ADOPTION INFO

National Finch & Softbill Society

by Darla Dandre

The National Finch and Softbill Society (NFSS) is a non-profit, hobbyist organization dedicated to the conservation, breeding, exhibiting, and enjoyment of finches and softbills. Founded in 1984, the NFSS currently has over 1000 members, representing all fifty US. states and several countries around the world.

The NFSS publishes a bi-monthly bulletin that includes articles, classified advertisements, show dates, as well as club business and other general information. Closed traceable bands are available to members for a small fee. An order form is included in every issue of the bulletin complete with a band size chart and banding procedures. The Finch Shop is a club store that has videos, tee shirts, pins, club name tags, plastic water bottles, and other fun items for sale, including blue prints to construct your own show cages!!! A Finch Shop order form can also be found in the bulletin.

The Finchsave program is a specialized breeding program established by the NFSS in 1988. The purpose of the program is to have an established consortium of breeders of finches and softbills dedicated to producing and maintaining a viable captive bred population of finches in the United States. Participants are required to be members of NFSS and to complete an annual breeding report to keep program leaders informed of breeding information. Finchsave will also help people obtain birds and exchange new bloodlines whenever possible.

The National Finch and Softbill Society is conveniently located on the Internet at www.NFSS.org. Our web page is extremely detailed and has all kinds of club information. Please visit us soon and check out all the NFSS has to offer!

Membership to the NFSS is $25.00 annually for a single membership, $30.00 for a dual membership. Juniors (under 16) can join for only $12.50 per year. First class mailing option for the bulletin is $5.00 extra.

I have been a member of The National Finch and Softbill Society for only 2 years now; however, I feel like a long-time member.I have never been associated with an organization that is as friendly and fun as NFSS. Besides being a great organization, the club is made up of some of the most wonderful people in the bird biz. When I had questions, there was always someone who would give me a hand. With the help of many fellow club members, I have succeeded in areas such as showing, breeding, and husbandry that would have taken me years to learn on my own! Most of all, I have been able to talk to other people around the country who also have an interest in "Strange and Unusual" softbill birds. Without these contacts I would be lost. I would have to say that the biggest asset to my bird hobby would be my National Finch & Softbill Society Membership!