In this issue

This is a remarkable achievement considering current Fife Federation rules permit only five years as a novice before moving up to champion – Simon Mahon.

North Wales Fife Fancier Achieves Club's Record For Best Novice Title

HISTORY HAS BEEN made in Staffordshire after Fife breeder Jimmy Roberts secured North Staffs & South Cheshire Fife FCC’s first ever hat-trick win.

1 min

Birds' Gut Passage Improve Odds Of Seeds Germinating

A NEW STUDY has shown that plant seeds which travel through a bird’s gut passage stand a higher chance of germination.

1 min

Fife Theft Leaves Family Distraught

THE DAUGHTER OF an elderly pensioner, who had his Fife canary stud stolen last month, has praised members of the wider fancy for their support.

1 min

Nutrition: What's Best For Our Birds?

DOT SCHWARZ discusses the pros and cons of pelleted diets and seed mixtures in the first of three articles on parrot diets. Part Two: April 18.

3 mins

Quality On The Show Bench In Bahrain

When DAVE BROWN fulfilled an invitation to judge the zebra finches at the Bahrain Zebra Finch and Budgerigar Club’s show this year, he was well impressed at the quality of birds set in front of him – and some of the birdrooms he visited made an equal impression.

3 mins

If I Could Start Again

We only get one start in the birdkeeping hobby, and none of us ever gets everything right. Here SAM WILDES shares his own ‘I wish’ list of stuff he’d like to have been told as a beginner.

3 mins

Everything But The Budgie

To complement our newfound enthusiasm for making friends and doing business online, there’s nothing like a bird sale for getting fanciers together. FRED WRIGHT reviews the sales scene, and concludes it’s so much better than it was – unless you are after quality show budgerigars!

3 mins

New Challenge: Finespotted Woodpecker

Always a fan of the Afrotropical species, GARY BRALSFORD grabbed the chance to take on a pair of this species recently. Key tip so far: be prepared to provide a lot of replacement logs!

4 mins

Keeping The Book Of The Babbler

With so many of the world’s wild bird species facing an uncertain future, co-ordinating captive populations becomes a critical task – and at the centre of one such effort is C&AB columnist CHRIS GREEN, who maintains the European studbook for a rather special species from China.

3 mins

On The Grandest Stage Of All

This year, a piece of exhibition history was made at the World Show in Cesena, Italy, which posted a serious claim to be the greatest bird show of all time. The experienced canary judge ERNESTO GRACIA was privileged to be part of it, and here presents the first of three articles that reflect on the Cesena show, the European exhibition fancy, and Britain’s part in it.

4 mins

Read all stories from Cage & Aviary Birds

Cage & Aviary Birds Magazine Description:

Cage & Aviary Birds, established in 1902, is the world's only weekly newspaper dedicated to bird keeping. Our paper edition is published every Wednesday, while this blog is updated regularly. For over 100 years this magazine has reported and advised on the show scene and best practice for looking after pet birds.