Organised by the Ballarat Branch of the Avicultural Society of Australia, the expo in the Ballarat Showgrounds followed a tradition built up over the past 18 years. 

In addition to the aviary-bred native and exotic birds up for sale, food and housing materials, toys and health care advice was also on offer at the expo. 

“There seemed to be an even spread of groups and species, with no particular group being in much greater numbers than any other,” Avicultural Society of Australia’s Roy Chester said.

“It is hard to say what was most in demand, as keen buyers were leaving in the first twenty minutes with their eagerly-sought purchases, before many people knew that those birds had been available.”

He added that a blue and gold Macaw and three rufous spinifex Pigeons were the highlight of the expo. 

With a little over 1000 visitors through the door, Mr Chester estimated about eighty per cent of the 4000 birds available were sold. 

The Ballarat branch of the society usually meets every second Friday of the month at Federation University Rural Studies Centre.

For more information contact John Clow, 5368 9288.