Above are some stunning “new” skin visuals of a Shelley’s crimsonwing cockbird that Peter McGough , an honorary RFCG member, sent to us from the UK. The photographs were taken by Hein van Grouw, Curator, Bird Group, Dept.of Zoology, The Natural History Museum, Akeman Street, Tring, Herts.UK
A pair of Shelley's crimsonwings held at the Bonn Museum, Germany. Photograph taken by Professor Sven Cichon, honorary RFCG member
The above bird was netted in Rwanda in 1982, so the skin is close to 30 years old . The previous ” new ” skins held in the Bonn Museum, Germany and recently photographed by Professor Sven Cichon are 15 years older and are slightly duller / darker . This is a process that may happen as the skins become older. ( read Svens interesting blog post dated 28 July ) The RFCG, after six years of searching, still only has two known photographs of a live Shelley’s crimsonwing cockbird, and we know of no photographs of a live Shelley’s crimsonwing henbird
The Rare Finch Conservation Group is registered in South Africa as a non-profit organisation . It is totally dependent on donations and sponsorships for its future survival . The RFCG is currently raising funds to finance its planned Phase 3 field research work in Uganda. For more information on this pioneering conservation group please contact editor@avitalk.co.za 
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