Texas Bird Breeders & Fanciers Association (11/01/2002) - TX
Judge: Phil Ryan
Exhibitors: 8
Entries: 50

Judge's Comments:

We had a major show with 50 entries from 8 exhibitors and the great news is that we had 2 novice and 3 young exhibitors. Three of the 8 exhibitors had birds in the top 10. Every section had at least one bird entered (there were no champion birds entered). The largest section was blue pied with 9 entries followed by longfeathers with 8 and violet with 7.

It was mid-afternoon before we got the judging started and some of the birds were showing the signs of either cage stress or cage boredom. Deportment became a deciding factor in a few cases. There were a few reclassifications before the start of judging and two birds were reclassified after their correct sections had been judged. Those two were not awarded any section placement but were kept for the final judging.

An orangefaced green pied bird was selected as top lovebird and went on to the judging for best in show. This bird had the classic peachfaced conformation and judging for best in show. This bird had the classic peachfaced conformation and very good deportment. It was an excellent condition. Second place went to a blue Fischer's that had all the characteristics of a high quality bird and the added quality of a spectacular definition of the frontal band. Many blue Fischer's lack this definition.

Two longfeather birds were in the top 10. I judged in the long feathered section against a subjective standard of size, color and conformation that is different from the criteria for the standard peachfaced. They had to meet the generally accepted standards for condition and deportment. I envision the idea long feathered to be a very large bird with a broad body, giving it a somewhat 'squatty' proportion. I also looked for uniformity in the red from the top of the red forehead to the bottom of the bib. The top long feathered bird met these criteria but the second place long feathered showed some face toward peach color at the bottom of the bib. When we got to the top bench, I judged these birds against the other by evaluating how closely they matched the criteria I had set for them and comparing that to how closely the other birds matched the criteria for the ideal peachfaced.

My thanks to the club for staging a very satisfying show and for their hospitality while I was there. The show room was separate from the general hall which made it easy to talk. I particularly want to thank the steward, Marilena Salmones, the secretary. Amber Hussein and the ribbon tier, Ron Brewer.