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SECOND VISIT WITH NORTHERN ITALIAN EUROPEAN BIRD BREEDERS
All Rights Reserved by: G. A. Abbate, Sr.
Elizabeth, NJ 07207
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To follow up the article written on the occasion of my visit on May 6^th, 1999.  Whenever I write an article, I always like to do a follow up. I am glad I did because I visited again some of the gentlemen which I wrote about in my May article and it was worth every bit of my trip.

On September 9^th, 1999, my friend, Mr. Alberto Pasini, promptly picked me up in the AM hours in front of the Hilton Hotel in Milan, Italy.  We were on our way to our first stop to visit Mr. Gianni Faggin's place in Saronno, Provincia di Varese.  Well, upon arriving at my friend's breeding facility, Mr. Faggin, I promptly hopped like a rabbit onto the terrace on top of the garage and I began looking in many of his aviaries.  To the pleasure of my eyes I saw many offspring of Chaffinches, Gold Finches, and other birds. In many aviaries were the adult birds, for example, Chaffinches with 3-4 youngsters in each one. The same was true for all the other species of birds, including the larger Siberian Gold Finches. What a pleasant experience; beautiful, healthy birds in a comfortable environment, very well taken care of – lucky for those birds to be under the care of Mr. Faggin—for sure they will live there for a long time, happy and protected.  Unlike the wild state where the adverse elements take their toll on the wild birds' population, not only in Italy, but all over the world. At that time of the year all of Mr. Faggin's birds were coming out of the molt.  Although they were colorful with brilliant plumage, the juvenile could be easily identified from the adults. I admired all of those birds for quite some time; in fact, I couldn't take my eyes off them.

The diet supplied at that time of the year was the usual well balanced bird seed diet along with a variety of seeding head in the milky stage, plus greens and of course fresh water. 

After a long visit in Mr. Faggin's breeding facility we had to visit the huge breeding facility of Mr. Daniele Arsuffi  in Crosio Della Valle (Varese).  If you recall in my previous article written in May, 1999, I wrote  that Mr. Arsuffi strictly breeds European Soft Bills. Also, if you remember, that day was a miserable rainy day and neither my mind nor my camera was working right, but this time the sun was shining, pleasant temperatures.  Mother Nature was feeling beautiful! Fresh ripe fruits, such as grapes, figs, etc., were available and I was munching while looking at the birds. During this visit I realized that Mr. Arsuffi breeds a greater variety of other Soft Bill birds from all over the world, including the Common Starling which we see all over North America and which many consider a nuisance! He breeds the Common Starling not only in their original color but also in various mutations, such as Brown, Brown Pastel, Normal Pastel, Isabel, and Pheo Ino.  In fact, he has told me that he has established these mutations in the Common Starling for twenty generations. WOW!

Along with the European origin birds, Mr. Arsuffi also breeds birds originating from other continents. His stock includes: Spotless Starling from Southern Europe and Northern Africa, Black Collared Starling which range from South China, Thailand, Malaysia and Indo- china. In fact, one of Mr. Arsuffi's Stamm of Black Collared Starling was awarded the Gold Medal at the World Championship of Ornithology in Paris, France in 1998.  To continue:  Chinese Starling also from South China, Indo- china and Malaysia; a Rose Coloured Starling from Eastern Europe and West and Central Asia and India; a Silky Starling from South China; Rothschild's Mynah from Bali Island; Golden Breasted Mynah from North West New Guinea; Yellow Faced Mynah from New Guinea; Sulawesi Magpie from South, Central and South East Sulawesi; Bald Starling from the Northern Philippine Islands; Grosbeak Starling from Sulawesi, Togian, Peleng Islands; Superb Starling from South Sudan, Kenya, Somalia and Ethopia; Hild's Starling from Ethiopia, South Kenya, North Tanzania; Fischer's Starling from South Somalia, Kenya, North Tanzania; Golden Breasted Starling from South Ethiopia, South Somalia, Kenya; Violet Starling from Senegal, Uganda Kenya, Tanzania; Wattead Starling from Ethiopia to Angola, Cape Provincia; Black Breasted Thrush from North East India to South West China and North Indochina; Grey Backed Thrush from  Siberia Manchuria, South East China, Vietnam; Blackbird – Merlo Breeded mutations: Brown, Silver, Pastel, Satin from Western Europe; Eye Brawed Thrush from North East Asia (China, Indonesia); Fieldfare – Cesena from North and South Europe, Caucasus, North Asia; RedWing – Tordo Sassello from North Europe, Central Asia, North Africa, Caucasus; Chestnut Capped Ground Thrush from South Thailand, Sumatra to Flores, Borneo Basilan; Oranged Headed Ground Thrush – Tordo Citrino from Pakistan to N. Burma, South India Sri Lanka; Siberia Ground Thrush from North East Asia, South East Asia, Java; Austen's Langhing Simaonensis from Yunnam; Red Tailed Laughing Thrush from North West Fukien; Red Faced Liocichla from East Himalayas; Mount Omei Liocichia from Mount Omei (Szechwan); Pekin Robin from South West Burma, South East and Central China; Blue Winged Minia from Central and East Himalayas, East Assan; Chestnut Tailed Minia from East Himalayas, North Assan; Red Tailed Minia from East Nepal, Burma, Assan, North West Yunnam; Nightingale from West Europe, Nirth Africa, West and Central Africa.

I must confess, of all the years that I have been in birds I have never seen so many varieties and so many splendid, colorful birds from all over the world, as I saw at Mr. Arsuffi's place.  I would also like to add, without hesitation, that they were well taken cared for and oh so healthy.  I don't think that even a Zoo, which is supposed to be run by professionals, has such a variety of healthy, colorful birds. 

For their basic diet Mr. Arsuffi feeds his birds an extruded Soft Bill diet made in Italy, of course.  Plus, he  provides the same as a supplement with added meal worms and other earth worms which are available in his garden, plus some fruits and some vegetation.  During the breeding season he supplies a greater variety of supplements. He tries to imitate the diet of the wild state.  To the European Black Birds, the European Thrush, as well as to other similar birds, Mr. Arsuffi supplies mud and a variety of natural fiber nesting material such as a variety of roots and dried grasses, similar to the ones that the birds use in their natural habitat. Yes, Mr. Arsuffi goes out of his way to provide the birds with everything they need and it is obvious he is rewarded with lots of success.  I must admit he is doing a great, professional job. 

I had a lengthy conversation with Mr. Arsuffi. In detail, he explained to me his method of maintaining his birds, plus his method of hand feeding the offspring. He practically hand feeds all the offspring he produces—he remarked, "When I hand feed the youngsters I don't lose any. They all survive beautifully.  When I let the parents feed them sometimes I lose some youngsters." As I mentioned in my previous article, he has a hand feeding formula concoction similar to the Abba Green 92. He simply adds cold water to that concoction and with a stick he feeds the hungry ones. 

In the publication of the article of my first visit with Mr. Arsuffi, I mentioned he used an antibiotic which he adds to the hand feeding formula.  Well, the antibiotic's name is Amoxicillin.  This antibiotic is in powder form and the strength is 1000 milligrams per gram.  So, therefore, Mr. Arsuffi adds approximately  500 milligrams to a kilo of hand feeding formula.  I remarked to Mr. Arsuffi, "Why do you add antibiotics to the diet when you are feeding all practically healthy birds?  Well, he replied, "I hand fed birds without antibiotics and I experienced all sorts of problems, including mortality, diarrhea, poor growth and other problems. However, by mixing the 500 milligrams of Amoricillin to each kilo of my hand feeding formula I never lose any youngsters. I religiously use this method at least for the first five to six days after hatching and I repeat it again whenever I see the youngsters don't grow properly. In conclusion, by carefully administering the Amoxicillin I have had very good success in breeding my birds.  As you can see, it is obvious." Mr. Arsuffi produces a large number of birds every year. This is his only activity, breeding and exhibiting birds.  He does however sell the surplus youngsters to other fanciers.

Mr. Arsuffi exhibits his birds throughout Europe, as well as faithfully attending the World Show wherever it is held every year.  Testimonial were the numerous diplomas, gold medals and trophies which he displayed with pride everywhere, including the Gold Medals which he won in 1998 at the COM                              World Show held in Paris, France.  He won with a beautiful, colorful specimen Garula Yellow Throat.  He also won in Reimis, France, and again in Holland in 1996.  In the last two mentioned Shows he won 2 Gold Medals with his colorful Black Collared Starling.               .

In conclusion, I wish I could legally put my hands on some of Mr. Arsuffi's birds. I would love to breed them and share these beautiful birds with other fellow fanciers in the US.  But, unfortunately, the law does not very easily allow the importation of these birds, (I was told it is very costly to legally import birds through USDA Quarantine Facility, and further more it is a tedious process). Probably in my life time I will never experience the pleasure of owning some of Mr. Arsuffi's colorful birds.

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