Our Plea to Aviculturists and All Bird Lovers
THE WILD GOULDIAN FINCH URGENTLY NEEDS YOUR HELP!!
The beautiful Gouldian finch is seriously threatened in its wild habitat.
Given the nature of the Gouldian Finches place in aviculture would it not be a travesty if this magnificent bird was to disappear from its native habitat?
The reasons for its decline are as yet unclear, but with your help, the Save The Gouldian Fund together with the Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC) scientists and a specialist team of scientists from The University of New South Wales will continue to unlock the puzzle. Our aim is not only to fully identify these limiting factors, but to reverse this decline with a view to restoring the Gouldian to its former numbers and range.
The AWC has acquired a 750,000 acre property in the Kimberley region of Western Australia – one of the last breeding strongholds of the Gouldian finch – where ongoing field studies are being conducted. Further to this the University of NSW (Australia) has established a research station which holds a captive population of some 250 Gouldians and Longtailed grass finches.
However, the only problem with ecological studies of this magnitude, in such remote areas, is that they are very expensive.
We need your help in raising funds to ensure this project continues to be a success and to protect the remaining pockets of the Gouldian Finch. So become a donor yourself, encourage your colleagues and friends to do likewise and lobby your Avicultural Society to become actively involved.
We’re in it for the long haul but can the Gouldian count on you to do likewise??
Why should aviculturists donate?
●The research is revealing fascinating facts that will help aviculturists improve the breeding and keeping of Gouldian’s and other birds. For example, scientists are currently working on nutrition and will be able to ultimately tell us exactly what diet a Gouldian requires during the different phases of its life cycle. Most of the information we currently have on nutrition is based on research done on poultry which is hardly appropriate!
●All donors will receive a Bulletin keeping you up to date with progress and interpretation of the scientific work done into knowledge that can be useful in aviculture. It will also contain a 'Handy Tips' section prepared by fellow aviculturists.
●Aviculture has a poor image with wildlife authorities and the general public.
●The Gouldian is an iconic bird which is getting a growing amount of publicity.
●Wouldn't it be good if aviculture could be seen as the saviour of a species rather than as a gang of egg smugglers and wild bird trappers?
●Show the various animal rights organisations that target our hobby and treat us with derision, that we can be ‘givers’ and not just the ‘takers’ they portray us as in the media. Don’t ever forget that in 2004 these people were responsible for the cancellation of the centuries old National Exhibition of Cage Birds in the UK!
●It presents you with an opportunity to become actively involved in a scientific, conservation and public education program with the Gouldian finch as the ultimate winner.
Already from the research into the Gouldian finch we have gleaned much useful information concerning behaviour and diet that has a flow-on effect to our hobby, so just think of the possibilities of the future where, if we can make this exercise successful, we could go on to sponsor research into other aspects of science of interest to aviculture.
To see any species disappear from the Earth is a cause for concern but more so for one that has inspired so many books and given so much joy to countless generations of bird keepers – from those captivated with their beauty to those keen to unlock the world of avian genetics.
