RUELLE Marcel
Belgium / Belgium
marcel.ruelle@belgacom.net

Foreword.

The Board of Directors of the Royal Walloon Ornithological Federation has always been committed to promoting the protection of birds and a deeper understanding of them, particularly finches. The publication of eleven monographs and other works, along with various other activities, stands as the best testament to this.

Having reprinted the out-of-print monographs in its bimonthly journal, *L’Ornithologue* – with the monograph on siskins due to appear in the January–February issue of this year – the author, with the approval of the board of directors, harboured the desire to see the out-of-print monographs made available on a high-quality website, which would give them wider circulation but, above all, would help enthusiasts who do not own these monographs, for various reasons beyond the scope of this foreword, to complete their collection free of charge, as this is the author’s wish, endorsed by the board of directors.  The Board gave him the freedom to choose a website, and, without the slightest hesitation, Marcel chose the website of his closest French friend, Jean-Michel EYTORFF, with whom he has shared a lasting and sincere friendship for nearly 25 years. Jean-Michel, in addition to his dedication and integrity, is a world-class breeder and ornithologist who regularly excels at the major international exhibitions, as well as conducting extensive research into colour mutations. In particular, he discovered the Yellow-billed and Yellow-winged Greenfinch mutation and wrote the chapters on mutations in Marcel’s monographs on Greenfinches and Siskin. Notably, he entrusted the world premiere of this mutation to *L’Ornithologue*. Furthermore, Marcel has always maintained close ties of friendship with his French colleagues at the Union Ornithologique Française and C.O.M. France, which still publishes his articles to this day.

Initially, Jean-Michel and Romain will publish on their website – available for free download, we repeat – the monographs on Crossbills, Finches, Bullfinches and, finally, Goldfinches. Next will come the monograph on siskins, followed by that on goldfinches…

At its board meeting on 6 January, the board of the Royal Walloon Ornithological Federation unanimously approved the choice of Jean-Michel and Romain’s website. I would like to take this opportunity to warmly thank my colleagues for the trust they have placed in me – a trust I have strived to live up to for over 42 years – and also for this further demonstration of friendship from Jean-Michel, for which I am deeply grateful, as I am proud and delighted to see them enjoying a new lease of life whilst continuing to serve ornithologists, breeders and my friends at ‘Les Fringilles’ for over 70 years.

  Marcel R u e l l e.
Author of the monographs.
Trustee of the R.F.O.W.
Editor of *L’Ornithologue*.

Marcel Ruelle’s Monographs & Bibliographies