Novice Bird Shows

[Sally]

We must increase interest and participation in our bird clubs and bird shows in the U.S., or they are going to gradually fade away, which would be disastrous to U.S. aviculture. Bird clubs are disappearing all over the U.S. due to lack of interest. We know that there are people out there with finches, we just have to figure out how to get them to participate in clubs, groups, societies.

In talking to our local bird club show chairperson about this problem, she has come up with the idea possibly to have novice bird shows. Our bird club could rent a room in a central location, perhaps get a local current or retired judge to donate an afternoon, and put on a finch show just for novices. The experienced show people in the area could donate cages for the novices to use. Novices could bring their birds to the show, and they would be walked through the process of preparing the show cage, putting the bird in the show cage, filling out and attaching show tags, filling out show entry forms, and then we would have a novice show. There are plenty of us in this area who would be willing to donate their ribbons for such a show.

How many forum members in the Texas area would be interested in such a program? Would there be enough interest for this to go national? How many forum members would be interested in such a program in their area? And those of you who are lurking out there, we would like to reach you, too! Of course, there would need to be a bird club within reasonable distance to do this, but if there is enough interest, this could be presented to NFSS as a program they might want to develop. If novices are hesitant to show, fearing that they will appear inexperienced or perhaps they fear looking foolish, this would be a way to try out showing without having the expense of buying a show cage or dealing with the pros. (However, at my first show, the pros showed me how to fill out the papers and tags, how to attach the tags, just walked me through the experience.)

I do have my doubts whether there would truly be any interest in such a program. I have offered to supply show cages free of charge at shows. There was some interest last year, none this year. I hope, if we do decide to offer a novice show, that some forum members will at least try it.

I didn't think I wanted to show at all. At one mart, someone was selling used show cages for a very good price, so I picked up 2 on a whim. At our club's next show, I entered two birds, and I was hooked! I love the camaraderie of showing, the social aspect is just as important to me as the showing itself. We have a great group of people in Texas--we all root for and congratulate each other on our placings. We look forward each year to the shows and visiting with friends we only see those few times a year. We make friends that last a lifetime.

OK, off my soapbox--at least for now!

[Stuart whiting]

Sally

I'm also inclined to agree here Sally,

It's quite funny really as I was considering about putting up a tread about clubs and exhibiting aswell soon after I replied to yer previous thread where no forum members exhibited,

I take it you read me post that I replied to you and I feel very strongly on this subject aswell.

I think yer ideas are viable Sally but in reality I don't think this'll make any difference wheather there's novice shows or normal.

You've exhibited for a good number of years as I obviously have aswell and if anything the 2 of us are probably the only 2 most dedicated champion exhibitors on the forum and perhaps along with a few novices for good measure.

The trouble is that the hall some how or other has to be paid for to have for the day and a club show would now gave to pay twice if there was gonna be a novice show,

Here in England we are massive on the show scene and most clubs just have the one show a year but the difference is that we really do help out the novice and juvenile exhibitors as much as poss,

As I mentioned earlier on yer other thread that novice fanciers and juniors must be well looked after in the bird game as these are our future new world bird fanciers,

We sometimes have evening club meetings where we specifically explain to members what needs to be done as regards to show preparation, I've done this now for years helping many people who have been so happy and excited to show, these show prep meetings are so very beneficial to many

I'm more than happy to explain to various forum members about exhibiting from various canary breeds to British birds, mules and hybrids and also now foreign finches and softbills,

The only birds that I'm not really up on are budgies.

Hopefully a few people may enter the wonderful world of exhibition and start to show a few of their birds,

There really is nothing to worry about for beginners as others who are more experienced should be more than willing to help out until one starts to understand a few of the basic rules,

Win a few classes, ribbons / rosettes, cups and trophies and there'll be no looking back

[delray]

Sally This is a great idea! If there's ever anything in NYC for something like that I would be interested for sure!

[DamonIRB]

Did you just call me a lurker?!?!

Quite honestly, I didn't know there were still 'shows' where birds were judged. Everything I've seen listed as a 'bird show' is essentially a marketplace to sell birds, cages, etc. I don't know if I'm interested or not... I may need to stay a lurker a bit longer.

D

[Sally]

Did you just call me a lurker?!?!

Quite honestly, I didn't know there were still 'shows' where birds were judged. Everything I've seen listed as a 'bird show' is essentially a marketplace to sell birds, cages, etc. I don't know if I'm interested or not... I may need to stay a lurker a bit longer.

D

Actually, I was referring to the people who don't join the forum, but since most of it is public, they lurk and read posts but haven't joined. I was a lurker myself at first, reading posts, and then the day came when I wanted to say something and I had to join in order to do so. It is surprising sometimes just how many do lurk. Members cannot see this, but as an admin, I can see how many are on the forum reading posts as guests. There may not be a single member online except myself, but there will be 18 guests reading posts at the same time.

It can be confusing as to what is a mart/fair/show, and sometimes both are going on at the same time. I try, when adding events to the calendar, to note whether they are a mart or a show or both. To me, either a mart or a fair is a place where vendors offer birds and/or bird-related items for sale, a show is simply a competition, a beauty pageant if you will.

[Stuart whiting]

Did you just call me a lurker?!?!

Quite honestly, I didn't know there were still 'shows' where birds were judged. Everything I've seen listed as a 'bird show' is essentially a marketplace to sell birds, cages, etc. I don't know if I'm interested or not... I may need to stay a lurker a bit longer.

D

classic....luv it

[Stuart whiting]

Sally

Yea that's definitely a good and valid point, I've often noticed this on the various forums that I've been on over the years, definitely more quests than what there is members online,

I also used to leark literally for years on many forums and over time have virtually joined em all but now just use a few IE the finch forum being the best by far

I classify as birds being purely for sale and all accessories, foods etc as bird sales, bird table top sales, bird auctions etc,

Birds for open competition are clubs that hold an exhibition for open competition that anyone can send of for a schedule, fill out what birds are to be exhibited and then sent back to the show secretary for the return of the cage labels ( which stick on yer show cages )
These cage labels are accurately numbered and to all show officials and judges will know exactly what birds are what including colour variation and the sex of the birds.

Birds for annual members shows are again exactly as above but are strictly for paid up club members only, this is normally when cups and trophies etc can be won.

At most bird exhibitions ( competitions ) there are specific classes within the show that are for sale birds and occasionally as an attraction maybe one or two tables will have various breeders birds for sale etc.

[cindy]

Sally, I have discussed doing a judged show at one on the local shows held 3 to 4 times a year. There is a room off the sales floor and a huge loft area above the sales floor. The sponsor of the show was open to the idea since the building is rented for the day. A Judged show would also help bring extra foot traffic into the sales floor as well.

Some of the judged shows have recently ended, one that ran twice a year and drew a large number of people had their last show several months ago... shame too. Many looked forward to it and enjoyed showing their birds.

[Stuart whiting]

cindy

I do hope that your discussion about the shows etc become approved,

Although we've still got a lot of open and club shows here we've also lost a lot of clubs aswel, I can think of at least 11 different clubs that I used to exhibit at that are now all gone,

The very latest I've just heard of is our Foreign bird association now folding up simply because nobody has offered to take on any roles of the club within the last 10 years, everyone seems to think that the same old people are gonna do all the work again yet for another year and because of this attitude amongst the members actions have now been forced to close the club,

Their last show of a 50-60 year old club will finally shut the doors in December as being their very last foreign bird show

We obviously have other foreign clubs like the foreign bird league which is actually an international club based in England but definitely don't want to see any other foreign clubs go as here in England it's the foreign clubs that are now becoming a bit few and far between,

The canary, British finch and budgie clubs are very much thriving with dozens apon dozens of specialist clubs,

My motto is : help as many bird fanciers as poss and help support yer clubs

[cindy]

I was so sad when the club we had many yrs ago in the early 90's folded, we did judging shows, sales and a grand hospitality spread for our two day event. Slowly the clubs in Florida are fading away.

[OAvila1986]

Sally
I'm in southern California and I wish efinch show could come to LA.
If there is any info in showes in LA let me know!

Has anyone made a Facebook account where bird lovers can have their own bird show/contest?

[Stuart whiting]

OAvila1986

Hi there ,

Cindy has her own Facebook group on birds, maybe it might be worth contacting her

[OAvila1986]

Stuart whiting
Oh ok thanks I'll ask her .

[OAvila1986]

cindy what is your Facebook on birds page?

[delray]

OAvila1986 It's Finchaholics on Facebook. She runs a great page!