A group of champion budgerigar breeders along with local breeders attended the prestigious 'Riverina Budgerigar Society Auction' held at the Barooga Community Hall recently.
On offer to the highest bidder was a catalogue of 186 birds, boasting superior winning bloodlines from twenty-one of the very best registered club-rung breeders.
Breeders were seen eagerly eyeing off potential purchases as president of the 'Budgerigar Council of Victoria' (BCV) and Hall of Fame breeder, Mr Peter Thurn, called for an opening bid.
'Riverina Budgerigar Society' President Mr Malcolm Randall and his son Mr Robert Randall, the auction’s organiser, are well-known national and state champion breeders who have built one of the country's premier exhibition budgerigar breeding studs, home to six-hundred birds in Finley, they were seen processing successful bids.
Mr Malcolm Randall encouraged anyone interested in the budgerigar to get involved in the hobby by contacting a club in their area.
"We have clubs all over the country, people just starting out don't need to spend a lot of money. You can purchase birds for as little as twenty dollars, which makes it a very affordable hobby,“ he said.
"My son and I have been breeding exhibition budgerigars for over twenty years. Lot 153 is by far the best recessive pied budgerigar our stud has produced,” Mr Randall said.
Geelong Budgerigar Club member and spectator, Mr George Ilic, was really impressed with the quality of birds on offer.
Mr Ilic was first introduced to budgies in 1988 when a yellow female budgie flew into his kitchen window while he was having breakfast with his family. He built a cage and bought a male budgie friend for his new pet.
After two years of owning budgies, he joined the 'Eastern District Budgerigar Club'. With a young family and working long hours, sadly there was no time for his feathered friends. Leaving the hobby in 1993 and then returning in 2014.
"I met Peter Thurn over a decade ago. Peter is a very successful breeder with a wealth of knowledge. I still feed my birds during breeding season, the same budgie food recipe he told me when I first met him. I will never change the recipe as it works well for my birds," Mr Ilic said.
Mr Ilic met Riverina Budgerigar Society president Malcolm Randall more recently, only a few years ago.
"Malcolm and I are developing a close friendship as we both breed the recessive pieds. I am looking forward to the coming years with Malcolm and his son Rob," he said.
Mr Ilic has great admiration for Mr Thurn and the father and son breeding duo, Mr Malcolm Randall and Mr Robert Randall, as breeders, and said this was his second year attending the auction.
"Peter, Malcolm and Rob are highly respected breeders. This is my second year attending the auction,“ Mr Ilic said.
“My wife and I drove up for last year’s auction and stayed at the ‘Mulwala Water Ski Club’ for the weekend.
“We love the country folks’ hospitality and the lifestyle," Mr Ilic said.
The name ‘budgerigar’ derives from the Aboriginal native word 'betcherrygah', 'betcherry' meaning 'good' and 'gah' meaning 'parrot'. They are the most common parakeet in captivity and have a lifespan of seven to fifteen years, some reaching twenty years.
Budgies are adaptable to a wide range of environments, low-maintenance, and can be tamed, making them ideal first pets. Some budgies can imitate the human voice and have a vocabulary of over five hundred words.
Mr Ilic encouraged anyone who takes an interest in budgies to get involved in the hobby.
"These days, people are buying cats and dogs but are forgetting about the little creatures like budgies, that can bring so much joy to a family for a fraction of the cost of owning larger animals.
“I encourage anyone to get involved, you will love owning budgies,” he said.
For further information about exhibition budgerigars, check out the Budgerigar Council of Victoria's website. New members are most welcome