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.

RSPB CEO weighs in on the wildfire crisis

‘Mr Cirl Bunting’ lauded for 60 years’ volunteering

QUOTE of the WEEK

Also in the news…

Tag project set to test sea-eagle threat to livestock

Against the odds: tiny heron returns to the wild

Great tit study identifies survival hazards

THE CANARY COLUMN

RFI: find the fieldfare

Editor’s Letter

Cage & Aviary Birds

Gail Harland’s WATERBIRDS

Northumbrian Notes • This month, Austin returns to the black mutation racers that he’s set his heart on breeding. And the news he brings is mixed, though with reasons to be cheerful. One such is that he’s also lashed out on a new set of binoculars - top quality, of course!

Biosecurity at shows and sales • NCA chairman ROBB BROWN writes: If you’re organising a show or sale, DEFRA’s General Licence now says you need to inform people who are bringing birds about biosecurity BEFORE the event. I’ve drafted this info sheet/form for organisers to use or adapt. Officially it’s called Bird Gathering Participant Biosecurity Guidance & Declaration! Yes, there’s quite a bit in it – but really it just formalises what we’re committed to already. Here we go:

Britain’s No. 1 charmer • In public collections, the rainbow lorikeet is now probably our best-loved parrot. CHRIS GREEN pinpoints the attraction of the rainbow and its relatives

The peaceful invader • Not every invasive species is an ‘exotic alien’ or the responsibility of hapless humans! BILL NAYLOR tells the story of a famous avian colonialist, the collared dove, which expanded its range quite naturally all the way from India to Britain – and then beyond

Moving scenarios for eggs and chicks • Balancing brood sizes is one main aim when TONY EDWARDS makes transfers between nests, but there are others. Here he sets out his guidelines for this type of intervention

Breeding successes (mostly not mine!) • Everywhere David looks this summer there are lively young birds – though the majority hatched and fledged outside his aviaries. At the same time there’s a potential vermin issue to be addressed, not to mention the drought to be tackled. He’s also had an unexpected visit from a gamebird

Full-spectrum judging • ‘Has my bird won?’ is often the only question fanciers ask about the judging at a show! DAVE BROWN corrects the balance by summarising the tasks that the job actually entails

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

New yearbook out now!

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