Page last updated: 10 February 2026 (website last updated: 10 February 2026)

Welcome to the Waxbill Finch Society's website

Writing to your MP about DEFRA's changes to the general licence for bird gatherings

With the publicised changes made by DEFRA to the general licence for bird gatherings, the society is urging members to write to their MP to voice their concern about the impact of these changes. The Spring edition of The Waxbill features  a template letter . Please feel free to use this text in whole or part or simply draft your own letter if you prefer. What is really important is that as many of us as possible take part in campaigning to get these changes amended/ reversed. Thank you.

WFS members' 2025 breeding returns

Members have now been sent their breeding returns form in the Winter edition of The Waxbill. Members are urged to send their returns to Andy Chaney before the closing date - this is now 28 Feb 2026. Thank you for participating.

WFS subscriptions for 2025/26 now live

The  membership page  is now updated to accept subscriptions for the coming year through PayPal. The WFS subscription cycle runs from 01 November to 31 October the following year. Subscribe now/ re-subscribe for membership up to 31 October 2026.

Please use Paypal to renew your membership or to join us as a new or returning member. Thank you.

2025 Target Species

WFS committee introduced ‘Target Species’ following the breeding returns for 2015. This idea was to provide an incentive for members to breed a particular species in the coming year. At that point, waxbill numbers were largely on the rise and the aim was to focus on one species a year (over a rolling three years) that needed extra support.

The last three years, however, have seen such a significant drop in the number of waxbills bred that several species are now under concern. For 2023 and 2024, it was felt appropriate to focus on a broader range of species.

For 2025, the WFS committee has decided to restrict the list to the following three species. The committee hope that a concentrated focus on these species will lead to a noticeable increase in numbers over the coming twelve months:

•  Blue-capped Waxbill 
•  Gold-breasted Waxbill 
•  Orange-cheeked Waxbill 

Forthcoming Waxbill Finch Society meetings

2026	Branch
01 February 2026 (Sunday)	Northern Branch Meeting Bramley Parish Hall, Cross Street, Bramley, Rotherham, South Yorkshire, S66 2SA (5mins from M18 Junction 1) Hall open: 11am - 2:00pm.
06 September 2026 (Sunday)	WFS 2026 AGM (Annual General Meeting) Held at the Midland branch venue of: The Newstead Centre, Tilford Road, Newstead Village, Nottingham NG15 0BS Further details to follow.
All meetings	See our  WFS branch meetings  page for all the details.

WFS Facebook page

The Waxbill Finch Society also has its own closed group on Facebook.

Access the site through the banner above.

Paypal for your 2025/26 subscription

The WFS subscription cycle now runs from 01 November to 31 October the following year. Subscribe now/ re-subscribe for membership up to 31 October 2026. Please use Paypal to renew your membership or to join us as a new or returning member.

Please note:

• We ask that you allow up to two weeks for membership requests to be processed; and
• We will use the PayPal payment details for membership purposes. Where payment is made for someone other than the card holder (as indicated by the question above), we will contact you subsequently to confirm membership details.

Please see our  membership  page for full details.

The Waxbill Finch Society was formed in 1991 with the following aims:

• To encourage the breeding of Estrildid Finches (Waxbills, Munias, etc.)
• To share information about proven breeding and feeding methods
• To help members locate, exchange, purchase or sell stock
• To build up stocks of captive-bred birds
• To assist members to contact one another at Branch Meetings or by telephone

This website is therefore designed both to promote our society and to help it achieve these aims. We also hope it will encourage potential members to develop an interest in these marvellous birds.

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