Birds of a Feather

Dave and Fran Goulden's budgerigar scooped two awards in the novice section of the show.

A cold wintry day in Christchurch didn't deter 100s of caged bird owners from bringing their prize budgerigars, hookbeaks, lovebirds and Finches along to the annual Bird Club Show.

The Christchurch Show is early in the show circuit and helps set the scene for competitions to come, as fanciers drive around the North and the South Island, showing off their feathered companions and socialising.

Two of the old guard share stories of bird-fancying heydays; 40 years ago this competition would have attracted twice the number of entries, about 1500 to 2000. Numbers may be down but bird-fanciers are as intense as ever about their hobby. One judge ruefully admitted that his picks had been roundly criticized by some ardent club members.