I knew a guy who used to bring home white ant nests to feed out to his finches. He would keep them in metal garbage bins with vaseline (petroleum jelly) smeared around inside the top to keep them from escaping. He reckons it wasn't fool proof- once they got out and ate the fence!
Bit of a surprise when I went into my aviary today, as you can see below. Despite a large bulge around the mid-section, all birds were present and accounted for. I suspect my aviary is rat-free at present!
seeing Gouldian finches were being discussed before, just thought I'd throw this in here... Uncertainty surrounds rare finch future - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
I went to lunch today with a few old mates to an RSL club in Sydney's northern suburbs. The outer wall of the club had a large aviary attached (probably about 15 metres long and about 5 metres wide.) It contained (all in together) dozens of zebra finches, several wonga pigeons, at least two bleeding-heart pigeons, a blue and gold macaw, 7 or 8 sun conures, a few regent parrots, a pair of superb parrots and, to my amazement, a colony of Torresian pigeons and a pair of pied stilts! Where would an RSL club get (and get permission to keep) pied stilts? Everything seemed to be in good condition and there were sufficient growing plants and dry brush, and several feeding stations. The aviary was fully roofed - heavy mesh on the outer side and glass windows in to the club.
I believe softbill permits arent that hard to get in NSW, and now of several big breeders there, with stilts. We regularly had stilts in the shop for sale. I wonder which RSL I will go to for lunch next time in in Sydney
that sounds like a intresting mix of birds. and i think that on a level 2 native bird license u can keep softbills or level 3, im a little bit scetcny bout it but as i have not really paid attention to it as i dont keep or intend to keep native softbills, i am not certain as they changed the licencing structure in nsw not to long ago, and i have not looked into it to much. But i do know to keep birds on the second level u have to have nat parks go over and check ur aviarys .
The Torresian's, Wongas and Stilts are all available on a Bird Class 2 License (or B2 - Advanced Bird License, as they are called nowadays). Hix
All of those animals at the RSL would have to be kept under an exhibited animals licence - under establishments where animal exhibition is not the primary purpose - as the animals are on display to the public through dpi, Not National Parks.
Do Partridges count as aviculture. I tried moving 28, 6 week old partridges from a brooder yard to the large run today and had two fly out and escape. I caught one in a net during the afternoon but could not catch the other. I have just got back in from looking for him with a torch. I thought I would not have a hope as they are well camoflarged and remain still but found him quickly and got him back with the others.
yep partridges count. chukars? i have heard of there being another species in australia - think it was hungarians?
hi any one going to orange bird show on saturday i love going to them u get to see heaps of diffrent species that birdshops dont hold.
Further on the bird collection at North Ryde RSL Club:- According to tonight's TV news, three hooded men cut their way into the aviary at 4 a.m. this morning and stole the male Blue and Gold Macaw. The club has offered $1000 reward for information.