Cage & Aviary Birds

Cage & Aviary Birds is written by bird experts for bird fanciers and is packed with club, show and bird related news, advice, birds for sale and comment. Established in 1902, Cage & Aviary Birds provides a wealth of practical advice and tips from the top names in the bird world, plus opinion, controversy, species and hobbyist profiles and nostalgia.

2025: another grim year for hen harriers

Dudley Zoo: appeal for funds after Storm Goretti damage

QuOTE of the WEEK

Also in the news…

Cockfighting offences: jail time will be served

THE CANARY COLUMN

Q&A: Trainee Judge of the Year Tom Leedham

NCA acts to unite fancy in DEFRA challenge • National Council for Aviculture chairman BARRY MILLS reports on a ground-breaking online meeting held last week to address the latest threats to our hobby, and summarises the next steps to be taken

A letter to send your MP • All club members are urged to write to their MP about these issues. BARRY MILLS wrote the following, which he invites readers to adapt

Cage & Aviary Birds

My journey with budgies • In the first part of a new series, NEIL CAWLEY takes us back to his upbringing and explains how his early exposure to birds blossomed into a commitment to budgerigars

Q&A: parrotfinches • The dapper red‑headed parrotfinch has many admirers, not least because of the interesting colour mutations available. DAVE BROWN responds to a request for information from a reader who's keen to add these charming birds to his finch flock

Why life is better with birdsong • Changes in your collection entail changes to what you hear as well as your management commitments. And that can encourage you to reassess what are really your most important priorities as a birdkeeper. This month David pays tribute to the magic that birds can bring to music-starved ears

An intro scheme fit for a king • Covertly funded by the French crown for much of his reign, Charles II reciprocated by making the ‘Frenchman’ a British subject (for shooting!) BILL NAYLOR relates the story of our Continental partridge, which with the pheasant is most closely associated with hunting

Dealing with paperwork pain • MARK JONES urges fanciers to treat DEFRA bureaucracy with a minimum of fuss, and gives tips on post-show health checks for exhibits and how to mount a show-training cage

The nineteen-year itch • Words don't often fail DONALD SKINNER-REID, but they did when he came face to face with quality exhibition Gouldian finches. And now he has a pair from one of Scotland's top studs, he can begin to enjoy the species again, almost two decades after his last ones

A lifelong love affair with budgies • Longstanding champion RICK WATTS traces the beginnings of his connection with livestock and the early experiences that shaped his future in budgerigars

Colourful sprites in my collection • GARY BRALSFORD praises two beautiful African hardbills that he's currently keeping and recommends waxbills to all dedicated fanciers – for sheer pleasure and as our responsibility

Reading CBS retains interclub title • Welcome to the club and show pages – the bit that's all about you

Wendover weather is no match for Lizard show

Hardbills and hybrids impress

Obituary

What's on this week

Club roundup • Show reports, dates, club notices

NATIONAL BENGALESE FANCIERS ASSOCIATION