We will start with desertbirds' aviary.
desertbirds has taken an approach to aviculture which I think we could all learn something from. He has successfully supressed the aquisitory impulse that most of us struggle with and rather than stocking his single, well planted aviary of quite enviable proportions with a great variety of species, he has instead selected just a handful of compatable species and maintains only a few breeding pairs so as to maximise their breeding potential. I doubt I could ever exhibit the same level of self-control when it comes to species selection, but the strategy is certainly a sensible one and clearly pays dividends for him as his success with Lesser Redbrows an other species clearly demonstrates.
At the time of my visit, the aviary was stocked with Lesser Red-browed Firetails, Orange-cheeked Waxbills, Bush Budgies and a couple of hen zebra finches.
The Aviary:
The Birds:
Bush Budgie:
Lesser Redbrow:
Orange-cheeked Waxbill:
Zebra Finch:
The Alice Springs Desert Park is a relatively small park, but beautifully laid out and well maintained. It houses only species from the Alice Springs region and features a bird collection that includes many species not seen elsewhere, housed in a mixture of traditional and walk-though aviaries. It also boasts one of the finest nocturnal houses it has ever been my pleasure to visit. If you are ever in The Alice, make sure you set aside a day to visit the park, and be sure to catch the free-flight show (if only for the hordes of spinifex pigeons that come from everywhere for the bird seed the staff scatter around the arena before the show
)Barn Owl:
Black Honeyeater:
Black-chinned Honeyeater (Golden-backed race):
Black-faced Cuckoo-Shrike:
Black-winged Stilt:
Brown Falcon:
Cinnamon Quail-thrush:
Galah:
Orange Chat (Cock)
Red-Backed Kingfisher:
Whistling Kite:
Yellow-rumped Thornbill:
