New Technical Manual for Horticultural Management of Dietary Plants

The Red Siskin Initiative and Provita NGO, with the support of Tracy Aviary, are proud to announce that the Technical Manual for Horticultural Management of Dietary Plants for Red Siskins is now available for free download on our websites.

As part of ongoing efforts to improve the ex situ breeding of the red siskin (Spinus cucullatus), Provita and the Red Siskin Initiative have developed this Technical Manual based on knowledge and experience gained through the establishment and care of our own nursery for native and naturalized plant species that are food sources for this endangered bird species.

The Manual was created as a practical tool for those working in nurseries linked to conservation programs. It is specially designed to support the nutrition and environmental enrichment of granivorous and omnivorous birds in ex situ breeding contexts.

In 2022, with the support of Tracy Aviary, we launched the native and naturalized plant nursery — an initiative that has transformed the diet and environmental enrichment of the red siskins under our care. This effort has enabled us to offer a more natural and higher-quality diet, reducing reliance on specialized supplements and imported seeds, while paving the way for future successful reintroductions.

The nursery will soon celebrate its third year of operation and has become an essential component of our conservation program. Since its creation, we have collected over 90,000 seeds and built an inventory of plants that far exceeds our initial expectations. The species grown—carefully selected for their nutritional value—have adapted to the aviary environment and are actively consumed by the birds, providing both food and enrichment.

This process has not only strengthened the health and natural behavior of the red siskins in our care, but also served as a foundation for developing improved ex situ management protocols.

The Technical Manual for Plant Management is available for free on our websites:
 🔗 Provita ONG
🔗 Red Siskin Initiative

We invite you to read it, use it, and share it. Thank you for joining us on this journey for conservation!