Excitement is running high for next weekend’s Topflite National Bird Show, which is being hosted by the Tauranga Bird Club, following their highly successful local show last year.

With less than a week until hundreds of champion birds go on display, the local club is into the final days of preparation, for what will be one of NZ’s largest bird shows in a decade.

“I’m extremely excited so that it’s hard to sleep,” says Tauranga Bird Club president Sheryl Baron.

She says with 1434 birds entered, it’s “beyond our wildest dreams”, and many local motels are fully booked.

“With the current economic situation, we thought we’d get very few exhibitors from the South Island, but we have around a dozen, either flying in or driving up.

“Tauranga isn’t up the main highway, people go to Huntly and Palmerston North from the South Island, but this is looking like it will be bigger than last year’s national in Palmerston North.”

She says the prestigious national show was last held in Tauranga in 1993.

“And before that, 1965. The odds are that it won’t be here for another 30 years, so come on down.”

Topflite, as major sponsors provide the sashes and rosettes, with financial support also coming from the three local Animates stores, One Foundation, Pub Charities, and Four Winds Foundation.

An opportunity for a specially guided tour of the show is open to residents of retirement villages and elderly care facilities on the Friday afternoon before it opens to the public, says Sheryl.

“It will include a guided tour around the venue and about the birds,” says Sheryl.

Judging for the Topflite National Bird Show will run on Friday, July 26, until 3.30pm.

“The retirement village tour will take place from 3.30pm – 5pm on Friday, after judging has finished. You need to email us on: taurangabirdclub@gmail.com to book for this.”

This year, 350 bird-themed art works from Maungatapu School pupils will also be exhibited, with each pupil receiving free entry into the show.  Artists will also be onsite drawing over the weekend.

Tauranga Bird Club members will be there to answer questions while new members can join the club for an annual fee of $25 for adults, and juniors are free. Birds, accessories, seed, pellets and raffles will also be on sale.

The Topflite National Bird Show is open to the public at the stadium lounge at Mercury Baypark Arena on Saturday, July 27, from 9am – 5pm, and Sunday, July 28 from 9am – 12pm.

Entry is $5 adult, $3 child, preschoolers free, family $12.