2015 NFSS Census is Now Open!

[Sally]

The 2015 NFSS Census Is Now Open!

It is that time of year again - The National Finch and Softbill Society is once again collecting annual census data about the birds we keep.

The NFSS hopes you all will participate and help us monitor the numbers of each species kept in captivity. The Census represents the 2015 calendar year, so please report your counts as they stand at the conclusion of 2015. If you do not know the exact numbers, please estimate as close as possible. The important thing is to participate.

You can easily participate online at http://www.nfss-fss.org/Census/. You do not need to be an NFSS member to participate. All finch keepers are encouraged to participate, whether you keep one bird or hundreds - whether you breed or just enjoy them. This information helps us keep track of what species are being kept, what species are being bred, and their geographic distribution.

You can choose to share your personal information if you wish to allow others to contact you about your birds. You may choose to hide your information from other participants so that your information will be included in the counts, but your personal information is kept private. It is completely up to you.

If you participated in a previous year, you can log in again this year with your same account if you choose. If you do this, by default, you will start with your counts from the most recent year you participated. You can clear those counts completely or modify them to reflect your current counts. If you forgot your password, you can create a new account for this year and start all over.

I occasionally am asked by vendors whether they should include their sale birds in the Census counts. I have always advised vendors to only count their personal birds and not birds that they have purchased for the sole purpose of reselling immediately. This will help ensure our statistics are not skewed by vendors with large numbers of birds that are destined to change hands quickly. Instead, those birds would ideally be reported by the new owners. On the other hand, breeders should count their breeding stock, babies, and personal birds as their own, even if they intend to eventually sell/trade some of the young. Since the young were hatched in your bird rooms, they are considered to be in their current home.

If you keep parrot finches, please note that every year we have some confusion regarding the Red-throated Parrotfinch (Eyrthrura psittacea) and the Red-headed Parrotfinch (Erythrura cyaneovirens) (common names as per Clement's Finches & Sparrows). The latter (Red-headed) is very rare in the United States. The Red-throated Parrotfinch (Eyrthrura psittacea) (also sometimes called the Red-faced Parrotfinch) has a red face that extends down the chin and throat area and is what most American aviculturists have. If you are unsure what you have, you most likely have the Red-throated species. Please check the taxonomic name to avoid any ambiguity between the two species whose common names are often confused.

Feel free to cross post to any finch/softbill groups that I have not copied.

Vonda Zwick
http://www.nfss-fss.org/Census/

Sally Porter
3rdvp@nfss.org