CHAMPION LOVE BIRD
A Champion Love Bird is any love bird that has earned a total of Fifty (50)* points or more as judged by at least three ALBS panel judges. In addition, the bird must have a Best in Division win in a major show. Champion status will not be achieved until after December 31 of the year the requirements were met. Once a bird has achieved Champion status, it will no longer be eligible for competition unless it is competing for Grand Champion points.
It is the responsibility of the exhibitor, not the Points Registrar, to determine when a bird achieved Champion status. Champion birds entered erroneously in the Division classes rather than in the Champion class may lose any points earned and may have their bird disqualified from any further competition.
* For any bird earning points prior to January 1, 1998, only twenty (20) points are required to achieve Champion status. All other requirements remain the same.
Champion Love Birds are brought in at the end of the regular (Division) judging and placed in among the top bench. They may or may not place. Champion Love Birds do not take points away from the division winners, they merely receive the same points as that division bird whose show qualities the Champion Bird equals. When judging is completed, the top non-champion bird will receive the ALBS “Best In Division” plaque. All ribbons will also be given to non-champion birds according to their placement. Champions do not receive any awards. If a Champion bird is first on the Top Bench and the affiliated show club has a “Best Bird in Show” competition for all division winners, then that Champion bird will be the one competing for that award. The judge has the option for giving any special awards available to whichever bird he feels deserving of same.
The National Cage Bird Show (NCBS) is the only exception to the above rule. Champions will be brought in at the end as before. If they are placed first, they are eligible for NCBS and awards when judging is completed.
GRAND CHAMPION LOVE BIRD
A Grand Champion Love Bird is any Champion Love Bird which, after achieving Champion status, has earned an additional fifty (50)* or more points as judged by at least three ALBS panel judges and a Best In Show win obtained on the top bench. The three judges for Grand Champion status may be the same judges which were used for obtaining Champion status. Grand Champion status will not be achieved until after December 31 of the year the requirements were met. After a bird has obtained Grand Champion status, it MUST be retired from ALBS exhibition.
It is the responsibility of the exhibitor, not the Points Registrar, to determine when a bird achieved Grand Champion status. Grand Champion birds entered erroneously in the Champion class may lose any points earned and may have their bird disqualified from any further competition.
* For any bird earning points prior to January 1, 1998, only twenty (20) points are required to achieve Grand Champion status. All other requirements remain the same.
Other Terms Defined
CHAMPION BREEDER: A Champion Breeder is any exhibitor who has bred five (5) Champion Love Birds. These birds must be bred and exhibited only by the person desiring to become a Champion Breeder. All Champion Breeders will be listed in the ALBS Journal, Agapornis World.
BANDED BIRDS: Love Birds do not need to be banded to be judged. However, only birds banded with an ALBS band are eligible for exhibition points. Effective January 1, 1995, any non-ALBS, proper fitting, closed, traceable, dated band must be registered with ALBS to earn exhibition points. Double banded birds will be permitted as long as one band is a proper fitting, closed, traceable, dated band.
Beginning in January, 1995, all Rare Love Birds (Nyasa, Black-cheeked, Madagascar and Redfaced) must be banded with the smaller bands. Bands ordered for the years after 1995 will have an “R” in front of the number.
UNFLIGHTED BIRD: Birds that have a proper fitting, closed, traceable, current year dated bands.
NOVICE EXHIBITOR: Any exhibitor who has not won any award on the top bench. The Novice status will continue for the remainder of the year, even after an award has been won.
NOVICE BIRD: Birds entered by a Novice Exhibitor. These birds will be designated by an “N” in the upper right hand corner of the show tag.
HYBRIDS: The ALBS as an organization has always been against hybridization. NO hybrid will be awarded a place on the top bench or be given any award from ALBS. The hybrid must be classified in AOC in the section that it most closely resembles.
MAJOR SHOW: Any show which has fifty (50) or more love birds exhibited and a minimum of three (3) exhibitors. Click here for Major Show Point Scale
MINOR SHOW: Any show which has less than fifty (50) love birds exhibited and a minimum of three (3) exhibitors. There must be at least fifteen (15) birds present to earn exhibition points. Click here for Minor Show Point Scale
POINTS: The number of points awarded and the number of birds selected for the top bench is shown in the definitions above for minor (15-49 entries) and major (50+ entries) shows. There must be a minimum of three (3) love bird exhibitors and fifteen (15) bird entries at the show for any bird to be awarded exhibition points. Only love birds exhibited at shows judged by an ALBS panel judge are eligible for ALBS exhibition points and year-end awards. Points will be awarded to only love birds wearing ALBS bands or ALBS registered bands and the exhibitor is a current member of ALBS. No points will be awarded to birds with oversized, open or split bands.