The 66-year-old had vowed to retire this year after contesting every Birdman to date but is reconsidering following his victory. Next year he could be a flying pig.
"This really is the pinnacle. I've won the best individual Birdman twice before, but for an individual to win the grand prize is magic," Mr Price said.
Another special feature of this year's Birdman was the Duke of Marlborough's Elvis entry. Thirty Elvis lookalikes, plus the odd Priscilla, performed a choreographed dance routine on the wharf while others gyrated on shore.
The tavern also hosted an Elvis-themed ball on Saturday night and gave out prizes for best impersonations, as well as an "insult to Graceland" award for the worst.
Instigator Riki Kinnaird said his ultimate dream was to increase the number of Elvises each year until he reached 850 in four years' time. The entire population of Russell is around 800.
The $1000 prize for greatest distance was won by a member of the Elvis team, Aucklander Paul McBride.
Birdman Trust chair Bridget Hughes said the crowd of 4000-5000 on Saturday was similar to last year's or slightly higher.
The festival was now truly a three-day event with more entertainment and crowd involvement. In its first few years most festival-goers were from the Bay of Islands but many now travelled from Whangarei or Auckland and stayed the whole weekend. "Magical" sponsorship meant the two top prizes had been bumped up to $1000 this year.
Friday night's gender-bending drag race featured a new course along the Strand and a record field of 16 "ladies" from the Bay, Whangarei and Auckland.
Other attractions included a wok cook-off, spaghetti-eating contests, performing pirates, paper-plane flying, cake decorating and a mini Ironman.
The festival was MC'd by Whangarei radio host Mike Plant, who also leapt off the wharf, and filmed for Itteq, a Japanese travel/comedy show screening every Sunday night on national broadcaster NTV.
The festival was founded seven years ago to inject life into Russell in the usually quiet winter months.
SELECTED RESULTS
Birdman competition
Supreme Birdman ($1000 prize): Barry Price, Russell (baked beans in farting sauce); Ultimate flying challenge ($1000): Paul McBride, Auckland (in the Duke's Elvis team); best team: Gary Hooson and Rob Williams, Russell (Mrs Brown); best individual: Clay Danvers, Parua Bay (Louie the Tui); crowd favourite: Tim Grant, Russell (Flaxman); special prize: Ayako Imoto, Tokyo (flying Ninja).
Drag race
Best time ($500 top prize): 1 Simon Crabb, Whangarei; 2 Dean Maney, Auckland; 3 Harrison Mavius, 16, Pukekohe. Best dressed: 1 "Erica" Haagh, Helensville; 2 Paul "Paulina Ribena" McBride, Auckland; 3 Miss Blair Cheeks, Whangarei. Judges' prize: Calvin "Mrs Brown" Moses, Tapeka.
Spaghetti eating: Josh Cooke, 18, Whangarei.
Best beehive hairdo ($500): Janelle Blackmoore, Auckland.