WHILE the Royal Easter Show was just another outing in the busy lives of the Croft family budgerigars, each of the 19 managed to come home with a prize.

The birds either won their section or came second, either way adding more glory to the breeding programs of Ian and Carol Croft.

The Crofts, of Bexley, have become very good at breeding rare budgerigars since taking up the hobby about four years ago.

They don't go into the ordinary green and yellow budgies familiar to most suburban homes, but concentrate on crested birds in rare colours.

"We have every colour you can think of except for an all-red and an all-black which are genetically impossible," Mr Croft said.

His favourite bird is the colour of violets, merging into deep blue and black.

For Ian Croft in particular, the hobby has turned into an obsession which takes up all his spare time.

There is a lot involved in selective breeding and the everyday care of the birds, and then there are the St George Budgerigars Society get-togethers and the endless shows.

"Since Australia Day there has been nothing but shows every weekend there is a show," he said.

Mr Croft also does good pickled onions, a jar of which won first prize at the show.