FINCHforum

Does anyone Keep Java finches?

I am thinking about buying a Pr at the bird mart on sat if I can find any.
I just wanted to know what people who have them think about them, I was thinking about trying to find a pr. of owls but there is something rather striking about the javas.

I breed javas. I have whites, normals, pieds, silver saddle backs and fawns.

They are wonderful birds. I have them in an outdoor aviary with other larger finches. They do well with cutthroats, mannikins, European gold finches, saffron finches, melba finches, whydahs, zebras and societies. They did not get along with Napoleon weavers.

A while back I posted some pics of my javas.

I see you are in Georgia right? We can't have them in GA - they are banned from our state.

Banned?? Whats the reasoning behind that?

I don't know why specifically but the state won't allow them. AL and FL both can have them but not GA.

If they get loose and established they can do great damage to crops. May be other reasons too. Check out your local Wildlife Codes, maybe there will be an explanation in there.

I found this info under exotic bird regulations but they do not explain.


*** EXOTIC AND PET BIRDS ***

A. All exotic or pet birds entering Georgia for any purpose require a prior permit number from the Animal Health Section in Atlanta, Georgia at (404) 656-3667.

B. All exotic and pet bird exhibitions and sales are required to a have a permit. The exhibition or sale management is responsible for obtaining the permit by contacting the State Veterinarian at least twenty-one (21) days prior to the opening of the exhibition or sale. For additional information, call the State Veterinarian’s office at (404) 656-3671.

C. The following birds are restricted from entry into Georgia except by special permit from the State Veterinarian:

Java Rice Bird
Quaker or Monk Parakeet
D. It shall be unlawful to bring into Georgia any psittacine bird or other exotic bird coming directly or indirectly from outside the United States unless the bird was brought into the United States in conformity with the quarantine regulations of the United States Department of Agriculture.

I guess I can understand that, O well maybe one day

The banning of Java Sparrows is kind of needless at this point. They were already introduced to Florida (Miami) and failed to become established. They were introduced to Hawaii where they are now common. But Hawaii is a unique situation with tropical climate, few predators, and little competition.

I think in reality, Javas are extremely unlikely to become established on the mainland U.S., since they couldn't even make it in Florida. Javas and other exotic finches have been around the U.S. as pets for over 100 years - all exotic finch species have probably escaped in the wild at some point - outside of Hawaii, how many species have become established? None. And these days Javas and other finches are more and more domesticated and even less likely to survive in the wild. The legislation banning Java Sparrows is well-intended but probably needlessly paranoid.

Nipper06 wrote: The legislation banning Java Sparrows is well-intended but probably needlessly paranoid.

I agree 100%!!