicated Megabacteria developing in my birds since I’ve used it. There are differing views on it’s use, but I have only had a positive experience.

What is one issue in the hobby you think can be improved and how do you feel this could be improved?
The complainers! Whether it’s committees’ decisions, Judges decisions or the way things are run, there are always the complainers. They are generally the ones who do nothing to help! Stop moaning and volunteer for a position.

What do you feel is the best piece of advice to provide to any beginner starting out in the hobby or fellow hobbyist?
Don’t buy birds from here there any everywhere. Find a good local breeder and buy some of their sales birds. They come from the same gene pool as their winners and working with them can reap rewards.

What do you want to achieve with your budgerigars?
Before I retire from budgies, I’d like to win a National. I’m not greedy – just one will make me happy.