Rethinking Our Shows

Does the established format of the bird exhibition need a bit of a redesign? JIM HAYWARD JNR strongly believes so and sets out his ideas for clubs to consider.

- Jim Hayward JNR

MY PARENTS took me to my first National Exhibition at Alexandra Palace when I was five in 1972 and my abiding memory is of the beautifully arranged softbill cages set up with mosses, grasses, flowers, rocks and pieces of bark, which suggested to me the natural habitats of species being shown.

I was inspired by this and, although I have never kept softbills, I’ve always tried to set up my cages and aviaries for both parrots and finches in a natural way. I’m sure if bird clubs put on shows with a section devoted to colourful and educational single- and double-breeder cages, this would really appeal to families. Local schools and colleges could also be sent an invite, especially kids studying biology or conservation. This would make the general public aware of the work many of us do to preserve species and old varieties, and that they too can help conserve birds by breeding them at home.

Over the years, I have often invited non-birdkeeping friends and hobbyists who own an aviary or pet bird to come along and view local bird club shows. At the show they have always quickly lost interest, because to people who are new to birdkeeping, rows of very similar looking canaries, budgies, zebra and Bengalese finches don’t stand out. They always notice birds with extremely different appearances, markings and shapes, but can’t, for instance, see any obvious differences between a Fife and a Border canary. Some friends have also remarked that it’s cruel to keep birds in small cages and I always have to explain that the cages are only for exhibition and the birds are kept in large breeder cages or aviaries between shows.

In stark contrast to most exhibitors’ tastes, it’s usually the most colourful birds such as rosellas, colour budgies and waxbills that hold their attention for longer. They almost never like birds with unnatural forms, such as Giboso canaries and modern exhibition budgies.