Aussie Finch Forum

Looking on line, the save the gouldian research labs are in the process of moving from the hunter valley to act. Probably very old news and probably already relocated, but if not, is it possible to go have a sticky beak before they clear out or they don't allow the public to enter.

Cheers
Ron

I would think your dead right there they would be settling in now.

I believe the ACT gouldian research center has shut down completely due to Sarah being very ill and won't be continuing in the future. Craig

wow thats news.I hope she gets well soon.

That is terrible news. Just being new to bird keeping and gouldian finches, having some spare time up my sleeve while on holidays and having got the finch keeping bug pretty bad, I have been looking into health and breeding so I can improve my finches. I only just found out about the work that so many have done to protect the species then to find out that the research centre is only a stone throw away from me, I was super keen to go and have a look and talk to anyone there in order to help me keep the best finches I possibly can. I know there is a lifetime of knowledge on this great site and ample information on the net but seeing it first hand in such a facility would off been a buzz. Is mike Fidler still doing his thing at the old research facility or has he moved on. All the best Sarah in your recovery.

Cheers
Ron

Sadly Mike has closed down his own personal facility and turned it into aviaries Craig

I sat next to Sarah at the dinner at the Healesville Conference last year, such a lovely young lady. Hope she gets better soon.

Without being too intrusive here is what has/is happening. Sarah is now back in Sth Africa with her family.
The Gouldian part of the facility(ACT) has been closed down and all hard wear etc. has been removed.
It seems the search for another Scientist to carry on with research is in place.
The Gouldians have been moved and spread around to protect the lines.
I don't know how true it is but it seems when the facility was checked out soon after Sarah left the other staff there
had moved reptiles in.
Knowing Mike I am sure he will try his best to support Sarah's recovery. He will also do his utmost to get the research
up again and on track.
I hope for all he does succeed.

I wish Sarah a speedy recovery. It was lovely to meet her at the Gouldian finch count last year.

She has a lot to be proud of with her excellent scientific work and the improvement in Gouldian numbers in the Wyndham region.
To have such rigorous scientific study performed on a species widely kept in aviaries is a real bonus.

Brett

Just to stop some of the speculation.

Here a part copy and paste of e mail conversation I had with Nina.



Sarah does have a brain tumor and has gone back to SA for treatment. Treatment starts January and we hope that it is going to go well. Meantime, we are still running some of her research at ANU over the next year, but her part of the research funded project in Wyndham have been put on hold until we know what the future is for Sarah. Mike still wants to keep the monitoring and nest box project going in Wyndham and are seeking avenues to make that happen. So the Station has not completely shut down

Dr. Nina Svedin
Research Officer (Pryke lab)
Evolution, Ecology and Genetics
Research School of Biology
The Australian National University

I was already aware since November that Sarah had returned to South Africa.

cheers, Case, Amsterdam, Holland.