What is aviculture?

Photo by Martin Pots (marty bugs)

Aviculture is the raising and care of birds and especially wild birds in captivity.   For almost 200 years, the Gouldian Finch ( male adult pictured above ) has been the species of choice for aviculturists.   Might that have been because the typical Gouldian Finch displays seven distinct colours in its plumage?  Interbreeding over the decades has produced dozens of different coloured plumages.   Since their discovery in mainly south-east Asia over two centuries ago, hundreds of thousands of colourful birds have been exported around the world.  Records show that Gouldian Finch, with its rainbow of colours always accounted for 50% of those exported birds.  While the colours of birds kept by aviculturists is undeniably compelling, I prefer to watch my birds in the wild.   To me, caged wild-birds is a contradiction of terms.

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder