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Parrot Finches in Aviculture

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Journal of the National Finch and NATIONAL FINCH & VOLUME 31, NO. 4 SOSoFftbTBILLill Society SOCIETY JULY/AUGUST 2014 THE JOURNAL Vol. 30, No. OF 4 THE Jul/Aug NATIONAL 2013 FINCH AND SOFTBILL SOCIETY PHOTO BY DICK SCHROEDER BALI MYNAHS Leucopsar rothschildi A History of Pet Bird Cages Parrot Finches in Aviculture FinchSave Census Results Now available at ladygouldian.com The newest MASTERWORK by RUSSELL KINGSTON The book has over 520 pages, weighs approx. 5.4 pounds and measures 8.5 by 12 inches. THE FINCH…a Breeder’s Companion Covers 70 species using 400 color photos. Closely related species are treated separately, But are grouped together in 25 chapters. $129.95 10% discount for NFSS members Available at 770-939-4531 You’re Not Alone Join us for the 9th Annual West Coast Zebra & Society Finch Show July 25 & 26, 2014 Sacramento, CA Judge - Garrie Landry More information: www.eFinch.com/show NFSS MISSION STATEMENT TABLE OF CONTENTS The National Finch and Softbill Society is dediated to promoting the enjoy- ment of keeping and breeding Finches and Softbills to all interested parties, 2 Mission Statement . 2 enhancing our knowledge of the proper care of these birds, encouraging & Journal Publication Policies breeding programs, and working with other organizations for the preserva- President’s Message . tion of aviculture in this country. 4 Rebecca Mikel Journal of the National Finch and Softbill Society A History of Pet Bird Cages . 6 918 Georgia Ave Etowah, TN 37331 6 Patricia Sund Published Bi-Monthly by the NFSS Submitting Materials for Publication. All materials should be submitted 18 Parrot Finches in Aviculture . to the editor, at [email protected]. The NFSS reserves the right to edit and/or Scott Golden reject all written, photographic, and advertising materials submitted. With 30 FinchSave 2013 Census Results . 30 the exception of advertising, deadlines are 15th day of November, Janyary, 28 National Caged Bird Show . 28 March, May, July, and September for the following issue. 36 The NFSS National Aviculturist Recognition Award . Editorial Policy. 37 Regional Shows . All NFSS-affiliated clubs have permission to reprint all 38 Affiliated Club Events . articles and photos, with the following exceptions: articles and photos with 40 either a copyright symbol or "All Rights Reserved" require the copyright Affiliated Clubs . 43 Judges Panel . owner's permission. All "Reprinted by Permission of" articles require a writ- 44 African Love Bird Society ten permission from the originating source. Board of Directors & Appointed Positions . ALBS Regional Show 2 Rare and Eyering Shows and 2 Peach Faced Shows each day 2 Days, 8 Love Bird Shows Opinions expressed or facts reported in articles and published in the NFSS ALBS Panel Judges: Josh Maple, Roland Dubuc, Wendy Edwards, Gary Morgan Journal do not reflect the view of the Editor, the NFSS, nor the Board of On the Journal Cover... A Bird Cage in Time... National Cockatiel Society NCS Sanctioned Shows Directors. Advertisements published in the NFSS Journal do not imply 2 Days, 4 Cockatiel Shows This chromolithograph depicts a 1913 view of the historic Bird Cage inNCS Panel Judges: Josh Maple, Clarence Culwell, Deb Dollar, Roland Dubuc endorsement by the NFSS. The NFSS assumes no responsibility for adver- tiser's claims or the quality of their products and services. Forest Park, St. Louis, MO. As seen in the print, park visitors are riding past the Bird Cage in a horse-drawn carriage as well as an early open motor car.North American Parrot Society Journal & NFSS Dues. NAPS Regional Show New memberships and late renewals (expired mem- 2 Days, 4 Parrot Shows berships) received by the 15th day of any month immediately preceeding a The Smithsonian Institution commissioned the Flight Cage for theNAPS Panel Judges: Clarence Culwell, Josh Maple, Deb Dollar, Roland Dubuc NFSS Journal issue will receive six consecutive issues, beginning with the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, the 1904 Worlds Fair. They intended toNational Finch and Softbill Society issue immediately following the month they joined. For dues received after move the structure to the National Zoo following the fair. St Louisans NFSS Sanctioned Show NFSS Panel Judge: Clarence Culwell these cutoff dates, the first issue will be one issue later. Cutoff dates to Non-NFSS Show Judge— receive the next published issue are as follows: the 15th day of December, rallied to keep the Flight Cage intact, & the City of St. Louis purchased it for $3,500. This popular structure quickly served as the impetus for St. Louis toCorporate Sponsors February, April, June, August and October. MSAS would like to thank our Corporate Sponsors. Without them we would not be able to hold this quality of show: develop a full-fledged zoo, the first municipally supported zoo in the world. Excello Commodities Brighton Comfort Inn Journal Archives Online Your local supplier of quality Show hotel for MSAS This chromolithograph print is available for purchase at the vintageseeds and mixes online 15150 Brighton Road 3725 East 48th Avenue Brighton, CO 80601 store: Carolyn's Timeless Treasures @ rubylane.com/shop/carolynsttDenver, CO 80216-3013 303-654-1400 www.nfss.org/journal/backissues.html Show Hall For Complete Show Information Adams County Fairgrounds Contact: 2 NFSS Journal NFSS Journal Main Exhibit Hall 3Jesse and Peggy Avila 9755 Henderson 303-663-0399 Brighton, CO 80601 [email protected] up a bit more appealing to the eye. you’ll find it interesting. President’s Message Experience teaches us what works and what doesn’t, what makes things I’ll also take this opportunity to re- Those with more space progress to simpler for us, and what things com- mind you of the National Caged Bird aviaries in the lawn, a new building plicate our lives in the course of car- Show – scheduled to be held in Day- pops up. We love to hear about and ing for our birds. Regardless of what ton, Ohio this year, November 20- see the set up someone else has, it’s we have for our birds, we can always 22, 2014, at the Crown Plaza Hotel. easy to share their enthusiasm about see something someone else has that Check out www.ncbs.org for all the new digs for feathered friends. gets us thinking about changes to details about that event and certainly our own bird housing. try to fit that into your schedule. It gets a bit comical at times. I was over the moon with a rummage sale This month’s issue has an article Happy Birding! purchase one Summer of glass pie about bird cages with some interest- dishes for 10 cents each - JUST the ing details about some of the vari- right size to use for bird baths in the ous types of cages used through the Rebecca Mikel By the time the Journal in which this outdoor aviaries. Or the time a local years. Take a few minutes to read letter is included is published, Sum- department store had 6 foot imitation through that information, I think NFSS President mer will be in full swing. When I feel Christmas trees on sale, and then like complaining about the heat and marked them down another 50% - humidity in the Midwest this time and I bought TWENTY of them… of the year, I Getting them all remind myself "Most of us started with a cage into the vehicle of the record at one time to breaking winter in the corner of the living room. travel home was we had in 2013- an experience, 2014 – record Then it turned into 2-3 cages but they work Easy-to-Apply Colored EZ Leg Band Rings low temps, re- perfectly in the cord snow fall, in the spare bedroom. Then the outdoor aviaries. Also easy to stack without taking up a lot of space etc. It’s nice I have a friend to finally have spare BEDroom quickly became who placed an the birds out of antique wooden cages and into the BIRDroom." mailbox in her outdoor, sun- walk in flight. It filled aviaries. was intended for My schedule becomes much simpler decoration but, of course, one of her in terms of bird care during these pairs of Finches decided it made the Summer months. perfect maternity suite! Some even have enviable arrangements similar The accommodations each of us pro- to the avicultural department of a vide for our feathered friends is very zoo! diverse, and I find they evolve the longer we’re in the hobby. Most of us Regardless of whether we have one or started with a cage in the corner of one hundred birds, we each try our the living room. Then it turned into very best to make sure our birds are 2-3 cages in the spare bedroom. The in situations that are not only com- spare BEDroom quickly became the fortable for them, but also convenient BIRDroom… then the basement got for us. We may even spend a little Now available in the NFSS Online Shop @ nfss.org/nfssorg_shop a facelift to include a walk in aviary… time and money adding things that or two… lighting, plants, nest boxes… do nothing more than make our set 4 NFSS Journal NFSS Journal 5 A History of Pet Bird Cages Reprinted with Permission from woven reeds or bamboo. Later on, BirdChannel.com & Patricia Sund some birds of the past were even employed in simple, tiny cages to For as long as man has held a carry out very dirty and dangerous, fascination with birds, he has yet highly respected work, such as understood the necessity for their canaries in coal mines. (The birds housing while under his care. Despite were used to forewarn the presence their straightforward structure and of noxious gasses; if the canary fell uncomplicated intention, pet bird dead off its perch, the miners would cages have transformed from know to evacuate the mine).
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