National Finch & Softbill Society
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! First Class Mail U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 903 21 Oakcrest Rd Topeka, KS! S. Weymouth, MA 02190 National Finch & Vol. 26,No.4 Vol. Journal ofthe Softbill Society July/August 2009 July / August 2009 www.nfss.org 1 July / August 2009 NFSS Mission Statement The National Finch & Softbill Society is dedicated to the introduction of the enjoy- ment of keeping and breeding Finches and Softbills to all interested parties, enhance the knowledge of our members in keeping and care of these birds, encourage breed- ing programs, and cooperate with organizations for the preservation of aviculture in this country. Journal of the National Finch & Softbill Society Publisher: The National Finch & Softbill Society - www.nfss.org Issue Editor: Tom Keegan Designer: J. M. Tavenner NFSS Principal Address: 918 Georgia Avenue Etowah, TN 37331 The Journal of the National Finch & Softbill Society is published bimonthly by NFSS. Submitting Materials for Publication: All materials should be submitted to 2nd Vice President Tom Keegan, 21 Oakcrest Rd., S. Weymouth, MA 02190, (781) 335-3927, [email protected]. NFSS members are encouraged to submit articles, drawings, and photographs. NFSS reserves the right to edit and/or reject all written, photographic, and advertising materials submitted for publication to the Journal. Deadline for time- sensitive submissions: 15th day of Dec, Feb, Apr, Jun, Aug, & Oct for following issue. Editorial Policy/Disclaimer: NFSS-affiliated clubs have permission to reprint all articles and photographs with the following exceptions: All articles and photos labeled “All Rights Reserved” require the copyright owner’s permission and all “Reprinted by Per- mission of” articles require written permission from the originating source. Opinions expressed or facts reported in articles and published in the Journal do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editor, NFSS, or its Board of Directors. Publishing of advertise- ments in the Journal does not imply endorsement by NFSS. NFSS assumes no respon- sibility for advertisers’ claims or the quality of their products or services. Journal and NFSS Dues: New memberships and late renewals (expired membership) received after the fifteenth of the first month of Journal publication will receive six issues beginning with the following Journal. Cutoff dates are as follows: January 15, March 15, May 15, July 15, September 15, November 15. Cover: Photo courtesy of Bill Van Patten. Advertising Rates Covers (color – inside & out) $90.00/Issue or $450.00/Year; Full Page (B&W) 60.00/Issue or $306.00/Year; Half-Page (B&W) $40.00/Issue or $204.00/Year; Quarter-Page (B&W) $20.00/Issue or $102.00/Year. Ms. Gail Benson, – 144 N. Clyde Ave., Palatine, IL 60067, (847) 963-1926, or Email [email protected] The Journal of the National Finch & Softbill Society 2 July / August 2009 Table of Contents President’s Message Page 4 Plumage Color Influences Choice of Mates and Page 6 Sex of Chicks in Gouldian Finches by Devorah Bennu, Ph.D. NFSS 2009 General Election Biographies Page 12 NFSS 2009 General Election Ballot Page 22 ATTENTION: Page 26 LEG BAND ORDER PROBLEM BREEDING THE GOULDIAN FINCH: Page 27 What Wild Gouldians Can Tell Us by Bill Van Patten THE NFSS Board of Directors Page 35 2nd Quarter 2009 NFSS Affiliated Clubs/Events Page 38 NFSS 2009 Panel of Judges Page 41 The 2009 NFSS Page 42 Board of Directors & Appointed Officers Photo by Mike Fidler July / August 2009 President’s Message Start Preparing Now birds a light misting a few times a day. And if you have room to keep individuals sepa- rated from each other they won’t over preen or pluck each other. Our NFSS judges have a wealth of knowl- I hope all have had a successful breeding edge and they like to share that with exhibi- season this spring. Those of you that attend tors at the shows they are judging. Showing shows have probably already started to look your birds will afford you the opportunity to at the birds that you plan to exhibit this fall hear from experts the pros and cons of your and for those who are thinking of showing, stock and how you can work to improve the now is the time to begin preparing. Not all birds you keep through selective breeding. species can be prepared the same way. A simple thing like having trimmed toenails Waxbills are naturally active birds that are may not seem like big matter but as I’ve expected to move about extensively in their heard judges point out it can be a safety is- show cage. Just catching them to put in a sue with the birds as well. Excessively long show cage can result in lost tail feathers so nails can get caught in a cage or flight caus- what can one do to prepare? All birds’ plum- ing severe harm and because nails in captiv- age benefits from bathing, so provide them ity don’t wear like they do in the wild we with daily bath water. When you do have to need to be attentive to grooming. If you have handle your birds make sure your hands are the opportunity, watch a judge you have not clean and not oily or sweaty this will help seen before, get as many perspectives as minimize the chance of losing feathers. Birds you can. tend to show better when they are fit so exer- Most show organizers welcome addition- cise and a healthy diet is a positive. al specially sponsored awards. If you would Other species, like Societies or Goul- like to see recognition for a special category dians, are expected to be more docile in such as Top Carduelan, consider donating a show cage and therefore exposure to a an award. It does not have to be expensive show cage well beforehand can help their and our Awards Manager Alfredo Brugueras chances. A Zebra that cowers in the bottom can assist. His and all the board of direc- of it’s cage or panics and beats his wings tors’ contact information is available on our against the bars will not make a good pre- website www.NFSS.org or in the back of sentation. Place them in a show cage weeks your NFSS journals. Just a reminder that re- or even months before showing and put the gional shows are now worth double points cage in an area of the house where there and show information is also available on will be pedestrian traffic. Get them used to the website. people moving about so when they are in a I hope to see many of you this fall. show hall they don’t panic. Some birds in a show cage tend to sit low on their perch but you can improve their stance by putting the show cage in a paper bag that has been cut Respectfully, just low enough for them to see over the top when they sit upright. Have a spray bottle Bob Peers with clean fresh water nearby to give your President The Journal of the National Finch & Softbill Society 4 July / August 2009 www.nfss.org 5 July / August 2009 Plumage Color Influences Choice of Mates and Sex of Chicks in Gouldian Finches (Erythrura gouldiae) Devorah Bennu, Ph.D. [This article reprinted from Avicultural Bulletin, American Avicultural Society, May/June 2009.] Gouldian finches, Erythrura gouldiae, possible head colors -- red, yellow and are small cavity-nesting passerines that black,”* observed Dr. Sarah Pryke, a are endemic to open savannahs adja- behavioral ecologist at Macquarie Uni- cent to mangrove swamps in northern versity in Sydney, Australia. Australia. These finches eat a variety of native grass seeds, but to meet the The plumage colors of these birds’ increased energetic and nutritional de- heads is a sex-linked genetic trait, with mands of rearing chicks, they primarily red being dominant to yellow, which is eat insects when breeding. Gouldian dominant to black. Thus, a red-headed finches are social birds that typically oc- bird can produce offspring with either cur in large flocks in the wild. However, red, yellow or black head plumages; a invasive species, disease and habitat yellow bird produces offspring with ei- destruction have dramatically reduced ther yellow or black heads, while black their population so there currently are morphs produce only black-headed fewer than 2500 individuals remaining chicks. in the wild. Fortunately, these beautiful birds are popular avicultural subjects Interestingly, these three color morphs so there is an active conservation and have distinct behavioral and hormonal captive breeding program in place to profiles that affect their life histories. preserve them. Both male and female red morph birds are very aggressive and thus end up Gouldian finches are known by a with the best nesting cavities. Because variety of common names; the Lady red-headed birds have very high plas- Gouldian Finch, Gould’s Finch, or as ma testosterone concentrations, the the Rainbow Finch. Both sexes of this male spends most of his time fighting “weaver-finch” (family: Estrildidae) are instead of helping his mate raise their strikingly colored with an olive green chicks. These elevated testosterone lev- back and wings, a sharply pointed els and high-stress lives compromise the black tail, lemon yellow belly, purple birds’ immune systems, making both breast, and a pale blue outline around males and females shorter-lived than in- their brightly colored heads. These birds dividuals of the other color morphs. were once thought to be three separate species because of their distinct color Black-headed birds, which comprise polymorphisms, or “morphs” that occur approximately 70 percent of the wild naturally in the wild population. population, are less aggressive than the red-heads, and have correspondingly “These colorful native birds have three lower testosterone levels.