Being awarded a prize at the Orana Avicultural Society’s Bird Show on Sunday meant a little more than most to Jed McAnespie.
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Mr McAnespie’s grandfather was a great bird lover and when he died earlier this year his birds were passed along to Jed.
“This year was the first time I started showing and I won reserve champion. I was really surprised, I didn’t expect to place at all,” Mr McAnespie said.
It was through his grandfather that the 20-year-old became involved with the animals.
“My grandfather was into birds for years and years, for as long as I can remember,” Mr McAnespie said.
At the start of the year Mr McAnespie said he built himself a small aviary at home.
He got a few birds off his grandfather, bought a few more, and from there it grew.
When his grandfather died, Mr McAnespie took over his aviaries and now he said he probably has “a hundred or so birds all up”.
He said he wanted to start off small so he entered 12 of those from two different varieties in the Orana Avicultural Society’s Bird Show.
“I was really happy and grateful [to win reserve champion],” Mr McAnespie said.
“It meant a lot.”
“It’s something I really enjoy doing and I was lucky to be left the birds.”
Mr McAnespie said next year he planned to show more birds, including some from overseas.
Sunday’s event marked the 31st annual show for the Orana Avicultural Society.
