Singing the praises of the Ballarat Annual Canary Show after 50 years

On Saturday, around 600 birds of 13 separate varieties lined the hall, the venue for the 50^th running of the Ballarat Annual Canary Show. This regular fixture in the 10 weeks of canary show season drew breeders from Melbourne, Ballarat and beyond, gathered in the hope judges would look kindly on their birds' colouring and posture.

Stephen McArdle, the president of the Ballarat Canary Society walked The Courier around the cages for a brief snapshot of the different birds - and a potted history of canary breeding.

Lizard canaries, he explained, were judged for their spangling, whereas the red factors were largely assessed on their colouring - "the richer, the better", he said.

In between snapshots of the species ("this breed was the result of a canary put with a bird of paradise"), he dismissed a common misconception about the birds.

"There is no such thing as a canary in the wild," he said. "They are totally domesticated like the chihuahua."

Canaries had been around since medieval times, he told me as we headed towards a breed called frills, which are reared for their rougher feathers. "I am not such a fan of them," Mr McArdle said, before moving on to the fifes ("happy little souls").

Each different breed is judged separately, with the most coveted and competitive being the border canary category, which includes the dazzlingly yellow birds of popular perception.

David Gammon from Warrnambool was the breeder of the winning bird in that category, where birds are judged on their shape, and how they stand up. "What I love about it is the birds and the friends you make - winning is just a bonus," Mr Gammon said, who has kept canaries for 25 years.

Chris Maver, meanwhile, started much more recently - just three years ago - and claimed the champion novice prize. "It's a good hobby, it passes the time," he told The Courier as he clutched a cage with his prize variegated cinnamon buff within. "It's a good community too."

Both claimed a trophy and a $100 voucher - a little more than normal in celebration the show's half a century.

The event is the same age as the Ballarat Canary Society, founded by Bill Messer and two others. Mr Messer, who used to own the Messer & Opie menswear stall in Bridge Mall, will be 92 later this month and was at the show on Saturday.

He still breeds birds, he said, and had several on display in the hall. Although for some the competition is a serious matter, for Mr Messer it has always been "a bit of a hobby." However, he told The Courier that he always preferred to steer clear of judging. "I am not that silly. [The judges] get in too much trouble. Some people think their birds are better than others."

Mr McArdle, who does occasionally judge, agreed the rivalry could be fierce ("particularly from the Melbourne breeders"), but said the 15 to 20 members of the Ballarat society do not take things too seriously.

"You certainly don't do it for the money - you do it for the love of the birds," Mr McArdle said, who said each canary had its own personality. "It's a great hobby for retired people."

He was in the middle of organising the prize-giving as The Courier left. He smiled: "This is where you get into trouble if you stuff things up."

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