NQBZ March 2026

North Queensland Budgerigar Zone (NQBZ)

Overall, it has been a relatively quiet month across the zone, aside from the seemingly endless rain affecting some areas. While the wet weather has presented its challenges, preparations for the upcoming Zone Show are progressing well.

Organisation is firmly underway, with the venue secured, rosettes currently being prepared, and catering largely finalised. A great deal of behind-the-scenes work goes into staging this event, and I thank those members who have already contributed their time and effort. We are hopeful that the quality of exhibits will match – or even surpass – last year’s outstanding standard, which delivered some truly exceptional results for our breeders.

Breeding season is beginning to take shape, with some fanciers already pairing up their first birds. As the heat continues to ease, I expect many more will soon follow. This is always an exciting time of year as anticipation builds and we look forward to seeing the fruits of careful planning and selective pairing. I wish all breeders the very best for the season ahead and hope that your breeding programs run smoothly and successfully.

With things relatively steady at present, that concludes my report for this month. I look forward to providing further updates as preparations continue and activity increases in the lead-up to the Zone Show.

Good luck to all.

Regards,
Bill Schultz
President
N.Q.B.Z. Inc.

What On in North Queensland?

February saw a presentation from Russell Ogden at the Capricornia Budgerigar Society (CBS) on crop feeding. This live demonstration was well received by the audience. In March, the Club will be featuring a talk from Dr Bonnie Wetherall, focusing on French Moult. The Club will also be hosting its 58th Annual Show, with details below.

Further north, the Mackay City Budgerigar Society Inc. held its AGM and first meeting for 2026 on the 22nd January at the Farleigh/Dumbleton Rural Fire Brigade shed. It was a changing of the guard for office bearers with Mick Cauci standing down as President and long serving Secretary Doug Wales standing down also. Doug is a founding member, Life member and club legend who has been the backbone of the club for many years. We would all like to sincerely thank him for all the service he has given the club over many decades. It is not the end for Doug as he and his wife Liz, who is our club treasurer, will remain active club members and exhibitors.  Our new Secretary is Peter Drew who is primed to lead us to the promised land. Our new President is Michael Pace who hopes to continue the good work of his predecessors.

There was not a lot happening in the aviaries of local breeders as it is the wet season and we are just doing our best to manage the birds through the wet season and high humidity. Some breeders have itchy feet to pair up but admit it is just too early. Peter Drew talked about his bird room and aviary changes and the heavy cull he had just completed. Everyone else was looking forward to the show and breeding season and we had several volunteers to man the tent at our recent Bunnings sausage sizzle. We would like to welcome our newest member Bruce Sutcliffe.

Capricornia Budgerigar Society Inc. – 58th Annual Show

Saturday, 14 March 2026 – North Rockhampton

The North Queensland Budgerigar Zone (NQBZ) is pleased to promote the upcoming 58th Annual Show of the Capricornia Budgerigar Society Inc. (CBS), to be held on Saturday, 14 March 2026, at the North Rockhampton State High School Performing Arts Centre, Simpson Street, North Rockhampton.

This long-running event continues to be one of Central Queensland’s leading budgerigar exhibitions, attracting exhibitors across Open, Intermediate and Beginner sections. With strong prize money, prestigious trophies and a comprehensive ANBC-aligned schedule, the CBS Annual Show remains a highlight of the northern showing calendar.

Show Officials & Key Details

  • Judge: TBA
  • Chief Steward: Ian Schneider
  • Show Secretary: Kev O’Callaghan
  • Venue: North Rockhampton State High School Performing Arts Centre, Simpson Street, North Rockhampton
  • Entries Close: Monday, 9 March 2026 at 9:00pm
  • Entries To: kevocall@optusnet.com.au | Phone: 0411 956 345
  • Entry Fee: $2.00 per bird (maximum $20.00)
  • Team of Three: $2.00 per team
  • Benching: To be completed by 8:50am
  • Judging: Commences at 9:00am

All entries must be submitted on CBS-approved entry forms (provided), and exhibitors must use the class numbers as per the official schedule. Late entries will not be accepted.

Important: All persons responsible for winning exhibits must be present for checking of rings on completion of judging or exhibits will be disqualified.

Presentation of Trophies: Approximately 30 minutes after completion of judging. Release of birds will follow the presentation, with timing advised by the Chief Steward.

Food and drinks will be available throughout the day.

Please Note

  • Birds entered in any Class ‘28’ must have the variety nominated on the entry form by the owner.
  • CBS Inc. club show rules must be strictly adhered to.
  • Proof of ownership must be produced for all winning exhibits (CBS rings excluded).
  • Drinkers must be in show cages.
  • Standard seed mix is to be used as floor covering in cages.
  • Cage stickers must be adhered on the right-hand side of the cage.
  • It is the exhibitor’s responsibility to ensure birds are nominated in the correct classes and benched in the correctly marked cage.
  • All birds entered must be owner-bred.

Major Awards on Offer

  • Grand Champion of Show – Jack Martin Trophy + $25.00 Cash Prize
  • Champion Opp Sex of Show – O’Callaghan Family Trophy
  • Champion Young Bird of Show – Mitton Family Trophy
  • Champion Intermediate Bird of Show – Rod and Val Gardiner Trophy
  • Champion Beginner Bird of Show – CBS Trophy
  • Champion Nestfeather of Show – CBS Trophy
  • Best Team of Three (must be all same sex) – $15.00 Cash Prize
  • Champion Young Cock of Show – $50.00 Cash Award
  • Champion Young Hen of Show – $50.00 Cash Award
  • Champion Derby Bird – Noel Shanahan Memorial Trophy
  • Champion Derby Bird (Beginner) – CBS Trophy
  • Derby Bird – Cock and Hen – Share the Derby Rings Prizemoney Pool
  • CBS Variety Bird (2026 is Crested) – CBS Trophy
  • Best Lesser Variety Bird of Show – The GFE Perpetual Trophy (donated by Fisher, Guinane & Eriksen Families)
    Best of Classes 7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21, 26, 28

Open, Intermediate & Beginner Sections – Cash Awards

Each section (Open, Intermediate, Beginner) receives:

  • Champion Any Age Cock – $15.00
  • Champion Any Age Hen – $15.00
  • Champion Young Cock – $15.00
  • Champion Young Hen – $15.00
  • Champion Nestfeather – $15.00

Reserve awards in each section:

  • Reserve Champion Any Age Cock – $10.00
  • Reserve Champion Any Age Hen – $10.00
  • Reserve Champion Young Cock – $10.00
  • Reserve Champion Young Hen – $10.00
  • Reserve Champion Nestfeather – $10.00

Champion overall in each of 27 ANBC Variety & AOSV: $15.00 Cash Award per variety.

Variety Schedule (Class Numbers)

Exhibitors must use class numbers as per the CBS schedule (Any Age Cock / Any Age Hen / Young Bird Cock / Young Bird Hen / Nestfeather):

  • Normal Green: 1 / 101 / 201 / 301 / 401
  • Normal Grey Green: 2 / 102 / 202 / 302 / 402
  • Normal Blue: 3 / 103 / 203 / 303 / 403
  • Normal Violet: 4 / 104 / 204 / 304 / 404
  • Normal Grey: 5 / 105 / 205 / 305 / 405
  • Yellow Faced Blue (Normal Only): 6 / 106 / 206 / 306 / 406
  • Australian Golden Faced Blue (Normal Only): 7 / 107 / 207 / 307 / 407
  • Black Eyed Self: 8 / 108 / 208 / 308 / 408
  • Dilute: 9 / 109 / 209 / 309 / 409
  • Lutino: 10 / 110 / 210 / 310 / 410
  • Albino: 11 / 111 / 211 / 311 / 411
  • Dark Eyed Clear: 12 / 112 / 212 / 312 / 412
  • Clearwing: 13 / 113 / 213 / 313 / 413
  • Greywing: 14 / 114 / 214 / 314 / 414
  • Cinnamonwing: 15 / 115 / 215 / 315 / 415
  • Spangle Double Factor: 16 / 116 / 216 / 316 / 416
  • Opaline: 17 / 117 / 217 / 317 / 417
  • Opaline AOSV: 18 / 118 / 218 / 318 / 418
  • Clearbody (includes Opaline): 19 / 119 / 219 / 319 / 419
  • Lacewing (includes Opaline): 20 / 120 / 220 / 320 / 420
  • Fallow: 21 / 121 / 221 / 321 / 421
  • Spangle (Normal Only): 22 / 122 / 222 / 322 / 422
  • Spangle AOSV: 23 / 123 / 223 / 323 / 423
  • Dominant Pied: 24 / 124 / 224 / 324 / 424
  • Danish Recessive Pied: 25 / 125 / 225 / 325 / 425
  • Crested: 26 / 126 / 226 / 326 / 426
  • Australian White Cap: 27 / 127 / 227 / 327 / 427
  • AOV / AOSV: 28 / 128 / 228 / 328 / 428

Reminder: Birds entered in Class 28 / 128 / 228 / 328 / 428 must have the variety indicated on the show cage sticker by the exhibitor.

Only combinations of sections 8 to 16 are Yellow Faced Series Blue. For other combinations (sections 16–27), refer to the ANBC matrix:
ANBC Matrix (2019 Master)

We Look Forward to Seeing a Strong Bench in Rockhampton

The Capricornia Budgerigar Society has proudly supported the budgerigar fancy for nearly six decades. The 58th Annual Show promises strong competition, great fellowship and the opportunity to showcase quality stock across all sections.

The NQBZ encourages all eligible exhibitors to support this event and continue strengthening budgerigars across regional Queensland. For entry forms and further details, contact Show Secretary Kev O’Callaghan before entries close.