Bird enthusiasts in the Bay of Plenty are all a flutter about this year's milestone 60th annual show being held alongside the Budgerigar Society of New Zealand's annual patronage show this weekend in Tauranga.

'It's very prestigious to win the right to host the Patronage Show, so it's a real feather in our cap,” says Tauranga Bird Club president Sheryl Baron.

'To think that in 2017, our club returned to hosting a show after a five-year hiatus, to now hosting one of the biggest along with the gathering of budgerigar breeders from around the country. It's a real nod to our thriving community here.”

Along with its AGM, the Budgerigar Society will hold its show this Saturday, May 27, and Sunday, May 28 – with one of the 17 judges coming all the way from Scotland. There will also be an auction of budgies from the studs of a range of breeders. Sheryl says the event is a great way to begin breeding as a hobby.

'Budgies are an easy entry-level cage bird. They're low maintenance and just lovely birds in general and there are so many colours and varieties to choose from.

900 entries

'In fact, we're very proud to be home to one of the best budgie breeders in the country.”

Around 330 budgerigars will be at the show: coming from as far away as Christchurch, as well as around the North Island including Hawke's Bay, Whangarei and Palmerston North. The Tauranga Bird Show, itself, has already attracted around 900 entries.

'It's already beginning to rival the shows back in the bird breeding heyday of the 1980s and 1990s,” says Sheryl. 'We're seeing a real revival in Tauranga at the moment. Locals can come along to see a range of cage birds from canaries to different types of finches, parrots and cockatiels.”

There is the chance to buy birds at the auction and sales table as well as accessories and bird food. 'This year is almost like a practice run for a huge event next year when we've been invited to host the 2024 Topflite National Bird Show here in Tauranga,” says Sheryl.

'This is big and we're very excited. It's important that we do well, so we're inviting locals to come along and support the show.”

A man and his bird check out the budgies at last year's Tauranga Bird Show. Photo: supplied.

The 2023 Tauranga Bird Show is this Saturday, May 27 from 1pm-5pm and Sunday, May 28, from 8.30am-1pm (last ticket sales midday), at Tauranga Racing Club, 1383 Cameron Rd, Greerton. Entry is cash only – adults $5, kids $3, family $15.

Meet our budgie lady

Tauranga's Robyn Grinter takes the compliment of being one of New Zealand's top budgerigar breeders with a shrug and a smile. 'When you've been breeding for as long as I have – almost 60 years – then you have to be doing something right. I've won hundreds of awards; possibly thousands.”

After getting her first budgie pair as a Christmas gift when she was nine years old, Robyn fell in love with the breed, even managing to tame the female bird despite not getting it as a young chick.

'So, there you go, you can tame older birds,” says Robyn. 'I handled her a lot. In fact, one night in a storm the cage blew over. The male flew away, but we found Penny hiding under the house. I could even walk to the shops with her sitting on my shoulder.”

With around 400 budgerigars, Robyn no longer spends time taming them but loves the chatter of noise from her backyard aviaries. She says breeding winners takes time and expertise.

'We are one of the top breeders because we've been at it a long time and take time to work out the pairs to enhance certain features. You have ideal standards but I'm always aiming higher to improve on that.”

A prize-winning budgie at last year's Tauranga Bird Show. Photo: supplied.

Robyn has at least 35 birds entered in the Budgerigar Society of New Zealand's annual patronage show this weekend in Tauranga – and she's excited to have an international judge to show to.

'It's a different opinion and a fresh perspective but I love the shows for the social aspect, too. These are friends we only see at these events.”

'I'll be breeding budgies until I fall off my perch, so to speak,” laughs Robyn. 'My husband and I are still able to do the work in our mid-60s, so we'll keep going. It's just a hobby and I love it.”