9th October 1995

Dear Bill

Thank you once again for the wonderful information.

I’m enclosing en envelope which may be of interest to you. it was part of my philatelic mail from the Solomon Islands.

My searching continues for locations there where there are recently sightings or knowledge of jungle fowl.

One of my long-time friends who was very knowledgeable about local wildlife died accidentally a few years ago and his father too died recently. They were both long time residents of the Solomons who were experts onto the natural wonders of the country and married to local women. My mate was are quoted in the Honiara Bird Guide by Jim Tedder as there being feral fowl on Santa Anna. That was published well connected to that island.

I am not sure whether I mentioned in a previous letter that a Solomon Island friend who trained  in Natural Resources at Gatton Uni and returned to a job with the Environment & Conservation Dept told me of his childhood in the Reef islands when they used to trap the jungle cocks by using domestic cocks as bait.

the trapped cock birds were then used in cock fights before and after school. This was at least twenty years ago though and he has not been home to his island for several years.

As the Reef islands is in the vicinity of the places visited by Mendana, Quiros and also the French who were wrecked I have an interest in the query as to whether any feral or jungle fowl originated from population migrations or shipwrecks. My Solomon island Travel handbook briefly mentions feral pigs from the shipwrecks!

I also wonder too whether DNA testing of any birds found would reveal any information. You will probably be aware of any work done in this field. Generally I guess poultry is not as important to most of the world as it is to you and I.

Recently I saw a TV programme which shows Australia at the forefront of DNA and genetic work especially in the preservation of endangered species around the world especially in the preservation of endangered species around the world so someone in that area may be interested.

Two particular items which I noticed in the Phillipino articles I sent to you were the need for awareness of breeding and moulting seasons especially to identify pure jungle fowl.

Are you able to advise me what these periods are likely to be for jungle fowl in the Solomons please.

As already mentioned my long term dream is to liver in the Solomons and set up a poultry breeding station. This also includes the location and study of the jungle fowls.

My poultry interest lately have all been geared towards formulating a plan for poultry keeping in island villages.

In the past Agricultural authorities in these countries (usually advised by experts from the northern hemisphere) have introduce softfeather purebreds such as RIR and Australorp plus hybrid laying strains. These naturally too “soft” to withstand the rigours of the tropics and casual husbandry efforts.

My theory is to introduce game breeds along with a good layer such as New Hampshire and develop a more self reliant bird for the village free range. This theory has been supported by a similar effort by the late Allan McArdle in India for UNICEF, Professor David Farrell Qld Uni, Paul Gilchrist (both experienced in the tropics) and Rod Woolford, my tutor for the Poultry Husbandry Course I completed.

Therefore I feel that I am on the right track also having developed suggestions for feeding from local ingredients. I have investigated the various quarantine requirements etc and I am now in a will have five different strains of Hampshire to meld and three game lines based on OEG and Pits as well as my own secret ingredients.

My preference is to be on the receiving end and I already have orders for chickens from other interested parties on that end too.

I look forward to your comments and answers to my queries.

Yours sincerely,