Aussie Finch Forum

i know of 2 occasions when groups of dedicated and well respected breeders formed syndicates to fund legal importation of finches. i believe bureaucracy beat them on both occasions not lack of will or effort.

Thats sad and I suppose no rhyme or reason as to to why they couldnt bring them in.

avishoot wrote:i know of 2 occasions when groups of dedicated and well respected breeders formed syndicates to fund legal importation of finches. i believe bureaucracy beat them on both occasions not lack of will or effort.

One of the most notorious incidences was when Russel K and friends spent over 12 months petitioning authorities to import aviary breed exotics (ie. African finches) from New Zealand. All was approved and on the morning that 250 odd birds were being off loaded from the boat in Australia, an order came through to halt the legal import and confiscate the birds. Each and every bird was euthanised that same day by Customs.

A dark day in Avicultural history indeed! It just goes to show that someone in authority has had it in for finch lovers for years. And to rub salt into the wound, did you all know that it is perfectly legal to import pigeons in Australia? Yes, those flying rats are routinely imported into Australia no questions asked. Oh, and some pure breed chickens as well - so the two main carriers of bird flu. Where is the justice hey?

That is tragic and something I had never heard before ..Thanks for sharing . Was any reason offered ?

So disgusted now . Indeed a very sad day for bird lovers.

None that I am aware of Deb. This story is spoken of many times by many breeders that were around when it happened and no one seems to know why. I vaguely remember Paul *censored* retelling the story in an edition of Just Finches and Softbills but have no idea which issue it was in. Perhaps he could shed more light on it – or better still I might ask Russel tomorrow night at our end of year QFS meeting!

Avishoot . .

Yes, a similar situation existed on the wharves in Brisbane . . not sure that it went on till the 70's, but was very commom in the 60's, and I would certainly respect your mate's recollections

Whether these activities were legal or not is splitting hairs . . everybody knew that it was happening, including the customs people I suspect . . and no one really cared, for it was a harmless enough situation

In those days there was no such thing as fauna laws, aviary/ bird registration had not yet reared its ugly head . . bird keeping was a common enough hobby (every kid had a 'aviary' of some kind)

And they were . . "only birds"

And the purchasers were . . "only bird keepers"

The world was a simpler place . . .

dano_68 wrote:I might ask Russel tomorrow night at our end of year QFS meeting!

Dano . .

While you are talking to RK . .

Ask him about Some of the older guys and the birds they kept . . Harold (dec), Bob (dec) from Toowong Aviaries, et al

He would have been only a kid but would remember the wharves and Hohnke's (spelling??) pet Shop

He could certainly add a few species to my list of "goners"

Another question ....did the press ever pick up on this incident or was it kept a secret ? Damn government agencies have a lot to answer for over the years ...

One of the most notorious incidences was when Russel K and friends spent over 12 months petitioning authorities to import aviary breed exotics (ie. African finches) from New Zealand. All was approved and on the morning that 250 odd birds were being off loaded from the boat in Australia, an order came through to halt the legal import and confiscate the birds. Each and every bird was euthanised that same day by Customs.

That's just terrible. Who ever makes these decisions must really have no idea regarding conservation. If it was deemed that the birds were not to be allowed into the hands of private breeders then surely they could have housed them with an australia zoo with the appropriate quarantine facilities.

There was a court case in victoria which was published in a avian magazine earlier this year, where 173 exotics were confiscated after it was found they were illegally imported. Only some of the birds were to be 'rehoused at government institutions while the remainder will need to be euthanased'.

You would think that with the advances in science in this day in age that the birds could be quarantined, tested to ensure they carried no exotic diseases??

Which leads me to ask; of the known avian diseases we currently have in australia, how many, if any, are exotic brought in by imported (legally and illegally) birds? Is it possible to know? (Geez there is so much to learn in the bird world)

Would old Les be the 89 year old? Can remember have a chat to him about what was around in the good old days.