Dunedin Poultry, Pigeon and Cage Bird Club secretary Charlie Wilson (63) has been spreading his wings as a keeper and breeder of poultry and cage birds for more than 50 years, since exhibiting his first bantams at the age of 7.
His undimmed enthusiasm for bird fancying has earned him quite a bit of good-natured ribbing over the years.
"I've had it all my life - 'chicken Charlie', all sorts of things I've been called."
But he has impeccable taste in bantams, particularly Pekin bantams, originally from China, and their breeding, rearing and exhibiting.
All exhibited birds are judged according to rigorous criteria, including colour and markings, size and weight.
Mr Wilson can certainly tell a high flier when he sees one, and he sees plenty to like in Bert, a 1-year-old Columbian Pekin bantam he has bred.
Bert has good "form" - his overall shape - and colour, with many of his feathers shining an appropriately "pearly" white.
"I like his placidness first of all, his friendliness and his awareness of what's going on around him."
And good behaviour does count.
Judges take many birds from their cages and hold them for a few moments, with badly behaved birds likely to be marked down.
The Dunedin poultry club is holding its 34th annual show at Forrester Park, Northeast Valley, this Saturday starting at 1pm, and on Sunday from 10.30am to 2pm.
About 680 competing birds will be on display - with entries up 100 on last year.
Included are some large pure-bred ducks and other poultry, the latter including the Orpington, a British bird standing about 80cm.
