Learn more about the initiative
Explore our download area, where you can find and download documentation, scientific publications, presentations and informative material about the work we do.
General information
- 2022 Annual Report
- Learn about our most recent achievements.
- Language: English.
- One Pager - RSI 2022.
- Language: English.
- Red Siskin 2021 Annual Report.
- The Red Siskin Initiative uses a multi-dimensional approach, including research, education, and conservation actions to save the endangered Red Siskin, following our action plan. Here are our achievements for the year 2021, by strategic area.
- Language: English.
- Red Siskin Inititiave Executive Summary.
- Information about the objective of the Initiative, the partners that collaborate with us and the activities to rescue the Red Siskin from extinction.
- Language: English.
- Ensuring Bird Friendly habitats while promoting social and economic justice.
- Promotional pamphlet about our "Birds and Coffee" proyect.
- Language: English.
- Rescuing, raising and reintroducing more Red Siskins.
- Promotional pamphlet.
- Language: English.
- Work Plan for Red Siskin Conservation.
- This document outlines the action plan and the activities of the RSI.
- Language: English.
- Strategy for the global conservation of the Red Siskin (Spinus cucullatus) 2015-2035.
- Language: English.
- Descriptive sheet of the Red Book of the Venezuelan Fauna.
- Description of the species threat situation according to data from the Red Book of the Venezuelan Fauna (4th edition) published in 2014. For more information: Click here
- Language: English.
- Descriptive sheet of the Red List of Threatened Species.
- Descriptive sheet of the IUCN’s Red List of Threatened Species (Last update in 2016). For more information: Click here
- Language: English.
Newsletters
- Holidays message 2021.
- Language: English.
- Giving Tuesday 2021.
- Give today and save the Red Siskin.
- Language: English.
- Newsletter – October 2021.
- Updates on the Red Siskin Initiative.
- Language: English
- The Special Edition Red Siskin Coffee – April 2021.
- Updates on the Red Siskin Initiative.
- Language: English.
- Newsletter – February 2021.
- Updates on the Red Siskin Initiative.
- Language: English.
- Holidays message 2020.
- Language: English.
- Newsletter – November 2020.
- Updates on the Red Siskin Initiative.
- Language: English.
- Newsletter – July 2020.
- Updates on the Red Siskin Initiative.
- Language: English
- Newsletter – April 2020.
- Updates on the Red Siskin Initiative.
- Language: English
- Newsletter – December 2019.
- Updates on the Red Siskin Initiative.
- Language: English.
- Newsletter – June 2019.
- Updates on the Red Siskin Initiative.
- Language: English
- Newsletter – September 2018.
- Updates on the Red Siskin Initiative.
- Language: English
- Newsletter – March 2018.
- Updates on the Red Siskin Initiative.
- Language: English
- Newsletter - August 2017.
- Updates on the Red Siskin Initiative.
- Language: English.
- Newsletter - November 2016.
- Updates on the Red Siskin Initiative.
- Language: English
- Newsletter - Spring 2016.
- Updates on the Red Siskin Initiative.
- Language: English
- Newsletter – November 2015.
- Updates on the Red Siskin Initiative.
- Language: English
- Newsletter – Spring 2015.
- Updates on the Red Siskin Initiative.
- Language: English
Education and information
- Decoding the Red Siskin’s genome.
- Poster with the description of the Red Siskin’s genome. The studies were conducted at the Smithsonian Institution (USA).
- Language: English
- The Red Siskin – Infographics.
- Illustration that shows the physical characteristics of the Red Siskin, the habitat where it lives, its feeding and reproduction habits, and the threats that compromise the existence of this species in Venezuela.
- Author: Ana Lora
- Language: English
- How can you help? – Brochure.
- Information brochure on the RSI.
- Language: English
- Red Siskin recovery project brochure.
- Printing metrial.
- Language: English
Scientific publications
- Evaluating a potential source of founders for ex situ conservation efforts: Genetic differentiation between disjunct populations of the endangered Red Siskin (Spinus cucullatus)
- Rodriguez-Clark, K. M., Davidson B., Kingston S., Coyle B. J., Duchesne P., Braun M. J. (2018). Endangered Species Research. 36: 183-196.
- Language: English.
- How to deal with ground truthing affected by human-induced habitat change?: Identifying high-quality habitats for the Critically Endangered Red Siskin. Ecology and Evolution.
- Sánchez-Mercado, A., Rodríguez-Clark K. M., Miranda J., Ferrer-Paris J.R., Coyle B., Toro S., Cardozo-Urdaneta A., Braun M.J. (2017). 2017:1–11. DOI: 10.1002/ece3.362.
- Language: English.
- Salvar al cardenalito.
- Ornitología Extremeña. 2017
- Language: Spanish.
- Miscelánea - Iniciativa Cardenalito.
- Confederación Ornitológica Española. 2017
- Language: Spanish.
- Hibridaciones del cardenalito de Venezuela.
- Rosa María Martínez-Espinosa. 2016.
- Language: Spanish.
- Globally threatened bird: Red Siskin (Sporagra cucullata).
- Chris Sharpe. Neotropical Birding 18. 2016
- Language: English.
- Recovering the Endangered Red Siskin.
- Brian J. Coyle, Michael J. Braun, Kathryn M. Rodriguez-Clark, Leonel Ovalle-Moleiro. NFSS Journal, Jul-Aug 2013.
- Language: English.
- Using Genetics to Understand and Conserve the Red Siskin (Carduelis cucullata)
- Kathryn M. Rodríguez-Clark; Jesús E. Maldonado; David Ascanio; Emperatriz Gamero; Leonel Ovalle; Jorge Pérez-Emán; Michael Braun. Journal of the National Finch. Softbill Society, Vol. 28, Nº 4. Jul-Aug 2011.
- Language: English.
- Setting priorities for the conservation of Venezuela’s threatened birds
- Jon Paul Rodríguez, Franklin Rojas-Suárez and Christopher J. Sharpe.
- Oryx Vol. 38, Nº 4 October 2004.
- Language: English.
- Discovery of a Population of the Endangered Red Siskin (Carduelis Cucullata) In Guyana.
- Mark Robbins, Michael J. Braun, Davis W. Finch. The Auk 120(2):291-298, 2003
- Language: English.
- The Red Canary: The Story of the First Genetically Engineered Animal.
- Tim Birkhead. 2003
- Language: English.
- Red Siskin: Carduelis cucullatus.
- BirdLife International (1992) Threatened Birds of the Americas. Cambridge, UK: BirdLife International.
- Language: English.
- Threatened Birds of the Americas: RED SISKIN Carduelis cucullatus.
- Collar et al., 1992.
- The ICBP/IUCN Red Data Book. 3rd Edition, part 2.
- Language: English.
- The Venezuelan Red Siskin: Case History of an Endangered Species
- Sadie Coats and William H. Phelps, Jr. Ornithological Monographs, No. 36, Neotropical Ornithology (1985), pp. 977-985
- Language: English.
- The Raising of a Ghost – Spinus cucullatus in Puerto Rico.
- Auk, Vol 100. Herbert A. Raffaele. 1983.
- Language: English.
- Carduelis cucullata. Hooded Seed-eater.
- Swainson, 1820. Description of the specie.
- Language: English.
Media publications
- Know Your Coffee Birds: Red Siskin
- Coffee & Conservation – Are your beans for the birds?
- Date: December 31st, 2020
- Language: English.
- Wildlife Conservation: Refuge for endangered Red Siskin songbird receives Species360 Membership Grant.
- Article written by Mary Ellen Amodeo
- Date: July 3rd, 2020
- Language: English.
- Heavily Trafficked Songbirds Have a Path Back to Resiliency.
- Smithsonian Magazine – Article written by Joshua Rapp Learn
- Date: April 6th, 2020
- Language: English.
- Saving Red Gold.
- Bird Conservation, The Magazine of American Bird Conservancy – Article written by Howard Youth, pp. 30-35.
- Date: March, 2020
- Language: English.
- Red Siskin Initiative Soars to New Heights.
- Conservation Nation
- Date: September 26th, 2019
- Language: English.
- Protecting a Symbol.
- Conservation Nation – “The dedicated folks at the Red Siskin Initiative are unflappable.”
- Date: June 27th, 2019
- Language: Spanish.
- "No one is helping us": Venezuelan conservation crippled by crisis.
- Mongabay – Article written by Nora Ward
- Date: November 14th, 2018
- Language: English.
- Coffee and Chocolate Could Help Preserve Endangered Birds in Venezuela.
- SmithsonianMag – Conservation Commons
- Date: November 05th, 2018
- Language: English.
- Venezuela’s Vanishing Red Bird Gets a Coffee Pick-Me-Up.
- The New York Times – By Associated Press News (Article written by Fabiola Sánchez)
- Date: November 01st , 2018
- Language: English
- 2017’S Top Lost Species Rediscoveries Spur Hope For Future Quests.
- Global Wildlife Conservation – “A faceless deep-sea fish. A moth masquerading as a bee. A “bitey” boa. A mop-topped monkey. These are the quirky features of some of the incredible lost species rediscoveries reported in 2017.”.
- Date: December 17th , 2017
- Language: English.
- Rare bird not seen in 60 years rediscovered
- Mongabay – Article written by Shreya Dasgupta.
- Date: July 27th, 2017
- Language: English.
- Lost To Science For 60 Years, Táchira Antpitta Is Rediscovered In Venezuelan Andes.
- The Cornell Lab Ornithology – Article written by Sarah Gilman.
- Date: July 25th, 2017
- Language: English.
- On this year’s Endangered Species Day, Smithsonian – Va. facility celebrates new births..
- WTop – Article written by Jack Pointer
- Date: May 18th , 2017
- Language: English
- Mantuano Chocolate “Cardenalito” (limited edition) arrived Venezuela.
- Viva el Cacao – Article written by María Ángela Valbuena
- Date: April 6th, 2017
- Language: English.
- A chocolate bar to save the Red Siskin..
- Viva el Cacao – Article written by Carmen Isabel Maracara.
- Date: December 21st, 2016
- Language: English – Spanish.
- Drink Coffee Responsibly, Save an Endangered Bird Species.
- Earth Optimism Summit | Smithsonian Conservation Commons: “Coffee progressives and enthusiasts have probably heard of fair trade certified coffee – a sustainable development practice that facilitates responsible working conditions for coffee bean farmers often marginalized by the industry. But how many people have ever heard of bird-friendly coffee?”.
- Radio Station: Onda la Superestación (107.9 FM)
- Author: Lauren Ward
- Date: November 21st, 2016.
- Language: English.
- The Red Siskin of Venezuela is disappearing.
- Blue Channel 24 – “About 60 years ago, Venezuela had millions of siskin, a bird of about 15 centimeters, red and black, endemic in Venezuela and printed on the 100 Bolivars bills. Today, there are only 3,000 approximately.”.
- Author: Kelly Vaquiro
- Date: July 02nd , 2016
- Language: English
- Sacrificing One Species to Change the Color of Another
- The Atlantic – “Bird breeders pushed a Venezuelan finch to the brink of extinction so that canaries could be red.”
- Author: Ed Yong
- Date: June 10th , 2016
- Language: English
- Speaking of science: Fine feathers: Why red birds look so fit and sexy?.
- The Washington Post – “For birds like the cardinal, red coloring is extremely important. The brighter the hue on a male’s feathers, the more likely a female is to take notice. Now two independent teams of scientists believe they’ve found the gene that allows birds to produce shades of red. And the identity of the gene might actually help explain why the color evolved in the first place.”
- Author: Rachel Feltman
- Date: May 20th , 2016
- Language: English
- The Gene That Paints Birds Red.
- The Atlantic – “In the 1920’s, breeders turned yellow canaries red. Now, scientists have finally found the gene responsible.”
- Author: Ed Yong
- Date: May 19th , 2016
- Language: English
- Trafficked tropical animals: the ghost export of Venezuela
- Author: Jeanfreddy Gutiérrez Torres
- Date: October 1st , 2015
- Language: English
- Red Siskin Sporagra cucullata
- Continuing our series on Neotropical birds categorised as Globally Threatened by IUCN and BirdLife International, Chris Sharpe discusses the ‘cardenalito’, a brightly coloured finch from northern South America.
- Neotropical Birding Magazine, 18
- Language: English
- Back from the Brink: Saving the Red Siskin.
- Smithsonian Institute for Biodiversity Genomics: Smithsonian scientists use novel genetic tools to help save an iconic bird from the brink of extinction.
- Language: English
