A Selected Index of Australian Aviculture.
First published in 1990 by the Avicultural Society of Australia Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
@Copyright. The Avicultural Society of Australia Inc, 1990
DEDICATION
This book is dedicated to all aviculturists who have contributed to the success of Australian Aviculture.
“Enough, if something from our hands have power to live, and act, and serve the future hour”
WORDSWORTH
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
We would like to thank Graeme Hyde, editor Australian Aviculture, for his helpful advice and constructive criticism throughout the compilation of the index and Margaret Hyde for proof reading the manuscript. At the suggestion of Ken Kleesh, Graeme indexed the magazines between 1990 and 2000 in the same style as that adopted for the Avi-Index, making the updated revision immeasurably easier to compile.
FOREWORD (to the first edition)
This year is the 50th anniversary of the foundation of the Avicultural Society of Australia. Perhaps its greatest – certainly its most significant contribution, has been to produce what is the standard reference on aviculture in our region: Australian Aviculture.
”A.A. ” has been regularly produced for 43 years, and perhaps one reason for its enduring reliability and excellence has been the stability of its editorship – first with Charles Lucas 1947 to 1976 and then Graeme Hyde 1976 to now. It is also a testimony to an outstanding group of people who serve as the Committee of the Avicultural Society of Australia, who with commendable foresight decided that their gift to Australian aviculturists would be a complete index to all issues of Australian Aviculture thus far published. I can think of nothing so useful as to have an Avi -Index on the bookshelf next to my complete set of Australian Aviculture.
The editors for this work have been carefully chosen: Ken Kleesh brings an engineering graduate’s focus, perception and methodology to the project; and Charles Hibbert brings a journalist’s brevity and clarity to the task, plus an appreciation of what people would find interesting. Both display the enthusiasm and expertise the project needed, and both need to be commended for the absolutely excellent result. I salute them.
About the index itself – I am delighted with it! This is not just because the editors anticipated every angle in their cross-referencing of subject headings allowing for fast access to an article, but because it also infects anyone doing research with the disease of dalliance and diversion! You are intending to look up one thing, and while scanning, notice some other items, and before you know it you are reading the index as if it were a novel. It is also the stuff of memories of days, times, and friends; and in a real sense it demonstrates how much more Australian Aviculture is than just a mere record. It is a dynamic journal about birds, about people, about issues, about events. if aviculture has a culture, then Australian Aviculture is its vehicle and the Avi-Index is the key to it.
I congratulate all involved for producing a publication of exceptional value, truly a “golden gift” to celebrate the Society’s Golden Jubilee.
May 1990
Graeme Phipps
Senior Curator of Birds
Taronga Zoo, Sydney
INTRODUCTION
This index has resulted from the inescapable conclusion that a vast amount of useful and important information lay hidden and untapped in past editions of Australian Aviculture.
The period covered ranges from Volume 1, No. 1, of January 1947 to Volume 54, No. 12, December 2000 – a unique record of innovation and change in aviculture in Australia.
To bring this wealth of knowledge to the surface once more for the benefit of modern aviculture, the compilers carefully researched each volume to extract that material which they believed would serve a practical application for today’s aviculturists.
Items such as From the Secretary, Annual Reports etc., were rejected as not serving the raison d’être for the index; i.e. to be able to function as a source of reference for aviculturists searching for an answer to a specific problem, to provide information on how best to house and keep a chosen species, or allow prospective authors to research their chosen subject.
It reflects great credit on all aviculturists who put pen to paper that some 3318 articles (including cross- referencing) were selected as meeting the arbitrary criteria set by the compilers.
Once chosen the selected material was allocated to one of 35 chapters. Each chapter is divided into four columns: subject, article, author, journal and page. Access to articles may be gained through back issues of the journal, the library, or through a proposed photocopying service.
In the past AVIARY VISITS formed a pleasurable and an educational facet of our hobby. These articles provide an opportunity to look back at the way in which collections were housed as well as to note many of the species then held, many of which are no longer available lade to today’s aviculturists. This also applied to both AVICULTURE and OVER-SEAS AVICULTURE.
Many aviculturists have a deep-seated interest in birds in the wild as well as captivity. This is reflected in BIRD OBSERVING which covers a range of subjects from individual birds to lists of species found in a wide range of selected places and habitats.
From 1954 to 1981 the society set aside a meeting night for the listing of BREEDING RESULTS. The recording of these valuable lists enables the keen researcher to gain some historical idea of the numbers of a particular species or group of birds bred, as well as to monitor the rise or fall of the more volatile species.
DISEASES, AILMENTS AND TREATMENT always looms large in the mind of aviculturists and this chapter provides a plethora of practical information from both experienced amateurs and veterinarians on the treatment of sick and injured birds. Coupled with FEEDING and PARASITES AND PESTS it forms part of a trilogy aimed at keeping birds healthy. The listing of 39 articles on intestinal worms reflects one of the major concerns in recent years.
LAW AND AVICULTURE provides chronology of the many legal problems which have beset aviculture … the import ban, vertebrate pests act, licencing, local regulations and smuggling. Many of these problems are still with us today.
If the old saying “I am part of all whoever was” holds true then PEOPLE IN AVICULTURE provides an invaluable insight into many of the men and women who made the Avicultural Society of Australia the success it is today.
For easy convenience the sections on the two most popular groups of birds – parrots and finches – have been divided into several chapters. PARROTS AUSTRALIAN, FOREIGN, AGAPORNIS and GENERAL, and FINCHES AUSTRALIAN, FOREIGN and GENERAL. The gouldian finch features in a remarkable 91 articles, by far the most popular finch yet also the one most enigmatic.
SOFTBILLS, AUSTRALIAN and FOREIGN, covers a wide range of miscellaneous species which could best be described as birds whose principal diet does not consist primarily of seed. Many of these birds may not have been housed in Australian aviaries but with the lifting of the ban on importing birds and the easing of restrictions on keeping native species these articles, together with the chapter on WRENS, may prove of value, especially if the current trend towards keeping softbills continues.
PHEASANTS, too, is a chapter which contains many unrelated species. But they are birds which the compilers see as being housed in a similar manner.
The compilers are confident that this index will provide access to a vast reservoir of knowledge enabling the original purpose of past authors to once again be fulfilled – the opportunity to share an experience with fellow aviculturists for the mutual benefit of all.
Charles A. Hibbert
Kenneth H. Kleesh