Bill Doherty has kept and bred European finches, canaries and finch hybrids for over 35 years, learning the hobby from his father, and many of the local birdkeepers over that time. At the age of 11 he won his first major exhibition, at Alnwick in Northumberland, with a male linnet. When he was 15 he became a founder member and committee member of the Blyth & Bedlington Cage Bird Society. During the late sixties and early seventies, Bill exhibited his birds in partnership with his late father John, who was a champion breeder of budgerigars. Since then, Bill has been part of many specialist clubs and societies.
Today Bill breeds and keeps his birds for pleasure only, but sometimes exhibits if he breed something special.


  
 

SPECIES.
Over the decades Bill has produced most of the more common British hardbills, including goldfinches, greenfinches, bullfinches, lesser & mealy redpolls, siskins, linnets and common crossbills. He has also been successful in cross breeding many mules and hybrids, where bullfinch hybrids are his specialty, and favourites. Successful canary breeding has seen Bill producing most types of these lovely little songsters. Bill has never specialized in any one particular breed, preferring to experiment, and produce something different each season.
One area of bird keeping that Bill has become a specialist in, is producing finches and hybrids in smaller cages rather than in larger flights or aviaries. All of the above birds have been producing in these smaller breeding environments over the years.





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