I started out with the obligatory 'bunch of different birds' concept. I'd buy a pair of these, and a pair of those, and, oh, they look good, I can squeeze them in somewhere, Well, you get the picture! I just couldn't resist buying another bunch of feathers. When I started in the hobby, most finches were abundant and inexpensive. Other than a few finches I've never heard of at the time, you could get all kinds of waxbills, munia's, zebras, and of course societies. Most were under $30 a pair. The term community aviary was the guide word. It was a large community for me, and most of my early days were spent trying to figure out where to put more perches so the birds could sit for a few minutes! After a while I decided to cut back on quantity, and upgrade to what I felt was quality. The Gouldian and parrot finch were to me, the most beautiful. Vivid colors, and in the case of the parrot finches, a great deal of motion. Eventually, I lost interest in the Gouldians because they were so sedate. However, they are still breathtaking. I decided to concentrate on one family. I may change my mind down the road, but so far, nothing has inspired me more than the Parrot finches. You could call them the 'action Jacksons' of the finchworld. Bright colors, and constant action. So far, I've only bred the Red Headed, but as soon as I can get some others, I'll give them a try also. I live on Long Island, N.Y. with my 4 children and wife, Asta.

One of the factors that has compelled me to try and produce some of these birds, is the sad state of their native habitat. Yes, I am an aviculturist, but also a conservationist. I would like to see the parrot finches homeland saved so they will have a place to live forever. I won't bore you with all the same old preservationist jargon, but if we, as bird breeders, don't establish rare birds in captivity, eventually the gene pool will weaken, and all the remaining birds will prove infertile, or just die of old age. That's a sobering thought. We must decide if we want to keep the birds for breeding purposes, or just watch them get old and drop out of the potential reproductive scheme. Hopefully, this medium we call the web, will call attention to the plight of these living jewels, and more people will give them a try. For a long time, I only marvelled at the parrot finches. Now that I've tried breeding them, I wouldn't give them up for anything. The satisfaction of raising these birds cannot be minimized. The various web pages that have sprung up recently are testimony to the hard working individuals who've taken the time to place these birds in a location for all to view. It is my hope that people will take the time to read thru Marc Riva's great pages, for he has assembled a great breeding program that should be a benefit to beginner and experienced breeder alike. His page can be accessed at the bottom of this page. Additionally, one more point I'd like to leave all budding finch breeders. Our birds are changing right before our eyes. Captivity will evoke changes not seen in wild stock. The much smaller breeding network will cause some mutations to develop. Unfortunately, many breeders get caught up in these mutations. I, for one, don't want to waste time with varieties that aren't pure. However, this doesnt' mean that one shouldn't breed them, only that I feel its a diversion that keeps breeders from attaining the most important goal, increasing the already small stock of breeder birds.

Providing the proper housing and foods will greatly increase your chances of raising parrot finches. The different species (there are 11) each require a variety of diets. According to Fidler and Evans, most will do well on a maintenance diet of small finch seed mix. The addition of sprouted seed is practically a necessity with parrot finches. The additonal vitamins provided by sprouted seed is hard to beat. Only soak enough to use up within 3 days. Once the seed begins to sprout, refrigerate the remainder. At least 14 hours of light a day is recommended. Remember, these are tropical birds, where the days remain the same year round. Breeding takes place all year round. I prefer to allow pairs to raise 3 clutches, then rest. The construction of an outdoor aviary is a very good tool. Its such an easy way to house small birds, that I cannot emphasize it enough. The birds will get good exersize, which will prevent obesity. Planted aviaries also give the benefit of small insects that the birds will find. I also employ a fruit fly culture, which I certainly wouldn't do in the house. The constant presence of a bath will keep them looking good.