The Dunedin Bird Club life member and judge helped oversee the 143rd annual show at the Wingatui Community Hall on Saturday.
More than 550 birds of all sorts of types were on display, and this year’s awards were held in memory of Colleen’s late husband Monty Wright, who was also a bird enthusiast.
"He taught me a lot of what I know about birds.
"You could say I married into it."
Ms Wright became a club member in 1964, and started judging about 10 years later.
"I like to tell people that a bird show is a beauty parade with feathers.
"We judge to a standard, so it’s like judging anything — it’s about deportment and the cleanliness of the bird, the feathering and so on.
"Some of the bird owners can spend several hours preparing their bird to get ready for a show."
Ms Wright said most competing bird owners kept at least 20, while she had more than 150 — most of which are scattered across various aviaries.
She said she was planning to give away her birds to her son, Shane, who was also an enthusiast.
Being a judge had let Ms Wright fly all over the country.
"Over the years, we’ve travelled the length and the breadth of New Zealand judging.
"We’ve also travelled to Australia to judge."
Ms Wright said she would miss being involved in the competitions, but with a recent move to Mosgiel, it was time to downsize.
"We have a book, it’s like a bible, it’s got all the classes for when you’re showing birds, but it’s also got all the names and addresses of all the people that belong to bird clubs throughout New Zealand.
"So, you know, everywhere you go in New Zealand, you’ll know somebody, once you’re in the bird world.
"Birds of a feather really do flock together."
