Home | Table of Contents Volume 4 Issue 3
The "Perfect Bird". The standard is an ideal based on an imaginary bird. It represents a high goal for each species. Even a championship-winning bird cannot match a standard exactly. Nothing real is perfect. To find out the standard your bird will compete under, contact the specialty club sponsoring the show in which you plan to enter a bird. There are five categories on which judging is based. CONFORMATION carries the most weight, because the category includes physical characteristics that a bird could pass on to future generations. CONDITION covers the general health, grooming, and appearance of a bird. This is the area in which an owner has the most control and judges consider it extremely important. A bird's wing and all other feathers must be intact and undamaged. DEPORTMENT covers the bird's behavior on the show bench while a judge appraises it. To do well on the show bench, the bird should behave in a manner common to the species. The bird should sit erect and appear confident. It should not cower on the bottom of the cage, climb the bars nervously or throw itself around the cage in a panic. The bird should grip its perch firmly. COLOR is viewed as depth and uniformity of color. This is more important than extraordinary hues. In pied mutations, judges look for a pleasing degree of contrast in well-proportioned balanced markings. Finally, PRESENTATION covers the general effect of a bird's caging. This includes the type of cage, cleanliness and repair of the cage. The water tube and tags should be attached so as not to obstruct the judge's view of the bird. Most judges agree that you should prepare for a show months in advance. Bathe your bird regularly to encourage the bird to preen and take care of its feathers. Accustom your bird to the show cage by placing it in the cage several times a week. Place a treat, such as miller spray, higher than the perch to encourage the bird to learn to sit up straight and tall. Invite your friends over to look at your bird in the show cage and insert a wand of training stick through the bars to encourage the bird to sit on its perch. Carry the bird and cage from room to room as will happen in a show. Shortly before the show trim and shape the bird's nails and beak if necessary. READY, SET, SHOW You will need three important items (besides your bird) to enter a bird show. One is the show catalog, which tells you the rules of the show. Another is the entry form, which is a two-part form that lets you enter your bird in the show and then reclaim it after the show. The third item is the show tag, which is attached to the bird's cage and identifies the type of bird. It also identifies you as the bird's owner, although your identity is concealed from the judge during judging.		Arrive early. If you can, arrive the night before, settle your birds in your motel room so they, at least, can have a full night's sleep. A tired bird CANNOT show at its best. Then you are free to meet with other club members and exhibitors. Perhaps you can obtain your show forms and tags and have them filled out in advance of your arrival at the show hall. Show tags are also very important. These are the tags you will see attached to the lower left of the front of the cage (in most cases.) They identify the type of bird, the division, section, and class of the bird and the bird's owner (name hidden from the judge). Entry forms are received at the same time as show tags. All information from the completed show tag is transferred to the entry form. The form consists of two identical pieces of paper (carbon/carbonless forms). One part of the form is for the stewards, the other is returned to the owner to be the "claim check" to retrieve the bird after the show. Attend the judging of your bird's class. Frequently the judge will give valuable information on why he has placed one bird over another. After the show is over, and all of the birds have been judged, there may be an opportunity to ask the judge to look at your bird and offer suggestions on how to improve it. This should never be done during judging though, since it could lead to the disqualification of your bird. The more shows you attend, the more experience you can acquire in showing your birds. Never be afraid to compete. One family entered a cherished bird at their first show and walked away with Best in Show. Others wait years for "just the right bird" but still keep showing. - Reprinted with permission of Sarah Stuart and The Aviation and Cage Society of South Florida. Sarah Stuart is the past President of ACBS South Florida.