Aussie Finch Forum

Hi All!

The National Finch and Softbill Association has asked me to be a correspondent between the AFF and the NFSA. So from time to time I'll be posting bits and pieces they send though to me.

With that in mind, this is just a reminder about the NFSA Finch and Softbill census for 2013, that if you haven't already participated, it might be something you'd like to do.

Some info on the census from the Association:

On two occasions in the past (2008 and 2010), the NFSA has conducted a census of finch and softbill numbers held by the members of NFSA affiliated clubs or by any finch or softbill keeper who would like to participate.

After each census the NFSA produces a comprehensive analysis of the overall numbers and trends across the country and then publishes a report. The 2010 census included over 36,000 birds and gave us some good indications of the most popular species and the species in trouble – those which were held in very low numbers or by only a handful of breeders. These past census results have helped to identify species which need conservation efforts in aviculture.

So NFSA is now conducting its next census (from August 2013 to January 2014) with results to be presented at the Finches’14 Convention in June 2014 where it will no doubt produce lots of discussion. The results will be made available to all NFSA Member clubs and published in major avicultural magazines.

The census is totally anonymous, they aren't interested in names or addresses (although if you're doing it, if you could provide the state you're in that'd be great). Just record the numbers of each species that you hold and send in your results

How to participate:
You can download a census form from the NFSA website (http://www.nationalfinch.com/) or from the QFS website (http://www.qfs.org.au). Just fill it in and post it off. Or, you can complete the Census on-line through SurveyMonkey. (https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/NFSAcensus2013). Please complete only one type of census.

The census won’t reach every finch and softbill breeder and some people may actively avoid the census - that's fine. Provided we get enough people to respond, the census will provide a valuable picture of the relative numbers of species and how many people keep them. This will provide further information on which species are rare or becoming rarer and need some help.

So if you have a couple of minutes, fill one out and send it off! I'm just doing mine now!
Thanks
J

Note - I've just noticed as I'm filling mine in on Surveymonkey, in the foreign finch section, There's no entry for Jacarini. However, there is an entry for 'macaroni', and seeing as my phone sometimes autocorrects 'jacarini' to 'macaroni', that's what I'm filling it out as

Good on you for helping out Jayburd!
A few questions for you or some other NFSA rep...
1. I can't find the paper-based form on either website - help!
2. The NFSA domain is www.nationalfinch.com - it is not .org.au (which actually would have made more sense given it's not a commercial site).
3. Can a member club fill out a single form and just include totals for the whole club?
4. Probably a bit pedantic but it's not a census as it specifically (and necessarily) does not include all finches. It is a sample.
I appreciate the aims and efforts of the NFSA committee so I hope I don't come across as being critical as that is definitely not my intention.
Cheers,
Sam
PS. I too have lots of macaroni

Julian
Would you please consult with Di before posting as it maybe better to put it into the NewsLetter.
We also have access to data coming from Gary etc which could already be in the pipe line.

SamDavis wrote: 1. I can't find the paper-based form on either website - help!

That's weird - I just looked, and now I can't either (although the NFSA/QFS newsletters seem to think it is)... I'll look into it.

SamDavis wrote: 2. The NFSA domain is http://www.nationalfinch.com - it is not .org.au (which actually would have made more sense given it's not a commercial site).

Thanks for that, sorry

SamDavis wrote: 3. Can a member club fill out a single form and just include totals for the whole club?

As far as I'm aware, it's an individual person thing, as they're gathering data on how many breeders hold x species too.

SamDavis wrote: PS. I too have lots of macaroni

Gary tells me the problem is now fixed

Sorry David, I'll email Di the article/census form if she hasn't already got it, and check with her first next time.

Sorry about that, the form is now available for download on the front page of the NFSA.
http://www.nationalfinch.com/

All,

We would like the census returns to be for individuals, rather than totals for a club. In this way we can calculate the average total number of birds held per individual, the averages per individualm for each species and the proportion of individuals who hold each species.

Sorry about the absence of the paper forms on the website. It is now available on the NFSA site (www.nationalfinch.com) and will soon be up on the QFS site.

...and yes we have corrected the "macaroni".

I hope many of you will participate in the 2013 Census.

Gary

Thanks Julian and Gary,
I shall print out multiple copies of the form and have our members fill them out during our September meeting (Wollongong Finch Club). I'll also try to do likewise at the September FSA (Smithfield) meeting.
Cheers,
Sam

Done, not that I think my small collection will excite anyone. But it all helps get the statistics a little more accurate.
LML

Just a reminder that the census ends at the end of December. If you haven't filled it in, please consider doing so as the data is very useful

Good idea,

But I have a query.......if I fill mine out now I will have in the vicinty of 80 odd stars, goulds and painteds BUT if I fill it in at the end of December I will only have say, 20 odd birds.

What should I do, fill in now or after I have sold off the excess?

Ken.