Volume II • Number 1 • FEBRUARY 1975 DEDICATED TO CONSERVATION OF BIRD WILDLIFE THROUGH ENCOURAGEMENT OF CAPTIVE BREEDING PROGRAMS, SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH, AND EDUCATION OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC Movements on the Federal Front by Jerry Jennings Tremors are being felt from Washington as the Erythrura trichroa Tri-colored Parrot Finch Erythrura psittacea Red-headed Parrot Finch sluggish machinery of the USDI begins to grind out Erythrura cyaneovirens Fiji Red-headed Parrot Finch the final version of the "Injurious Wildlife Proposal" Chloebia gouldiae Gouldian Finch Aidemosyne modesto Cherry (Plum-headed) Finch An unofficial, tentative list of "low risk" birds has Lonchura striata Society Finch been obtained by the pet industry as a result of the Amandina fasciata Cut-throat Finch Ad Hoc Committee negotiations between the USDI Family PLOCEIDAE and PIJAC*. Though the list is a step forward from Vidua chalybeata Combassou the original proposal's list of four birds it is still Vidua funerea Black Indigo Bird more noteworthy for what it restricts than what Vidua wilsoni it allows. Vidua hypocherina Resplendent Whydah Vidua fischeri Fischer's Whydah The following species will be allowed importation Vidua macroura Pintail Whydah into the U.S. without permit: Vidua regia Shaft-tail Whydah Vidua paradisaea Paradise Whydah Vidua orienta/is Broad-tailed Whydah Family PHASIANIDAE Family FRINGILLIDAE Colinus virginianus Bobwhite Quail Alectoris graeca (incl. A. chukar) Chukar Partridge Serinus leucopygius Grey Singing Finch Perdix perdix Hungarian (Gray) Partridge Serinus mozambicus Green Singing Finch Phasianus colchicus Ring-necked Pheasant Carduelis magellanica Hooded Siskin Carduelis carduelis European Goldfinch Family COLUMBIDAE Family THRAUPIDAE Columba Iivia Rock Dove Buthraupis montana Hooded Mountain Tanager Family TIMALIIDAE Family EMBERIZIDAE Leiothrix argentauris Silver-eared Mesia Leiothrix lutea Pekin Robin Lophospingus pusillus Black-crested Finch Garrulax leucolophus White-headed Laughing Thrush Coryphospingus cucullatus Pileated Finch Family ESTRILDIDAE Regretably absent from the list are virtually all "soft­ Lagonosticta senega/a Fire Finch billed" birds, i.e., Tanagers, Honeycreepers, Mynahs, Lagonosticta rubricata Blue-billed Fire Finch etc., and game birds. Despite the number of species Lagonosticta rhodopareia Jameson's Fire Finch Uraeginthus angolensis Blue-breasted Cordon Bleu of finches included, some of the most colorful as well Uraeginthus bengalus Cordon Bleu as common varieties have been excluded. With the Estrilda caerulescens Lavender Finch Estrilda melpoda Orange-cheeked Waxbill exception of the Society Finch the entire genus, Estrilda troglodytes Red-eared Waxbill Lonchura, i.e., Nuns, Mannikins, etc., will be banned. Amandava amandava Strawberry Finch Amandava formosa Green Avadavat The Twinspots, Weavers, Cuban Finches, and the Amandava subjlava Golden-breasted Waxbill majority of Waxbills have not been included such Aegintha temporalis Sydney Waxbill Emblema picta Painted Finch that many of the now rare birds will become non­ Emblema bella Fire-tailed Finch existent in American aviculture. Embleme oculata Red-eared Fire-tailed Finch Emblema guttata Diamond Sparrow The new proposal, with possibly some minor Oreostruthus fuliginosus Crimson-sided Mountain Finch changes, will be published in the Federal Register in Neochmia phaethon Blood Finch Neochmia ruficauda Star Finch January. Unlike the initial proposal published over a Poephila guttata Zebra Finch year ago, it will not undergo a lengthy comment Poephila bichenovii Owl Finch Poephila personata ivlasked Grassfinch period. Barring court or congressional action, the Poephila acuticauda Long-tailed Grassfinch Poephila cincta Parson Finch continued on page 12 Erythrura hyperythra Green-tailed Parrot Finch Erythrura tricolor Tri-colored Parrot Finch *NOTE: PIJAC-Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council. members and aviculturists throughout the country, were promulgated. *NOTICE* Were it not for game bird breeders throughout the DATA BAN K world, many of the pheasants on the endangered list FOR ENDANGERED SPECIES NEEDED surely would by now have reached the point of extinction. My members have watched, in disbelief, the blun­ tncreasing concern for endangered species has led ders the government has made the past few years the USDI and several states to regulate the illlporta­ under the guise of conservation. Being mostly quiet, tion and breeding of endangered species of birds. The law-abiding citizens who believe that all wrongs auto­ federal government currently prohibits the interstate matically will be righted, they have been sorely dis­ shipment and sale of any endangered specie without a appointed. federal permit granted to those breeding the animals. It is now time for my members and everyone else Government officials are unaware of the extent to to stand up and be counted. It is time for us to join which aviculturists are breeding the various species of together to let the politicians and public be aware of endangered pheasants and Psittacine birds. The State what we have and can accomplish. Our record of pro­ of Illinois has indicated its reluctance to allow private pagating endangered species is beyond reproach, and aviculturists to own an endangered species. In order by far excels any program the Department of the to justify the co.ntinued pas ession of these birds, the Interior has undertaken. A.F.A. is compiling a list of the endangered species We are not asking to have somebody give us the kept by breeders, the numbers in captivity, and the privilege to keep and breed endangered species - that number being bred each year. We must demonstrate is a right we have earned, and we want to keep that that there are large numbers in breeders' hands and right. that these breeders are making a worthwhile contribu­ In joining, I hope my members will help make the tion to their preservation. A.F.A. stronger, and that its voice in the future will If you have any of the endangered pheasants, quail, become loud and weighty enough to be heard. or Psittacine birds, please send this information to Mr. Kai J uhl, l 704 Pickwick Lane, Glenview, Illinoi Sincerely, Kai Juhl 60025. Names and addresses of respondents will be ILLINOIS GAME & PET BREEDERS SOCIETY kept confidential. TELL THE ADVERTISER CALL YOU SAW IT IN THE WATCHBIRD. (714) 825-8060 EXOTIC BIRDS • WHOLESALE • RETAIL WE BUY AND SELL BIRDS continued from page 1 Call or Write for our up-to-date price list of birds available. Please include self addressed, stamped envelope. Movements We guarantee our birds to be healthy. on the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture inspected and 100% LIVE ARRIVAL P.O. BOX 1118, COL TON, CA. 92324 Federal Front Jerry Jennings C. 0 . Noble Co. Injurious Wildlife Regulation will become law, bring­ 2662 CLUB MESA PLACE ing an end to the availability of most non-Psittacine COSTA MESA, CALl FORNI A 92627 birds in the United States. Psittacine birds are not covered by the Lacey Act NEOPHEMAS under which the Injurious Wildlife Regulations were Bourkes, Elegants, Turquoisines, Scarlets drafted. They fall under the jurisdiction of the U.S. COCKATIELS Dept. of Agriculture. Albino, Pied, Normal, Young Breeder Please send your comments on expanding the tenta­ Stock or Hand Fed Pets tive list in writing, to PIJAC, which will take legal action supported by A.F.A. CHUCK AND JEANNE NOBLE As soon as the list is officially published by the (714) 646-2815 USDI the A.F.A. will notify you requesting your letter be sent to your Congressmen • 12 .