Milton Lewis was born into birds, and from a very early age has had a strong fascination and interest in all aspects of aviculture and ornithology, from breeding and exhibiting finches and canaries to making the study of birds his life’s work. The science behind birds is what drives him, and is a major reason for the comprehensive nature of this book. A PhD study on the breeding biology and ecology of the Golden- headed Cisticola Cisticola exilis in Townsville, Queensland followed by his current position as Senior Wildlife Officer for the Gouldian Finch Recovery Project for the Parks and Wildlife Commission in Katherine, Northern Territory has seen this interest (or should we say passion?) continue. The keeping of finches at home (wherever that is at the time) plays a large role in Milton’s life, and has been passed on to him from his father, with whom he used to keep, breed and exhibit caged birds before leaving home to pursue his career in science. Milton’s family support him in his endeavours, and have even been known to get up at the crack of dawn with him, drive many kilometres over rough bush tracks, and help band birds before declaring, yet again, that this will not happen again!
