Scott Eriksen Fancier In Focus

If you’ve ever wondered what makes a true budgerigar tragic, Scott Eriksen’s story says it all.

Scott grew up with budgies in the background — the kind of childhood companion many of us remember fondly. However, it wasn’t until an unexpected mishap that the hobby really took hold. After his father accidentally ran over his foot with the car, Scott found himself stuck at home for a fortnight. He had little else to do but sit, watch the birds, and listen to the soothing trill of the aviary. Somewhere in those quiet hours, the fascination became a lifelong passion. He was “hooked”, and he hasn’t looked back since.

Scott joined a budgie club in 1992 and has been breeding ever since. Today, he is an Open exhibitor representing the Capricornia Budgerigar Society, part of the North Queensland Budgerigar Zone. What he enjoys most about his club is the mix of experience levels — a genuine blend of knowledge, enthusiasm, and camaraderie. Moreover, like many regional clubs, Capricornia’s commitment is proven in kilometres. Club trips to auctions and shows can involve up to eight hours of travel one way. It is made worthwhile by the laughs, the conversations, and the shared love of the birds.

A practical setup that works

Scott is the first to say his setup isn’t flashy — it’s simply functional and well proven. His aviary is a 6m x 3m metal-framed structure with metal cladding. This space houses both flights and breeding cages. He runs three flights: one for males, one for females, and a third for sale birds or birds he has finished with. Extending from the two main flights is a 1.5m balcony area that adds extra room and flexibility.

When breeding season rolls around, Scott uses 36 breeding cages made by the late Alan Beutel. This detail speaks both to Scott’s respect for quality craftsmanship and to the value placed on practical design in a working birdroom.

Varieties and favourites

Scott keeps a wide range of varieties, including Normals, Cinnamonwings, Opalines, Dominant Pieds, Yellowfaced, Spangles, Dark-Eyed Clears, Recessive Pieds, Clearbodies, Dilutes, Darkwings, and Saddlebacks.

His favourite variety is the Opaline — “you can’t beat a good Opaline,” he says. However, anyone who has seen his stud might notice that Cinnamonwing runs strongly through much of it. It’s no surprise then that Cinnamonwing sits as his close second favourite.

Learning, travel, and the long game

When asked what advice he’d offer anyone wanting to progress, Scott keeps it simple and honest: find a good mentor, don’t assume you know everything early on, and ask questions. Then keep learning.

That mindset shows in his favourite annual tradition. He takes a yearly “pilgrimage” to the Newcastle auction each August. It’s not just a quick visit either. Instead, it’s a proper road trip of around 2,700 kilometres, with aviary visits along the way. This offers a chance to learn directly from breeders and see birds in the flesh. For Scott, that’s where the hobby really comes alive.

If he could visit any birdroom in the world, Scott would love to get to the UK. He wishes to see some of the greats, including Frank & Joe McGovern, and Paul Stannard.

Best bird bred

Scott’s standout is a Cinnamonwing Sky that took second place in the Cinnamonwing class at the Nationals in Mackay. He describes him as a natural show bird. This is the type that “knew how to show when he needed to.” The only downside? In Scott’s words, the bird “never knew what to do in the breeding cage,” proving once again that the show bench and the nest box don’t always go hand in hand.

Bloodlines and discipline

Scott is deliberate in how he develops and protects his families. He keeps the nucleus of each family together, then selectively uses birds from that family into another line or variety. What he avoids is bringing those “exported” birds straight back into the main family unless there’s a clear benefit. He believes too much mixing leaves breeders unsure of what they’ve actually got — and what traits are doing the heavy lifting.

Feeding and management

Scott’s feeding routine is practical and consistent. He makes his own seed mix using a commercial budgie mix, canary mix, and small parrot mix. For water additives, he uses Megamix and Oregostim unless the birds are being treated for something specific. In such cases, it’s straight water plus the required medication.

His soft food is equally straightforward: breadcrumbs, rolled oats, wheat bran, and polenta mixed together. He serves three scoops over grated carrot.

Scott doesn’t feed greens, having seen too many issues arise from them over the years. Instead, he offers a range of “extras” separately, so birds can access what they need: calcium cake, mineral cake, Canundra shell grit, Volcamin grit, Murphy’s Minerals, Avi Vitamin Plus, Performance Powder, BVM powder, dried mealworms, and pellets.

Health, medication, and prevention

When a bird becomes unwell, Scott’s approach is to isolate first, then treat. He often starts with a trusted “triple-C type” antibiotic when the cause isn’t clear. He doesn’t rely heavily on medication overall. Instead, he leans into prevention and strict quarantine practices. Any new bird, regardless of source, is quarantined for at least six weeks.

As part of routine health management, Scott aims to worm once or twice a year and treats with Ronivet S annually. He does this either near the end of breeding or near the beginning of the next season.

For maintaining fertility and ongoing health, Scott circles back to his core philosophy of prevention, consistency, and honest assessment. One piece of advice from a breeder friend stuck with him — are you feeding the right things, or just feeding for the sake of feeding? Scott believes being firmer about breeding windows has also helped. If birds aren’t responding, he doesn’t keep pushing indefinitely.

The hobby today

The biggest concern Scott raises is the rise of online auctions. While he understands how they grew during COVID, he feels the sheer number of auctions has shifted the focus too heavily towards selling birds. Scott prefers to visit breeders, talk properly, and see birds and relatives in person. He finds this more reliable than relying on photos that don’t always match what arrives at the other end.

People who’ve shaped the journey

Scott is quick to acknowledge the many breeders who have helped him over the years. He feels fortunate to have met and learned from a long list of respected names, including Alan Kent, Ken Dunk, Rob Manvell, Alan Druery, Ken Seagrott, Gary Gazzard, Guy Denning, Chris Rogers, Henry George, Errol and Lynne Miller, Kevin O’Callaghan, Ian Schneider, Joel Keune, Bill Kirstenfeldt, and many others. He gives a heartfelt thanks to everyone who has contributed to his progress in the hobby.

Beyond the Bird Room

Outside budgies, Scott enjoys gardening, collecting books and garden gnomes, volunteering in the community, and heading out to markets. His favourite food is Chinese, his movie pick is Top Gun, and his sporting team is the Brisbane Broncos.

And when it comes to life goals? Scott’s list is wonderfully grounded. He wishes to travel to England and the USA, do more budgie road trips visiting aviaries and learning from others, and — like so many of us — win a national class at an ANBC Show.

Scott Eriksen’s story is a reminder that the hobby is built on people as much as birds. It includes the mentors, the friendships, the long drives, the laughs, and the steady commitment to learning year after year.