How I Bred My Winning Spangles
By Frank Silva

My First Pair of Spangles

My first pair of spangles I purchased from a local fancier in 1993 produced a very useful youngster; a Double Factor Spangle. This youngster won the Best Young Bird award at a local members show. Following the success at the show I became much more interested in the variety. I perused through as much written material as I could get my hands on and also discussed the variety, its origins, breeding patterns, genetics and tried to establish who had good Spangles in the UK with experienced fellow fanciers. All the information I received suggested I should try to acquire stock from the late "Alf Ormerod" bloodline if at all possible.

Early Spangles

My ongoing research into the origins of Spangles suggests that the Spangle was first discovered in 1974 in New South Wales Australia. Spangles were first exhibited as a new variety in 1976. The first Spangle to the UK was brought in by the late Alf Ormerod in 1977. Memoirs and notes written by the late Alf Ormerod states "I owned the very first Spangle which was brought to this country - despite statements to the contrary which have appeared in the fancy press". A record available from the Master Breeder clearly demonstrates that the first ever Spangle to the UK came from none other than Rolf Christien a well-known Swiss fancier. It is a known fact that many other fanciers around the world desire to claim the sole responsibility of bringing Spangles to UK only to enhance their reputation. 

Spangle Pairings

I paired the two Spangle cocks to two Opaline Grey Green hens that were sisters. I bred some very useful stock that I knew had potential to breed better quality progeny in the following years. It was when I paired these youngsters together (cousin to cousin) that I bred the Best Opposite Sex Spangle G.S. breeder at The Budgerigar Society Club Show 1994. This young Spangle Grey Green hen and her brother who was a super specimen of a Budgerigar, was indeed the Spangles who laid the basis for my family of Spangles. During his breeding span he bred no less than 178 youngsters. I have since created sub-families of Spangles by pairing them to my Blue, Cobalt, Green, Grey and Cinnamon families. This gives me the wider choice much needed to breed quality Budgerigars.

Winning Spangles

I paired a Spangle Grey Green cock (FS2-94) to a Spangle Grey Green hen (FS2-94), which produced a family of Double Factors including my most well remembered winning Double Factor Yellow Spangle cock. This bird has the recognition of beating a BS Club Show winner when it was awarded the Best in Show at a Championship Show in 1995. The Double Factor paired to a Grey hen from the same Spangle family bred a family of very useful Spangles.

It was in 1995 when I won my first Challenge Certificate — my first Best Young Bird in Show award and Best in Show award with another one of my well-remembered birds, a Cobalt cock (FS2-95). This cobalt cock was the best out of 11 others, paired to a daughter of the Spangle Grey Green hen, which was the Best Opposite Sex Young Spangle at The B.S. Club Show. This Cobalt bred a super Spangle Cobalt cock in 1997. You may recall this Spangle Cobalt being referred to as the "most unluckiest bird in the show" at the BS Club Show 1997 by the Judge because it lost both tails during the show. This Spangle Cobalt cock paired to a Spangle Grey Hen was an aunt to the World Champion Spangle Grey cock indeed bred 24 Blue Spangles including the Best Young Bird in Show at the BS World Championship Show 1999.

See Frank's Winning Birds