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.

Avian Draw: more prizes, new date

Two birds land on UK banknotes

QUOTE of the WEEK

Also in the news…

RSPB lists six bounce-back birds

New X-ray and ultrasound suite boosts wildlife care

Orkney reports beached birds

PARROTS & PEOPLE

Bird-gathering applications: what's just been changed? • If you're organising a sale or show, you now contact APHA through a new online system. So what's it like? THE BIRD GATHERINGS NETWORK confirm that it does simplify things – and report on their ongoing discussions with the government

Editor's Letter

Cage & Aviary Birds

A lightbuld moment about layout • Even when DAVID ALLEN's relaxing on the other side of the world, he's thinking about birdroom alterations. And, after implementation, the latest one has worked out well so far

The Lancashire: big, beautiful and worth your attention • In the April 22 edition of Cage & Aviary Birds, Andy Early wrote a historical appreciation of this fine old variety. Here, JASON GREEN describes his own story with the Lancashire explains why he's delighted to be back with it and recommends it to other breeders

Paying for the things you don't see • In a way, says DAVE BROWN, buying an elite bird is always ‘sight unseen’, because you are paying for genes, labour and expertise, not merely feathers and a beak

The big goose that comes in small versions • Canada geese in the UK combine large size with gracefulness, but across their native North America a mass of variants occur – some of which are genuine tiddlers. BILL NAYLOR introduces a remarkably successful wildfowl species

The seventh sense? • How do birds differ from us human beings? Through their perception of the ultraviolet spectrum, for one thing, which is almost like a sixth sense. And then there's their sensitivity in detecting magnetic fields, which gives them their amazing ability to know instinctively where they are and which direction to go in. PAUL DONOVAN investigates

Winter management: Part 3 • Fife canary maestro TERRY KELLY has never offered ‘fancy additives’ in winter or at any other season! Treats, provided sparingly – yes. But the emphasis always needs to be on coaxing those birds to arrive at peak fitness in time for breeding and that's a neglected skill

Newbury: a classic of its kind • Thronged with true birdkeepers, the recent annual show of this Berkshire CBS made a thoroughly satisfying day out for DAVE BROWN, both as exhibitor and invited judge

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

What's on

Club roundup • Show reports, dates, club notices