ANNOUNCEMENT 4.7.10

 

IT’S A BOY!!! The first USA Lutino Gouldian male was born on 2.19.10 and was seen attempting to sing on 4.7.10. 

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• Photos of the USA Lutino and Albino can be seen at the Delmar Gouldian Gallery . Click the link at the top of this page to view a slideshow.  Gouldian Finch photos, including the Lutino and Albino, can also be viewed at the following link
  http://www.flickr.com/photos/11859828@N05/

        SEE THE FOLLOWING ALBUMS at FLICKR:

*ALBINO GOULDIAN FINCH 
*ALBINO BABY COMPARISON     *LUTINO GOULDIANS

• Albinistic Gouldians (Lutinos) from four countries including Belgium, Japan, Cuba and the USA, can be seen at http://users.skynet.be/fa398872/navfram.en.htm 

    

 

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**NFSS ARTICLE 2004 ON PAGE 5

**LUTINO PROJECT UPDATE 5.18.08 ON PAGE 10

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        NOTE:  There has been  a 20% increase in electricity, a 15% increase in
        the cost of aviary foods, and a decrease in prices of Gouldians in
        the past 2 years. I am no longer breeding Gouldians for sale to the
        the general public.  I am only breeding for the completion of the
        of the Lutino Project, the Red Line (Fusion Line) Project and other 
        rare  Lady Gouldian Finches. 7.1.10

                               Winnie McAlpin at Gfinches2@aol.com
                             Delmar Lutino at Delmar Gouldian Aviary

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                                                        LOCATION:

The Delmar Gouldian Aviary, owned by Winnie McAlpin, is located in the foothills of the Great Smokey Mountains at Cleveland, TN. Cleveland is about one half hour from Chattanooga, TN where Rock City, Ruby Falls, and the Tennessee Aquarium inspires wonder and appreciation for the natural world. 

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                                                   BACKGROUND:

The Delmar aviary, has been the site for selective breeding of the Lady Gouldian Finch since June 1997.  Unrelated pairs of Gouldians were purchased between June 1997 and May of 1998. Observations and genealogy records have been carefully documented over the past thirteen years. The study of all known materials about Gouldians in captivity and in the wild have been used as resources for maintaining their environment and nutrition.  The highest standard for quality breeding is a priority. Outcross pairings of unrelated stock has been the choice for maintaining the strength and vigor of Delmar  Gouldians.


                                                       HISTORY:

Selective breeding for selective buyers has produced some of the finest Gouldians available in the USA.  The Niota NFSS judging, held on October 26, 2002, awarded Delmar Gouldians BEST IN  SHOW.  On August 29, 2002 the first Lutino Gouldian in the USA became resident at the Delmar Gouldian Aviary.  The Lutino Gouldian Project article was first published in the July-August 2004 NFSS Journal.    A copy of this article can be found on page 5 and at GPA101911 files.

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                                                             PHOTOS:

Photos of the rare Lutino Gouldian can be viewed at the DELMAR GOULDIAN GALLERY at the top of this web page. 

Lutino photos have been published in two books authored in Australia. These photos can be viewed  in the new revised GUIDE TO GOULDIAN FINCHES AND THEIR MUTATIONS by the ABK and in THE GOULDIAN FINCH by Mike Fidler, which were available at the International Convention in Brisbane, Australia on April 29,2005.  A photo of the first Yellow Head Lutino in the USA was published in the Nov-Dec 05 NFSS Journal.

                                                               PURPOSE:

The  Delmar Gouldian was developed for the Gouldian breeder who wished to purchase a larger Gouldian to increase the size of his stock.  Other Delmar Gouldian lineage has been established for those who appreciated the rare mutations.   But foremost, all of the Delmar Gouldians have been bred for the enjoyment of the Gouldian hobbyist and avian collector. Since August 2002, the main focus for the Delmar Gouldian Aviary  has been the development and preservation of the Lutino and Albino Lady Gouldian Finch.

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                                   LUTINO GOULDIAN  PROJECT
                                    NFSS JULY-AUG 04 JOURNAL

                                             (By Winnie McAlpin)

The green bodied Gouldian Finch, which is native to Australia, was first introduced to the USA in the 1930's. The first yellow bodied Goudians and the blue bodied Gouldians were imported together from Holland by Terry Dunham in 1984. Terry Dunham, according to our recent correspondence, estimates that he produced the first white bodied Gouldians, which is a result of combining the yellow with the blue genes, within two years of having received the shipment. It is possible that our project may be the first Lutino Gouldian project in the USA and perhaps the first new Gouldian mutation to become established in the USA since 1986.

The name Lutino is derived from the word Ino, which indicates the genetic form and the Latin word Luteus meaning yellow. The adult Lutino Gouldian is a red eyed Gouldian with a white breast and yellow body. The gene is sexlinked recessive. Please refer to

for information concerning Lutino genetics. The Lutino Gouldian was first reported in Australia in 1958 with all stock eventually lost. Matthew M Vriends, PhD states that the Albino existed in Holland in the 1960's. Belgium reports having Lutino Gouldians in the late 1980's, which resulted in a sale to Japan in the early 1990's. Japan reports having Lutino Gouldians in 1967. A. J. Mobbs stated that he could have purchased a Lutino from Holland in 1982.

At the present it is known that the Lutino Gouldian exists in Belgium, Japan and the USA. Belgium is reported as having one or more breeders of Lutino Gouldians, while Japan reports having about 10 breeders. Many of the Lutinos in Japan have resulted from importation from Belgium, with recent purchases from stock which surfaced in Belgium in 2003.

Lutinos in Japan are exchanged rather than purchased among friends, sometimes given as gifts, but rarely sold. A Japanese breeder, named Y. Miyake, reported in the Cage and Aviary Birds magazine that he had produced Albino Gouldians by 1999. The Albino is a result of combining the Lutino with the Blue gene.

The Delmar Gouldian Aviary, in Cleveland, TN acquired the first Lutino female as a loan on August 29, 2002 from Cindy Godwin, owner of the Purple Parrot in Gray, TN. Cindy had written an E-Group post about a red eyed Gouldian, which she had recently purchased in a group of sixteen Gouldians. Winnie McAlpin, owner of Delmar Gouldian Aviary and moderator of the Gouldian Preservation Association E-Groups, had recently completed a study about the Lutino Gouldian. This study had occurred at the Gouldian Preservation Association where James Watson, residing in Australia and Daniel Wildemeersch, residing in Belgium, are participating members.

Winnie McAlpin, who is a member of NFSS,  recognized the mutation in the post and contacted Cindy Godwin. Cindy had previously sold Gouldians to the Delmar Gouldian Aviary  in June 1997.  It is interesting that one of two birds purchased from Cindy in 1997 is the Great Great Great Grandmother of the first Lutino born in the Delmar Gouldian Aviary.  An agreement was made that Winnie would breed the Lutino and split the offspring with Cindy. James Watson and DanielWildemeersch have remained as advisors for the Lutino Project.  Even though the Lutino Project is not finalized, we feel that there has been enough progress to justify making the project  public knowledge.  

The first Lutino female was named Winnie by Cindy Godwin and  resides at the Delmar Gouldian Aviary. Winnie the Lutino, is mated to a Black Head Green male from the Delmar Gouldian Aviary.  She  is Lutino SF Pastel Green, has bred as sexlinked  recessive,  has produced seventeen offspring, and has three Lutino Granddaughters to date. Winnie has a Lutino niece named Valie, who was born on Valentines Day 2003,  from two green bodied Gouldians, which served as confirmation of the sex-linked recessive  Lutino gene.    A SF Pastel Green/Lutino male, son of Winnie, was mated to a Blue female in spring 2004, which resulted in seven offspring including two Lutinos.

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We are excited about the Lutino project and want to express appreciation to all those who have helped with our project, including the NFSS editor, Martie Lauster.   I would also like to express appreciation to Cindy Godwin for giving me the opportunity to become  a pioneer in Gouldian genetics.  Our special thanks to James Watson and Daniel Wildemeersch who have always been available for sound advice.  Completing the Lutino Project, which is a rewarding challenge, could play a major role in the production of future Gouldian mutations.  Having the Lutino Gouldian established, should provide the opportunity for the production of a completed range of color mutations which has existed for many other avian species bred in the USA.

In closing, we would state that there are no Lutino Gouldians for sale presently.  Future sales will most likely be extended to experienced breeders to insure that the Lutino Gouldians remain a viable mutation in the USA.   You can be assured that we have a monitored security system and a guard dog on duty. Our sincere thanks to Jessica Streiff, who is planning  to become an Avian veterinarian, for aviary sitting and helping with the care of Delmar Gouldians. 

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Correspondence with Terry Dunham.

Correspondence with Daniel Wildemeersch.

Mobbs, A. J.(1985).  Gouldian Finches.  Beech Publishing House.

Vriends, Matthew M. PhD, (1991). Gouldian Finches: Everything about Purchase, Housing,Care, Nutrition, Breeding and Diseases. Barron Educational Series.

Miyake. Y., (May 1999) I Succeeded in Breeding Albino Gouldian Finches.
Cage and Aviary Birds, p.19.

                                          NOTE: ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

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The USA Lutino project has been in progress since August 2002, but has not yet advanced to the point where Lutinos are available for sale. Some writers state that it can take up to fifteen years to establish a new mutation. The USA Lutino Project is taking a lengthy time because our first Red Eyed female was carrying both the Lutino and the Pastel Green (Co-Dominant Sex Linked Yellow gene). As of the Spring of 2006, the Lutino gene had been separated from the Pastel Green gene.   

 Each generation from the first USA Red Eyed female, who was named Winnie by her owner, took one year or more to arrive at a breeding age. Winnie was bred to a Green Male and produced Single Factor Pastel Green males, who were carrying both the Lutino and the Pastel Green gene.

The sons of Winnie were bred to Green Females to obtain Lutino Females, which had a 50/50 chance to be pure Lutino (without the Pastel Green gene). The Lutino Females were mated to Green Males to determine if they were carrying a pure Lutino gene, without the Pastel Green gene.

The first three Lutino Females born in the Delmar Aviary, Winita and Wineta, and Winata, who are Granddaughters of Winnie, were tested and proved to be carrying the Lutino gene and Pastel Green gene like their Grandmother Winnie.

Four Great Granddaughters of Winnie, who are named Danita, Banita. Lanita and Torah were tested in in 2006 and 2007.

Danita, produced a Green Male and no other mutations, which proved that she is a pure Lutino. If Danita had produced a Pastel Green Male then she would have been carrying both the Lutino and the Pastel Green Gene. A total of seven Lutino females were tested and only Danita proved to be pure.

 Danita, the pure Lutino female, presently has three Split for Lutino sons, who are named Dante, Monte and Jonte.   Dante, who is the eldest, was born on 5.2.06. Monte was born 1.17.07 and Jonte was born 6.9.07. 

Dante and Monte were mated to Green Females this present breeding season, and produced 6 Lutino Females and possible Split for Lutino Males. I will produce the first Lutino males when the 6 new Lutino Females are mature enough to breed. I am estimating that it will take two or more years before Lutinos will be available for sale.

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After a discussion in 2007 with members of GPA102Mutations, I understand the following:                               

[There could be an unlimited number of different colored Gouldians with red or dark eyes, which would be classified as forms of albinism. Lutino is simply an avicultural term, but with a specific coloring and is caused by an allele of one of the two loci - sex-linked ino or NSL ino. Any new primary mutation is proven by demonstrating the mode of inheritance for a single gene, a combination of genes can produce the same colour but should not be described as a mutation.] 

A Lutino Gouldian is often described visually as a Red Eyed, White Breasted, Yellow Bodied Gouldian. I prefer to use the term Red Eyed Gouldian rather than Lutino until the birds have been tested to identify a gene or a combination of genes which has produced the coloring. The breeding method for the USA Lutino Gouldian is the same as the Budgerigar Lutino. A Budgerigar Lutino Breeding Chart is found at http://www.budgerigars.co.uk/charts/lutinoch.html

The USA Lutino is a different gene from that seen in Red Eyed Gouldians in Belgium, Japan or Cuba.   It has been suggested that the mutation in Belgium might be similar to the *pearly* Budgerigar. Some Lutinos and Albinos from Belgium have been exported to a few European countries and the Philippines.

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One Lutino female and two possible Split for Lutino males, which were imported to Philippines in December 2007, did not survive, leaving one Lutino female from the shipment.  The breeder will attempt to establish a line of Lutinos from the surviving female.

The Lutinos in Japan are produced from a combination of genes including the Fallow gene and I don't know of any having been exported.  However, this line may have been extended to Europe.  I have seen photos of Red Eyed Gouldians in England, a result of a combination of genes, which possibly came from Japan, but the source was not revealed.

I was contacted by a breeder in Cuba concerning Red Eyed Gouldians and photos were sent to Daniel Wildemeersch in 2006.  These Red Eyed Gouldians came from a combination of genes and the breeder stated that he intended to separate the Lutino gene if possible.

The USA Lutino, which originated in Tennessee, is unique because it has a pale pink breast rather than white. However, the retention of the breast coloring may also be the contributing factor for the lack of eye problems seen in some  Lutinos from other countries. 

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In Belgium, (where a Green Gouldian sells for around $25.00 US), a Lutino Female with a possible Split for Lutino Male was priced for $660.00 US in February 2007. Lutinos from Belgum can be imported to the USA, the $660.00 does not include shipping and quarantine expenses..  The web site for a Belgian exporter is located  http://www.bird-export.com/birds.asp
There has not been any price set for the selling of USA Lutinos to date.

Photos of the USA Lutino can be seen at the Delmar Gouldian Gallery.  Click the link at the top of this page to view a slideshow.  Gouldian Finch photos, including Lutinos and Albino, can also be viewed  at the following link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/11859828@N05/

Albinistic Gouldians (Lutinos) from four countries including Belgium, Japan, Cuba and the USA, can be seen at: http://users.skynet.be/fa398872/navfram.en.htm  

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 

Winnie McAlpin at Gfinches2@aol.com
Delmar Lutino at Delmar Gouldian Aviary
http://www.geocities.com/gfinches2/Delmar_Gouldians.html 

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