You mean they actually sing for the judge?!? That is the common reaction when someone hears about a canary song contest. Yes, that is exactly what happens!

At the National Cage Bird Show, there will be four different breeds of canaries that will have to sing to win. All the other bird divisions in the show are judged for appearence, like a beauty contest, and will be in the main show hall (Hall A at the Santa Clara Convention Center.) The song breeds will all be in the upstairs round hallway in rooms 201-212, between the Convention Center and the Westin Hotel. ( click here for room listings)

Each song breed has a holding room and a judging room. Depending on the breed, you might be allowed in the holding room, but most of the birds will be covered or in boxes to keep them in the dark or dim light. During judging, you are welcome to watch and listen, but you can only enter or leave the judging room when classes are changed, about every ½ hour. You must remain seated and silent during the actual judging. There may be an opportunity to ask questions or hear the judge's comments at the end of each class, but if there are many entries and there is not time, then there will just be a minute between classes when the judging room door is opened, which is your chance to get in or leave. The show staff in the holding rooms can tell you when that will be.

Each breed is judged slightly different and they all have different song standards, but the basic idea is the same. A team or class of birds is brought in and uncovered or unboxed. The brighter light in the judging room simulates dawn, which is when birds like canaries naturally want to sing! So, with a little conditioning and training, it is possible to get these birds to sing almost on command for the judge.

After the judging is completed for a breed, the winners are calculated from the scores and are left out on display in either the judging room or the holding room. That is the best time to get a close look at the birds and hear the best singers. Judging must be over by late Saturday, but could be finished by late Friday depending on the number of entries. To be guaranteed to see the judging, come on Friday, but come back on Saturday to see more of the song canaries up close. (Your show admission is good for both days.)

Here are websites representing the four song canary breeds that will be judged at the National Cage Bird Show this year:

• American Singers Club
• American Waterslager Society
• Spanish Timbrado Society of America
• Oakland International Roller Canary Club

In addition to the song contests, there will be a popularity contest that YOU can participate in! Come listen to all four types, then vote for the breed you like best. The breed that gets the most votes will be declared "Most Popular Song Canary at the 2002 National Cage Bird Show". Votes will be counted at 5 pm on Saturday, November 16 and the winning breed will be announced at the Awards Banquet that evening.

So now you just have to have one of these canaries? On the same hallway is the Bird Sales Room where the exhibitors will have stock for sale! You can even get a free vet check on Saturday between 4-6 pm.

The National Cage Bird Show is the only show in the U.S. where all 4 song breeds are judged. If you want to compare the best examples of each song, then you must come to this show!

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