NORFOLK FOREIGN BIRD ASSOCIATION – 2005 OPEN SHOW REPORT

This year’s Norfolk FBA Open Show attracted over 300 entries, and as usual quality amongst the best exhibits was very high. The Australian section was judged by M Underwood, the other Foreign sections by R Langley and R Walvin, and the Zebra and Bengalese sections by D Brown.

D Watlow won all the Lovebird awards. Best Lovebird was his well coloured Orange Peachfaced whilst the leading current year bred and second best Lovebird was a normal Peachfaced.

The section for other Parrotlike contained 25 entries which were led by a very good Swift Parakeet owned by S & P Fisher. Second best in section also came from the S & P Fisher partnership, this time with a Blue Crowned Hanging Parrot. Third best was the leading current year bred entry, a Lineolated Parrotlet benched by B Sheldrake. The other current year awards were all staged by B Sheldrake, and all were Lineolated.

There were nearly 50 Common Seedeaters entered, and quality was very high and a number of good entries failed to win section awards due to the strong competition. Leading the section, best current year bred seedeater and third best exhibit in show was an excellent African Silverbill belonging to S & P Fisher. This bird was remarkably steady with good feather quality. It was also judged as best current year bred foreign exhibit. In second place was another very good exhibit, a Fawn Java Sparrow owned by D Brown. In third place was another D Brown exhibit, this time a cock Green Singing Finch. The current year bred section was very well supported, and following the leading exhibit were two other D Brown entries, a Fawn Java Sparrow and a Green Singing Finch.

Although the number of Rare Seedeaters entered was not as high as recent years, quality was good. Best in section was a cock Mexican House Finch staged by S & P Fisher. Second best, and leading current year bred Rare Seedeater was a pair of Red Faced Pytilla owned by P & E Prosser. Third best was the Grey Headed Oliveback belonging to Mr & Mrs Tugman.

There were over 70 entries in the Australian section, which included some excellent exhibits. Leading the way, best adult Australian and second best foreign bird in show was an immaculate Bamboo Parrot Finch owned by G Wincomb. Second best, and leading current year bred exhibit were a very good pair of Hecks Grassfinches belonging to L Barnsdale. Third best Australian, and second best adult was an orange headed Red Headed Parrot Finch with excellent feather quality staged by P & E Prosser. Third best adult was G Wincomb’s Bicheno. The same exhibitor also won the awards for second and third best current year bred Australian with a Bicheno and Black Headed Gouldian respectively.

Entries in the softbill and nectarfeeder section exceeded 40 and contained a wide variety of species. The best nectarfeeder and best exhibit in show was an outstanding Streaky Spiderhunter owned by C & S Allaway. This was a popular win for one of the clubs stalwarts. Mr & Mrs Tugman took the awards for second and third best nectarfeeder with a Splendid Sunbird and Scarlet Chested Sunbird. Leading softbill was C & S Allaway’s Touraco which drew a lot of attention from visitors with its friendly nature. Two Tanagers were second and third in the section, an Opal Rumped and Blue Necked both belonging to N Elliston. The only current year bred entry was a Kikuyu Zosterop owned by N Elliston.

Leading Junior exhibit were a nice pair of Bengalese owned by D Eagle whilst his brother staged the second best with a Peach Faced Lovebird.

Zebra Finch entries were down this year, but despite this there were some good quality birds. Best champion adult were Fawns owned by Mr & Mrs Rudling. Second and third best champion adult were Normals belonging to J Moss and Penguins benched by D Webster. Best champion breeder, best champion and best Zebra exhibit were the Chestnut Flanked Whites belonging to J Moss. Second and third best champion breeder were the Fawns of Mr & Mrs Rudling and another pair of Chestnut Flanked Whites owned by J Moss. The novice section was dominated by Mr & Mrs Shortland. In the novice adult section they took all three awards with two Normal exhibits and Chestnut Flanked Whites. They also won best and third best novice breeder with Normals and Chestnut Flanked Whites. The leading novice breeder entry was also best novice Zebra. P Smith took second best novice breeder with Chestnut Flanked Whites. P Smith staged the best Dilute.

P & E Prosser won the champion Bengalese awards. Best adult were their Self Chocolate whilst their Chestnut & White were best breeder and best Bengalese. The best novice exhibit was D Webster’s Self Chocolate.