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“Less than 2500 Gouldians may remain in the wild.”
If that statement worries you then you need to contact the Save The Gouldian Fund and give us a hand to help us redress this imbalance. Either as a Donor yourself or helping us to spread the word to other like-minded bird people or maybe even get your Bird Club to support us in some manner.
The Save The Gouldian Fund itself was formed in September 2005 to raise urgently needed funding to support the field work being undertaken by the Australian Wildlife Conservancy at their Mornington Wildlife Sanctuary and the captive studies by the University of NSW at their Research Station located on Mike Fidler’s property. We also assist a number of other University researchers with their captive studies—all aimed at the eventual restoration of the wild Gouldian Finch across its former range.
One of our annual events was an Open Day at the NSW Research Station which included a tour of Mike Fidler’s bird rooms and aviaries as well as avian workshops, lectures and an insight into the scientific research being carried our there. In January 2006 this Open Day saw 152 aviculturists visit and help raise $7000 for the Fund on the day!
If you want to help us out or require more information about our aims, hopes and strategies please feel free to visit us online at www.savethegouldian.org Where you will find a host of articles and updates!
If you need more please feel free to contact me and remember we have a CD ready to go of promotional material for your over-taxed Bird Club editor!!
marcus_pollard@hotmail.com
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Mike Fidler - New South Wales, Australia
Mike is currently involved in the Save the Guildian research program which aims to reverse the decline of the Gouldian Finch in the wild. Mike designed and developed "The Complete Soft Food" TM and "The Premium Herb Seed Mix" TM in conjuction with Birds R Us; Although Mike has no financial interest in Birds R Us we do donate $1 from each packet of Soft Food sold to the 'Save the Gouldian Fund'.
Mike Fidler first started keeping birds as a child, specialising in Gouldian Finches and the related parrotfinches for the past 40 years, during which time he has been credited with the first UK breeding of three species.
He is a leading member of the University of Newcastle (UK) team who have been studying the Erythura (parrotfinch) genera, both in the wild and in captivity for over 20 years. With Professor Stewart Evans he co-authored the books Parrot Finches and The Gouldian Finch and is author of many magazine articles. Mike is a regular speaker at international avicultural events as well as avicultural and birdwatching clubs. A keen bird keeper and birdwatcher, he also enjoys photographing his favourite subject.
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