AFA in Brief

January/February 2013

Editor - Carol Lee

MS Word Version

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Happy New Year to all of our AFA members, we appreciate each and every one of you and sincerely hope the coming year is filled with the joy and wonder of keeping birds!

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***New*** Our Membership Committee is undergoing exciting changes. Be on the lookout for your official and beautiful AFA membership cards coming out in 2013 !

Why carry an AFA membership card? Well, they are just too beautiful to not carry around with you. Pay attention to the ever growing “Member to Member Advantage Program” (AFAM2M). All AFA individual and commercial members will have their own personal membership card which will have their name and membership number on it. You will use your number to get your DISCOUNTS that are highlighted in the AFAM2M Program. Check out the most recent AFA Watchbird publication for the list of commercial businesses that are offering the 10% off discounts to AFA members like you! Simply contact that business and they will give you the discount. You will need your AFA Membership number which appears on your new AFA membership card. While you are waiting for your official AFA membership card, you can simply get your membership number off of your shipping label found on your latest AFA Watchbird Journal. Support our AFA commercial members.

Concetta Ferragamo
Northeastern Regional Director
Membership Committee

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Not an AFA member yet? Want to learn more about everything AFA has to offer? If you would like more information on becoming an AFA member, please go to http://www.afabirdinfo.weebly.com/ to get to know us better and learn how.

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Don't Miss Another Convention! Please Join Us in North Carolina in 2013!

*New* Convention Payment Plan!!! Choose the plan that fits your budget and plan to attend.

AFA Convention 2013 is in Raleigh, North Carolina. The convention will take place at the Hilton North Raleigh/Midtown, Raleigh, North Carolina. For detailed information or to register online, go to: http://www.afabirds.org/convention_index.shtml. AFA is pleased to announce our keynote speaker for the 2013 convention is Mark Hagen, Director of Research at Rolf C. Hagen, Inc. and the Hagen Avicultural Research Institute (HARI).

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Your club can get $65 off of 2014 affiliation and have a chance to win a 2013 convention registration! Details coming soon!

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Sponsor a membership for those that cannot afford it, or for younger people to become more interested in aviculture. Simply pay for a membership online www.afabirds.org and place “sponsored membership” in the comment field. Memberships are assigned to those that express interest but admit they cannot afford to join.

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Call for Papers for the AFA 2013 Convention in Raleigh. We invite you to submit a proposal to present a paper at our 2013 convention. Proposals should be submitted in the form of an abstract, accompanied by a brief biographical sketch identifying the author’s experience with the topic to be presented and other relevant information. Abstracts will be accepted through January 31, 2013. http://www.afabirds.org/pdf/Call_for_papers_2013.pdf

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Exciting news for the Lory League Hook-bill Show at the AFA Convention in Raleigh, NC 2013.

The Lory League Shows are being Co-Sponsored by Triangle Bird Club of Beaumont, TX and will be on Saturday, August 10th. Sanctioned Shows will include ALBS--African Love Bird Society, NAPS--North American Parrot Society, NCS--National Cockatiel Society, and SPBE--Society of Parrot Breeders & Exhibitors. There will also be a Junior Class where kids 16 and under show free, so bring the Family, and your birds, and come join the fun. For more information, contact Julie Corwin (Lory League) at blconnection@hotmail.com or by phone at 206-501-7428.

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Win a Garmin GPS and a paid AFA membership. Send your North Carolina quarters to the AFA Business Office for a chance to win a new Garmin GPS navigation system and a one year membership in the AFA. The person that enters the most quarters will win the prize. Mail in quarters must reach the AFA Business Office no later than July 31, 2013. Quarters may also be entered into the draw at the AFA Convention in Raleigh, North Carolina. Entries are cumulative, so start sending your quarters today. Be sure to include your name and address when submitting quarters. Mail to: AFA Quarter Challenge, P.O. Box 91717, Austin, TX 78709.

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FOA - Fundamentals of Aviculture Level II “Introductory Prices”

This course is amazing. The online classes are detailed, interesting, and extremely informative. You and your birds will benefit from these courses.

The Intermediate Aviculture Course (FOA II) is offered in 15 chapters covering conservation and research, courtship and nesting, basic avian genetics, color mutations, hybrids, breeding stimuli, incubation, hand-rearing, non-parrot studies, basic microbiology, illnesses, first-aid, avian enrichment and more. Admission to this Level II course requires that all students complete Level I prior to enrollment, and that they be members of the AFA. The introductory admission fee for the Level II course is $75 for current AFA members. Non-members can qualify by purchasing a one year membership during admission. Courses are self-paced. No books or teachers. Visit http://www.fundamentalsofaviculture.com/

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AFA DELEGATE NEWSLETTER

Want to learn information in advance? Read the AFA Specialties & Affiliates Quarterly on the AFA Website. This AFA delegate newsletter is designed to keep you informed, with information especially for AFA Delegates. By loading each newsletter to the website, you can locate it easily and choose whether to open it or save it to your computer. Learn about upcoming convention activities and other AFA news in advance by checking the newsletters regularly.

Visit the website at www.AFAbirds.org and click on “Affiliates” under the Membership tab; then click on “Specialty Resources.” You’ll find a selection of current and past issues available as .PDF downloads, the 2012 affiliation form, and other resources. Volume 3, No. 3 was released in April; with Volume 3, No. 4 was added in July. Or, visit this link for direct access: http://afabirds.org/specialty_resources.shtml.

Selected AFA Specialties & Affiliates Quarterly newsletters are also found by clicking “News,” under the Press tab. The Press tab is designed to feature AFA public relations news directly to journalists and members of the media. Visit: http://www.afabirds.org/news.shtml.

AFA Delegates: Do you have official affiliation news you wish to share? Are you an AFA Delegate with event information about your 2012 Affiliated Specialty or Club? Send it in to the newsletter to gain wider exposure. An added advantage: if AFA includes your affiliate’s ad in the newsletter, it may also be read by members of the press on the AFA News Page. Publishing deadlines are included in each newsletter. Submit your event flyer in .jpeg, .gif or .png format and send it directly to Specialty Organization Director Linda S. Rubin at mailto:LSR@CockatielsPlusParrots.com.

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NEW from AFA - Register Your Pets Today!

AFA - Exotic Bird Registry Program
http://www.afabirds.org/exotic_bird_registry.shtml

Every year hundreds of pet birds are accidentally lost. Some are never recovered simply because the finder cannot identify who owns the bird. Birds registered in the AFA Exotic Bird Registry will be easily identified making contact and recovery easier.

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Now available through AFA:

AviMate - Bird Breeder Management Software for Windows

AviMate Bird Breeder Software - Take control of your bird breeding records plus contact management, invoice generation, and expense tracking http://www.afabirds.org/avimate_productinfo.shtml. Download a working copy for a free 30 day trial.

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We've Made Changes - AFA's Website Has Been Redesigned!!! Because of your feedback, there have been changes and additions to the website and more are planned! Also, you are now able to make purchases from the AFA website using your PayPal account! We hope you like it! www.afabirds.org

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AFA Disaster Relief ~New~

AFA's Disaster Relief Program is prepared to assist those who may be affected by natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, and the like. The AFA disaster relief team has Regional Directors as well as State Coordinators in place and on stand-by at this time. If you become impacted by a natural disaster and need assistance or know of someone who needs help with their birds as a result of these events, please notify the Team as soon as possible. The Disaster Program is solely funded by donations from individuals, as well as Bird Clubs and Businesses interested in helping those affected. If you would like to help by making a donation, you may do so by clicking here http://www.afabirds.org/donation.shtml or by calling the AFA office at 512-585-9800. If you are available to assist in affected areas, please notify us, and we can direct you to the person where help is needed. You may contact the Disaster Relief Coordinator, Fred Smith at 863-858-6739 or by email at mailto:fredsmith@wildblue.net.

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Legislative Alert- the USFWS has proposed the listing of the Scarlet, Military, Buffon’s and Hyacinth Macaw under the U.S. Endangered Species Act.

The listing of these four macaw species will mean that anyone desiring to sell a representative of this species across any State line will need to acquire a permit from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Additionally, under the Endangered Species Act, sales as pets are “not consistent with the intent of the law” and therefore will most likely be denied. Your AFA legislative committee has made comment on this important issue. To read the AFA’s official response, go to: http://www.afabirds.org/pending_legislation.shtml. A few months ago the AFA was successful in getting a “Special Rule” installed under the act for all captive Moluccan cockatoos bred and/or traded within the United States. No interstate commerce permits are required for commerce with this species despite the fact that it is now listed as “threatened” under the United States Endangered Species Act. This is a major accomplishment for AFA, conservation, and aviculture nationwide.

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Notice: The USFWS has now announced its proposed listing of the Blue-throated Macaw under the U.S. Endangered Species Act.

The announcement and call for comment was published in the January 11, 2013 Federal Register. AFA encourages you to make comment through the U.S. government portal. Encourage the USFWS to evoke the Special Rule for all captive-bred representatives already here in the United States.

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AFA Board Meeting: Teleconference on February 9, 2013. Details to follow and will be posted on the AFA website calendar.

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Attention Watchbird Contributors - Past and Present

We need your help! The American Federation of Aviculture, Inc. (AFA) is attempting to preserve the history of AFA and of Aviculture since the start of AFA, by digitizing the Watchbird issues to be accessible on our website. Please contact Mary Ellen LePage by email at mail@birds2pet.com to acquire a release form, or contact the AFA business office at afaoffice@afabirds.org.

Deadline for AFA Watchbird XL article submissions is February 28, 2013.

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2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012 AFA Convention DVDs!

Selected videos of presentations from the 2009, 2010 and 2011 AFA Conventions are now available on DVD from the AFA Store! Proceeds from the sale of these DVDs help further AFA's efforts in Conservation and Research, and are a great addition to your library of educational material. Quantity discounts apply. Visit the AFA Store for more information. http://www.afabirds.org.

2012 DVDs can be ordered in advance. http://www.afabirds.org/dvds.shtml

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Have You Been to the AFA Store Lately? CITES Pin number 28, featuring the Caique, is now available. Order yours today and keep your sets complete. All CITES pins can be purchased online at www.afabirds.org and follow the links to the store. CITES Pin #28 featuring the Black-headed Caique will definitely be sold out soon. Quantities are very limited. Get yours today at the AFA Store.

Browse all the categories which include 2009 and 2010 Convention DVDs, Convention Proceedings, Ceramic Tiles, Leg Bands, Magnets, Shirts and more!

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American Federation of Aviculture is now on Facebook Check us out! Become a fan! http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/American-Federation-of-Aviculture/202528641356?ref=search&sid=1045015622.1239114812..1

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JOIN AFA TODAY!

Apply for corporate or individual membership here: http://www.afabirds.org/membership.shtml

Your donations help the AFA meet its commitments to the avicultural community. Please donate to the AFA today: http://afabirds.org/donation.shtml

Become an AFA Corporate Sponsor Today!

Platinum, Gold, Silver & Bronze Sponsorship Packages Available. http://www.afabirds.org/ Become an AFA Individual Sponsor Today! Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, and Pearl Level Individual Sponsorships are now available. Individual sponsorships range from $100-$500. Contact the AFA Office for Details: mailto:afaoffice@afabirds.org.

Affiliate Your Club for 2013!

Whether you are renewing your club affiliation or your club is affiliating for the first time, all clubs must complete this form each calendar year. Affiliation forms, along with applicable fees, are due to the AFA Office by January 1st. Affiliations must be received by April 30th to receive all benefits. To affiliate your club for 2013, affiliate online or complete the attached form http://www.afabirds.org/pdf/Affiliation_form_2012.pdf and return it to the AFA Office, or for questions - contact the AFA Office: afaoffice@afabirds.org  Affiliate resources can be found on our AFA website at http://www.afabirds.org/affiliates.shtml.

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Looking for leg bands? Customize your own leg bands or buy AFA coded bands already in stock. Check the AFA Store here: http://www.afabirds.org/leg_bands_stock_closed.shtml

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American Federation of Aviculture, Inc.
www.afabirds.org
PO Box 91717
Austin TX 78709-1717
Tel. 512-585-9800
Fax. 512-858-7029
email: afaoffice@afabirds.org