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.

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Captive collared falconet breeding breakthrough

QUOTE of the WEEK

Also in the news…

Young starlings find their own way home

UK spoonbill breeding success

Ambitious project aims to establish white storks in London

PARROTS & PEOPLE

What can a shell tell us?

CIGAR-SHAPED CHARM FROM 1924

Editor's Letter

Cage & Aviary Birds

Hawfinches and the OC Aviary • It's a good thing OLIVER CROWTHER enjoys a challenge! To breed this prince among finches has long been an ambition. Here Oliver gives us the first part of a progress report

Showery, but birds set fair • Nationally, 2024 looks like the best breeding season for a while among softbill enthusiasts. GARY BRALSFORD takes stock – and reckons there's more to come

Chicks, juveniles, competition and play • Togetherness is such a vital element in the rearing of healthy young parrots, says RAFAEL ZAMORA

Before the BS: new blues • Last week we began to explore what the budgie hobby was like when the Budgerigar Society was founded in 1925. One huge novelty at that time was blue factor birds, for which there were growing demand. In 1924, top breeder MRS M DALTON-BURGESS penned several articles, including this one which explains how she bred her prize-winning blues

I've got to be happy with the score • Twenty up? Andy will take that total of youngsters, given the traumatic start to his season with the Borders. What's more, they include his first-ever own-bred clears!

The bird that can't stop laughing • For most of the year the ‘yaffling’ voice of the green woodpecker can be heard in our countryside. BILL NAYLOR delves into the life of a favourite species (though not with ants)

MISSING: the day Dawn escaped • STRESS! That's what you get – and the bird gets – when your falcon slips the leash and makes off into the dangerous hinterland. Concluding his article from last week, GRAHAM WELLSTEAD describes a recent lost-and-found that, with the help of others, ended well

Budgerigar Q&A • Every top exhibitor will agree that preparing your birds for show is as important as breeding quality. CHRIS GREEN gives some pre-exhibition advice in response to a reader query

Veteran Bossu beats the age barrier • Granny the Belgian hen was undeniably old. Furthermore, DONALD SKINNER-REID thought she'd lost the plot. But birdkeeping never fails to surprise – this time, happily!

Round up from South Eastern BC • Welcome to the club and show pages – the bit that's all about you

Best nest-feather for Stewart

Les reminisces on 50 years of Norfolk club

Club roundup • Show reports, dates, club notices

Obituary

What's on this Week • Club meetings nationwide Includes sales held by clubs to benefit their members. For other sales, please book an advert