Domestication of White Rumped Munia

Working Towards a Recessive White

Here is a group of my Dilute (Pastel) Ginger Bengalese that I am selectively breeding over time to develop a completely diluted or recessive white bird. Unfortunately as you can see I'm quite a long way off yet.




























The Recessive White can be identified by having a horne coloured beak and is often still called a Dilute Fawn by many, however I would think that it presents much more like a white bird than Fawn (Ginger). The two images below are not from Australia.

The more commonly known white is the Dark Eyed White (DEW) which is in Canary terms a Clear Pied or 100% Pied bird. The DEW has a pink beak and looks quite different to the Reccesive white due to the pied factor removing all pigment in the beak and legs.

Why do I want to breed a recessive white, because I believe it is the key to breeding a true Grey series Bengalese Mutation in Australia (which doesn't currently exist here).... but that discussion is for another day.  :-)


Final note;
I'm humbled to always see hits to this Blog continually, so sorry for being a bit light on the blog entries but a big thanks to all that aparently see enough value in my ramblings to return for futher visits.
Cheers and enjoy your Bengos!

Multiple Alleles and Bengalese Colour Inheritance

This is an extract from a post made by the late Mark Shipway in the BBS Yahoo Group on 11/10/2001, and definately has some worthwhile points to consider.


"I am in the midst of preparing some ideas about standards and types.  As a starting point I thought I'd prepare the ideas below about bengalese colour.  Please bear in mind that this is a theory I have developed and have based it on my experiences and what I have read in other articles, journals etc in foreign magazines on Bengalese.  I have no scientific data to back my conclusions and am prepared to accept that some of my views are open to challenge.  Having said that I believe that this information forms the basis of what we do know to date about bengalese colour.
I believe its important we know about bengalese colour before we go about developing colour standards.  There is also a picture for you to view.
To report on breeding progress.  I have some young in the nest from a large pied cock (source Deon) to a small self hen.  So I am one step closer to producing larger selfs.
Feelfree to make comments on the information below.


Part 1 - Feather colour in Bengalese
Feather colour in Munias is produced by melanin. Two types of melanin occur in Bengalese,namely:
·      eumelanin
·      phaeomelanin
Eumelanin
Eumelanin canbe either black eumelanin or brown eumelanin. Chocolate Bengalese have both. The "Euro" bengalese is effectively a bird with extensive black melanin caused by both selective breeding and introduced from hybridisation with birds with high amounts of this type of melanin e.g.. Blackheaded nuns.
Australian Chocolates show black eumelanin in the face and to varying degrees down the throat to the breast and on the wings and tail. Brown eumelanin is evident almost everywhere. Chestnut Bengalese have some brown eumelanin but no black eumelanin.
Eumelanin in its purest form is the grey mutation.
Phaeomelanin
In its purest form, the fawn bengalese shows virtually only Phaeomelanin. The fawn bengalese should really be called a "phaeo" rather than fawn, cinnamon, ginger or red brown. It is not a true fawn mutation like say the fawn Zebra finch. The only example of a true fawn/cinnamon mutation in munias in Australia that I am aware of is the Fawn Java Sparrow.
Both chestnut and chocolates, like fawns, have varying degrees of phaeomelanin.
A bengalese without any eumelanin or phaeomelanin is white.

Chocolate has the following melanin:
·      Black eumelanin
·      Brown eumelanin
·      phaeomelanin
The future objective with the colour of this mutation should be to increase the amount of black eumelanin.

Chestnut has the following melanin:
·      Brown eumelanin
·      phaeomelanin
The future objective with the colour of this variant should be to settle on the ideal shade and focus on improving its evenness.  I believe that the chestnut should be a grade half way between the chocolate and the fawn.

Fawn has the following melanin:
·      phaeomelanin
The future objective with the colour of this mutation is to darken up the phaeomelanin as much as possible so that it matches Dutch red browns. I believe some individuals are almost there.  I am not sure whether the increase in black melanin in chocolates will assist to intensify the phaeomelanin, time will tell here as we experiment further.

Dilutes are really pastels which have a quantitative reduction in both eumelanin and phaeomelanin to varying degrees between individual birds. It is for this reason that it is not correct to call a "chestnut" a chocolate dilute because, whilst there may be some reduction in eumelanin, there is no reduction in phaeomelanin.

Colour variability between individual birds of the same mutation
Within any particular colour variety it is apparent that intensity of colour varies between individuals. This is particularly relevant in the chestnut mutation (possibly because there is high variation in brown melanin) which has given rise to my confusion in the past as to whether two particular birds are different shades of chestnut or are two different mutations. This is what brought about the name "smokey" and "cream" but I now see these names as not relevant.
Why is this? The most probable explanation for colour variability in bengalese is the effect of multiple alleles. Unlike most other species of birds, in bengalese an unknown number of alleles control colour. They all share the same position onthe chromosome but only two can occupy the position in any particular individual bird. Some combinations result in darker colour whilst others resultin in light colour in graduations down to a colour regarded as dilute.

Multiple Alleles
It is importantfor a bengalese breeder to understand what multiple alleles means and how it operates because it is central to the relationship between:
·      Chocolate, chestnut and fawn
·      The intensity of colour within any particular colour variant
·      possibly, the relationship between pied birds with varying amounts of white.
On the latter point, more research is needed to be sure. I have made this tentative conclusion based on incomplete past breeding experiences.
Chocolate, Chestnut and Fawn
On the basis of multiple allele theory, chocolate is dominant over chestnut and fawn. Chestnut is dominant over fawn. No chocolate can be split to both chestnut and fawn. The only way to produce chocolates, chestnuts and fawns in a particular nest is to mate a Chocolate/ fawn to a chestnut/fawn. Please view the attached photo ofthe three mutations side by side. The fawn can be distinguished from a chestnut on the basis that eumelanin remains in the bill and legs of the chestnut. There is little, if any, phaeomelanin in the bill and legs of a bengalese.
End of Part 1


Kind Regards
Mark Shipway"

Best of 2013.

This is my pick of 2013. It is a F1 out-cross between a Show Pied and a Ginger Self of reasonable size. This is the young from this previous video.
Its not quite a Self but a great start.

Colour Mutations in Aviary Birds - A guide for Bengalese Mutations?

Colour Mutations in Aviary Birds 

The following letter was submitted to the Parrot Colour Mutations and Genetics yahoo discussion group (now closed) called Genetics-Psittacine by a European member. There appears to be a great deal of knowledge and experience across the world when it comes to the science of colour mutations. It seems that the bulk of this knowledge resides within the Hookbill community. This stands to reason I guess, but it is clear that there is much less specific information out there in regards to finch mutations. All that being said, many of the principals directly cross over between Parrots and Finches, but the truth of the type and genetic make up of a particular Mutation in Finches must be assessed individually on a case by case basis. It is quite clear that there are international standards for naming particular colour mutations based on their properties of Phenotype (appearance) and their inheritance.

The letter is around a decade old and after my inquiries with Dr Terry Martin (Group Moderator), I was told that it’s contents are a bit dated in its statements. However this is speaking on a very technical level and I believe that it is a great place to start digesting some information on this topic and then begin to apply it to our limited understanding of Bengalese Finch Mutations.

With Bengalese (as with other finches) there are is great variation in the names of colour mutations between different countries and even different regions of countries. These names are sometimes based in international conventions for naming colours and sometimes the name has more to do with who coined the term for the colour where it was developed.

The Bengalese Finch is a White based bird that only has two types of colour pigments called Melanins, which are essentially earthy colours like red- browns (Phaeomelanin), greys and blacks (Eumelanin). Yellow based Finches like the Red Faced Parrot Finch (RFPF) can display a Green colour when coupled with a Blue colouring of feather. You can see quite obviously with the Pied RFPF that the base colour is yellow.

So when reading through this, bear in mind the relevance that Phaeomelanin and Eumelanin has to Bengalese Finch Mutations. I will add some commentary here and there [PK], that while based in a great deal of research, is to be taken purely as my “opinion” and not necessarily a rule. However this certainly helps to generate our discussions and that what its all about :-)

Aussie Bengos

-Letter-

Hello Terry:

I am really surprised that the English speaking part of the world seems to be completely unaware of things going on in non-English speaking countries. When downloading all digests it struck me e.g. that about a year ago AFA wanted to redo a job that has been done for decades already. I translated below article from Dutch for the U.K. Parrot Soc., where it was published in the December 1996 issue. It was originally published in the monthly of the largest Dutch national Society N.B.v.V. Since it is rather long I leave it to your discretion whether or not you want to put it on the list. It is rather amusing to hear people commenting on the socalled "European names" when most probably they never read this. Worse is of course that , being unfamiliar with the basics of feather structure these very same people do not recognise it's importance and then start re-inventing new colour names for existing ones. The colour names as suggested by the N.B.v.V. are placed between ((...)) and now are in use in both Holland and Belgium.

UNIFORM NAMES OF COLOUR MUTANTS FOR EXOTIC AND PARROTLIKE SPECIES.

Before a name is given to a certain colour mutation it seems sensible to consider the colouring agents in the feathers first. Names based on tradition or for commercial reasons hardly ever are descriptive. The Dutch N.B.v.V. (Nederlandse Bond van Vogelliefhebbers, probably the world wide largest National Society with some 46.000 members) initiated research on feather structure in the early seventies. Based on this the society arrived at a set of names that can be used for both exotic and parrotlike birds. Afterwards standards of excellence forlovebirds, neophema's, psephotus etcetera were written, but also the ones for zebra finches, Gouldian finches or Bengalese made extensive use of these names. Those standards being scientifically based it was in the mid-seventies possible already to predict that for instance dark factors might appear in lovebirds. The major Belgian and French Societies also have accepted a greater part of these names seeing the logic behind them. Below you will find the translation of one of the first articles pub- lished in the N.B.v.V. monthly "Onze Vogels" ("Our Birds") about this subject.

In the feathers of most exotic and parrotlike birds the following pigments MAY be found:

i) melanin, which can be subdivided into:

-Eumelanin (black or dark brown) 

-Phaeomelanin (reddish brown)

[PK] The Chocolate Bengalese or Wild Type Bengalese, has a combination of both of these pigments within its feather structure.

ii) carotenoid, which can be subdivided into: 

-yellow carotenoid

-red carotenoid

In parrotlike birds the name psittacin is used to cover all colours from yellow to red since these pigments most probably can not be influenced by the food given to the animals (as real carotenoids can). Next to above cited pigments the visible colour of the bird can be influenced by the internal structure of the barbs of the feather, the socalled blue structure in a normal (wild coloured) bird.

The black or dark brown Eumelanin [PK] Not present in the Ginger Bengo

The feathers of most birds contain melanin. This presence shows itself as a black, grey, dark or light brown general body colour. When black melanin is found on a white or light yellow base, the body colour will - depending on the concentration of the melanin - vary from (light) grey - (zebra finch, cockatiel) to black (male of the blackbird). When brown melanin is found on he same base colours the colour will vary from light brown to dark brown (Bourke's par- akeet).

The reddish brown Phaeomelanin [PK] The base colour of the Ginger Bengalese

In a few birds only phaeomelanin is found (Bengalese, Chinese painted Quail, pyrrhuras, canaries), however usually combined with eumelanin. When a cer- tain location contains (almost) exclusively phaeomelanin this feather field will show a reddish brown colour (cheek of male zebra finch, abdomen male Painted quail). When both phaeo and eumelanin are present the resulting colour will depending on the concentration of each and the mixture of both lean either towards reddish brown or to black or grey. The blue structure. If next to black eumelanin the barbs also posses the blue structure and this occurs on a white base we see a blue colour (the rump of an Agapornis roseicol- lis). When the blue structure is situated on a yellow base we see this colour as green (Gouldian finch, budgerigar, neophema's, lovebirds). The reddish brown phaeomelanin combined with the blue structure shows a purple colour (breast colour of a male Gouldian finch).

[PK] The high level of variation that we see in almost every individual Bengalese Finch is due to various amounts of these two pigments Eumelanin and Phaomelanin in different combinations.

The yellow and red carotenoids or psittacin

Yellow to red psittacin may be present in a pure form and also in a mixed one. Feather fields containing psittacin only therefore can have a colour from pale yellow via orange to bright red. When these feathers also contain melanin the colour will vary from a rusty brown or olive yellow (Agapornis nigrigenis) to blackish brown or green. Should the concentration of melanin be very high it will mask the colour of the underlying psittacin (head of a Masked lovebird).

MUTATIONS.

The following possibilities for mutation of the colouring agents exist:

MELANIN.

i: A quantitative reduction (a decrease in quantity) of both Eumelanin

and Phaeomelanin if both present ((pastel))

In this mutation the aim should be a 50 % reduction of the melanin. Where the body colour of the wild coloured bird is grey (zebra finch, cockatiel) it will become a very clear grey. If the original body colour is black (male blackbird) it will become grey. For this pastel mutation in these grey shades the name silver is often used erroneously. Where the wild colour of a bird species is reddish brown the pastel mutation will cause this to become a pale reddish brown. For a pastel brown the inapt name cream is used sometimes. In birds with an originally green body colour (Gouldian finch, red rumped parakeets, lovebirds) the pastel mutation causes this to become a yellowish green. This colour is often called yellow mistakenly. [PK] I seems here that the term Pastel is a generic term used when a bird is diluted to a degree of around 50%. Possibly our use of the term specifically for Dilute Gingers may require some review. It seems that the terms Pastel and Dilute go hand in hand.

Next to this 50 % reduction a second one is known causing both phaeo- and eumelanin to reduce over 75 % ((suffused)). The suffused mutation is known in the diamond dove - the so-called brilliant; the Peach faced lovebird - the so called Japanese yellow- and the budgerigar. [PK] We see that in a similar way a 75% dilution can be called “Suffused”. So;

50% Dilute - Pastel 75% Dilute - Suffused

ii: A quantative reduction of the eumelanin ((isabel))

In this mutation there exists a heavy quantative reduction of the eumelanin, while the phaeomelanin remains untouched. Isabel phao will be recognised most easily in those birds where the body colour of the wild form is made up of both eu- and phaeomelanin. (zebra finch, Japanese quail). [PK] It is believed that our Ginger Bengalese is in fact an expression of the Isabel Mutation where all the Black Eumelanin is removed leaving the Red Brown Phaeomelanin. Isabel is in widespread use for a number of mutations that selectively reduce Eumelanin but do not alter Phaeomelanin.

iii): A complete reduction of eumelanin ((phaeo c.q. red brown)

In this mutation the eumelanin is completely reduced, while the phaemelanin remains untouched again. The phaeo mutant therefore will be recognisable only in those birds where both eu- and phaeomelanin are present in the feathers. Depending on the concentration of this phaeomelanin the final col- our will become clear cream to reddish brown (Bengalese). [PK] The reason that I have been advised that Isabel is the best allocation of Mutation type rather than “Phaeo” for our Ginger Bengalese is because the term Phaeo is widely used for a combination in Zebra Finches that actually increases this pigment. So it is more associated as a combination colour rather than a specific colour mutation.

iv: A complete reduction of the phaeomelanin ((grey)).

When phaeomelanin is reduced completely, while the eumelanin remains unaltered. The grey mutation will be recognisable only in birds normally possessing eu- and phaeomelanin (Bengalese). Depending on the concentration of eumelanin the body colour will vary between light grey and dark grey. [PK] At this stage we do not have a Grey Mutation established in Australia.

v: A complete reduction of both eu- and phaeomelanin ((ino)).

In this mutation all melanin is reduced completely but the carotenoids or psittacin remain unaltered. The melanin in the eyes is being reduced as well, this mutant has red eyes. When a bird possesses melanin nor carotenoid or psitta- cin a clear red-eyed white bird appears which is called an albino (Albino Masked lovebird). When the bird possesses yellow or red carotenoid or psittacin only (and no melanin) the ino mutation causes a red-eyed yellow bird to appear which is called a lutino. This yellow may be combined with red. (lutino roseicollis, lutino greenfinch, lutino cockatiel). The ino mutations of those spe- cies possessing a small quantity of yellow pigment only usually are called ino's (sea green ino roseicollis). It does not matter whether an ino has yellow carotenoid or psittacin spread over it's complete body or in certain featherfields only.

vi: A complete reduction of both melanin's (if both present) or of one melanin (if both present) or of one melanin( if only one is present) per feather area ((pied)).

In this mutation melanin is reduced in a certain area. The carotenoid or psit- tacin remains unaltered. Pied birds should comply with the following demands:

-the quantity of "piedness" should lie between 40 - 60 % -the pied pattern should be symmetrical

-the pied areas should be even coloured

-feet, claws and bill should show one colour.

By selective breeding it may be possible to create a fixed pattern (banded pied budgerigar) To obtain the maximum of contrast, pied birds at an exhi- bition are only allowed where no quantative melanin reduction has oc- curred. (P.E. no pied pastels). Of the pied mutation a dominant and a re- cessive form are known to exist. When both mutations are bred into one bird it is possible to breed an even coloured yellow or white bird (dark-eyed yel- low or white).

vii: A qualitative reduction (incomplete oxidation) of the eumelanin ((cinnamon or brown)).

The eumelanin in this mutation has not oxidised completely. It is not black but of a brown colour. Birds not possessing the blue structure will get a body colour variable from clear brown to dark brown. Birds possessing the blue structure will get a very light brown suffusion on top of the green feathers. [PK] A good example of a Cinnamon Mutation in Finches is the Fawn Zebra Finch. It simply “browns” the black/grey of the wild type bird leaving all the detail that the Black Eumelanin creates. Greater perspective can be gained when visually comparing Isabel (Black removed) to Fawn Zebra Finches (Black has changed to Brown). Cinnamon is traditionally a Sex-Linked Mutation where Isabel is often Recessive. I am not aware of an example of a Cinnamon Bengalese but this is more likely because it would be fairly difficult to identify and could easily be overlooked.

viii: A further qualitative reduction makes the melanin granules even smaller then those of a cinnamon and turns them into a grayish brown colour. The final result is the ((fallow)) variety.

MUTATIONS CAUSING A CHANGE IN THE INTERNAL STRUCTURE OF THE BARB ((Dark and Violet factor))

x: The dark factor causes the diameter of the spongy zone to diminish. Sky blue will be seen as cobalt, light green as dark green. When two dark fac- tors are present sky blue will turn into mauve and light green into olive green. The violet factor changes the diameter of the vacuoles of the spon- gy zone and causes a slightly different distribution of melanin in the barbs. In stead of blue light waves the violet ones are reflected. The violet structure shows at its best in a blue bird possessing one dark factor and one or two violet factors.

x: A change in the location of melanin at the centre of barbs

possessingthe blue structure. ((grey)).

Due to a changed internal structure of the barb and a different location of the melanin at it's centre the reflection of blue light waves is prevented. Green becomes grey-green and blue becomes (grey budgie, grey-green ringneck).

xi: A relocation of melanin ((Opaline, laced and pearl)).

In the opaline the melanin is relocated so that no black undulation remains visible in the hind neck and the mantle of the bird. The normal basic body colour now appears (opaline budgerigar). In the laced and the pearl mutation melanin is relocated in such a way that the edges of the feathers change in colour (lacewing budgerigar, pearl cockatiel). [PK] We have a Pearl Ben- galese that was developed in Japan but is not in Australia. We see a lacing effect on the bib of some Dilute Gingers and more so as they are progressively more dilute (moving from Pastel to Suffused). Since noticing this I cannot help but see in some of these Gingers and even in full colour birds a darker rim around the shoulder and flight feathers. I believe that this and other Pearling has some potential to be developed for Bengalese in the future as well.

In Conclusion 

As mentioned previously, all of my comments are to help generate discussion. I do not suggest that I wish to start calling a Ginger or Fawn Bengalese an Isabel from now on but it surely is worthwhile understanding the mechanics of our Bengalese Mutations as we progress forward.

Exhibition Show Bengalese Finches - Pair with Young

Blog Update

It is a busy year and unfortunately the Aussie Bengos Blog has suffered as far as updates. However I see that I receive plenty of hits on my Blog and again i thank you all for visiting me. Here are some images from my current set up. My passion for the Bengalese is strong and I have had some great results from some of my projects this year so i sincerely hope to update you on these.

Bathing Begalese Finch

ABBS Annual 2012

The Australian Bengalese Breeders Society (ABBS) Annual Journal for 2012 comprises the 3 quarterly Journals that were issued during the year of 2012. In addition the Annual also contains many exclusive Articles and Images unique to this Annual Journal. Included in this 84 page Book are 18 separate articles and 75 striking images that make for a wealth of information regarding the Bengalese Finch in Australia. The ABBS can be found at www.australian-bengalese-finch.com There is limited resource to learn about our humble Bengalese Finch (Society Finch) and the Annual Journal of the ABBS is the perfect addition for anyone with the same interest. 

This is a sample of pages from the ABBS Annual.



 
 

    ABBS Annual Journal 2012 by ABBS
    |
    Make Your Own Book
 

 

Day 14-17

Day 17

Day16

Day 15

Day14

Incubation Period

This is a question I still have to keep referring to and reminding myself. There is always a feeling as your new clutch of Bengalese eggs approaches 2 weeks old of "are they going to hatch ?"
I have my fist new lot of eggs at 18 days since the second egg was laid, so I'm beginning to have my serious doubts. Its a bit cold here at present so they could have gotten a chill on the eggs or as discussed below, due to the low humidity at the moment the egg shells may have been a bit hard to hatch?? I thought I'd share this extract from "The Bengalese Finch"pg. 26

The incubation period is between twelve, and fourteen days, depending on when the pair started to sit properly. A good guide is to count seventeen days from the first egg laid, that will give you hatching date give or take a day.

A few days before the eggs are due to hatch you should provide a constant supply of bath water, so the sitting pair can maintain the correct humidity in the nest box. If the nest is too dry the chicks may have difficulty in breaking out of the shell, resulting in  "dead in shell" the poor baby has exhausted its self and died trying to break out of the shell. Poor ventilation, and dry humidity, can be the cause of chicks being unable to break out of the shell, therefore resulting in dead in shell. As we have already said giving the birds a bath every day can help to offset this particular problem. 

Day 11 - 13

Day 13

Day 12

You can see that at Day 12 the pin feathers have just begun to split off into the feather fibers (hooks and vanes). You notice the full crop on the bottom one.

Day 11
Pin feathers still developing, eyes sealed closed.

Catching up with things.

Hi there all,

Well, I have to apologize for what its worth. This year has been nothing short of hectic. At the beginning of the year we had to prepare the Appartment for sale, go through the sale process, move house to our Families vacant place for the time being until we find our house to buy and begin looking around for the right place to buy....whiew! Plenty of things to do and not much time to do it. I have being still playing around with my Bengalese in various ways and I hope that I can fill everyone in on my movements and recent ideas in all things Australian Bengalese Finch or Aussie Bengo!

I am quite humbled that I have regular traffic on this Blog from around the world and this sincerely helps me to kick on and share what I can.

Thanks for tuning in!!

Paul

Growth Cycle Days 8 - 10

Day 10

Over these three days you can see how quickly the feathers are growing. The Tail feathers are just starting to stick out.
Also from Day one to now the amount for growth in the young is quite astounding. It is no wonder that the young need a consistent amount of good food to grow to their full potential for heath and size.

Day 9

Day 8

You can see here that the pin feathers are just starting to protrude.

Growth Cycle Day 5

You can see at this stage that the feathers are just beginning to grow. The top left bird has some dark marks beginning at the wings and already with the finch in the centre you can see that the colour Mutation is different, it has a lighter smokey look in comparison to the dark marks of the bird above.

Growth Cycle Days 1 - 3

I am going to post a series of pictures that will help to illustrate the various stages of growth in the Bengalese Finch (Society Finch) from hatching through to Fledging. I hope that you enjoy it.

Day Three

Plenty of food in the crops here. The little things almost look stuffed full.

Day One

These Chicks have all hatched around the same Day. Some do not have food in their crops but I am led to believe that they are born with a natural sustenance. I used this picture to forward my concerns about the empty crops on a Social Media page and was told by an experienced Bengalese Breeder that I respect that the top bird displays a yellow patch with he referred to as the "yoke sack". The newly hatch bird uses this food reserve to live until being fed by the young. (This is something I'd like to look into and confirm in the future).

Annual Journal Discount

The ABBS has released an annual publication of their Seasonal Journal and until the 31st of March you can receive a discount of $10.00 off the price of the book!!

Follow this link to the Annual Journal

Just enter the code  SHARE10  when purchasing to receive the $10.00 discount 

The Australian Bengalese Breeders Society (ABBS) Annual Journal for 2012 comprises the 3 quarterly Journals that were issued during the year of 2012. In addition the Annual also contains many exclusive Articles and Images unique to this Annual Journal.
Included in this 84 page Book are 18 separate articles and 75 striking images that make for a wealth of information regarding the Bengalese Finch in Australia.
The ABBS can be found at;

www.australian-bengalese-finch.com

There is limited resource to learn about our humble Bengalese Finch (Society Finch) and the Annual Journal of the ABBS is the perfect addition for anyone with the same interest.

Underbelly Markings

This is a good example of well marked natural underbelly markings. It is clear that good markings are possible through selection and not only by Hybridization as per the Euro.

Articles in ABK

I have been fortunate enough to have two articles that I have written about Bengalese in the last two issues of Australian Bird Keeper for 2012.
Big thanks to ABK for giving me a chance and assisting in the promotion of the Bengalese finch in Australia.























http://www.birdkeeper.com.au/

Photobox (Carton) 1

Under this Label "Photobox", I'll post some of my photos that I have taken in my first Makeshift Photobox. I made this photobox simply by lining the inside of a beer carton with individual, battery powered adhesive LED lights. I made a perch from some dowel and then put a white paper backdrop. It looked completely rough as guts from the outside but after you crop the image on Photoshop it turned out really well. The other key is using an SLR camera or at least one that can be manually adjusted for exposure or shutter speed.



























Chocolate Self Above. This is one of my first images taken like this and it is a bit grainy (Noise) and this is because my ISO was not set correctly.

Chocolate Self Above, That's better..

Chestnut Self Above

Dilute Ginger Pied Above