African Love Bird Society American Budgerigar Society, Inc. American Cockatiel Society, Inc.American Pigeon Fanciers' Council British Columbia Avicultural Society Canadian Parrot Association

National Cockatiel Society National Finch Society Southeastern Aviculturists Association

CordonBleu

Finchesby

Robert G, BlackFranklin, North Carolina

Of all the finches maintained inaviculture, none is more active, moreattractive, and more exasperating thanthe cordon bleu, Though severalspecies may be referred to as cordonbleus, the bird I refer to is Uraeginthusbengalus, also called the red-cheekedcordon bleu, It has a wide nativedistribution throughout central Africa,Linnaeus originally classified the cor­don bleu in 1776 as Fringilla bengalus,

Sexing the cordon bleus is quite sim­ple in adult birds, The male will have thebright red cheek-patch that is so charac­teristic of this species, The hen lacks thecheek-patch, and the blue coloring onthe hen is neither as extensive nor asbrilliant as it is on the male,

Two other species may carry thename cordon bleu, First, a closelyrelated species is called the blue waxbillor Angolan cordon bleu, Uraeginthusangolensis. The male of this species hasno red cheek-patch, and the beak ismore gray in color, The other species,the blue-capped cordon bleu, Uraegin­thus cyanocephala, will not be con­fused with the cordon bleu discussedhere, since its blue cap and lack of thered cheek-patches are quite distinctivecharacteristics, The females requirecloser examination, as they are similarin coloration,

Cordon bleus will do well in either acage or aviary, but they're much morelikely to attempt to breed underspacious aviary conditions. If cagemaintenance is necessary, a large flightcage will be best, This will give the birdsroom for exercise and mating displays,Aplanted aviary will be best for housingthem, of course, since it will attract avariety of insects that the finches relish,

Nearly all of the cordon bleus

WISCONSINWisconsin Cage Bird Club, Inc.

WEST VIRGINIATri·State Cage Bird Fanciers

OREGONColumbia Canary ClubExotic Bird Club of OregonNorthwest Bird ClubNorthwest Pigeon Fanciers

Association

TENNESSEEMiddle Tennessee Cage Bird Club

TEXASAlamo Exhibition Bird ClubCapital City Cage Bird ClubDallas Cage Bird SocietyFort Worth Bird ClubGulf Coast Aviculture AssociationWilliamson County Bird Breeders

Association

NORTH CAROLINACarolina Avicultural S<><;ietySmoky Mountain Cage Bird Society

OHIOCentral Ohio Bird Fanciers, Inc.Cleveland Canary & Cage Bird ClubGolden Crescent Cage Bird ClubMid·American Exotic Bird

Society, Inc.

PENNSYLVANIACentral Pennsylvania Cage Bird ClubDelaware Valley Bird ClubThe Greater Pittsburgh Cage Bird

SocietyNorth Star Parrot Breeders SocietyYork Area Pet Bird Club

WASHINGTONNorthwest Aviculture SocietyNorthwest Exotic Bird SocietyWashington Budgerigar Society, Inc.

UTAHAvicultural Society of Utah

VIRGINIACommonwealth Avicultural SocietyNational Capital Bird ClubParrot Breeders AssociationPeninsula Cage Bird SocietyVirginia Ornamental Bird Society

NEW HAMPSHIRENew Hampshire Avicultural Society

NEW YORKFinger Lakes Cage Bird AssociationThe Greater Rochester Hookbill

AssociationRochester Cage Bird Club

FLORIDAAviary & Cage Bird Society of

South FloridaCentral Florida Bird BreedersFeathered Friends of Florida

Avian SocietyGold Coast Exotic Bird Club, Inc.Greater Brandon Avian SocietyGreater Jacksonville Avicultural

Society, Inc.Greater Miami Avicultural

Society, Inc.Polk County Avicultural SocietySuncoast Avian SocietySunshine State Cage Bird

Society, Inc.

GEORGIAGeorgia Cage Bird SocietyGreater Middle Georgia

Cage Bird·Socety

IOWAMid·America Cage Bird Society

ILLINOISGreater Chicago Cage Bird

Club, Inc.

KANSASKansas Avicultural Society, Inc.

MEMBER CLUBS

KENTUCKYKentuckiana Bird Society

LOUISIANAGulf South Bird Club

MARYLANDBaltimore Bird Fanciers, Inc.Maryland Cage Bird Society, Inc.

MASSACHUSETISThe Boston Society for

Aviculture, Inc.Western New England Cage Bird

Society

MICHIGANAnn Arbor Cage Bird ClubMid-West Canary Club, Inc.Motor City Bird Breeders, Inc.

MINNESOTAMinnesota Cage Bird AssociationNorth Star Parrot Breeders Society

MISSISSIPPIMississippi Budgerigar Society

MISSOURIGreater Kansas City Avicultural

SocietyHeart of America Parrot SocietyMissouri Cage Bird Association

NEBRASKAGreater Omaha Cage Bird Society

NEVADANorthern Nevada Cage Bird SocietyVegas Valley Caged Birds Association

Dedicated to conservation of bird wildlife through encouragement ofcaptive breeding programs, scientific research, and education of the general public.

For information about comacting any of these member clubs,please call that club's closest state coordinator. There is a

state coordinator listing with phone numbers elsewhere in this publication.

AMERICAN FEDERATION OF AVICULTURE

COMMERCIAL MEMBERSAnimal Exchange, Rockville, MD Pritchard Bookkeeping Service, EI Cajon, CA

Southeast Aviaries, Alexandria, VA Luv-Them-Birds, Miami, FL Valentine Equipment Co., Hinsdale, ILNekton U.S.A., Inc., St. Petersburg, Fl Rainbow Bird Ranch, Asheboro, NC

Kellogg, Inc., Milwaukee, WI Birds of a Feather, Santa Rosa, CA Sandy Creek Farm, Sarasota, FL

CALIFORNIAAmerican Canary Fanciers

AssociationAntelope Valley Bird SocietyAviary Association of KernAvicultural Association of

San FranciscoBudgerigar Research AssociationButte County Bird ClubCalifornia Game Breeders'

AssociationCapitol City Bird SocietyCentral California Cage Bird ClubContra Costa Avian SocietyExotic Bird Breeders AssociationExotic Hookbill SocietyFinch Society of San Diego CountyFoothill Bird FanciersFresno Canary and Finch ClubGolden Gate Avian SocietyGolden West Game Breeders and

Bird Club, Inc.Great Western Budgerigar

Society, Inc.Hookbill Hobbyists of Southern

CaliforniaHumboldt Cage Bird SocietyInland Game Bird BreedersLong Beach Bird BreedersNorco Valley Bird BreedersNorth County AviculturistsNu-Color Bird AssociationOrange County Bird BreedersRedwood Budgie HobbyistsSan Diego County Bird Breeders

AssociationSan Diego County Canary ClubSan Gabriel Valley Parakeet

AssociationSanta Clara Valley Canary & Exotic

Bird ClubSouth Bay Bird ClubSouth Coast Finch SocietyTri City Budgerigar SocietyValley of Paradise Bird ClubWest Valley Bird SocietyWestern Bird Breeders Society

COLORADORocky Mountain Society of

Aviculture, Inc.

MEMBER NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

ALABAMACentral Alabama Avicuhure Society

ARIZONAArizona Aviculture SocietyArizona Budgerigar SocietyAvicuhural Society of ThcsonThe Seed Crackers

CONNECTICUTConnecticut Association for

Aviculture, Inc.

6

..~tRICIi.~ +.

{~ N>- ~, "r"" ~

~ f::.c: • A",

o..,,~ .;:,'"'r OF A'II''-

1985 OFFICERSLEE PHILLIPS/President

CLIFTON WITT/Legislative Vice PresidentPHILLIS K. MARTIN/1st Vice President TOM C. MARSHALL/2nd Vice President

HUBERT MORRlS/Cble!Flnancial Officer JACQUELINE M. SPELL/Corresponding SecretaryLORENE CLUBB/EXecutive Secretary

REGIONAL VICE PRESIDENTSLinda Rubin/Northeastern· William C. Wilson/Mideastern. Joan Bordelon/Centrale George Hilder/Southeastern

Davis A. Koffron/Western • James H. Coffman/Northern California· Aletta M. Long/Soutbern California

LEGISLATIVE LIAISONClifton Witt (301) 774-0303

STATE and REGIONAL COORDINATORRay H. Rudisill (314) 645-6757

REGIONAL COORDINATORS

August 7 thru 12, 1985San Francisco, California - Cathedral Hill Hotd

lIth Annual Convention

KANSAS NORTH CAROLINAJohn R. Stocker (316) 788-6552 Mike Miller (919) 848-7770

KENTUCKY NORTH DAKOTA/SOUTH DAKOTADr. Thomas B. Angel, Jr. (606) 371-4929 Carol Hamilton (605) 535-254 I

CENTRALGartie Landry (318) 828-5957

WESTERNJeff L Wigginton (206) 939-8267

CALIFORNIAPatricia Barbera (707) 9%-4266

STATE COORDINATORS

LOUISIANA OHIOJohn C. Lawrence (504) 343-2622

MAINE OKLAHOMAArchie Fairbrother (207) 394-2252 Dr. Roger W Harlin (405) 636-1484

MARYLAND OREGONRo Dahle (301) 551-6967 Kay Mahi (503) 543-6042

MASSACHUSETTS PENNSYLVANIAGary Lilienthal (617) 542-7070 Bill Lumley (717) 234-0732

MICHIGAN SOUTH CAROLINAGlen Pace (313) 785-0757 Jerry Sanders (803) 578-6541

MINNESOTA TENNESSEECarol Schmitz (612) 447-6434 Don Wacmbrod (901) 685-5261

MISSISSIPPI TEXASJames Duroy (601) 625-7262 Karen Bookout (713) 864-9759

MISSOURI UTAHEileen Karius (314) 351-2580 Rex Kennedy (801) 571-6183

MONTANA VERMONTG. Allan Taylor (406) 587-3338 Heather J Beck (802) 948-2371

NEBRASKA VIRGINIARobert G. Travnicek (402) 821-2490 Carole Wheeler (703) 323-5048

NEVADA WASHINGTONJoe Longo (206) 631-4245

NEW HAMPSHIRE WASHINGTON, D.C.F. Lawrence Brandt (603) 642-5074 Ruth Hanessian (301) 424-PETS

NEW JERSEY WEST VIRGINIATerry Veraldo (201) 447-3378 Patty Knoblauch (304) 725-5601

NEW MEXICO WISCONSINClifford Brane (505) 864-7496 John Nero (414) 499-9013

NEW YORK WYOMINGArthur Freud (516) 265-6479 Jerry Youmans (307) 237-9564

May 17-19,1985Houston, Texas

For meeting and hotel information call:David Mellard (713) 665-4485

NORTHEASTERNTim Dahle (30 I) 760-4626

SOUTHEASTERNSteve Silver (904) 775-8657

MID-EASTERNCraig Hendee (312) 724-2578

ALABAMALorene Clibb (205) 857-3817

ALASKA

ARIZONAMickey Ollson (602) 939-1003

CALIFORNIA (north)Jim Smith (916) 534-1505

CALIFORNIA (central)Hank Johnson (209) 233-3322

CALIFORNIA (south)Dick Schroeder (213) 645-5842

COLORADOKevin Wirick (303) 623-5959

CONNECTICUTWalter J Willoughby (203) 528-7296

DELAWAREDiane Korolog (302) 731-0170

FLORIDAMrs. M. Simmons (305) 772-2632

GEORGIAChristet Jonsson (404) 344-0816

HAWAilRichard Hart (808) 239-8 I 46

ILLINOISRalph H. Milos (312) 434-9777

INDIANA

IOWATed Pulla (515) 225-0302

SCHEDULE FOR AFABOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETINGS

Mark these dates and plan to attend!

February 16-18, 1985Montgomery, Alabama - Madison Hotel

available now are imported birds.Though they usually settle down in alarge cage or aviary fairly rapidly, it maytake them some time to begin nesting.Don't expect any nesting activity untilSeptember or October. Since these birdscome from areas south of the equator,they will begin breeding during ourautumn here in the northern hemi­sphere. If all conditions are right, theywill attempt to breed in either a cage oran aviary.

Whether the cordon bleus are kept ina cage or aviary, be sure to offer them avariety of natural branches for perch­ing. Oak branches are excellent, andsmall trees such as the dogwood andhawthorn provide perches of the besttype. Ifyou're in the eastern mountains,mountain laurel is ideal. In the westernstates, oak, manzanita, and other shrubswill provide good perches. The impor­tant thing is to offer branches ofvaryingsizes. This is important, for it gives thebirds' feet and legs the exercise thatonly bouncy, natural branches canoffer.

Once the cordon bleus have settleddown and reached their breedingseason, the male will begin his amusingdisplay to the hen. He takes the longestpiece ofgrass he can find, flies up to thehen with it and proceeds to do abouncy, little dance complete with sing­ing and fluffed out feathers. This displayeventually will impress the hen suffi­ciently that mating occurs.

Nest building may begin before yousee this display, but it's usually a preludeto the nesting activity. The cordon bleuswill accept a variety of covered nestingreceptacles. However, they prefer tobuild their own nest in a thick bush or aclump of drooping grass. These birdsbuild a covered nest, and they prefer

7

Cordon bleu finches are among the most active and attractive birds in aviculture. Hen above, male below.

8

by H. Richard Mattice, delegate; Sheldon Dingle, editor

In Our Opinion ...

An Editorial Regarding The New York BanOn The Sale Of Wild Caught Birds

Fortunately, the United States pro­vides a climate of free speech whereinmany opinions on a given issue can bepresented. In this editorial we shallmake our opinions known regarding anissue that concerns American avi­culture. The issue, of course, is NewYork's ban on the sale of wild caughtbirds. Itbehooves you to study carefullythe various opinions on the subject,determine the most accurate facts, andmake up your own mind regarding howyou personally feel about the concept.

We shall present four points. First, inthis magazine there is an opinion surveythat should not be taken lightly. We feelit is sinister and designed to do harm tounknowing, innocent aviculturists.Second, we want to point out who isbehind the New York law and how itcame about. Third, we want to explainthe difference between emotional pro­tectionism and true, reasonable conser­vation. Fourth, we shall open the doorto dialogue and communication be­tween two factions of bird lovers whoseem to differ regarding what is trulybest for the birds of the world.First: In this issue of Watchbird onpage 45 you will find a full page ad paidfor by B.I.R.D.S. (Bird Information,Research and Defense Society), arecently formed committee whose aimis to stop all traffic in wild-caught birds.The A.F.A. accepted the ad in good faithso BIRDS might state its case and gen­erate a good, healthy dialogue. The ad,it was felt, would be educational andinformative.

Indeed it was. Just consider some ofthe things we learned from it.1. BIRDS is a committee formed

specifically to coordinate the wildbird legislative drive that aims to banthe sale of wild birds anywhere in

the U.S.A.2. Some of the organizations sup­

porting BIRDS' actions have beenhistorically hostile to the keeping ofany wildlife in captivity - indeed,to the point of preferring to see theCalifornia condor "die withdignity" rather than be captive­bred.

3. BIRDS is motivated by emotionrather than reason which is the onlyinnocent explanation for its blatantmisuse of facts and figures. (Birdhabitats are rarely - if ever ­destroyed by hunters. No poultryflock since 1972 has gotten New­castle Disease from an exotic bird).

4. BIRDS does not understand trueconservation and is basing its con­servational efforts on outmoded andunworkable theory that field bio­logists and other professionals havelong since discarded.

5. BIRDS wants your simple yes/noanswers to four very complex ques­tions that are written in ambiguousand loaded language. There must bea careful definition of terms beforeone can answer the questions. Forexample, what really constitutesconservation? How is captivebreeding encouraged by restrictingthe importation of wild birds?

6. BIRDS wants your personal relation­ship to the pet industry (breeder,dealer, etc.) to be put to what use wecan't imagine.

7. BIRDS wants your personal addressand phone number - again, forwhat use we have no idea.

All things considered, we have cometo the opinion that the BIRDS opinionsurvey found in this magazine is a docu­ment riddled with false and misleadinginformation, and that it contains com-

plex, loaded questions slanted in such away as to be unanswerable with a sim­ple yes or no. We have decided that itwould be a mistake to fill out the surveyfor many reasons including our feelingthat any data provided to BIRDS may beused contrary to ourexpectations. Also,it is just not done to tear a page out oftheWatchbird.

Rather than fill out the survey, we aregoing to write short personal notes toBIRDS expressing our opposition tohasty laws formed with no public in-putand no valid reason.Second: For many years variousorganizations have tried in vain to getrestrictive animal laws passed. Now inthe period of a few months a highlyrestrictive law is conceived and passed.How? Why? In our opinion, the movingforce behind the New York law banningthe sale of wild caught birds is Mr.Whitney North Seymour, Jr., a NewYork lawyer - the same fellow whowith his family founded BIRDS.Because Mr. Seymour obviously hassome sort of power we feel it would behelpful to learn what we can about hispersonality and his motivation.

Seymour's 25-year-old daughterbought a spectacled Amazon parrotfrom a local pet shop and the bird died.Seymour was Obviously shaken by theexperience. He began a crusade, a holywar, if you will, to assuage the pain hefelt seeing the wild-caught parrot die.Now, in effect, Seymour seems to feelthat no one in New York should beallowed to have a wild-caught bird lestit, too, die.

At Seymour's urging (he is the son ofapowerful New York democrat), SenateBill 59472 and Assembly Bill A22589were introduced and speeded throughthe New York legislature. Apparently,astute political activists with familyconnections and heavy funding knewhow to guide the bills through thelegislature with no public or industryinput. The idea is frightening.

To learn more about our esteemedMr. Seymour one can analyze his letterof 15 November 1984 to Mr. GaryLilienthal, A.F.A.'s counsel. Seymoursays, "The American Federation of Avi­culture is a non-profit organization andit should not engage in lobbying, partic­ularly when the effect of the lobby is toprotect and advance commercial profit­making interests." We'll leave it to thelawyers to figure out what is and whatisn't lobbying but we wonder what awealthy New York lawyer has againstprofit-making commerce. We feel thatfree enterprise and the possibility ofmaking a profit is the American way.

(Continued on nextpage)

(Continued from previous page)

What alternative does Mr. Seymoursuggest?

Seymour also wrote that, "the posi­tion taken in your legislative memo wasin direct contravention to the statedpurposes of the American Federation ofAviculture, which is ...." and he thenmisquoted the A.EA.'s statement ofpur­pose printed in each magazine on theMember Club page. Seymour is a new­comer to the bird world - he owns twoparrots we've been told, one alive andone dead - yet he has no qualms abouttelling A.EA.'s legal counsel what theA.EA. stands for.

In the same letter Seymour wrote,"Instead of mounting a negative attackon such obviously well-intended legis­lation, you should be acting affirma­tively to encourage it . . ." Again Mr.Seymour tells the A.EA. what it shoulddo. He adds, "By your actions in sidingwith commercial importers and whole­salers of imported birds, and againstthe interests ofcaptive breeders, [italicsmine] you are destroying your owncredibility ..." Seymour now is an ex­pert regarding the interests of captivebreeders. In truth, the New York lawwill in all probability prove a totaldisaster to captive breeders. Refer toJenning's article on page 22 of thismagazine.

Another ironic paragraph inSeymour's letter to Lilienthal states,"Your actions in opposing this legisla­tion were not authorized by the generalmembership of A.EA., after informeddiscussion of the issues ... " Where wasthe informed discussion of the issueswhile the legislation was being con­sidered? Seymour and his politicalcronies swept the bills through thelegislature in great secrecy, almostunder cover of night as it were, yet hehas the poor manners to chastise theA.F.A. leadership for taking a standwithout exhausting studies, surveys,and discussions. Come now, Mr.Seymour, fair is fair.

Seymour's letter of November 15,1984 lends itself very nicely to furtherdissection, none of which will improveSeymour's humor, but this editoriallacks space.

Other Seymour statements alsoreveal, somewhat, the nature of thefellow. For example, when thedaughter's parrot became defunctSeymour was, "distressed by the heart­break, agony, and pains of conscienceconnected with the loss of the beautifulcreature for whom we all felt respon­sible ... " Such sensitivity is remarkable,a true virtue. We hope his tender heartwill be equally touched by the anguish,

agony, and distress his New York lawwill cause thousands of his fellowhumans who live and work in NewYork when their aviaries and pet shopsgo down the tubes.Third: But we shan't get into personal­ities. Rather, we'd like to considerseveral aspects of conservation. Mr.Seymour and cohorts are under themistaken opinion that their law banningthe sale of wild-caught birds is a conser­vational effort. It is not. Wild birds thatneed conserving are very seldomcaught for the pet trade. Bird trappersand traders operate like any other goodbusinessmen - they catch the mostbirds with the least effort. The mostbirds, obviously, are those that arecommon and can be caught en masse.The birds that are rare and endangeredare extremely difficult to find even insmall numbers much less to trap by thethousands. Also, the rare and en­dangered birds are already bannedfrom commerce by State laws, Nationallaws, and International agreements.The New York law affects them not atall. Indeed, many of the wild-caughtbirds commonly imported for the pettrade are actually pest species in theirown country. In fact, I think one im­ported species that Mr. Seymour wantsto conserve - the monk parakeet - hasbeen declared a pest bird even in thestate of New York.

There is much more to conservationthan merely banning traffic. Indeed, up­to-date researchers and field biologistshave come to the conclusion that manywild animals will thrive better in thewild if they are treated as renewableresources. In other words, if the jungleIndians can make money by harvestingthe surplus parrots in their area theywill tend to care for the nest sites andpreserve the breeders. No one wants tokill the goose which lays the goldeneggs.

Robert Ridgeley, a noted wildliferesearcher has written, "Blanket pro­hibitions on the export of a country'sfauna is not the answer and invitesbreaking the law. Much more preferableare selective prohibitions ... there is noreason why, after study, the capture ofcertain species cannot be placed onsome sort of sustained yield basis."

The International Union for the Con­servation of Nature (IUCN) is on recordsaying that, "commercial exportation,both ofwildlife and natural resources, isacceptable, but only if it avoids extinc­tion, exhaustion and the irreversabledestruction of habitat. Sustaining yieldis the key. Encouraging poorer coun­tries to discover the economic potential

of their wildlife ... is seen as a more ef­fective way of securing any animal'sfuture than preaching ideals."

The most up-to-date, professionalconservation literature goes on and onin this vein. Many third world countriesare beginning to understand "the eco­nomic potential of their wildlife" andare actually making conservationalheadway for the first time. In futureissues of Watchbird this subject will beexpanded and fully documented ­some of you are not very know­ledgeable regarding conservation andwe should like to expose you to themost modern, progressive, successfulmethods of conservation lest you betaken in by BIRDS' narrow, un­workable, out-moded efforts. It is veryeasy to blow BIRDS' cover as a conser­vationist organization.Fourth: All well-intentioned peopleshould be able to discuss intelligentlythe issues at hand. We feel that theA.EA. as an organization and the A.EA.members as individuals are concernedabout birds both wild and captive. Wefeel that avian conservation is ofutmostimportance. We feel that birds inparlors and aviaries should thrive underthe most excellent conditions. TheA.EA. has even endorsed the concept ofa National Cage and Aviary Bird Im­provement Plan. The A.EA. has fundedfield research as well as laboratoryresearch for the betterment of all birds,wild and captive. No one, I am sure, canreasonably doubt the A.EA.'s good in­tentions and actions regarding birds.

BIRDS, too, perhaps, is well inten­tioned regarding birds. If so, we shouldlike to see an open dialogue between thetwo organizations. We should like tocall all facts and figures out in the open.We should like to calion all pertinentspecialists and professionals regardingbirds both wild and captive. We shouldlike to see all interested parties in­volved in discussion of the issues. Weshould like to have in-put from scien­tists, conservationists, aviculturists,members of the pet industry, and allwell intentioned" concerned citizens. "

Unfortunately, we tend to doubtone's open, honest, good intentionswhen family connections, money, andsecrecy are employed to slip a dubiouslaw onto the books. We sincerely hopethat we are all reasonable, well­intentioned bird lovers who can worktogether for the ultimate good of all ­human and avian alike.

The last thing the birds of the worldneed is an unreasonable, emotional,holy war or crusade. Let's hope forbetter dialogue in the future.•

f(),...

long grasses as building materials. Theymay also accept a commercial finchnestbox, a covered wicker nest, or theabandoned nest of another bird. In myexperience, they will accept a thickclump of grass as a nesting site inpreference to any other location. Theyhide their nest so skillfully that you maynot know they're nesting until you flushthe hen from the grass one day. An orna­mental grass found in nurseries calledfountain grass, Pennisetum ruppelii, isideal for them.

This nesting preference is a mainreason why an aviary is preferable forcordon bleus. Also, keep in mind thatthey don't need a jungle. These finchesare birds of the scrub and grasslands ofAfrica, so they'll do best with lots ofgrass, a few thick bushes such as box­wood or dwarf holly, and perhaps onelarger, open tree for perching. This af­fords them plenty of hiding places andnesting sites. If they're going to attemptto breed, the cordon bleus will do somost readily in such a planted aviary.

Once the nest is completed, the henwill lay a clutch averaging four or fivetiny, white eggs. Both sexes share in­cubation during the day with the hensitting at night. The incubationperiod isquite short, only about eleven days.

During the incubation period, thebirds will leave the nest at the slightestapproach or provocation. The excep­tion always proves the rule, of course,and I had one pair that nested in acovered wicker nest in a flight cage.This pair would not leave the nest untilmy hand was actually in the cage.

When the young hatch, they are amass of long, dark fuzz with a tinymouth and beak. Though I've never at­tempted to hand-feed them, their tinysize coupled with such a small beakwould make hand-feeding, at best, amonumental, exasperating chore.

At this point in the breeding cycle, thebiggest danger is that there will be ashort-circuit in the breeding urge, andthe cordon bleus will refuse to feed thebabies and will throw them out of thenest. This is all too coomon in importedfinches, unfortunately. The cause isobscure, but is likely to be related to thenatural insect foods available in the cor­don bleu's native haunts. Importedbirds were raised in the wild, ofcourse,and many had already bred under theirnative conditions. When the foods theyare accustomed to, particularly the ter­mites that abound in Africa, are notavailable, instinct signals a famine, andthe birds instinctively end the breedingcycle at this point.

The best way to circumvent this type

of disaster is to make use of fosterparents. If you don't foster the cordonbleu eggs, you're unlikely to raise anyyoung ones. A pair that ejects theirnewly-hatched young is unlikely to doany better in subsequent nesting at­tempts. Once your first generation areraised under local feeding and condi­tions, in most cases they will breed suc­cessfully on their own once they'remature. The best foster parents for thecordon bleus will be zebra finches, sincethe young are very similar to newly­hatched zebra finches. You can also usesociety finches, but few pairs of thesewill accept and feed the baby cordonbleus.

Since the waxbills seem to have dif­ficulty digesting whole seeds until theyfledge, it may be necessary to conditionthe foster parent birds to eat a diet ofsofter foods before you foster the cor­don bleus to them. I've always foundthis to be successful, but other very suc­cessful breeders have informed me offostering with the normal high-proteindiet without removing the seeds fromthe diet. Everyone's conditions andexperiences differ, of course, so if onemethod doesn't work for you, tryanother. When you achieve a methodthat does work for you, stick to it.

The young cordon bleus will developrapidly in the care of their own parentsor under foster parents. The babies willbegin feathering out at two weeks ofageand usually leave the nest before theyare three weeks of age. After one weekout of the nest, they are able to feedthemselves reasonably well, but theirnatural parents will continue feedingthem for another week or so. Both oftheir natural parents will feed them inthe nest and for some time after theyfledge.

Sexing the young is possible as soonas they have completely feathered outand before the red cheek-patch appearsin the young males. The blue coloringwill be less extensive on the immaturehens than on the young males. Thoughthe cheek-patch does not appear untilimmature males go through their firstmolt, a few feathers removed from theear coverts before the first molt beginswill regrow in blue in immature hens,but in red in the young males. Sinceyoung males resemble adult hens soclosely, an imported young bird pur­chased as a hen might later molt out tobe a male. Young birds will have graybeaks, however, and the coloringchanges gradually to the pink and fleshcolor of the adults.

Problems can occur at any time dur­ing the nestling or fledgling stage, but

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EDUCATION AND MEDIA SERVICESDr. Val Clear (317)642-0795

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bird nestlings that are fed almost ex­clusively on insects grow and developso fast. As an alternative, you can feedthe commercially available insects andworms, such as mealworms, white­worms, fly larvae, and crickets. You canalso grow your own aphids, fruit flies,and earthworms, all ofwhich are excel­lent live foods for the cordon bleus,

For cordon bleus that are completelyacclimated to captivity or have beenraised in cages and aviaries, the com­mercial high-protein supplements maybe acceptable foods. If you can get thebirds to eat them, such commercialpreparations as monkey chow, gamebird starter, turkey starter, and dog foodare excellent protein sources.

Mashed, hard-boiled eggs are an ex­cellent food for all birds, high in com­plete protein with a good variety ofvitamins, fats, and minerals. They'requite inexpensive and easy to prepare.Simply boil an egg for about tenminutes, shell and mash it thoroughly,The resulting mix will be an appetizing,uniform, light yellow color, You canadd a slightly heaping teaspoon of anycommercial vitamin-mineral supple­ment in powder forni to the egg forbetter results . A teaspoon of powderedsoy protein isolate added to the mix willincrease the protein cont~nt greatly, inaddition. With these powdered addi­tions to the egg, it will not spoil duringthe day unless it gets wet. The mix willdry out and harden in the feeding dishesif the birds don't consume all of it.

All finches in my experience will eatthis mix readily and daily, once theybecome accustomed to it, and it willsupply all of the complete proteinnecessary for raising the cordon bleusor any other finches. If one egg is toomuch for your day's feeding, divide thefinished mix into daily portions, wrapeach portion in any clear freezer wrap,and freeze enough for each day's feed­ing in a separate package. Thaw one ofthese each day for use in your day'sfeeding. Freezing results in very littlenutrient destruction, and this methodworks very well when a friend is caringfor your birds during trips and vacations.

Your diet for the cordon bleus is themost important factor for keeping themin good health and inducing them tobreed successfully. With adequatefeeding and particular attention to anadequate supply of complete protein inthe cordon bleu diet, the birds will at­tempt to breed under all but the worstof conditions. Whether they breed ornot, the cordon bleus are always anattractive and colorful addition to anyaviary of small birds.•

they most often occur at the pinfeatherstage. At this point in their growth, thebody growth and feather growth to­gether require relatively huge amountsof complete protein. If that protein isnot available constantly and in adequatequantity, the nestlings will die at thisstage. There is no substitute for com­plete protein in the diet.

Another problem that occurs fre­quently in nestlings is bacterial contam­ination of the digestive tract. Humansurroundings are always good breedingareas for a variety of microorganismsthat are deadly to the birds in any con­centration. If you live in an area ofchlorinated water, it is unusual to en­counter this problem. Those breedersusing wells, spring water, or rain waterwill have this problem occasionally.The most effective, fast, and completetreatment I've found is simply to addone drop of any sodium hypochloritebleach to each ounce ofthe birds' drink­ing water for a day or two. Except in therare cases of fungal infection or poison­ing through mycotoxins, this treatmentwill cure any intestinal infection in theyoung cordon bleu nestlings as theparent birds feed them the treatedwater. When young cordon bleusfledged and near independence becomeill, the cause is usually also bacterialcontamination of the digestive tract.Treat the water as recommended for in­testinal infections in the nestlings. Thetechnical name for these digestivebreakdowns is enteritis, and the mostprominent symptoms are puffiness, list­1essness' and diarrhea.

You can maintain cordon bleus ingood health temporarily on a diet ofmixed seeds, greens, cuttlebone, fruits,and some vegetables. However, such adiet is virtually devoid of cobalamin(Vitamin B12) and Vitamin D3. Main­taining the birds in open sunlight willsolve the Vitamin D3 problem, since thecordon bleus can then form their own.Outdoor maintenance will allow thebirds to catch insects and eat dirt thatwill supply the cobalamin they need.The Streptomyces bacteria in the soil arethe primary cobalamin creators, andcommercial supplements of cobalaminare harvested as by-products of thecommercial manufacture of strep­tomycin.

However, the maintenance diet listedis far too low in complete protein forbreeding, Cordon bleus in an outdooraviary with an abundant supply of in­sects will have sufficient complete pro­tein for breeding, since the dry weightof most insects is over 70% completeprotein. This is why our native wild

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