Cage & Aviary Birds

Cage & Aviary Birds is written by bird experts for bird fanciers and is packed with club, show and bird related news, advice, birds for sale and comment. Established in 1902, Cage & Aviary Birds provides a wealth of practical advice and tips from the top names in the bird world, plus opinion, controversy, species and hobbyist profiles and nostalgia.

Take the Hastings BS challenge: 450 at debut gold show

RSPCA give suggestions for new wildlife themed banknotes from the BoE

QUOTE of the WEEK

Also in the news…

Elusive nightjars make a ‘remarkable’ comeback

PARROTS & PEOPLE

Galliforme experts convene for CBAG 2026 • On February 7, the World Pheasant Association (WPA) held its annual Conservation Breeding Advisory Group (CBAG) meeting at Cotswold Wildlife Park. We asked ANGELA POINTER from the WPA how the jam-packed day played out, and here's her report

Borders down the years

Editor's Letter

Cage & Aviary Birds

Gail Harland's WATERBIRDS

A natural feeding cycle • To design a seasonal feeding plan is one of the most reliable ways to support the longterm health, breeding results and feather quality of foreign seedeaters and canaries. DAVE BROWN presents a reliable template based on the natural flow of the birds’ year

Nourish and save • With his stud, TONY EDWARDS needs to watch his feed bill, without ever compromising on quality. Here's how he does it – and how cutting right down on wastage is a big help

Seasonal feeding for my Lizards • DAVID ALLEN itemises the feeding mix and methods he uses with his nesting canariesn

My double-feeding routine • Little and often: for MARK JONES, that's the approach for offering food. But when it comes to softfood and the extras that can be added to it, he reckons it's more a case of ‘not all at once’!

A sparrow-sized drummer • Often heard rather than seen, the delightful little lesser spotted woodpecker is on the retreat as a wild British bird, and has always been a true rarity in aviculture. BILL NAYLOR reckons it's a bird we'd all enjoy getting to know, and sets out the essentials of its life history

My rounded approach to softfood • In the breeding period, SAM WILDES provides his budgies with the widest possible range of healthy nutrition. It may sound complex, but he now has the routine down to a fine art

Varied fare for my diverse collection • As usual, David is aiming to breed both hardbills and softbills this season, so feeding them all is potentially quite complicated… though, as ever, his rule is ‘keep it simple’

My developing softfood saga • For most types of cage and aviary birds, softfood is a vital ingredient in achieving a successful breeding season and moult in both young and old birds. DAVE BROWN summarises his approach during his time as a birdkeeper

My journey with budgies: Part 3 • Some of NEIL CAWLEY's story might be titled ‘how not to do it’, as the author deliberately intends! Here he wryly shares his account of a period in his birdkeeping career when he made plenty of mistakes, and paid for them – but when he also learned and progressed

Club News • Welcome to the club and show pages – the bit that's all about you

It was only a year ago… 2025

What's on this week

Club roundup • Show reports, dates, club notices

THE NEWLY APPROVED GFCCI COUNCIL • THE newly formed council, unanimously approved at the meeting, now consists of 33 councillors representing both the UK and the international Gloster community.