Speciafization In Finches

Abstract

S pecies specialization is possibly the key to a future for American finch aviculture.

Sometime around 1980, I inadvertently let the quest for rare and unusual finches take precedence over the desire to actually breed the birds. The fascination of ownership eventually led to many overcrowded aviaries and the constant influx of new species into my bird rooms. This kept dreaded viral and bacterial problems a recurring reality.

My foray into the world of importing and exporting finches and softbills was not the contribution to aviculture I had envisioned. In the long run, it wasn't even good business.

Nine years ago I began a program of specialized breeding. To this day, only one species of estrildid finch has my undivided attention.

While one species may not please every finch breeder, a concentrated

 

effort with several species bred year after year may give finch aviculture a chance to proceed into the next century with or without imports and wild caught birds. Trying to breed multiple and everchanging species will not be nearly so productive.

Being the first to breed a new species of finch is undoubtedly an admirable accomplishment. But it by no means ensures the continued availability of that particular species in the U.S.

Quantity and Quality are equally important in the world of finches where a couple of years or a minor accident can spell the end of breeding for a particular pair of birds.

In the 1970s it was nearly impossible to purchase a pair of U.S. bred Australian finches. That we can now purchase and breed many of these species almost effortlessly and at our leisure (as some have suggested) is a

 

testimonial that specialized breeding works. The needs of individual species were recognized and the legendary health problems were bred out of our domestic strains - to the point that these once impossible problems are now all but forgotten.

This is success at its finest.

Many estrildids in our aviaries today are in need of some type of specialized effort. Markets for domestic strains of African and Asian finches exist and can be expanded.

Without dedication and specialization, we can expect very few finches in our future. ~

 

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