European serin

[elferoz777]

Hi guys,

I am going to Spain soon to see some family and know straight off the bat I have going to foam at the mouth when I see all the finches over there.

I thought I might combat this by investigating the costs/availability of some of my favourites here.

Can anyone inform me about the European Serin, siskin,and Linnet?

I am aware of my other favourites the goldfinch and chaffinch but the others not so much.

Mainly,

- Are the easily available in nsw?
- Costly?
- Easy or difficult to look after?

This should slow down my urge to hide linnet eggs in my socks for the flight home (joking).

Thanks in advance

El Feroz

[west finch]

Good luck finding them hear in Oz Elferoz ! I’ve been to a lot of the better breeders aviaries over the years and I’ve never seen any around. I suggest plenty of socks ( just joking)

[Myzomela]

Hi Elferoz,

Will you have access to AFF in prison???

West finch is right. There may be odd birds around of some of those species but they are few and far between and many have been hybridised in order to try and save them.

I think you would be best to contact some of our Australian members of southern European background- especially the Maltese boys-as they are the cup nest specialists.

Good luck locating them here, and enjoy seeing them in Spain. Get as many photos as you can- then post them on AFF when you get back!!

[Lukec]

I saw 5 pair of European siskins in about 97/98 owned by two guys in SYD. They purchased these birds from a Maltese bloke in Melbourne, but i have reason to believe they no longer exist as they were very soft birds.

[nirep]

I am also in love with the european serin .Goodluck finding some and from memory a price tag of around $2000.Time to win powerball

[elferoz777]

Looks like I am stuck with the Goldfinch, canary and chaffies then....

its a shame though.

I might start snooping round the spanish club again and talk to some of the oldies there and see what comes up.

I do plan on taking a sock load of photos when in spain... that plus youtube should keep me going

[Myzomela]

Some of the European Siskins around at that time suffered from Mycobacterial infections ( the same organism that causes TB (tuberculosis))- these birds would slowly waste away and would sometimes be blind- but stille eat happily to the end.

With many species once their numbers drop to critically low levels and their immunity is down they then become susceptible to all sorts of diseases- very sad to see.

[Lukec]

Was it treatable Myzo?