Aviornis UK was officially formed on the 4th August 1991 in the grounds of a prominent and beautiful collection of waterfowl, pheasants and cranes, at Busbridge Lakes, Godalming, Surrey, see— www.busbridgelakes.co.uk

 

Most Wildfowl & Pheasant breeders in the United Kingdom breed their birds as a hobby, spending many hours, trying to perfect techniques that will culminate in the eventual success of breeding from species, both common and rare.  Many of their efforts have been recorded in informative articles written in the ‘Aviornis International’ magazine, so that others have been able to learn from their mistakes and ideas.

 

The magazine helps to provide two of the main aims of Aviornis - to promote sound husbandry through captive breeding and to have closer co-operation between UK and European breeders to promote their interests.

 

This International exchange of information is vital for the future of captive breeding, as many private collections of wildfowl & pheasants hold the key to the future survival of many of the world’s endangered species.  In fact, many species would already be extinct, had it not been for the close co-operation of the private breeder in zoo based breeding projects.  Zoos simply do not have the space or money needed to specialise, particularly where wildfowl are concerned.

 

Since our formation in August 1991, we have spent much of our time devoted to fighting intrusive legislation,  aimed at us by the European Community.  Their main objective was to ban the trade in wild caught birds, but in the process brought out a proposed regulation that could well have the drastic effect on captive bred birds as well.  Our responses to the Dept. of the Environment along with other similar groups, seems to have quelled the worst aspects of the legislation.

 

We aim to keep our members fully informed on this regulation and all future legislation.  We are not here just to inform you what has happened and what you should do -  we are here primarily to try and influence any legislation in your favour BEFORE it happens.  We are already well represented and have regular meetings with the Dept. of the Environment, Joint Nature Conservation Committee and the Ministry of Agriculture. 

 

The avicultural side cannot be emphasised enough, with one of our main aims to promote sound husbandry in captive breeding and establish captive breeding programmes.

    AVIORNIS UK—the beginning

   The UK Chapter of Aviornis International

was formed in August 1991

 

We supply all types of Closed & Split Rings

Aviornis Closed Rings & Certificates are proof of

Captive Breeding