Birds of all feathers will be flocking together in Ōamaru this July for the National Bird Show.

The July 24-27 show will be at the Drill Hall, and to kill two birds with one stone, the North Otago Bird Club’s 60th annual show will be held at the same time.

The club will also remember longtime patron and founding member Ray Gibb, who died in March last year, assistant show secretary Jo Anderson says.

“Even when his health started declining, he was still a really integral part of the club and when he heard we were holding the national show, he still really wanted to do what he could to help us,” she says.

The small club is thrilled to be holding the national show, and expects at least 1400 birds, but potentially anywhere up to 2000.

“The noise will be intense,” Jo says.

A “huge range” of birds is expected, from budgies and all types of canaries, to finches, parrots, lovebirds, and cockatiels.

Jo says it’s exciting to hold the show in Ōamaru.

“They are the country's top exhibition birds.

“These are some of the country's top breeders in these species of birds coming along to Ōamaru, and they will be coming from the very tip of the North Island and the very bottom of the South, you know, every corner.” 

This is the second time Ōamaru will host the show, after being approached by the New Zealand Federation of Birds. The first was 15 years ago in 2010.

The goal is to try and alternate the shows between the North and South Islands.

“But the issue that we're facing at the moment is that the North Island clubs are a lot stronger than the South Island clubs. So a lot of the clubs in the South Island don't have the capacity to hold it,” Jo says.

“It's a huge financial commitment.”

The initial predicted budget of $24,000 now sits at about $32,000. This includes $14,000 in prize money, as well as all the judges’ accommodation for three nights.

Financial support has come from Network Waitaki and the Waitaki District Council, there has been a lot of firewood selling, and Ōamaru company Topflite - a longtime main sponsor of the event - is going “over and above”, Jo says.

“They are opening up their Topflite HQ for exhibitors and people visiting, to go along and see behind the scenes, and doing a bit of catering, and they'll also be at the show as well.”

Topflite's 2024 sunflower seed crop. This year marks 50 years since the company planted its first sunflowers. Photo: Ashley Smyth

Topflite director Greg Webster says it is great to be part of the show in the company’s hometown. 

“We're very much looking forward to hosting the Topflite National Show here in Ōamaru.”

The company has sponsored the show for more than 30 years, he says.

“Being closely involved with New Zealand's top breeders has been hugely beneficial for us over the years, with their feedback and knowledge playing an important role in the development and improvement of our products.”

Topflite is helping “play host” to bird show competitors and will run a tour of its operations on the Friday afternoon.

“We are also taking the opportunity to celebrate 50 years since the first sunflowers were planted (the beginnings of Topflite) . . . We welcome anyone who is interested to come along,” he says.

The tours will be open to the public every 30 minutes between 2pm-4pm on July 25.

Competitors can enter 16 different sections, and all are judged by different people from across the country, along with one from Australia, Jo says.

“They are accredited judges by the specific bird bodies, and so there's a really, really high standard of judging, and there are only specific judges who can judge a national show.”

Jo’s love of birds is something she shared with her late father, and she and partner Ashley Woollard have about 60 budgies, she says.

“We show as a partnership and it'll be our first nationals we are showing at.”

Jo’s love of birds rubbed off on Ashley after they met. They have lots of character, she says. 

“When we bought our house, I was like, ‘we've gotta get a bird aviary’ and now he loves it. 

“He does 95% of the work and I take a 100% of the kudos,” she says.

It is “strangely satisfying” when all the work they put into breeding “perfect exhibition budgies” is recognised with an award at a show.

Last year's North Otago Bird Show at Ōamaru's Drill Hall. Photo: Supplied

She and Ashley are novices, and once they’ve accumulated a number of points, they will go into the champion category.

Jo says competition makes it fun as well as the people they meet and get to know on the circuit.

“And there are so many elements you can't control, like how the bird sits on the perch on the day, or things like that. It’s just satisfying, and it's a strange thing to get into, but it's so fun.”

There are eight active members in the North Otago Bird Club.

“But the great thing is that when it comes to these sorts of things, our families get involved and our friends get involved.”

The support from the entire local community has made it possible for North Otago to host the national show, and they would love the community support again on show weekend.

Entry is $5 per adult, and under-16s are free. 

It is important to the club to make it an affordable family excursion and there will be activities and competitions for children throughout the days, Jo says.

“That's the biggest thing for us, is that we would just really like as many people through the door as possible.”