| Welcome to this week’s edition of the Budgie Bulletin! |
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This week, the North East Budgerigar Society (NEBS) held its committee meeting, which saw the ratification of Con Orfanos as the club’s new President. Congratulations to Con on his appointment! A key focus of the meeting was member attraction and engagement, particularly through new collaborations and partnerships as part of the club’s 2025 initiatives, as well as getting birds back at meetings.
NEBS has decided to reschedule it’s heat effected “Once In A Blue Moon” show to align with the club’s March 12th event. This will now be incorporated alongside a hands-on demonstration on show bird preparation, featuring expert guidance from Doug Lange and John Mulley.
Members and guests are encouraged to bring along birds for the show—any bird from the blue series is welcome! This includes Normals, Opaline Cinnamons, Pieds, Fallows, and more, showcasing the diverse expressions of blue across different varieties. While an award for the Best Bird will be presented, all birds will be judged within a single class, and Novice, Intermediate and Open will be rolled into one. The event is open to everyone – NEBS would love to see members from all of the Clubs represented.
Following the exhibition, Doug and John will conduct an interactive, hands-on session covering essential techniques to prepare birds for the show bench, including:
✅ Spot preparation – ensuring clean, symmetry of the mask
✅ Opening quill feathers – refining the bird’s overall presentation if they’re coming out of a moult
✅ Dipping tails and wings – enhancing feather condition for the best possible show look on the day
Both Doug and John bring years of experience in bird care and exhibition preparation in South Australia, making this a fantastic opportunity for members to learn directly from two of the best. This event promises to be both educational and enjoyable, so we encourage all members—both new and experienced—to get involved, bring along their birds, and make the most of this valuable session!
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Chatter Magazine
This week also saw the release of the Summer Edition of Chatter Magazine. It should have found its way to your Inbox on Wednesday, and Kwik Copy Norwood are feverishly stitching the booklets this evening, so they’ll be in the post and on their way to hard copy subscribers tomorrow.
It’s not too late to become a subscriber – use the link below. |
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| In this issue, we shine the spotlight on a fancier who has quietly but consistently made his mark in the hobby—John Mulley. As one of this year’s ANBC judges for Cairns, John has dedicated years of hard work to the budgerigar fancy in South Australia. His commitment is evident, with his young birds frequently earning spots in the State team. We take a closer look at John’s setup and the regimen that enables him to produce state representatives year after year.
Genetics Corner dives into Rainbows—timely, given recent workshops and their addition to the ANBC show. Novice Corner offers essential tips for newcomers, covering common pitfalls like overcrowding and overbreeding. Our Overseas Corner features USA exhibitor Robert Marshall, sharing insights into the American show scene. Meanwhile, Pet Corner tackles scaly face mites, helping you spot and treat this common issue early. In You Be The Judge, we discuss the vital role of stewards in competitions—a great way to gain experience and support the community. We also Look Around the Clubs for the latest updates and gear up for the Novice & Intermediate Show – Murphy Classic in March. |
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Latest Update on Bird Flu (H7N8)
The most recent information on Bird Flu (H7N8) is outlined below. The key takeaway for bird owners is the importance of maintaining strict biosecurity measures.
✅ Keep sheds, yards, aviaries, and equipment clean
✅ Ensure footwear is clean before entering bird areas
✅ Wash hands thoroughly before and after handling birds or eggs
Staying vigilant with hygiene practices is essential in protecting your birds and preventing the spread of disease. |
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| Press release from Agriculture Victoria |
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The Week Ahead
Upcoming BSSA March Meeting – A Must-Attend Event!
The Budgerigar Society of South Australia (BSSA) is gearing up for its highly anticipated March meeting, set to take place in Unley next week. This month’s event promises to be both interactive and educational, with a masterclass on show preparation led by experienced breeders Kelwyn Kakoschke and Wayne Weidenhofer.
Masterclass: Preparing Birds for the Show Bench
Kelwyn and Wayne will be conducting a hands-on workshop, sharing their expertise on how to best prepare birds for the 2025 show season. Members are encouraged to bring along a couple of birds in a show cage to practice their skills during the session. Please note: It is recommended to bring birds that are not part of your show team to ensure valuable hands-on experience without affecting your competitive lineup.
Members are also encouraged to bring any equipment they currently use for bird preparation, as this session will provide insights into refining techniques and making the most of available tools.
Bird Sales at the Meeting
As part of BSSA’s evening meetings, members can bring surplus breeding stock for sale, offering newer members the opportunity to acquire quality birds. This will be a straightforward buy-and-sell process, running from 7:15 pm until the start of the meeting. There will be no tender sale as such.
Guidelines for Sellers:
✅ Maximum of 2 birds per show cage or 6-8 birds per holding cage
✅ Clearly label cages with the bird descriptions and seller’s name
✅ 10% commission payable to the club
Buyers: Please ensure you bring a suitable cage for any purchases.
🔺 Hot Weather Policy: If the forecast temperature on the meeting day is 32°C or higher, the bird sale will not be held for the welfare of the birds.
Expressions of Interest – Melton Auction Trip
The BSSA is seeking expressions of interest from members keen to travel to Melton (Victoria) in late July for the annual Melton Budgerigar Auction. The tentative plan includes:
📅 Departing: Friday, 25 July
📅 Returning: Monday, 28 July
📅 Auction Day: Saturday, 26 July
📅 Aviary Visits: Planned for Sunday, 27 July
The BSSA will cover the cost of bus hire, with travelers responsible for fuel and accommodation expenses. If interested or if you have suggestions for future trips, please contact BSSA Social Coordinator, Janet Harris, on 0456-160-553.
Unpainted Show Cages for Sale
The BSSA has unpainted show cages available for purchase at $34 each. This is a great opportunity for members looking to upgrade or expand their show cage setup.
This meeting promises to be an engaging and informative evening, so be sure to attend and make the most of the expert guidance and networking opportunities!
ANBC Gazette
The ANBC Gazette is due out tomorrow, which will include a very exciting announcement on who will be part of On The Perch for the 2025 TRILL™ Expert ANBC Championship Show. Keep an eye out for it in your Inbox, and if you aren’t already a subscriber, there is a link below. |
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This week, we have one online auction underway on the 32 Auctions platform – BSSA Auction 3 for 2025. Details of this event is provided below. Also, remember our two-day pledge – no buying of budgies on February 29th and 30th!
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BSSA Auction 3 for 2025 🦜
Date: Ends March 2nd 2025
Lots Available: 10 individual lots
BSSA Auction 3 for 2025 is now open, featuring 10 quality birds from well-respected breeders, including Marie & Kerry Murphy, Ken & Janet Harris, Ian & Gina Wise, and Bob Simpson. This auction offers an exciting variety of birds, including Lacewings, Spangle Double Factors, Opalines, Normals, Cinnamonwings, and Inos. Since all vendors are based in South Australia, any required interstate transport will be arranged from this location.
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| Preparing Your Birds Workshop
🗓 Date: Tuesday, March 4th 2025
📍 Location: Unley Community Centre, 18 Arthur St Unley
Join the BSSA for their workshop on how to prepare birds for Show, featuring Club members Wayne Weidenhofer and Kelwyn Kakoschke showing their tricks of the trade. The night will also feature a sale night of birds, weather permitting. |
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Getting Ready for May: Preparing Birds for Show
North East Budgerigar Society (NEBS)🗓 Date: Wednesday March 12th, 2025
📍 Location: Hectorville Community Centre, 47 Reid Avenue, HectorvilleThe entertainment for the March meeting will be “5 best tricks for preparing birds for the show bench” and will be presented by Doug Lange and John Mulley. Doug and John have been part of the South Australian bird carer team for the ANBC show for many, many years, and will be sharing their skills and knowledge with us all. It is intended that members bring along a couple of birds in a show cage with the preparation equipment you would normally use at home. John and Doug will run a session on show preparation, and it will be a large workshop with everyone learning and experimenting together. |
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| Port Pirie Budgerigar Society Quarterly Meeting
🗓 Date: Sunday, March 16th 2025
📍 Location: Peter & Polly’s, Tiddy Widdy Beach
Join the Port Pirie Budgerigar Society for their quarterly catch up, including an aviary tour at the residence of Pete & Polly on Sunday, March 16th. The event will start at 11 AM at their residence in Tiddy Widdy Beach. If you’ve never attended a Port Pirie meeting before, you’re in for a delightful experience. This unique daytime gathering includes a shared lunch and an aviary tour, offering a different and enjoyable experience. The Port Pirie Club is known for its warm and welcoming atmosphere, making it an ideal Sunday outing and a perfect day trip to the Yorke Peninsula, near the Ardrossan area. Please be sure to let Peter know if you’re coming, so nobody goes home hungry. Don’t miss out on this opportunity for a wonderful social event and a chance to connect with fellow budgerigar enthusiasts, while experiencing a Yorke Peninsula food coma in the sands of Tiddy Widdy. For more information, contact Peter Glassenbury on 0409 288 710. |
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| The North Queensland Budgerigar Zone are hosting another raffle to support the 2025 TRILL™ Expert Australian National Budgerigar Council (ANBC) Championship Show being held in May – this time, a pair of Budgerigars from Ray Slade. The Raffle will be drawn on March 31st 2025. Tickets are $20 each and are available from Michelle Vidler 0457 088 108. |
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2025 TRILL™ Expert Australian National Budgerigar Council (ANBC) Championship Show
May 23rd – May 25th 2025, Brothers League Club, Cairns, QLDRegistrations for the 2025 TRILL™ Expert Australian National Budgerigar Council (ANBC) Championship Show are now open. Registration for the event includes access to the two-day show and grants eligibility to book functions and tours. Be sure to secure your spot soon, as registrations close on March 31st, 2025.
- Registration Fee: $30 per person (Free for children under 12 years)
- Sunday Night Options: Additional bookings are available for the highly anticipated Sunday evening events, which are known to sell out quickly—don’t miss your chance to attend!
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Schedule of Events
The weekend events will commence with Registration collection Friday afternoon. The Friday Night Meet and Greet incorporating “On the Perch” will commence at 6 pm at the Brothers League Club. This night is a great interactive event to catch up with old and new friends and exhibitors incorporating the ANBC Experts “On the Perch”. Saturday will see judging at the Brothers League Club commencing around 9 am and continue on again on Sunday from 9 am. The Auction on Sunday will commence around 1.30 pm, concluding the Sunday show events around 3.30pm. Finally, the Presentation Dinner at the Brothers Leagues Club will open at 6.30 pm for a 7.00 pm start. |
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More To Do in Cairns
For those that would like to see a little more than budgies in boxes Saturday and Sunday, Cairns offers a variety of attractions including Cairns Aquarium, Botanical Gardens and Centenary Lakes, Cairns Shopping Centre, Tanks Art Centre or a stroll along the Esplanade and Lagoon.Saturday 24th May Evening
$170 – Saturday Dinner Cruise –Spirit of Cairns
Saturday Night you can relax for Dinner on the Spirit of Cairns Inlet Cruise boarding at 6.30 pm for 2.5 hours – min numbers are required. |
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Monday 26th May Day Tour
Kuranda Rail & Sky Rail (includes pick-up and return to Cairns Colonial Club)
$175pp Adult
$110pp Child 4 to 14 years
Add $65pp for Lunch at Frogs Restaurant – Main & DessertFull day tour leaving the Cairns Colonial Club at 9.00 am – Kuranda Sky rail and Cableway. Firstly, travel on the Kuranda Scenic rail from Freshwater to Kuranda.To that end, explore Kuranda and the markets, transferring to the Skyrail rainforest cableway to Smithfield. Finally, leave the Skyrail terminal and return back to Cairns Colonial Club at approximately 5 pm. |
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| Tuesday 27th May Day Tour
Herberton Historic Village and Tablelands, Atherton, Fig Tree, Crater Lake, Platypus (includes pick-up and return to Cairns Colonial Club)
$95pp Adult
$70pp Child 4 to 14 years
Add $25pp for Lunch at Bakerville Teahouse (cold lunch) |
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| Visit Historic Herberton Village! Full day tour leaving Cairns at 8.00 am to visit Herberton Historic Village travelling though the Kuranda Range. Depart the Historic Village after lunch to visit the platypus and the unique attraction of the Curtain Fig Tree. Next, return down the scenic Gillie Range and through cane fields neat Gordonvale. Finally, arrive back at Cairns Colonial Club around 5 pm. |
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Wednesday 28th Full Day Cruise
Big Cat CruisesGreen Island (Full Day) – includes buffet lunch & transfers. plus choice of snorkel gear or glass bottom boat tour (includes pick-up and return to Cairns Colonial Club)$165pp Adult
$80pp Child 4 to 14 years |
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| Leave the Cairns Colonial Club at 8.30 am for a full day with up to 5.5 hours on Green Island. For those eager explorers, you can choose snorkel gear or a glass bottom boat tour. To that end, minimum numbers of 45 people are required. A buffet lunch is available for the full day tour. Furthermore, there may be an option for 2-hour tour on Green Island (bus transfers not included). Green Island offers a range of activities. |
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| Thursday 29th May 2025
Hartley Crocodile Adventures – (includes pick-up and return to Cairns Colonial Club)
No Lunch included (available at kiosk)
$95pp Adult
$60pp Child 4 to 14 years
Embark on a full day of adventure as you depart Cairns Colonial Club at 8:00 am. Firstly, at 9:00 am, you can kick off the excitement with the Cassowary Feeding or a fascinating Crocodile Farm Tour. Next, at 10:00 am, head over to the Snake Show, followed by Croc Feeding at 11:00 am. |
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| Enjoy a lunch break at 1:00 pm or revisit the Crocodile Farm Tour. For those still captivated by reptiles, the Snake Show is on again at 2:00 pm. Consider booking a wildlife photo shoot to create a unique Facebook profile picture or a memorable keepsake for your wall. At 3:00 pm, don’t miss the thrilling Crocodile Attack Show. Finally, your day concludes with a return to Cairns Colonial Club around 4:00 pm. Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures offers a variety of wildlife encounters—visit their website via the link for full details! |
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| USE DISCOUNT CODE CAMP-SHOW25 TO ACCESS YOUR EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNT |
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| Have you signed up to the ANBC Gazette? It is packed full of information, and spans the continent, with cutting edge news from Vets, nostalgic reflection on some of the older Clubs, fanciers in focus, and more. Its free, and it’s a great resource. We encourage anyone with a passion in budgerigars to sign up. |
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With so much happening in the coming weeks, now is the perfect time to get involved, connect with fellow members, and take advantage of the opportunities available through the club meetings here in South Australia. Whether it’s sharpening your show preparation skills, expanding your stud through buying and selling birds, or planning for the BSSA Melton Auction trip, there’s something for everyone.
Don’t forget to check your inbox for the latest ANBC Gazette tomorrow, featuring an exciting announcement about On The Perch for the 2025 TRILL™ Expert ANBC Championship Show. If you’re not already subscribed, be sure to sign up. We look forward to seeing you at the meeting and being part of another fantastic month for all the bird clubs across this great state!
Until next week. |
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March
- Tuesday 4th – BSSA Meeting “Preparing Your Birds Workshop”, featuring Kelwyn Kakoschke and Wayne Weidenhofer @ Unley Community Centre
- Wednesday 12th – NEBS Meeting “Getting Ready for May: Preparing Birds for Show”, featuring John Mulley and Doug Lange @ Hectorville Community Centre
- Sunday 16th – PPBS Aviary Visit & Meeting, Peter & Polly’s @ Tiddy Widdy Beach
- Sunday 30th – BSSA Murphy Classic Novice & Intermediate Show @ Ascot Park Scout Hall
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