TielChoice

2006-08-12T20:26:00.000-07:00

We believe that the exhibition, breeding and care of cockatiels should be the first and foremost cares of any education society. Thus, this homepage was born not out of desent but out of love for the society that many of our candidates have been with for decades.We believe our candidates strive for change and at the same time they strive to have the membership guide us towards a great society. We hope you'll read the bios, email the candidates and find out what they have planned for their term in office. Optimism breeds optimism and we hope this website can bring back cockatiels to the glory they deserve! For other candidate bios, click here.

***This website is not associated with the National Cockatiel Society***

Candidate: President

2006-08-09T21:30:00.000-07:00

I have been a member of the National Cockatiel Society for 16 years, since the spring of 1991 when my family got its first pet cockatiel, “Buttercup”. It wasn’t long before one bird turned into dozens and my interest evolved into a passionate and fulfilling hobby.

In 1993, I attended my premier cockatiel show and what an eye-opening experience that was! I soon realized that if I was going to raise cockatiels that I was going to breed the best quality birds that I could possibly breed, whether for pets or for exhibition.

Wanting to become more involved in NCS, I became co-State Coordinator of New Jersey in 1995. In 1999, my work to promote NCS was rewarded with the State Coordinator of the Year Award. That year I had set up several educational displays at local bird club meetings and bird fairs. I visited middle schools and gave basic care and genetics lessons to science classes. In 2002 I gained status as a member of the NCS Judges Panel where I am able to continue teaching novice and advanced exhibitors alike about cockatiel standards and genetics. Cockatiel exhibitions are a great avenue for passing on my knowledge and experiences and I look forwarding to meeting new people (both pet and breeders alike) as they become enthralled in the hobby.
Currently I serve as a Board of Director for the NCS where I function as the NCS Points Registrar. My work on various committees includes developing the National Specialty Show, the Hall of Fame Program, and revising the NCS exhibition classifications to encompass to the newer mutations.

I have specialized in Lutino mutations since 2001, culminating years of work with two honors that I hold in very high regard - being the breeder and exhibitor of the premier Hall of Fame and Supreme Hall of Fame Cockatiel with a Lutino Pearl Pied hen, “Sunburst”, and winning the prestigious “Higgins” Trophy for Best Cockatiel Bred and Banded by the Exhibitor, at the 2005 National Cage Bird Show in Dallas, Texas, with a Lutino Pied cock.

In addition to NCS, I am a member of several national and local organizations including Society of Parrot Breeders and Exhibitors, American Federation of Aviculture, International Parrotlet Society, and Raleigh Durham Caged Bird Society. In 1999, I co-founded the Mid-Atlantic Cockatiel Breeders and Exhibitors (MACBE), a group focused on helping local bird clubs host and organize cockatiel exhibitions. To date, MACBE has hosted 22 exhibitions in six different states. I am presently the Chairman of the Board of MACBE.

Candidate: 3rd Vice President

2006-08-09T20:32:00.000-07:00

Wendy Labanca

I found, by accident, what a love I have for birds when I rescued a little parakeet named Buddy. While we only had Buddy for a short time, we grew to love and admire these winged wonders. A year after Buddy's passing, in 1998, I felt ready to get another parakeet for a family pet. While looking at several parakeets, I noticed a beautiful bird in another cage and found out that it was a cockatiel. Well, it was love at first site and I left there with a normal grey hen, Rosie, who started my passion for cockatiels.

I have bred a few species such as Finches, Parakeets, English Budgies and Cockatiels. I have owned various conures also. The cockatiel totally captured my heart and now my only focus is on cockatiels.

I started out breeding and supplying pet cockatiels to my local pet shops and did this for several years. I always tried to breed the best quality I could. I had heard about exhibiting and breeding towards the standard and found that it was something I was interested in doing more of. In 2003, I entered my very first cockatiel show. I placed my own banded birds on the Novice bench and I was hooked from then on!

I joined the National Cockatiel Society in 2003 and feel I have greatly benefitted from the organization in the short time I have been a member. I have met many wonderfully helpful people that have been very supportive of my goals. I wanted to be more involved with the organization. So in 2004, I became and am presently, the Rhode Island State Coordinator. Also, in 2004, I was appointed to Membership and Bands Secretary. I have had the pleasure of meeting and talking with many members, assisting them in ordering bands, joining the society and helping them in whatever way I can.

I belong to several organizations such as NCS, AFA, ACS, NCBS, MACBE, RIPBC and have recently help co-found New England Cockatiel Breeders and Exhibitors (NECBE), which focuses on helping local clubs host cockatiel exhibitions.

Candidate 2nd Vice President

2006-08-09T20:28:00.000-07:00

PAT TUCKER
A native of New England, Pat Tucker has been a serious student of aviculture since 1980, specializing in Psittacines. Her breeding experience has produced numerous top bench awards in Cockatiels, Parrots, and Lovebirds in the Northeast, reflecting her focus on quality breeding practices for each species.After many years breeding Cockatiels, Cockatoos, Conures, Macaws, African Greys, Senegals and Lovebirds, Pat renewed her focus exclusively to the breeding of exhibition quality cockatiels in 1996. Since that time, she has distinguished herself on the show bench with a high National Ranking each year including the Top Exhibitor’s Award in 2002.

Through this process, she has earned Champion and Grand Champion status for many of her birds, which are recognized throughout the United States for their exceptional quality.An advocate of organized aviculture, Pat is a member of AFA, NCS, SPBE, ALBS, Mid-Atlantic Cockatiel Breeders & Exhibitors, New England Cockatiel Breeders & Exhibitors, and has been active in numerous local clubs and societies throughout her 25 years as an aviculturist. She has been an avid writer on all facets of parrot husbandry, having been published in local and national specialty publications, including the NCS Journal. Her extensive study and practical experience has resulted in peer recognition by fellow aviculturists throughout the country.

On a more personal note, Pat proudly shares her life with 16 beloved pet birds: 2 umbrella cockatoos, 5 lovebirds, 2 cockatiels, 1 Dusky Conure, 1 Sun Conure, 2 Golden Conures, 2 Caiques, and a Red Bellied Parrot. She frequently describes them as ‘her feathered children’, and shares them through church, school, and community events to educate the public on the proper care of pet birds.