The 2nd Exotic and Native Finch and Softbill Census 2010
Monitoring and Maintaining our Populations of Finches and Softbills By David Pace
President National Finch and Softbill Association
Aviculture is arguably as healthy as it has ever been, but there is little doubt that it is changing. Companion bird keeping is more popular in Australia than ever before. Bird sales around the country keep getting larger, in terms of both the number of sellers and buyers seeking birds. This speaks clearly that aviculture is here to stay in one form or another. It is interesting that while overall popularity of birdkeeping endures, other aspects of our hobby are being challenged to such a degree that aviculture as we have know it traditionally, may become very different in the future.
We currently have a healthy selection of both exotic and native finch species. Through the application of outstanding avicultural techniques, we have established and now maintain strong aviary populations of most of our native finch species. Likewise, dedicated aviculturists have been able to maintain most of the exotic species that were imported into Australia pre the 1960’s. Although no new blood has been injected into our stocks since this time, the sheer numbers of some species that were once imported have ensured that these species should be with us into the future. However some species are clearly struggling in both numbers and genetic strength. To manage this situation we must be aware of trends and of the factors that may threaten their existence in Australian aviculture.
Declining Numbers and Targeting Species
During the past decades, several finch species have been lost and are now extinct in our aviaries. I recently inspected a skin of a quail finch that was tabled by the Avicultural Society of South Australia at their recent bird sale. Apparently this specimen survived until the 1980’s in Adelaide aviaries. Alas this unique African species is now extinct in Australian aviaries! The NFSA census in 2008 listed other species that may one day join the quail finch if dedicated aviculturists do not take up the challenge to breed them. Species such as the green avadavat with only 16 individuals, red-crested cardinal with 3 individuals and the grey singing finch with 9 individuals. With such low numbers, the plight of these species may already be doomed.
A positive to come from the last NFSA census was highlighted by clubs such as the Riverina Finch Society, NSW and the Swan Hill Branch of the ASA. These clubs targeted specific species that members would work to breed, through specialized and co-ordinated breeding programs. The Riverina Finch Society targeted the silver-headed nun, while the Swan Hill Branch of the ASA targeted the crimson finch. These are excellent examples of what can be done at the club level to boost the numbers of a species when given some hard data.
Hybridizing – Sustainable Avicultural Network (SAN)
Hybridizing of some species is still deliberately occurring and the cost will be the loss of species. An example of this is the Aberdeen finch, also known as the red-headed finch Amandina erythrocepala. The last NFSA census in 2008 had the numbers at a disturbingly low 18 birds held by four breeders, and yet due to either stupidity, ignorance or a way to make a quick dollar, hybrids between the Aberdeen and the closely related cutthroat Amandina fasciata are becoming more widespread. When there are so few in the country, this behavior will ultimately result in the loss of another species for future aviculturists in Australia.
Unfortunately this has also occurred with the white-bellied or Javan munia Lonchura leucogastroides being deliberately crossed with the Bengalese Lonchura domestica. The result is that we can’t be certain that we have pure strains of this rare munia. This practice is not simply confined to exotic species. It is disheartening to see with increasing frequency the numbers of hyrbrid long-tailed Peophila acuticauda x Heck’s finches P. a hecki and Parson finches Peophila cincta x Diggles P. c. atropygialis offered at bird sales. Our stocks are so precious, it is vital we maintain them and keep them pure. With all the current avicultural knowledge we have, there really is no excuse for condoning the deliberate hybridizing of our stocks.
The Avicultural Society of South Australia launched the Sustainable Aviculture Network (SAN) program at the end of 2009. The idea is to give aviculturists the ability to contact other aviculturists who keep the same species while retaining their privacy. The premise is that the birds are pure and so it ensures one possible means in which a breeder can obtain new blood or founding stock. For more information email Matt Russell: tara_matt@hotmail.com
Legal Exportation
In recent years we have become aware of the legal exportation of our exotic finches to the USA and Canada. To date the species most frequently exported are wild trapped European gold and green finches from southern Australia and to a lesser extent red-faced parrot finches and Cuban finches. The pressure on our captive strains for legal export will continue to grow as many countries around the world are banning the importation of wild caught birds. Breeders and dealers world-wide will be eyeing our birds more keenly. It will become increasingly important for us to monitor our stocks to ensure that any exports are ‘controlled’ and that a once common species is not drained to the point of becoming endangered with extinction from our Australian aviaries.
Auditing Population Trends – The NFSA National Census
Many clubs have recently become involved in auditing birds at their sales. This has occurred at the Queensland Finch Society bird sale in 2009 and the Geelong Branch of the ASA sale in 2009 and 2010. If audits such as these were to occur over many years, any sudden drop in the numbers of a species would be quickly detected and breeders could be alerted. This is where the NFSA National Census can become a powerful tool in displaying trends in the population of various species. The last census in 2008 had over 300 breeders respond and provide some foundation data that provided a ‘snap shot’ of what was being held. It is hoped even more breeders will participate in this year’s census and so enhance the accuracy of the data.
What Can You Do?
The 2010 NFSA Finch and Softbill Census can go a long way in providing valuable information on the status of our exotic and native species. All that is required is that the accompanying census form is filled in. Simply list the numbers you have of a specific species. No names or addresses are required – only the numbers you currently have. The results will be presented at the Finches ‘11 International Finch Convention in Brisbane in April 2011 and published in subsequent avicultural publications. The census form can be mailed or emailed to either:
Gary Fitt,c/- QFS PO Box 1600, Coorparoo DC, Queensland 4151 or gary.fitt@bigpond..com
or
David Pace, PO Box 51, Torquay, Victoria, 3228 or pace.david.j@edumail.vic.gov.au
The National Finch and Softbill Association (NFSA) would like to thank the support of all 30 of our member bird clubs and societies from around the country. By representing such a large part of the avicultural sector, we are placed in a stronger position to lobby with various government organisations when the need arises. It also provides a large cross section of finch and softbill breeders that can provide vital information on the status of both exotic and native species held in captivity.
For more information about the Finches ‘11 International Finch Convention in Brisbane in April 201, email: gary.fitt@bigpond..com
For a copy of the Census form please amil birdkeeper@birdkeeper.com.au
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