Nutrition in the Gouldian finch - developing an optimal 'life-history diet'

澳大利亚本土鸟类，如虎皮鹦鹉、凤头鹦鹉、凤头鹦鹉、斑马雀和食堂雀等，在宠物贸易中占据主导地位，全世界饲养了数千万只。目前，这些鸟类仅靠一些普通种子(起源于欧洲)喂食不足的饲料。我们的研究将调查Gouldian雀的营养需求和澳大利亚本土种子的营养含量，最终设计出一种能够极大地改善这些圈养鸟类健康的最佳饮食。我们将开发一种以澳大利亚植物为基础的新产品，这种植物即使在澳大利亚最贫穷的土壤和气候下也能生长，并将成为面向国内和国际市场的新商业作物的基础。

Native Australian birds such as the budgerigar, cockatiel, cockatoo, zebra finch and Gouldian finch dominate the pet trade with tens of millions kept across the world. Currently these birds are fed inadequate diets based on a few generic seeds (of European origin). Our study will investigate the nutritional needs of the Gouldian finch and the nutritional content of native Australian seeds, ultimately designing an optimal diet that will dramatically improve the health of these captive birds. We will develop a new product based on Australian plants, which are adapted to growing in even in the poorest soils and climates in Australia and which will form the basis of a new commercial crop for domestic and international markets.