What's in the issue

Two back-from-the-dead birds feature this week! On the cover, the Lancashire canary, which may enjoy brighter prospects now that its breed club has been revived. This bird once went literally extinct but was reassembled from related varieties by skilled and dedicated breeders. And inside, an old favourite, the London fancy – we learn how the journey to its eventual recreation originally began with a schoolboy’s visit to a museum. We meet the dazzling red-billed blue magpie, which our expert describes as the perfect zoo bird (with looks, brains and personality). Plus, an update from a top native bird collection; canary nostalgia; a shy ibis in the limelight; advice on zebra finches, travel and greenfood; and a moving tribute to a great British softbill man.