In past years, budgerigar enthusiasts had noted a decline in the numbers of
some mutations. At shows, it was not uncommon to see several sections without
a single entry. The reason for this was probably due to the size of exhibition
birds and the way classes were arranged.
Breeders have developed the exhibition budgerigar into the massive show specimen
of today. While many of the standard mainstream mutations and colors of budgerigars
have progressed to this level, some mutations have lagged far behind. Typically,
these mutations are just smaller in overall size without well defined spots, wide
heads, and the intense directional feathering of the standard mutations. When
section winners get compared for selection of the division winners, these mutations
usually get turned back.
Several mutations were lumped together in the Section AOV / AOC, or Any Other
Variety / Any Other Color. Many of these mutations are very different from each
other and need to be judged on criteria specific to that variety. This method
also pitted multiple varieties shown by the same exhibitor against each other
within the same section. Only one Challenge Certificate, or CC, went to the winner
of the combined section and not to the best of each variety.
As time went on, many exhibitors grew discouraged and fewer and fewer of these
beautiful birds were being bred or entered into shows, as it was often considered
a waste of time, cage space, and feed. People coming into the hobby were encouraged
to breed the standard types if they wanted to have any chance of winning at shows.
The advice seemed to be that pretty birds were to be left for the people that wanted
to breed pet budgies, not something an exhibitor should work with. Only a handful of
breeders were keeping these mutations, now considered rare, and they were in serious
danger of being lost forever. Mutations had already disappeared over the years due
to neglect and even war.
The Budgerigar Association of America, the national organization our club is
affiliated with, decided it was time to do something. To promote more interest
in these rare birds, the "Endangered Mutation Division" was introduced in 2009,
enabling rares to compete among themselves for division awards.
This new division was very well received all across the country. After input
from exhibitors and the review of data from show reports, the division was
expanded further by separating some additional mutations into their own sections
and classes. It has been renamed the "At Risk Mutation Division" and our club is
excited to again offer it this year.
It is hoped that more exhibitors will set aside a couple of cages to try breeding
and showing these very special and beautiful rare mutations now that new opportunities
exist for them. Breeders of these specialist varieties finally can have their
efforts and birds admired, appreciated, and more importantly, recognized on
the show bench.