Algerians campaign to save treasured songbird from hunters

With its vivid plumage and sweet trill, the goldfinch has long been revered in Algeria, but the national obsession has also driven illegal hunting, prompting calls to protect the songbird.Amid a persistent demand for the bird that many choose to keep in theirhomes, conservation groups in the North African country are now calling for the species to be safeguarded from illegal hunting and trading. "The moment these wild birds are caged, they often suffer from serious health problems, such as intestinal swelling, due to abrupt changes in theirdiet and environment," said Zinelabidine Chibout, a volunteer with the Wild Songbird Protection Association in Setif, about 180 miles east of the capital, Algiers.