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.

Graham ‘has a ball’ at Southport BS members’ show

Haith’s prize draw

QUOTE of the WEEK

Also in the news…

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: novel feeding platforms inform cockatoo conservation • DAVID WAUGH, correspondent at Loro Parque Fundación, outlines a conservation project that is working with local people to help protect wild Goffin’s cockatoos. He also explains at how specially designed feeding platforms are, as a bonus, helping researchers find out more about these birds’ behaviour

Vast dodo collection to be sold at auction

Park Life

Testing out the new import regs

IS MUGWORT OK FOR BIRDS?

REGISTRATION REMINDER: SCOTLAND

Editor’s Letter

Cage & Aviary Birds

The fascinating field of colour variation • Whiteness, darkness, colour phases: the variability of birds’ plumage over time and geographical range seems to have no limits. In fact, says experienced birdkeeper GRAHAM WELLSTEAD, it’s worth asking why so many birds do NOT change as they grow old

Learning the hard way • In NEIL CAWLEY’s budgerigar collection, the past few years have been mainly about the journey back from a nearterminal attack of French Moult. He pinpoints diet as the key factor in the recovery and explains how he’s adapted a poultry product to get the feeding right. Is it working? Consistent gains over multiple seasons suggest the answer is ‘yes’

The birdman of Old Colwyn • DAVID SHELBOURNE relates the story of his time with canaries and, first, racing pigeons

The spirit of summer • One bird best sums up the return of warm days and easy living each year: the swallow. BILL NAYLOR explores the life of a species which is surprisingly well known in captivity

ONE STEP BEYOND: a design for a second set-up • A critical stage in many a birdkeeper’s hobby is when they realise that their startup shed is no longer big enough. DAVE BROWN first considers what makes a good startup design, then offers a blueprint for a Phase Two birdroom that would suit either a specialist breeding project or a mixed collection

DECISIVE ACTION - one day it will work! • In MARK JONES’s varied collection of native finches, the hens especially have had some peculiar ideas about breeding so far. And close observation followed by necessary intervention has not improved matters much so far - though it remains the right approach

Northumbrian Notes • Up in Northumberland, ornithological history is being made this summer with a dramatic pairing between two species of tern. But would offspring result? AUSTIN MIDDLEMISS, a man who knows a bit about hybridising birds, was swiftly on the scene

How to add that X factor • Already got a show-prep routine? You can always try something new to achieve that extra edge. DAVE BROWN has plenty of tips to help your zebras stand out from the crowd

Club News • Welcome to the club and show pages - the bit that’s all about you

Club roundup • Show reports, dates, club notices

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