Superbly decorative, with balletic nuptial displays, the grebes are our most elegant waterbirds. They do occur in collections but are under-represented. Luckily you shouldn’t need to go far to enjoy these birds of park and lake. This week Bill Naylor gives us a taster of the marvellous variety to be found among members of this global bird family. Equally decorative, frill canaries are an acquired taste but have a dedicated following. We profile one established breed – the Fiorino, originally of Florence – and one brand-new one, the TorZuino, developed just up the road from Venice. Lizard Chat rounds off our canary coverage and we also hear from Sam Wildes (budgies), Austin Middlemiss (at Northumberland Zoo!), Andy Johnson (who’s still Going Native) and others.

Superbly decorative, with balletic nuptial displays, the grebes are our most elegant waterbirds. They do occur in collections but are under-represented. Luckily you shouldn’t need to go far to enjoy these birds of park and lake. This week Bill Naylor gives us a taster of the marvellous variety to be found among members of this global bird f....