German Canary and Bird Breeders' Federation

The Deutscher Kanarien- und Vogelzüchter-Bund e. V. (DKB), also known online as Vogelbund, is a German non-governmental umbrella organisation for bird breeding and bird protection clubs. It is one of the oldest and, with more than 400 affiliated clubs, one of the largest bird breeding federations in Germany. A defining structural feature is that the DKB does not admit individual members: membership is obtained through one of its affiliated local bird clubs. The federation represents roughly 5,000 members and is organised into 31 regional state associations (Landesverbände). The DKB's work centres on four specialist groups: song canaries (including song-colour and song-posture canaries and Waterslager), colour and posture canaries, hybrids and Cardueliden (finches), and parakeets and exotic birds. It promotes the breeding of more than 800 bird species, provides member advice and support, issues officially recognised leg rings, and organises exhibitions and championships. Its annual German DKB Championship is held on the first weekend of January. The federation is a member of the Confédération Ornithologique Mondiale and the European association for poultry, pigeon, bird, rabbit and cavy breeding, enabling its breeders to take part in international competitions. The organisation traces its roots to the Verein Deutscher Kanarienzüchter, founded in 1890 as an association of bird protection and breeding clubs in the German Empire. After the disruptions of the Nazi era and the Second World War, it was re-registered in 1947 and broadened its scope beyond canaries to budgerigars, finches, large parakeets and other exotic birds. Since a website relaunch in May 2022 it has operated online under the name "Vogelbund", maintaining a ring identification service for found birds, a nationwide directory of avian veterinarians, and a central calendar of bird shows and bird markets. It also publishes the specialist magazine "Der Vogelfreund" and a newsletter, and awards the Klaus-Speicher-Preis and the Bruno-Regler-Preis for outstanding contributions to bird breeding and protection.

The DKB's origins lie in the Verein Deutscher Kanarienzüchter, founded in 1890 as a union of several bird protection and bird breeding clubs within the German Empire. By its sixth general meeting in Coburg on 27 July 1896, more than twelve representatives of clubs from cities such as Dresden, Halle, Leipzig, Magdeburg, Nuremberg and Wiesbaden were present. Some of the oldest clubs still in existence today, such as the Dresdner Kanarienzüchter und Exotenzüchter Verein e. V. founded in 1880, have continued without interruption since that time. Important organs of the early clubs included the specialist journal Gefiederte Welt, first published in 1872, and Die Vogelwelt, published since 1876. Until 1933, ever more regional bird protection and breeding clubs were founded in the vicinity of the then Bund für Vogelschutz. During the Nazi era, bird protection was administratively assigned in 1933 to the Fachamt Naturschutz of the newly created Reichsbund Volkstum und Heimat. Shortly after the seizure of power in 1933, attempts were made to merge club interests and to affiliate bird clubs, for example to the Verein der Ziegenzüchter. Ultimately, the Reichsverband Deutscher Kanarienzüchter and the Reichsfachschaft Deutscher Kanarienzüchter were subordinated to the Reich Ministry of Science, Education and National Education. Slogans such as "Kein deutsches Haus ohne einen edlen Kanariensänger!" (No German house without a noble canary singer!) produced a deceptive upswing in canary and parakeet keeping. After 1945, the few birds that remained in the post-war period served as the foundation stock for the restart of regional breeding. The association, registered in 1947, has since looked after not only lovers and breeders of canaries but also breeders of budgerigars, finches, large parakeets and other exotic birds. Its objectives include promoting canary and bird breeding generally as well as giving great attention to bird, nature and environmental protection. Further tasks include promoting the breeding of over 800 different bird species, supporting and advising members, awakening interest in keeping and breeding birds, monitoring and implementing uniform evaluations, and organising joint championships for all breeding directions. The DKB issues its own officially recognised leg rings for its members. Since 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany and the associated restrictions forced the cancellation of the DKB German Championship in 2020 and 2021. To maintain cohesion among breeders and the necessary exchange, a member survey was held in 2020 and, as a result, the time was used for digitalisation efforts. Since the website relaunch in May 2022, the DKB has operated online as the umbrella association of bird breeding and bird protection clubs under the name "Vogelbund", maintains a ring identification service for found birds, a nationwide veterinary directory for avian veterinarians, and a centralised calendar of bird shows and bird markets. Volunteer work is organised through specialist groups, each with its own judges' association: the group for song, song-colour, song-posture canaries and Waterslager; the group for colour and posture canaries; the group for hybrids and Cardueliden; and the group for parakeets and exotics. In its current structure the DKB is divided into 31 regional associations, for whose members exhibitions and championships are regularly organised, in which the "most beautiful" birds according to defined natural standards are exhibited and awarded prizes. The German DKB Championship takes place annually on the first weekend of January. In Germany the association is number two (by members) among breeding associations. To participate in internationally recognised breeding standards, it is a member of the Confédération Ornithologique Mondiale and the European association for poultry, pigeon, bird, rabbit and cavy breeding, thus also enabling individual breeders to take part in international competitions. The Klaus-Speicher-Preis is awarded, if possible annually, by the DKB in honour and memory of the ornithologist and author Klaus Speicher. The award can go to individuals or groups who have rendered outstanding service to the tasks and goals of the DKB and have thus earned merit in bird breeding, bird protection and in the interest of bird keepers. Measures and initiatives are particularly recognised that serve the reputation and credibility of responsible bird breeders, keepers and protectors and exemplify a role model for one's own actions. The Bruno-Regler-Preis, in honour and memory of the chairman Bruno Regler, who died in 2017, can be awarded annually by the judges' group "Parakeets and Exotics" as an honorary prize. This award can go to an individual for the best article in Der Vogelfreund.

• 2022

  Website relaunch in May; DKB operates online under the name "Vogelbund".

• 2021

  German DKB Championship cancelled again due to the pandemic.

• 2020

  German DKB Championship cancelled due to COVID-19; member survey held and digitalisation efforts initiated.

• 1947

  Association re-registered after the Second World War, broadening its scope to budgerigars, finches, large parakeets and other exotic birds.

• 1933

  Bird protection administratively assigned to the Fachamt Naturschutz of the Reichsbund Volkstum und Heimat; Nazi-era reorganisation of canary breeding associations.

• 1896

  Sixth general meeting held in Coburg on 27 July with representatives from Dresden, Halle, Leipzig, Magdeburg, Nuremberg and Wiesbaden.

• 1890

  Verein Deutscher Kanarienzüchter founded as a union of bird protection and breeding clubs in the German Empire.

A non-profit umbrella federation and cultural heritage organisation for canary and bird breeding in Germany, combining species protection, breeding standards and club community.

• Membership via affiliated clubs

• Official leg rings (Vogelringe)

• Der Vogelfreund magazine

• DKB newsletter

• Deutsche DKB-Meisterschaft

• Ring identification service for found birds

• Nationwide avian veterinary directory

• Central calendar of bird shows and markets

1. 1Deutscher Kanarien und Vogelzüchterbund e.V. – Homepagevogelbund.de
2. 2Wir über uns – Deutscher Kanarien und Vogelzüchterbund e.V.vogelbund.de
3. 3Mediathek – Deutscher Kanarien und Vogelzüchterbund e.V.vogelbund.de
4. 4Newsletter – Deutscher Kanarien und Vogelzüchterbund e.V.vogelbund.de
5. 5Deutscher Kanarien- und Vogelzüchter-Bund – Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org
6. 6Deutscher Kanarien- und Vogelzüchter-Bund – Wikidatawikidata.org