In the mid 1800s all birds were the original light green wild type, but around 1870 the first new colours were beginning to show up with yellow birds being reported in Belgium and Europe. At the London horticultural show of 1910 the first sky-blue birds were seen. The Japanese nobility were showing great interest in budgies by now and paid great sums of money to buy the new colours. The nobility gave them to each other as tokens of love and affection. In 1927 the Japanese authorities banned budgie imports but because they breed so readily it did not affect the birds popularity and Japan now has a healthy budgie following.
Budgerigars are very easy to look after and make great pets.
I only keep budgies as a hobby and do not show. I breed for the pet keeper and bright colours are my prime concern, but the basic husbandry is the same for a pet or champion bird. I hope this small insight has been useful to you. There are many excellent pages on the web covering all the aspects of budgerigar keeping from the complete novice to the top show enthusiast.