Spirits of sunshine: some birds bring the bright sunny south to mind, and the elegant violet-eared waxbill is one of them. Perfect in heated conditions along with other foreign finches – or if you fancy a challenge, give breeding them a go. Our cover bird is just asking for you to try it! If you fancy your finches a tad more familiar, we bring news and advice from a top stud of Bengalese; and if you’re at the start of the birdkeeping road we explain how to plan the perfect garden aviary. From the exhibition end of the hobby we hear from the vastly experienced Graham Lee on foreign birds and Terry Kelly on Fifes. Alan Marchant and Sam Wildes advise on budgies, and there’s still room for a feelgood tale about a cockatiel named (for some reason) Rio.

Spirits of sunshine: some birds bring the bright sunny south to mind, and the elegant violet-eared waxbill is one of them. Perfect in heated conditions along with other foreign finches – or if you fancy a challenge, give breeding them a go. Our cover bird is just asking for you to try it! If you fancy your finches a tad more familiar, we bring n....