Delmar Gouldian Finches

USA Lutino Gouldian Finch

Le Maistre Gouldians

USA LUTINO GOULDIAN PROJECT
NFSS JULY-AUG 04 JOURNAL

(By Winnie McAlpin)

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

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

http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/clivehesford/naming01.html

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 Australia 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.

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At the present it is known that the Lutino Gouldianexists 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.

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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 Daniel Wildemeersch 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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Through the mating of these offspring to Blue Gouldians, an Albino, which is a red eyed white bodied Gouldian, should be produced in the near future. All of the Lutinos, which have been produced to date, come from outcross matings. They are vibrant in color, produce healthy offspring, and have good vision.

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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Inquiries about the Lutino as a mutation should be addressed to

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/GPA101Genetics

where international genetic experts, including members from MUTAVI Research & Advice Group, are available to answer your questions. Colored photos of red eyed Lutino babies, juveniles and adults may be seen at Daniel Wildemeersch's web site at

http://users.skynet.be/fa398872/

and Winnie McAlpin's web page at

http://www.geocities.com/gfinches2/Delmar_Gouldians.html

Colored photos have also been submitted to Dr. Terry Martin BVSc for publication in the Revised Guide to Gouldian Finches to be published by the Australian Birdkeeper.

REFERENCES

Correspondence with Terry Dunham.
Correspondence with Daniel Wildemeersch.
Mobbs, A. J.(1985). Gouldian Finches. Beech Publishing House.
Friends, 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.

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Questions about the USA Lutino Gouldian should be posted to GPA101Genetics at

http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/GPA101Genetics/

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WINITA 2004