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| My name is Ron Wilson, I am 44 years of age and live in Warrington, Cheshire. I first became interested in Budgerigars when I was about 12 years of age and at the time kept about 4 or 5 pairs in my bedroom at home in Brunswick Gardens, Liverpool. I was always fascinated by the colours that were produce and the ease at which the birds bred (they were "joeys" of course. One day I came home from school to find a nest of 2-3 week old chicks, completely obliterated by their mother. This along with the fact that I had entered my teen and sought after the non feathered variety, made me decide to leave the hobby. In 1990, I had moved from Liverpool and started a career in distribution, where I worked with a breeder of Gouldian Finches, Brian Simpson. We got talking about the birds and he invited me around to his bird room to see his set-up. All the memories and excitement of breeding came flooding back to me and so when I returned home I discussed it with my wife, Brenda. I decided to convert a "redundant" brick built garage into a very basic bird room consisting of about 4 double cages and a few coloured birds from local breeders. One day ,Brenda and I were driving along, when we noticed a sign that said "Budgie Show" and we decided to go and see what it was all about. It was my first introduction to showing and show birds and although I only found out later that it wasn't a major show, The birds were so big, bold and beautiful compared to the ones back home. It was also an opportunity to meet with other local breeders who were mostly very helpful and friendly. Before I left the show hall I had been invited to a number of bird rooms in the area and also found out that there was even a local club, Warrington B.S.. At the time of joining Warrington B.S., it was a very friendly club with plenty of members who would all help out whenever required. It was here that I found out that there was a Budgerigar Society, Local Area Societies and even a monthly budgerigar magazine!! Unfortunately the club went through a bad spell, which is best forgotten and I am pleased to say that it is once again a very warm and friendly club, whose members are interested in one thing the"Budgerigar" and not the red tape and politics, after all it is a HOBBY. In my first breeding year, my company sent me on a warehouse and distribution course in Burton-on-Trent, so I took the opportunity to look up some local breeders. One of the people I was fortunate enough to make contact with was a Mr. Dave Topliss (I didn't know he'd won the Club Show until I got there!!!) He turned out to be one of the nicest people I have ever come across in the hobby and he made me feel very welcome. His birds were outstanding especially his Cinnamons and although Dave had none for sale, he put me in touch with a local partnership, Bill and Malcolm Hough (H2568). I visited Bill and Malcolm and once again given a very warm welcome they were only too pleased to help a first year beginner. This time I was fortunate enough to come away with , in my opinion, some very nice birds that did not cost me an arm and a leg .I was also invited to come back , if I wished , the following year to let them know how the birds went on and purchase more stock. I am pleased to say that I did and have been every year since. When I brought my birds home I paired them up straight away to the birds I already had and one pair in particular bred very well. A grey green cock, which was given to me by Barry Hymers ( who unfortunately is no longer in the hobby) and an opaline cinnamon grey hen from Bill & Malcolm. They bred two lovely opaline grey green cocks ,one being much better than the other. In my first open show, the Central Lancs. & Leyland B.S., I won best beginner breeder with the better of the two birds and he went on to win another two best in sections at subsequent shows. My proudest moment that year was when the same cock won Best in Show at the Penketh & Sankey C.B.S.,the very same show that Brenda & I had came upon by chance just 12 months earlier. When the two cocks were paired up it was a different story. The better of the two never filled an egg before he died, however the other cock did (see photo album W5335 96 07). One day I will never forget was when I went into the bird room to do my daily nest box inspection and in cage no. One, was the opaline grey green cock 97 06 paired to his half sister from the dams side ,an opaline cinnamon grey green hen. I opened the nest box door only to be greeted by this enormous chick who was standing there ,blowing his head, almost threatening me not to come near him (he turned out to be a real big softie) .This turned out to be the best bird I have ever bred to date (see photo album W5335 31 95). He went on to best novice young bird and take two c.c.s in his first two shows. My proudest moment in the hobby to date was when he went on to win Best Young Bird in Show at the L.C.N.W.inc I.O.M B.S.Area Show, but unfortunately a week after I brought him home he lost all his tail & flight feathers, due to the stress of a 2 day show on a hot summers day. I do believe that if he was able to be shown as an adult, he would have gone on to win that elusive C.C. In order to register him as a Champion Bird. The line that I have developed from him is my "Champ 31" line. In his first breeding season he failed to fill an egg ,but persistence paid off in subsequent seasons and he produced 6 hens & 4 cocks ,all of decent quality ( see example of two of his daughters in the album). Approximately 85% of my birds are related to him in some way and this year his great granddaughters (see album cinnamon dark greens), look to be very promising. They were bred from "the Champs" grandson and a cinnamon dark green hen from my good friends Bill & Malcolm. I have purchased out crosses from various breeders over the years at all levels, (I bring in approx. 10 birds a year) and every time I do I add a different feature:- Chris Snell:-Length Steve & Barry Prince:-Head width Gordon & Sylvia Hallam:-Cleanliness-no flecking Gren & Pat Norriss:-shoulder Bill & Malcolm Hough:-feather and compatibility with my own birds Last year I was fortunate enough to visit a man rumoured at the time to be selling up and was coming in for a bit of stick from other members of the fancy suggesting he was a mere "beginner" compared to others because of his relatively short time in the hobby. I found this man to be extremely helpful & friendly and his stud of birds were outstanding g not only in quality but consistence of quality. I am so glad that there are not as many "beginners around like him!!!!I purchased two pairs from him and have already seen signs of good youngsters coming through .My intention is to develop a second line from these birds and eventually integrate them into my Champ31 line. Finally I have enjoyed most of my 10 years in the hobby and my aim is, as it was 10 years ago, to improve year on year slowly but surely which I think I have done. I would like to thank certain people who have become my friends and have helped me in some way ,they are:- Brian Simpson for giving me the bug back, Dave Neal (who unfortunately passed away) ,for introducing me to Warrington B.S.and looking after my birds when on holiday. Gordon & Sylvia Hallam for the advice & cleaning up my birds, Frank Silva for giving me a vision of what can be achieved, Bill & Malcolm Hough for nurturing me over the years, Dave Topliss for introducing me to them, Roger ,Joan Taylor & family for being the nicest people in the hobby and looking after my birds, Christina Smith for building my Web Site, And last but certainly not least, my darling wife, Brenda for supporting me 110% over the years and hoovering the seed off the carpet every day for the last 10 years. Thank you for taking the time to read this ,please e-mail me with any comments or questions. Ron Wilson |
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