The wild Gouldian is near extinction. Researchers have determined that cattle grazing and the associated grassland burning practiced by cattle ranchers are the biggest threats to the survival of this species. There simply isn’t enough grass seed available in the Gouldian feeding grounds to guarantee successful breeding for a species whose diet is dependent on specific seeding grasses. I feel tremendous gratitude to Mike Fidler and all the other members of Save the Gouldian Fund for establishing an organization whose sole purpose is to prevent the extinction of the Gouldian finch. Please feel free to explore the STGF website at https://www.savethegouldian.net to learn about the amazing efforts this group has set in motion to preserve the grassland habitat of the last remaining Gouldians in the wild.
(Photos by Mike Fidler. Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.)