The self-confessed budgie fanatic houses about 300 birds at his Longford home and has spent nearly 40 years as a member of the Northern Tasmanian Budgerigar Society, of which he is now the treasurer. 

Mr Poole said budgie owners across the state were gearing up for their busiest time of the year – show season. 

“There's three clubs in the state and we compete against those clubs in the shows,” Mr Poole said. 

“In May we have what's called a shield competition from the three clubs and how it works is there's 22 varieties of budgies and you've got to get four birds of that colour in the class to represent your club.”