Photo: Tony Tilford. Fiery-shouldered parakeet: the two-toned wing coverts are shown well here Even among the Pyrrhura parakeets, the fiery-shouldered parakeet is little seen in captivity, yet ROSEMARY LOW has happy memories of two youngsters that fledged under her care. PYRRHURAS…
Photo: © Shutterstock.com/Andrew M. Allport. Ring ouzel: also known as ‘mountain thrush’, ‘moor blackbird’ and ‘rock starling’, as it is rarely seen away from such areas To get into ring ouzel nesting country, you need to hike into some of Britain’s bleakest…
Above: Could the Club Show be moved so that the show hall and hotel are under one roof, asks Brian Reese? The Budgerigar Society’s Club Show always generates discussion, and this year’s was no different. BRIAN REESE and ALAN PEARSON give…
Photo: Austin Middlemiss. The satinette song thrush hen in question: unringed, just after fledging Official paperwork can be such a minefield that it puts British bird fanciers off. Yet this year AUSTIN MIDDLEMISS went through a long rigmarole to obtain a licence…
Photo: © Shutterstock.com/nitat/cowboy54. Male (left) rufous-bellied niltava. Note that the cock’s underparts are variably coloured between individuals, ranging from rich yellow to orange. The flycatchers of the Orient comprise some of the planet’s most desirable softbills. Once, the most familiar in aviculture…
Photo: Dave Brown. Savvy novice: it was a successful first outing to the Northern Ireland Gloster Club show for Adrian – he won best novice cinnamon as well as best novice buff. Dave Brown meets ADRIAN SHIELS, an exceptionally versatile and…
Photo: Dave Brown. Cleverest bird competitions could draw in a big audience as parrots and mynas offer up their party pieces Pet classes are a great way to increase our appeal and provide lots of fun, says DAVE BROWN. So what…
Photo: © Shutterstock.com/Kasikun_Kamol. Nothing like it: two hoopoes show off their unique plumage pattern Perhaps the ultimate in crested birds, the exotic hoopoe is perfectly possible to breed in straightforward aviary conditions, reports German softbill expert THOMAS WENDT. UNTIL about 15 years ago,…
Photo: Dave Brown. Bowing out at the top: now retired from bantam showing, Poppy Brown has moved on to zebra finches If other fanciers’ children show an interest in birdkeeping, we should do all we can to encourage them, not accuse…
Photo: Dave Brown. Alfy Calford (right) ensured the Welsh ZFC paperwork was tip top Last year, this year, it’s always the same: we have a great time at show after show, yet none of it would happen without the dedication of the…