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.

Kent ZFS wraps up after 57 years in operation

RSPB Cymru acquires large ‘wildlife-rich gem’ in Wales

QUOTE of the WEEK

Also in the news…

New black drinker required by FCC

Pheasants: BASC wins High Court judgement against Natural England

Pembrokeshire man prosecuted for capture of wild goldfinches

Park Life

NCA: an update on shows and sales • In recent months, ROBB BROWN and the NCA's Cage Bird Group have been debating how to persuade DEFRA to make its General Licence for bird gatherings workable. Here Robb summarises the current position

General Licence explainer: three key issues that event organisers need to understand

Cage & Aviary Birds

Gail Harland's WATERBIRDS

On target - and what it means • TONY EDWARDS will defer his key pairing decisions until late autumn, but his strategic planning for the 2027 is underway. Sunny days in the garden are good for tactical thinking!

A 2026 zebbie show diary • This year, the months of September and October are set to be packed with high-quality competition for zebra finch fans to enjoy. In this article, leading exhibitor DAVE BROWN describes the main events and suggests the names to keep an eye on

Fancy footwork from the fandango birds • In the June 17 issue, BILL NAYLOR described the elaborate lekking behaviour of male cotingas. Here he considers the performances staged by their smaller cousins, the manakins, whose flashy moves and wacky sounds are all deployed to attain their Holy Grail – a female

When ‘liberty’ calls • Our cage and aviary birds are REALLY not suited to life in the world outside the birdroom, but nonetheless if you show them a gap then they'll make a bid for those open spaces. DAVE BROWN was recently reminded of this awkward tendency – in dramatic fashion

Rare parrots and natural disasters: part 2 • Concluding from two weeks ago, DAVID WAUGH explains how ‘acts of God’ pose risks to threatened parrots around the world. A glance at the table below shows how vital the support of the Loro Parque Foundation is to their protection

Alan Fretten: a 50-year journey • From his early days in the 1970s, ALAN FRETTEN has built a national reputation for outstanding showbirds and, equally, for exemplary birdroom management. In the first part of a new series about his career in the hobby, Alan shares what he's learned, beginning with those first years. Words by fellow Bristol BS club member TONY KENNESON-ADAMS

Northumbrian Notes • A fortnight in Florida's theme parks with the family? You might think birds would be banned for the whole term – but for Austin that was never going to be on. Here are his special ‘Notes’ from Stateside, including some follow-up questions for when he got home

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