What's in the issue

Colourful, pint-sized and very popular: that’s the Chinese painted quail in a nutshell. This week we major on this favourite little gamebird, so often the fancier’s choice for a mixed aviary, where as well as looking good at ground level they also excel at hoovering up dropped seed. Staying with the aviary theme, we meet a quite different occupant, the weird-looking tawny frogmouth, which last year delighted Cotswold Wildlife Park keepers and visitors alike with a first successful parent-rearing. On more familiar ground we talk canaries with Fife maestro Terry Kelly and Border stalwart Stuart Mason, and gain fascinating insights from David McCool on the well-matched charms of canaries and native finches. Rick Watts advises on show prep for budgies (it’s not too soon!) and Gary Bralsford presents his regular softbill roundup. Plus: birdroom visiting at long range, and key advice for sales organisers.