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.

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!

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.

Beautiful Parrots

Having seen these exquisite birds in their natural habitat in the tropical north of Australia, ROSEMARY LOW explains why the varied lorikeet is always a pleasure to observe

Starting Afresh

After years of adding parts to his old birdroom, Hampshirebased fancier STEVE COX decided to go the whole hog and build a completely new one with the help of some good friends. Here he speaks to Fred Wright about the new set-up

Kings Of The Canopy

Arguably the most spectacular bird family after the birds of paradise, the cotingas are rare jewels in aviculture, says BILL NAYLOR, where the spangled is most likely to be encountered.

Melody Maker

CHRIS GREEN recommends the green singing finch, a tuneful relative of the wild canary that’s welcome in an aviary set-up, and offers advice on feeding, housing and breeding.

Second String, Double Delight

If you’re interested in supporting cage bird society events alongside a specialist show, why not keep another variety as well as your main one, asks DAVE BROWN? You could achieve double the results on the show bench and help towards conserving a rare breed at the same time.

Can You Teach An Old Fancier New Tricks?

When a very nice grey spangle hen wouldn’t a) mate with her partner or b) produce fertile eggs, despite being breeding fit, CLIVE WAKEMAN was at his wits’ end. Then he sought out some advice from the breeder he had purchased this particular bird from, and things finally started to change for the better.

An Aviary Filled With Life, Colour And Fun

In the first of a three-part series on colony budgerigars, LES RANCE discusses how he came to buy a small flock of these small parakeets, and how swiftly they settled down to breeding.

All- Rounder From Cyprus

Sam Wildes introduces SYMEON PITSILLIDES, a 34-year-old budgerigar breeder from Cyprus, whose collection at home embraces a phenomenal array of colour and varieties.

The Scariest Stare On Earth?

BILL NAYLOR introduces the spectacled owl, a beautiful if ferocious predator from the tropical regions of the New World.

Zebbies Found To Activate Vocal Cords During Sleep

Zebbies Found To Activate Vocal Cords During Sleep

BS Set To Pay Out Over Late Rings

BS Set To Pay Out Over Late Rings

First Phase Of New Aviaries Completed For At-Risk Cockatoos

First Phase Of New Aviaries Completed For At-Risk Cockatoos

If It Ain't Broke...

Don’t fix it, says DAVE BROWN. This season he has relearned how crucial timings are when breeding and that sometimes it is best not to intervene when pairs have chicks.

When New Doesn't Necessarily Mean Better

Kites, drones, sky trials… what have these techniques got to do with training falcons? GRAHAM WELLSTEAD explains all

Birdrooms: Making The Most Of What You've Got

It doesn’t matter whether you have a tiny birdroom located in your loft, or if you have plenty of space and a state-of-the-art brick-built affair, says DAVE BROWN; what’s key to our birds’ success is a clean set-up, good husbandry programme and plenty of TLC.

Treasure Those Treasurers!

A good club treasurer is most certainly an officer to cherish and can be hard to recruit. But the wrong choice can land a club in serious bother, as FRED WRIGHT explains  

Winter Food For Wildlings

Most fanciers feed and love to watch their garden bird visitors, but we’re not all acquainted with the latest nutrional and practical advice on what and how to feed. Writing specially for Cage & Aviary Birds, JAMIE WYVER of the RSPB talks through some cold-weather recommendations

Winning Ways

Whether you show coloured, Norwich, Glosters, or another breed – or indeed some combination of varieties – it’s always good to stay abreast of what other competitors are doing to prepare for the show bench.

They Went Off To War With Monty

Field Marshal Montgomery is famous as a military leader and strategist, and also as an occasionally testy and difficult character. But the way to his heart was via the cage birds he constantly kept.

A Passion To Breed The Best Crests

If you’re visiting the Stafford Spring Bird Show this weekend, look out for co-organiser SHAUN SMITH, a lifelong fancier whose interest was revitalised when he bought his first crested budgies... at Stafford! Putting the questions: Sam Wildes

My Colourful Bird Memories From Brazil

Following on from the January 25 issue, ROSEMARY LOW relives some of the highlights of the birds, people and places that she witnessed during her travels last year. Not surprisingly, the ‘bird country’ of Brazil was one favourite.

Cornwall Celebrates 50 Years

MEMBERS of Cornwall BS decided to get their act together and organise a celebration of the club’s golden anniversary (50 years) with a well-attended dinner in November 2016, writes Fred Wright.

Bristol Club Names Bob Allen As Deserving Member Of New Award

Bristol Club Names Bob Allen As Deserving Member Of New Award

Essex Club To Host New Cage Proposal

Essex Club To Host New Cage Proposal

Whiter Cheeks: Key To A Five-star Partner, Says Study

Whiter Cheeks: Key To A Five-star Partner, Says Study

Project Sees First Hand-Reared Godwits Leave The UK

Project Sees First Hand-Reared Godwits Leave The UK

The Perfect Source

Starting with Yorkies? Once you have considered the when, where and how of adding stock to your set-up, next on your agenda is who to purchase stock from, advises BRIAN KEENAN.