International Turaco Society

 

 

Welcome to our Website

 

A Turaco is an exotic African softbill.

The attractive pair canoodling here are White-cheeked Turacos. Later we will introduce you to many more species as you continue to tour the site. Please select your destination using the navigation buttons on the left.

Pair of White-cheeked Turacos

The International Turaco Society aims to research and promote good husbandry practices; support conservation projects that have an impact on wild populations and unite turaco enthusiasts around the world.


The International Turaco Society was set up in 1993 by a group of turaco enthusiasts who met at the Cotswold Wildlife Park in Burford (Oxfordshire in England). Anyone interested in any aspect of keeping or breeding turacos is welcome to join.

Membership rates:

  • £15 U.K. or overseas, if you want magazine issues posted to you.
  • £10 U.K. or overseas, if you want magazine issues sent via e-mail link to download as pdfs.

Please support the I.T.S.  You can apply or renew on line. Thank you to the members who have already renewed.
If you wish to pay a subscription directly into the ITS bank account, please contact the webmaster for details of our bank account.

Members, remember that you can advertise turacos wanted or for sale on this website, free of charge, see here.  


Consultation on proposed changes to registration requirements for all bird keepers in Great Britain

I would like to bring it to everyone’s attention that the UK Government is planning to change the current poultry registration regulations. They are seeking our views on making it compulsory for all poultry and other captive bird keepers in England, Wales and Scotland to register their bird(s) with the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA).

It is currently mandatory for a person who is a keeper of 50 or more poultry at any single premises to register their birds on the Great Britain Poultry Register by providing specified information on the birds.

The proposed changes will amend this from 50 or more poultry to either:

       • Option 1 One or more bird/s of any species (the Government’s preferred option).

       • Option 2 Ten or more birds of any species.

The proposal will require keepers of birds to update their registration information annually.

The only proposed exception to these regulations may be if the bird/s live exclusively within the living accommodation inside your house and never go out.

If you wish to respond to this consultation, you need to do so by 23:59 on 31st May 2023, by clicking on the link below:

Online Survey

You do not need to be a keeper of any birds to complete the survey.

Within the survey, there is the opportunity to select ‘Do nothing’ i.e., no change to the existing regulations, rather than selecting Option 1 or 2.

If you wish to be sent a link to download your responses, so as to have a copy of what you entered, then you need to add a working email address within the survey.

Please pass on this information about the proposed changes to registration requirements, and the link to the online survey, to anyone you think may be affected by the proposals. Thank you.


Issue 58 - Autumn 2022: A printed version was posted out to all paid-up full members on 18/11/22 and a link to a pdf copy was also e-mailed to pdf members. Copies were only sent to members who had paid the subscription for 2022. Subscription for 2023 is now due, so please renew if you haven't already done so. Thank you.

If you have anything which could be included in future issues, please e-mail them to david@turacos.org.

What's new on the site? (newest first)
  • Numbers of members and which countries they come from (members only, link 'Information') - updated 22nd March
  • Link to online survey about proposed changes to registration requirements for all bird keepers in Great Britain, see above - added 10th March
  • Members adverts - turacos wanted or for sale - updated 28th February 2023
  • Link to a website which helps you to recycle materials into something useful, plus lots of information about bird watching, bird identification and ways to help birds - here - added 21st December
  • Magazine Issue 58 available for purchase - here - added 18th November
  • Magazine extract for Issue 58 (members link 'Resources') - added 18th November
  • Magazine contents full list - updated 18th November
  • Link to I.T.S. Instagram page added above - 17th September
  • Knysna Turaco pin badges for sale £2.50 per badge here - added 9th September
  • Link to a guide designed to help anyone who wants to get started with bird watching - here - added 9th September
  • Movie and article: 'Breeding Lady Ross’s Turacos' - here - added 5th September
  • Minutes of 2022 Committee Meeting and A.G.M. (members only, link 'Meetings') - added 20th May
  • ITS committee members edited here - edited 20th May
  • Update to ITS Conservation Projects here - updated 8th May
  • Chairman's report for 2022, including accounts for the year (members only, link 'Meetings') - added 26th April
  • The I.T.S. 2023 AGM, is proposed to take place on Saturday 15th April 2023, at 2pm at the Cotswold Wildlife Park, Burford, Oxon., England and on Zoom online - see visits - added 26th April
  • Members personal details, by request only (members only, link 'Information') - updated 22nd April
  • Prince Ruspoli's Turaco pin badges for sale £2.50 per badge here (see brochure) - added 27th March
  • Links to a blog which walks you through the steps of creating a DIY wire mesh bird feeder and a website for birding beginners, plus to a Backyard Birdwatching website in North Carolina - other sites - added 25th January
  • Update of members' password for 2022 (members only) - 1st January
  • Bibliography of articles from ITS Magazines on Turaco Management and Wild Observations (members only, link 'Resources')
  • Lost and found' link to UK National Pet Register

Contact ITS Secretary
E-mail: Louise Peat

Web site designs and images copyright © 2023 International Turaco Society


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