Copyright 2007 Cockatiel Foundation, Inc.
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ARTICLE
| BIRD SHOWS EXTRAORDINAIRE © 2007 LINDA S. RUBIN Adapted from an original article appearing in the September-October 2004 issue of BIRD TIMES magazine "All Rights Reserved" |
| Bird shows are more than just a gathering of many birds in one location; bird shows are special events that provide avian education, unique buying opportunities, and a world of wonder for new owners and experienced hobbyists alike. More rewards can be obtained by attending bird shows and other educational events, than by nearly any other means. Quality birds, avian supplies, plus a wealth of information gained through networking with aviculturists and experienced hobbyists provide unique opportunities for bird lovers to embrace. Show committees work hard to stage a successful show, which are usually all-day events. Larger shows may have more than just one division; exotic bird shows generally have concurrent judging of cockatiel, parrot, lovebird and finch divisions. All-type shows may also include budgerigar and numerous canary divisions for type, colorbred and singer canaries. Plan to arrive in the morning or as early as the public is invited to attend. Judging in smaller divisions could end before lunchtime, while large divisions may not finish until late afternoon. During judging spectators are invited to sit in the gallery to watch the judging and hear the judges’ comments during the procedure. Certified panel judges in most organizations are required to explain their decisions to the gallery, which are quite educational. Most shows require a small entrance fee, allowing children at either a reduced rate or free of charge. The entrance fee may also allow access to a sales room, bird fair or vendors tables, offering a wide variety of birds and a plethora of avian-related supplies for sale - from manufacturer’s foods, supplements, bird books, VCR tapes, CD’s, avian art, modern and state-of-the art cages, equipment and other supplies. Often times, breeders with surplus birds will sell birds at affordable prices, especially pet stock. To find top quality exhibition birds, less common color mutations, or foundation breeding stock, it is best to seek out exhibitors directly. Make inquires about the winning birds, or birds that you admire, and ask the club officers and members to recommend an exhibitor to you who will be able to fill your needs. For top quality birds, be prepared to pay higher prices. However, for most, the more affordable culls of champion breeders are often superior to the better birds produced by less accomplished hobbyists, especially when searching for a quality pet. Although most bird shows around the country usually begin in the early morning and end by 5:00 PM, many larger dual shows may run as two-day events. These two day shows allow exhibitors to enter the same birds in two shows on consecutive days, allowing them the opportunity to rack up championship points if they make Top Bench, or top ten best overall in division. For show attendees, it provides the opportunity to spend time watching the judging, chatting with other bird lovers and exhibitors, purchasing birds and bird-related supplies seldom found elsewhere, and acquiring helpful information about birds. Once the judging is over and winners are announced, the public is invited to wonder directly among the birds where they can “get up close and personal.” Always remember that bird shows and winning exhibits take place at “a moment in time.” In other words, birds are only judged at a specific moment in time in which they appear before the judge. The judge does not “know” how the bird may appear at home, or in the aviary, or when conditions are “normal.” Therefore, exhibitors find their entries do better when they train their birds to 1) feel comfortable in new and strange surroundings and 2) sit up correctly on the show cage perch to display its form properly to the judge. Although the traits and attributes of a bird are primarily genetic, or what the bird is born with, the exhibitor has a great influence on how the bird appears in front of the judge. By feeding a nutritious diet through the year and bathing a bird frequently to improve its feather plumage, the exhibitor can enhance the condition of the bird. Exposing birds to people, new surroundings, and bringing them on the show circuit enables birds to become more comfortable with the stresses of changes in their environment, and steadier in the show cage, so they will be more relaxed at shows. Training a bird for limited periods in show cages or the cage in which you will be exhibiting your cockatiel(s) will allow them to become more familiar with the cage. If a bird is shown in a cage in which it is uncomfortable or unfamiliar, it will frequently climb all over the cage or hide at the cage bottom. This behavior makes it impossible for a judge to correctly assess the qualities of a bird, which must stand erect on a perch at the proper angle to show off its best characteristics. Spending time in the cage in relaxed surroundings, and eventually in busier surroundings, will enable a bird to become more confident and fare better at shows. Judges know that exhibits change from show to show, from hour to hour, and even from moment to moment. They have a tough time finding the qualities of birds that are not trained to sit well or long enough for them to get a “good look.” Therefore, training your bird to exhibit confidently, and calmly in the cage, will go a long way in advancing an entry in the area of deportment. When a bird has genetic qualities, is well-conditioned, and sits up proudly and confidently in front of the judge with a “look at me; I’m terrific” attitude – a judge cannot help but be impressed. Always remember, however, that many quality birds that are not well-trained can be turned back by a judge and in fact the best bird in the show does not necessarily end up Best in Show! Many a superior bird has been turned back because it would not perch well or long enough - it did not present the correct posture to the judge (due to being nervous) - or any number of conditioning mishaps. Such mishaps could include a lost feather, noticeable pin- feathers, dirt or droppings clinging to feathers (which can happen when a bird is climbing all over a cage or even en-route traveling to a show). In fact, bird shows are not only often a measure of the bird, but of the exhibitor - and how well that exhibitor has prepared a bird for exhibition. Although many a novice does better at a show than they expect, and some outright win top placements, it is usually the seasoned exhibitor who has learned the ropes who knows best how to prepare entries and show them successfully. If committed to this task, most who are serious about exhibiting can learn these lessons by attending bird shows and talking to exhibitors for “tricks of the trade.” Learn from bird shows and the positive comments that are made by the judges and more advanced exhibitors who do well. Always keep in mind that a bird is judged only for “this point in time,” in which the judge is viewing the bird – and that can change and always does, eventually, because no single bird can win every show. Happy placings. |
| "Providing Resources to the Cockatiel Community" The Cockatiel Foundation, founded in June 2007, began out of a growing need in the avicultural community to offer its members programs for pet owners, breeders and exhibitors, in addition to services never before addressed in the cockatiel community. CF is establishing a Cockatiel Adoption & Placement Program to hrlp in the placement and rehoming of cockatiels to new, permanent "forever" homes. CF offers a wealth of information on color genetics, mutations, and breeding research. CF is addressing the needs of our Youth Members in the CF Youth & Education Program developed for tomorrows' next generation of cockatiel afficionados. Please visit our unique LOST & FOUND Center to report and reunite birds with their owners! Joining the Foundation When you join the Foundation as a Member, you will receive many benefits, including the Cockatiel Chronicle and have access to the Members' Only Yahoo Group for chat, PHOTO CONTEST, Members' Articles & more! Please read about our Membership benefits and peruse the website. COME JOIN US! |
Cockatiel Foundation, Inc.
c. 2007 Nancy E. Johnson
| Linda S. Rubin is an aviculturist, lecturer and avian educator of 30 years, with an international byline in avicultural magazines around the world and author of several books at www.CockatielsPlusParrots.com. She is the cockatiel expert columnist for Bird Talk’s website, BirdChannel.com, writes as an overseas columnist for Cage & Aviary Birds (United kingdom), and she serves on the board of directors as National Specialty Vice President for the American Federation of Aviculture, Inc. She is the founding president and genetics consultant of the Cockatiel Foundation, Inc. Linda is a certified panel judge for the Cockatiel Foundation, and the Society of Parrot Breeders & Exhibitors, judging shows throughout the US, Puerto Rico, and Canada since 1984. |
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