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Exhibition allows us as bird breeders to present the fruits of our labors
to the public and to make a statement about the breed to which we are
dedicated. There is no better place to reach out to the public than at an
exhibition of top quality birds.
There are two types of events commonly referred to as
a show - one is more properly called a bird fair or a bird mart, while the
other is an organized exhibition of a breed (in the case of a specialty show) or
of a number of breeds (such as canary & finch shows or all-bird shows).
Bird fairs or marts are not exhibitions - they are
more like a bird-themed flea market. The quality of birds at a bird fair
is pretty hit-or-miss. Some very nice birds are sold at bird fairs- but
some pretty awful specimens can be found there as well. In general, if you
are seeking top quality birds for breeding or for pets, you would do much
better to attend a bird show than to buy at a bird fair.
A true bird show is a sight to see. Here in the
Midwestern United States, many American Singer specialty shows (where only
American Singers compete) will have 200 or more entries. All-bird shows
may have several thousand birds of every conceivable size, color, and
shape. Dozens of exhibitors will be in attendance at even smaller-sized
shows and most shows have a sale bird area.
At a bird show you can meet similarly-minded people who
will not be shocked at the fact that you have a hundred canaries in your
basement or a few dozen parrots in your dining room. You can buy supplies,
new breeding stock, or just browse the stacks of birds (after the competition is
over and with the permission of show stewards, of course). If you are not shy, you can
strike up conversations with folks who have traveled from all over the country
to attend, who come from all walks of life, and from every imaginable
background.
If you ever have the opportunity to attend a show, don't
miss it!
A few reasons to exhibit your birds:
- To improve the quality of the birds you breed and the
breed overall;
- To learn more about the breed you are working with -
there is absolutely no better way to learn than to regularly participate
in showing;
- To support the breed fancy;
- To meet new people and develop friendships;
- To develop contacts with other breeders - you will be
more likely to be able to acquire good quality stock from other breeders if
you are an exhibitor;
- and to have fun!
You Know You Are An American Singer Canary
Exhibitor When:
- You refer to the fall as "bird show season";
- You can clean, feed, and water three dozen males in
show cages with your eyes closed and one hand tied behind your back without breaking a sweat;
- Stacks of males in show cages can be found in odd
locations throughout your house beginning in September;
- You look at vacuum cleaners in the store and your
first concern is how well they would pick up seed from deep shag carpet;
- You can talk knowledgably about the virtues of
various brands of silver spray paint for painting show cages;
- You have no problem fitting three dozen males in show
cages, a flight cage of hens, and supplies for the weekend in a compact car;
- Every Friday and Saturday in the months of October,
November, & December are blocked out on your calendar;
- You view a trip to the next town over as a waste of
gas but drive 250+ miles in a weekend to attend a bird show;
- By November you find yourself having nightmares about
having a show cage in your hands and not being able to locate the class the
bird belongs in no matter what you do or how hard you try; and
- Your spouse refers to himself as a "Bird Show
Widower" (or herself as a "Bird Show Widow").
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