Daughter helps out with the judging at bird show

Maddie Taylor is learning to spread her wings.

The Ashburton 13-year-old has grown up surrounded by bantam birds and her fondness for the flock has been installed by her father, John.

With her clip-board at the ready, Maddie spent yesterday and today helping her father judge the birds on display at the Oamaru Poultry, Pigeon And Canary Society’s annual show.

After being involved in shows since "day dot", Maddie grew up watching her father’s birds and thinking they were "cool". Nowadays, while she still helped out with her father’s birds, Maddie also cared for her own coup.

"I like seeing different breeds and seeing how two different breeds mix together," Maddie said.

Mr Taylor said it was "quite cool" his daughter had taken to his hobby but the family connection did not stop there. His wife, Karen, was also a judge and his sons Joshua (10) and Harry (3) got involved "a wee bit".

Growing up, Mr Taylor, who is president of the Ashburton Fanciers Society, was introduced to the poultry world through family friend, Brian Glassey.

Mr Taylor was given a couple of birds and provided with lots of encouragement, before he got started on his own with game bantams and buff pekins.

His hobby grew through the years — now he had "hundreds of birds" and began judging at shows about 10 years ago.

For 15 years he had been coming to the Oamaru show, at the Drill Hall in Itchen St, and loved the variety of birds and the camaraderie.

kayla.hodge@odt.co.nz