Marie Russell became interested in canaries in 2000, when she purchased her first trio of American Singers from Mike Grohman of Michigan and a Roller male from Jessie Durkin. She became “hooked” during her first year of exhibiting, despite having only a single male American Singer to show- and he refused to sing even once at any of the four shows he attended that year!

Marie is a member of the national ASC; ASC Chapters 6, 22, and 32; and the NCBS. She is located in southeastern Michigan.

Marie has been involved with DRAGON, the Michigan-based chapter of the American Singers Club since 2001. She has served the club in numerous capacities, including as President, newsletter editor, website editor, and librarian. She has also served the Chicago ASC chapter as newsletter editor. Marie also works a number of shows in the Midwest by serving as American Singer section show secretary.

In 2004 Marie developed a website- www.americansingercanary.com - dedicated to the American Singer canary and to providing assistance to novice breeders. The website enjoyed the company of over 25,000 visitors in the first 18 months of its existence. After receiving numerous requests from customers, visitors to the website, and fellow fanciers she wrote and published a book entitled The Practical Canary Handbook- a Guide to Breeding and Keeping Canaries, which sold out its first edition in less than 6 months and continues to be available through commercial booksellers such as Amazon.com, Borders, and others. The book has received a great deal of critical acclaim from a number of experienced American Singer fanciers, who have called The Practical Canary Handbook the single best book on the subject they have ever read. The website for The Practical Canary Handbook is www.practicalcanary.com. She is presently working on her second book, which will be dedicated entirely to American Singer canaries and has a tentative release date of late 2007.

Marie is thankful to have had the support and encouragement of a number of American Singer Master Breeders who have graciously shared their experience and knowledge with her. She is happy to provide similar support to novice fanciers- you may contact her via email at kanarykrazy@chartermi.net.