THOUSANDS flocked to Cessnock at the weekend for the Hunter Valley Avicultural Society’s annual bird sale, bringing Australia’s most passionate bird enthusiasts and more than 3500 birds under the one roof.
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The event is a staple of the bird breeding calendar, attracting the punters from places as far afield as South Australia, Queensland and western NSW.
Hunter Valley Avicultural Society secretary Andrew Rankmore said the event raises money to keep the society afloat, allowing it to bring ornithologists to the region for speaking events.
“There’s a lot of interest in bird breeding. It’s one of the most popular shows of the year,” he said.
“A lot of breeders like the challenge of breeding, because it is quite difficult to do, and we’re just fascinated by the beauty of them.”
Roughly a third of the birds showcased on Saturday sold.
However, Mr Rankmore said many more would sell in the coming weeks as the event “starts a conversation” between the breeder and purchaser.
