Ellerslie’s First Ever Bird Display

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Ellerslie’s First Ever Bird Display

The Christchurch Bird Club’s exhibit at next month’s Ellerslie International Flower Show will be the first bird display in the Show’s history.

Up to 25 birds will be showcased in the two aviaries in the Club’s garden in the Hort Galore Marquee, celebrating birds in the garden and the 104-year history of the Christchurch Bird Club.

Club President Graham Evans says birds add sound, colour and movement in a garden.

“With our exhibit, we want to show people how they can incorporate an aviary in their garden and get year-round enjoyment from keeping birds.”

The Club’s 6m x 3m exhibit will have a backdrop of shrubs, with an aviary flanking either side of a path which will arc around the exhibit. A potager garden with a fruit tree and herb garden sits at the front of the exhibit, the garden being planted with dandelions, lettuces, silverbeet, millets, marigolds, helichrysums and other vegetation on which birds will feed.

“We aim to show that by choosing the right plants for your garden you can provide a food supply for your own birds and also attract wild birds to your garden.”

Mr Evans’s love of birds began as an eight-year-old after he “enticed a pigeon into our laundry” and kept it in an old aviary on the family’s Richmond property. He now breeds, shows and judges canaries and British birds. His grandfather was also a breeder of canaries, a show judge and a former secretary of the Christchurch Bird Club.

“Interestingly, of all the types of pets in the world, including cats and dogs, the budgie is the most kept pet. The budgie is a great companion; it is a very tame bird and easy to teach to talk.

“Birds are great for older people because they are good company and for young people, keeping birds teaches them the values of caring and nurturing for a living creature.”

He says aviculture is a centuries old hobby and the great thing about keeping birds is that the whole family can share in the hobby and get enjoyment from them being in the garden or the house.

Mr Evans says the Club is confident its 2010 Ellerslie display will be award-winning.

ENDS

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