Birds of a feather will be flocking to the PCYC building on Saturday with thousands of winged wonders available to buy at Australia's largest bird sale event.
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Orange Bird Society president and sale organiser Tony Ford said 6000-7000 birds would be on sale with interest from all around the country.
"You never know what's going to show up. 6000-7000 birds, that's about all we could fit in," he said.
Mr Ford said buyers were travelling from most states but sellers were usually closer to Orange and NSW.
"Those blokes that travel that far will come to socialise. They are pretty well into the bird industry, they know a lot of people," he said.
Mr Ford said quakers would again be popular.
"They are very easily hand-tamed. The make great pets," he said.
Timneh Grey Parrots were also popular at last year's sale.
However, the most expensive birds will be the larger ones with prices of $3000-$5000 likely to be paid for parrots, macaws and amazons.
He said different colours and mutations of colour in birds attracted much interest.
Mr Ford said he believed the Orange sale was now the largest of its kind in Australia.
"It started about 18 years ago with 800-1000 birds at the showgrounds. It's just gone on from there," he said.
Saturday's sale runs from 10am-1pm with a $2 entry for adults and under-16s for free.
However, he said sellers would arrive earlier in the week, check their birds in on Friday afternoon and enjoy a barbecue and the official Saturday night dinner.
"A lot of people involved in the bird industry, they like to socialise," he said.
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Mr Ford said the health of all birds was checked on Saturday morning with birds showing signs of stress from the trip to Orange potentially being removed from the sale.
"Always a big thing is the welfare of the bird. That's high on the agenda," he said.
Proceeds go to charities including Riding for the Disabled, the Vinnies Food Van, local volunteer fire brigades, WIRES, the RSPCA and to Orange City Council for wild bird nest boxes.
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David Fitzsimons
I am a senior journalist at the Central Western Daily concentrating on council, government and real estate issues. Before moving to Orange I filled senior roles at the Daily Telegraph, Daily Telegraph-Mirror and the Daily Mirror in Sydney. They included being an editor, news editor, chief of staff and reporter.
I am a senior journalist at the Central Western Daily concentrating on council, government and real estate issues. Before moving to Orange I filled senior roles at the Daily Telegraph, Daily Telegraph-Mirror and the Daily Mirror in Sydney. They included being an editor, news editor, chief of staff and reporter.
