PROCEDURE FOR JUDGING

Come prepare when you judge a Show. You must be prompt and have with you a copy of the Show Catalog, judging pointers, and at least two (2) Pens, a copy of the SPBE Handbook, and copies of the SPBE Show Report.

1. A SPBE Judge never enters the Exhibition Area until asked to enter by the Show Manager. As a matter of principle a Judge should not arrive at the Show Hall until about fifteen (15) minutes before judging is to begin. If a Steward needs to ask the Judge to look at a bird to determine whether it is misclassified, or if an Exhibitor is not sure how to classify a bird, the Steward must bring the bird to the judge for examination outside the Exhibition Hall. There must be NO Indication as to who owns the bird. REMEMBER. NEVER ENTER THE JUDGING AREA UNTIL JUDGING IS READY TO BEGIN.

2. Your knowledge of parrots and your judging abilities will be readily apparent to the Gallery as you do your judging. Share your knowledge with the Gallery and always temper your criticism with praise. Remember a Novice may be showing for the very first time. There is generally something good to say about most entries. Stress the fact that TODAY this bird is best. Next week, or with more preparation another bird may be best.

3. Do not answer questions while judging. Point out to the Gallery that you will be available when judging is completed.

4. Before you begin judging, speak with the Division Secretary and the Stewards. Be sure they know what they are expected to do. Do not assume that they are experienced in Show procedures, since many will be stewarding for the first time. Some simple instructions may save confusion during the judging. Before you begin, ask the Division Secretary to list the number of parrots in each class in your catalog. This will enable you to be sure all of the birds have been brought up to the bench in each class and prevent embarrassment of a missing bird.

5. While the Secretary is writing the numbers in the catalog, make a quick tour of the birds in your Division. This overview will give you an insight into what will be coming to the bench and the opportunity to be sure that entries have not been misclassified. Then, start your judging. Have the Stewards bring the first class of parrots to the bench. Check the number benched against the number written in your Show Catalog. Check each Show Tag to be sure it has been filled out correctly and that the birds on the bench are actually entered in the correct class.

6. At this time you should initial, punch or stamp each tag. This will assure the exhibitor that you actually judged that particular bird.

7. Once you have checked all of the birds, write the number entered in the class in the box printed in the upper right hand comer of the Show Tag. While completing this mechanical procedure, you have an excellent opportunity to check each bird for faults - missing toe nails, feathers. etc. While missing nails should not count heavily against a bird, many Judges find out to late that they have overlooked a major defect.

8. Mistakes in carrying out mechanical procedures are unforgivable. A judge opinion cannot be questioned, but a lack of knowledge of the mechanics involved in proper judging can cause the Judge to loose the esteem of the Gallery.

9. Now, start your actual judging by comparing the birds on the bench.   

10. All SPBE Judges are to follow the same procedure.

11. Entries are to be judged on a one to one basis, by comparison. The best birds will end up to the left side of the bench. Birds of lesser quality will end up on the right.

12. Compare the bird, which is farthest to the left with the bird to it, move the second bird to the left if it is better. Then, compare the bird, which is in the third place with the bird, which is in second place. Continue this procedure down the line until the entire class has been judged.

13. SPBE Judges do not judge by assigning points on a Show Tag. We do not assign points because only a Judge can compare the relationship of Conformation, Condition, Color, Deportment and Presentation. The point system might actually allow a bird that is not the best overall to be ranked first.

14. Once you have completed judging in a class, stand back and view your placements. Be sure you are satisfied while you still have time to change your decision. Assuming you are satisfied, mark the back of the cage tag with your placement, either you or the Steward should read of the cage numbers for the Secretary to record. Usually, three (3) birds are ranked in each class. Announce your decisions to the Gallery. After this, you may not change your decision.

15. Offer as much constructive criticism as time allows. Your judging should be educational to the Gallery and since you are the expert from SPBE most exhibitors will want to hear your opinion.

16. With parrots, it is sometimes difficult to move big cages; therefore the Judge must make sure the Stewards have placed the ribbons correctly. Use your best judgment as to whether birds should be benched or judged on place.

17. Continue the judging procedure throughout all classes in the Section. To judge the Section, instruct the Stewards to bring all first place birds back to the bench in the order in which they were judged.

18. During the judging of the classes, you mat have noted a particularly strong class, Blue-Front Amazons, for an example. You may wish to see the second or even the third place bird in that class again. Because of the strength in that class the second or third place Blue- Front Amazon may be better than the first place Yellow Front Amazon.

19. To prevent confusion, begin by ranking the birds that were first in class, then work the second place bird in. if possible. Then consider the third place bird if desired. Continue your comparisons until you have selected the top birds in the Section, stopping each time the Second or third place bird progresses up to the bird that defeated it. REMEMBER, a bird can never be placed higher than a bird, which has defeated it. Continue your comparisons until you have selected the top birds in Section. The top three (3) of four (4) birds should be ranked for Section.

20. Again, stand back and make sure your placements are what you want them to be. Announce your decisions to the Galley. This same procedure is followed in judging the Sub-Division and Division. All birds which were Best, and perhaps Second and Third Best, in Section will be compared. The top four (4) or five (5) birds can be ranked for a Sub-Division if there is enough strength in a particular Sub- Division.

21. Remember; when judging a Sub- Division it is not uncommon to have a bird that has placed Second Best in one Section defeat a bird that placed Best in another Section.

22. REMEMBER; do not consider rarity when judging. Do not place a bird above a bird that defeated it. Do not feel that the top bird in each Section must place on top bench when a Sub-Division is judged.

23. To illustrate the last point, you may have had a very strong class of Blue Fronts, which placed First, Second, and Third in the Amazon Section. You may have had a small, but poor Macaw Section. The Macaw may not place when the Sub-Division is judged and you could end with three (3) Blue Fronts representing the New World Sub-Division for Best in Division judging.

24. For Best in Division judging, the Best Blue Front may represent the New World Sub-Division against an African Grey in the Afro-Asian Sub- Division, a Chattering Lory in the South Pacific Sub-Division, Am Indian Ring-necked in the Captive Bred Closed Banded Sub-Division and a Goffin's Cockatoo in the Novice Sub-Division.

25. Bring up the top birds from Sub- Division One (1) through Five (5), rank the Top ten (10) and record them for points. Judges are to be particularly tough on Novice entries when judging the Top Ten (10). These birds will earn points from one to ten, depending on the number of Division entries, and will receive any awards the Sponsoring Club gives as well as any SPBE awards given. The bird that places first will receive the SPBE Plaque if the Club is affiliated with SPBE.