| Why Budgerigars ? So many varieties of bird species are kept and bred all over the world. Since its intoduction into Europe around the year 1840 the Budgerigar has been and will remain one of the most popular captive bird both as pet and as an exhibition bird. Its original fascination was perhaps its miniature parrot appearance, its friendliness and its ability to talk together with an extremely lively, inquisitive and playful nature. Serious breeding throughout the years has ensured the preservation and enhancement of the many mutations appearing by way of colour, feather type and size. The combined results may be appreciated at their very best in today's exhibition winners in the various classes the world over. All this has increased the popularity of the budgerigar immensely and it is sad to note that the hobby is in decline in the United Kingdom, considered by most to be at the forefront for quality budgerigars. Our only hope is that this is just a temporary setback that will somehow be reversed. Budgerigars have always been my favourites. I have at times bred other species including canaries, cockatiels and a variety of finches. In 1998 I had a mixed collection of birds and George (then 13) encouraged me to specialise in exhibition budgerigars. I was only too happy to oblige and we eventually joining the two local bird clubs on the Island. Together we started a selective breeding programme, exhibiting for the first time in the BBA-COM (Malta) in the 1999 January show. Budgerigars in Malta The smallish type better known as pet budgerigars is bred in Malta in colonies. The exhibition type of Budgerigar is not as yet extensively bred. However, there is a small number of keen breeders and their number is on the increase. We do our best to exhibit a variety of colours and forms in order to get more people interested and to help any beginner with advice and reasonably priced stock. Two national major Bird Shows are held. One is organised by the BBA-COM Malta in January and the other by the MCBA (Malta Cage Birds Association) in November. A wide variety of birds are exhibited with Canaries topping the list for number of entries. Budgerigars are exhibited in the Parrotlike Section in different classes according to the various forms and colours. Birds are judged mainly by foreign judges coming from various European countries. Shows are extremely well organised and very well attended. Visiting Malta? Malta is visited by over one million tourists annually and we are sure many budgerigar fanciers must have visited Malta as tourists. More information about Malta as a tourist destination is available at the Malta Tourism Authority's multilingual official website. If you are a Budgerigar hobbyist and intend visiting Malta we would be very glad to meet you and invite you to visit our stud during your stay. We can be contacted on +356 21690735 (Wilfred or George), +356 9949-8163 (Wilfred) +356 7961-7323 (George) or e-mail us at wgauci@onvol.net |
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