I started showing my gouldians when I relocated to New Jersey in May of 2008. It was the first time I somewhere that actually had local shows on a regular basis and multiple clubs which held shows year round.

I believe showing is an appropriate way to evaluate the quality of birds you are producing, because the birds are judged against a relative standard - particularly at NFSS sanctioned shows. Although I feel some aspects of the standard should be re-evaluated, all-in-all, I have had positive experiences at the various shows I have attended (both NFSS and non-NFSS sanctioned).

Most importantly, going to a show can be a fun, enjoyable day spent with other individuals who enjoy birds as much as you. At a bird show, nobody thinks of you as the "crazy bird lady!" :)

I am working on putting together information on the show process to help others who are just starting to show, but until this information is up an running on my site, feel free to check out the NFSS information on showing finches found on their main homepage: www.NFSS.org.

2010 Awards:

September 25th - New York Finch & Type Canary Club Annual Show
Judge: Mr. Christian Taylor

1st Place Gouldian - BH PB Normal/Blue - Astley
5th Best In Division - BH PB Normal/Blue - Astley
Judge's Special Award: Best 2010 Banded Bird ($50 Prize) - BH PB Normal Hen - Caris (Astley's Daughter!)


October 16th - Baltimore Bird Fancier's Annual Fall Show
Judge: Jerri Wiesenfeld (NFSS)

2nd in Class - BH PB Normal/Blue - Astley
7th Best In Division - BH PB Normal/Blue - Astley


October 23rd - Birds of a Feather Annual Show (NH)
Judge: Christine Voronovitch (NFSS)

1st in Class - OH PB DF Yellow/Blue - Tang
1st in Class - BH PB Normal/Blue - Astley
1st in Class - OH PB Normal - Tangelo
1st in Class - OH PB Yellow - Georgette
2nd in Class - RH WB Normal - Gypsy
6th Best in Division - BH PB Normal/Blue - Astley

October 30th - Chester County Bird Club's Annual Show (PA)
Judge: Conrad Meinert (NFSS)

1st in Class - OH PB DF Yellow/Blue - Tang
1st in Class - BH PB Normal/Blue - Astley
1st in Class - OH PB Normal - Tangelo
1st in Class - BH WB Yellow - Lyric
1st in Class - RH PB Blue - Orion
2nd in Class - OH PB Yellow - Georgette
2nd in Class - RH WB Normal - Gypsy
1st in Section - BH PB Normal/Blue - Astley
1st in Division! - BH PB Normal/Blue - Astley

November 20th - Maryland All Canary Club's Annual Show (MD)
Judge: Laura Tinker (NFSS)

2nd in Division & Judge's Special Award (Favorite Finch or Softbill) - OH PB Normal - Tangelo
3rd in Division - BH PB Blue - Mystic
7th in Division - BH PB Normal/Blue - Astley
8th in Division - OH PB DF Yellow/Blue - Tang

2009 Awards:

June 28th - New York Finch & Type Canary Club Annual Feather Show

1st Place Gouldian - RH LB/WB DF Yellow/Blue - Iggy
1st Place Finch - RH LB/WB DF Yellow/Blue - Iggy
2nd Best In Show - RH LB/WB DF Yellow/Blue - Iggy

September 26th - Birds of a Feather Fall Bird Show & Mart

1st Place Normal Male - Nicoli (RH PB Normal)
1st Place "Other" Breast Yellow Male - Tang (OH Lilac/White DF Yellow/Blue)
2nd Place "Other" Breast Yellow Male - Iggy (RH Lilac/White DF Yellow/Blue)
2nd Place Blue Gouldian - Mystic (BH PB Blue Male)
3rd Place Overall Gouldian - Mystic (BH PB Blue Male)

October 3rd - Colorbred Canary Club Annual Show

1st Place Normal Male - Nicoli (RH PB Normal)
1st Place "Other" Breast Yellow Male - Iggy (RH Lilac/White DF Yellow/Blue)
2nd Place "Other" Breast Yellow Male - Tang (OH Lilac/White DF Yellow/Blue)
1st Place Overall Gouldian (out of 12!) - Nicoli (RH PB Normal)
3rd Place Overall in Finches & Softbills (out of approximately 81 birds!!) - Nicoli (RH PB Normal)

October 17th - Baltimore Bird Fanciers; NFSS Regional Show

Iggy (RH Lilac/White DF Yellow/Blue) - 1st in Class, 1st in Section, 3rd in Division
Tang (OH PB DF Yellow/Blue) - 1st in Class, 2nd in Section, 4th in Division
Nicoli (RH PB Normal) - 1st in Class, 4th in Section
Neeko (RH, PB/WB Pastel) - 1st in Class, 6th in Section
Ruby (RH, PB/LB Yellow Hen) - 1st in Class

October 31st - Chester County Bird Club Annual Show (Exton, PA)
Tang (OH PB DF Yellow/Blue): 1st in Class, 1st in Section, 3rd in Division, Best Unflighted in Division, Best Novice in Division
Nicoli (RH PB Normal Male): 1st in Class, 3rd in Section
Iggy (RH Lilac/White DF Yellow/Blue): 1st in Class

November 7th - Astoria Bird Club Show (Brooklyn, NY)
Tang (OH PB DF Yellow/Blue): 1st Place Gouldian, 1st Place Australian Finch, 2nd in Finch & Softbill Division
Ruby (RH PB Yellow Hen): 2nd Place Gouldian

November 14th - Empire Finch & Canary Club Show
Tang - First in Class
Nicoli - First in Class, 2nd in Section
Turd - First in Class
Astley - Third in Class

2008 Awards

September 27th, 2008 - New York Finch & Type Canary Club Fall Bird Show

1st Place Yellow Back Gouldian - BH Lilac/White, DF Yellow/Blue - Romeo
4th Place Overall Gouldian - BH Lilac/White, DF Yellow/Blue - Romeo


October 11th, 2008 - King's County Canary Club Bird Show
1st Place Normal Back Gouldian - RH PB Normal - Rupert
2nd Place Overall Gouldian - RH PB Normal - Rupert