Hi All

[Roland Cristo]

My name is Roland Cristo from California USA.

My Bio
I joined AFA in 1974 when living in Colorado. According to Jerry Jennings, I was the first out of California member.
In 1977, I was co-founder of the Foothill Bird Fanciers in Auburn, California, which was immediately affiliated with AFA. I have been a club delegate from 1977 till now, with a few years break.
In 1981 founded the first The Lory Society
In 1984 I started working with several aviculturists and thus was a co-founder and a board member of MAP (The Model Avicultural Program) a private non-profit certification process for the certification of Avicultural facilities.
In 1990, I was the co-founder of ABC (Advocates for Bird Conservation) an organization whose purpose is to have breeding facilities for endangered species. We have a grant at the moment for setting up a curriculum for school children.
In 1994 was a co-founder of the American Lory Society and am on the board of directors
In 1997, with my wife Ilana put on the first “Bird Breeders Symposium” sponsored by the Foothill Bird Fanciers with all profits going to AFA. In 2001, we put on the third and will do a forth in 2003.
1998—We were participants in the Solomon Island bird breeders Consortium working with Cardinal Lories ..
In 1998 helped form CALA (California Avicultural Legislation Association) which is an organization to monitor City ,County,and State regulations and proposed laws that are adverse to the needs of Aviculture (an AFA affiliated org.)
I have spoken at 3 AFA conventions 1985 , 1993and 2002 plus speaking at local clubs within California since 1977.
2007 I am working on the Finch & Softbill Save program committee for the National Finch & Softbill Society. We are working on a 3tier program with the 3rd. tier being stud books and consortiums. We are presently reviewing computer programs for the management of the stud books. We are now in the process of setting up “Species” coordinators.
With my wife Ilana, we specialize in lories and Softbill birds
We are very active in monitoring and fighting adverse legislation related to Aviculture and educating people in our local and state area as to how to fight the same.
I was born in the San Francisco Bay Area of Northern California. I was looking at birds in an aviary since I was born as my dad raised birds most of his life. I was going in and out of aviaries at an early age and remember checking button quail nests waiting for their little bumblebee like youngsters to hatch. I started hand raising native birds at 8 years of age. I grew up working with finches, softbills and raptors and didn’t get involved in parrot type birds until my teens.
At the age of 14, I had the distinct privilege of feeding Mr. Alex Isenberg’s softbill collection for a summer while his regular keeper was on vacation. He had one of the largest private collections of softbills in the U.S. They ranged from Andean Hummingbirds, woodpeckers, Cocks of the Rock, Birds of Paradise, Quetzals, Mot-Mots, Touracos, Shamas, Toucans, etc. He had aviaries that covered grown trees. The job of feeding the birds required 8-9 hours of time a day.
I have worked with and bred over 200+ species of birds. I have handraised 100+ species of birds including 5 species of raptors, 3 species of woodpeckers, magpies, crows, jays, orioles, etc.
On the BOD of the Aviculture Society of America
I was a licensed falconer in the state of Wash .for 7 yrs.
I have been working with birds since the mid 1940’s
I am what is called a true “birdaholic”.
Roland Cristo

[craigvdl]

Roland, a very warm welcome to our little forum. Those of us down under with a passion for softbills know your name well. Looking forward to learning from you.

Regards

Craig

[E Orix]

Well done mate.
E Orix

[jusdeb]

welcome

[Diane]

Hi and welcome to the forum

[Buzzard-1]

G'day and welcome More than humbled by your presence

[Jayburd]

welcome to the forum
wow that's impressive!!!

[jusdeb]

@Buzz and your smiley ...

[Roland Cristo]

Thank you all,,,,
david ,sorry I missed you .We were having the ASA conferance in Santa Rosa.Li from singapore was there.
Roland

[Roland Cristo]

Hi Craig,
I hope I can help ,,,,,,and I am always wanting to learn new things
Roland

Roland, a very warm welcome to our little forum. Those of us down under with a passion for softbills know your name well. Looking forward to learning from you.

Regards

Craig