R.F.C.G. News

Hello friends of the Rare Finch Conservation Group

The Rare Finch Conservation Group is one year old and what a busy year it has been! Modest resources have not curbed the raw enthusiasm of a bunch of finch lovers and we are pleased to provide the following birthday progress report:

Our web site www.rarefinch.co.za is taking shape nicely - we have now added some book and web site references for the rare finches as listed by Birdlife International and are in the process of looking for more web site links as well as photos and sketches – so if any of you would like to help please have a look at the species and send us your pictures. There are many other rare finches that are also not doing well in the wild but are not yet listed by Birdlife International. Send us those photos as well because we will be expanding to those species as soon as we can. This site is a continual work-in-progress so be sure to browse us every few weeks because we aim to make it the world's best finch resource.

We have commenced discussions with various East African conservation entities to set up a project to research the highly endangered Shelleys crimson-wing Cryptospiza shelleyi (our logo bird). Very little is known of this reclusive bird and sightings are few and far between. Our aim is firstly to compile scientific data about the bird and then to work out and implement a strategy for its conservation. A census conducted previously for 2 years over a large forested area in central Africa revealed only 6 birds! The project proposal is under construction and the search is on for suitable research student/s.

Still on Shelleys, we have started a parallel breeding project with red-faced crimson-wings Cryptospiza reichenovii and have already achieved the first breeding successes! The aim here is to crack the code for a closely related species to Shelleys in case part of the conservation strategy calls for a captive research and breeding program. We have also started collecting stock of the African quail finch Ortygospiza atricollis for a parallel breeding program for the little known locust finch Ortygospiza locustella.

The members of RFCG are all working hard in their free time but our progress would not have been possible without the help of the following people, and we are eternally grateful to them:

Just Finches magazine and Africa Birds and Birding magazine for the awesome media coverage we have received so far!

Amit Ashkenazy, Cyril Laubscher, David Holmes, Eddie bach, Howard Robinson, Kim Brunette Avrillon, Mike Fidler, Paul Dick, Robin Restall, Spirit Interactive Accounts, Vera Dennison, Efftigia Bakos, Dr Debra Mc Donald, Michael Huxtable, Manual Cardoso-Lopes, Graham Vivian, Jerome Styer, Torben Rafn, Dewan Meyer, Cheryl Lessing, Neil Gow and Karin Bracher - for assistance varying from web site design and hosting to research and advice.

We look forward with anticipation to the year ahead and to expanding our support base and circle of influence. Anybody wishing to assist in our initiatives can contact us via the web site or email Eelco Meyjes editor@avitalk.co.za or Simon Espley simon@africageographic.com. The conservation initiatives are of course going to cost money and any potential sponsors and donors will be welcomed with open arms!

Simon Espley
Proud RFCG member

RFCG birthday party! Founding members L to R: Mike Pidduck, Prof. Ernst Kruger, William van Rijn, Fred Barnicoat, Simon Espley, Bill Steele, Mark Stewart and Eelco Meyjes. Missing from the occasion are Neville Brickell and Russell Kingston.