I have been breeding birds since the age of 10. My dad used to be big on breeding birds. We bred everything from Cockatoos, Kakariki's, Cockatiels, Lovebirds and Finches. When I moved to Werribee in 1985 we quickly built some aviaries and that's when my love of breeding budgies really set in. 

 

I had a bird room and 3 aviaries and bred Pet type budgies for about 6 to 7 years. My parents then sold their house and i quickly found time to get married and have kids. Then in approx 2007 where i live now a Budgie flew into my back yard and it was a sign to breed birds again. 

 

I quickly built a large aviary that catered for both finches and Budgies. My preference at the time was to breed finches so i divided the aviary into 6 aviaries to house finches and budgies. In 2010 my passion for Budgies evaporated and i sold a lot of my budgies to Cameron Cabel from the Geelong Club. 

 

Cameron and i became really good friends and it was Cameron who gave me the passion to get back into budgies and to join a club. Luckily I kept about 4 pairs and i quickly purchased some more birds to start off  my stud.  

 

I joined Western Suburbs Budgerigar Society in August 2011 and quickly became addicted to breeding show Budgerigars. I have met some great people along the way and i'm Now Treasurer and Auction Manager at Western. 

 

I quickly built another Aviary complex which included a new bird room with 36 breeding cages and 4 new aviaries. 

 

In October 2013 i had the honour of winning my first shield. I won the Spangle AOSV class at the UBC Shield. I also came 2nd in the fallow class. In 2013 i accumulated enough points to be promoted to Intermediate in 2014. 

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In 2015 I continued showing at Intermediate level. By the end of the year I had accumulated enough points to go up to Open. My best performance was winning Opposite Sex in Show at Western with a Grey cock that has been prominent in my breeding since.

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In 2016 I found myself showing in OPEN, family commitments increased so I did not show as much as in previous years. I came 3rd with a Crest at the Adult Bird Shield in March. In June I was lucky enough to win my first Young Bird Shield with a Normal Grey, this bird along with an Albino that came 6th went on to be my first birds that represented Victoria at the Nationals in Hobart.

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In the latter part of 2016, I won best UBC show at Geelong with a Grey Green Spangle which also went on to come 2nd at UBC Shield. I came 1st at UBC Shield with a Grey and then was delighted to win my first Diploma at Eastern in October with the Grey that went to the Nationals. Most pics of my winning birds can be found on Major Award Winners page.

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In 2017 I won another 2 Shields which are now called State Shows. Grey Class at YB Shield and Cinnamon Class at UBC State Show. I had 2 reps at the Nationals in Mackay, A grey coming 5th and an Albino coming 7th. I accumulated enough points to be promoted to Champion for 2018. 

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In 2018 I was lucky enough to place 1st and 2nd at the Adult State Champs in Grey Class with the two birds who won Young Bird State shows in 2016 and 2017. In May I placed 2nd in Spangle Normals which went on to Penrith and placed 2nd at The Nationals, my best result so far. 

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2019 was another successful year with 2 winners at the Young Bird State Champs winning the Albino and Fallow classes. Both birds went to the Brisbane Nationals, the Albino cock placed 4th in a very strong class of Albino's and unfortunately the Fallow cock dropped its tail and was disqualified. I really thought the bird was good enough to win and I was very disappointed (I don't think i will breed another one like it). The good news is ive bred quite a few youngsters from him. In September I placed 3rd in the Lutino class at the UBC State Champs.

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Thank-you to those people who have made my transition to breeding show budgies so easy, you know who you are and i look forward to many years trying to breed that perfect show budgie. I also would like to thank my wife Karen for her love and support and letting me pursue a hobby I really enjoy.

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Contact Email - waynomelb@bigpond.com