Red Siskin Initiative

[SamDavis]

Pity you are so far away, would love to be involved with this. Will be great to read about it on here. Cheers Craig

Canberra's only just up the road from Geelong - see ya Monday.

[SamDavis]

Hi everyone,

We've had a terrific week showing Warren Lynch (Smithsonian, Washington DC) through a multitude of aviaries and captive breeding facilities in the Sydney and surrounds area.

Yesterday morning we toured Taronga- thanks to zoo staff showing us through the bird facilities, in particular their captive breeding work on the Regent Honeyeater Project. We then met NFSA President Bob Barnes (aka weaver) for lunch and dropped Warren at Mike Fidler's in the evening where he'll spend the final few days of the trip.

The photo below shows Nick Boyle (Taronga Curator), Warren Lynch (Smithsonian), Michael Shiels (Taronga), Don Findlater (FSA Treasurer) and John Martin (FSA Member and super finch/softbill and insect breeder!).

taronga aff.jpg

I'll share photos, videos and other exciting developments and details of the trip over coming weeks - once I catch up on some sleep (and work).

Regards,
Sam
FSA President

[SamDavis]

Our Red Siskin Initiative husbandry tour is THE feature article to read in AviaryLife magazine
Go get a copy now - http://aviarylife.com.au/

aviaryLife.jpg

[vettepilot_6]

Aren't they doing a similiar thing with the yellow /mexican one?

[SamDavis]

Aren't they doing a similiar thing with the yellow /mexican one?

QFS has a program to build up captive Yellow Siskin numbers in Australia. Yellow Siskins are not in any danger in the wild - apparently very common.

[SamDavis]

Just to keep everyone in the loop....
We are in the process of constructing a survey to go out to all Red Siskin breeders in Australia. This same survey will then be translated into other languages for use throughout Europe, South America and the rest of the world. It is likely it will be distributed as an insert in commercial and club magazines and also as an online survey.
This is a joint RSI initiative supported by the Smithsonian and many organisations worldwide.

[elferoz777]

Aren't they doing a similiar thing with the yellow /mexican one?

QFS has a program to build up captive Yellow Siskin numbers in Australia. Yellow Siskins are not in any danger in the wild - apparently very common.

When i was in lima peru in 2014 they would buzz through the gardens on the cbd. Plenty. The only other birds i saw more of was jacarinis. I now cant stand jacarinis or their song.

[bigphil05]

Hope you have good sucess with the initiative there 1 beautiful bird