Another momentous week in the hobby: the prestigious Budgerigar Society Club Show was called off as a cost-saving measure, to address the society’s cash-flow crisis; and as compulsory registration of birds draws closer, we hear how a very similar scheme runs in Northern Ireland without (thankfully) causing many hiccups to the hobby. Now birds: on the cover, the spotted laughingthrush, one of a stellar softbill family whose social and zany habits it’s a pleasure to relate! Canaries come in the Yorkshire, Fife and Gloster varieties this week. Budgerigar articles debate hand-rearing and explain how to set up a first-time colony (fun, basically). And we have in-depth studies of crossbills, parrots and – more fun! – birdkeeping collectables. You know you want to start a collection…

Another momentous week in the hobby: the prestigious Budgerigar Society Club Show was called off as a cost-saving measure, to address the society’s cash-flow crisis; and as compulsory registration of birds draws closer, we hear how a very similar scheme runs in Northern Ireland without (thankfully) causing many hiccups to the hobby. Now bir....