It's great to be back to "Finching"

[VinceS]

Yep, started the interest in 70's whilst a teenager in the Blue Mtns, NSW. Helped friends to build aviaries then built my own. Filled it with all the cheap birds. I remember zebs 50c/pair for grey and up to $2.50 for clear whites and fawns, with pieds in between. Couldn't afford any of those "expensive" pairs at $10 and up. Learnt how to trap live birds really well, 300 redheads at a go was easy when learnt how. But then found you had a lot of wild birds that didn't settle well and were expensive to feed, plus couldn't sell them. Opened the door and let them go away, along with anything else that didn't feel like coming back for the regular feeds (about 20%). In those days the size of your aviary was governed by the cost of the wire, when you had some more dosh you bought more wire, and used gum tree poles and scrap corrugated iron to whack another 10-20 m2 or so on.

After leaving home, getting hitched and building a house another aviary gets built on an embankment, planted and with a pond. Had it for 10 years, about 250 birds in it when a) I broke my leg, b) rats followed mice through the embankment, c) a tiger snake followed the rats in, d) the tiger snake punched a hole into the rear of the feed shelter, e) the tiger snake grew to be probably the largest in Australia with this fabulous food source on tap! it took about 5 months all up to realise what was going on, the population to deplete to around 30 something and the tiger snake to have a nasty accident involving some sudden localised lead poisoning. This thing was longer than me (6') and normally they are 4'6" fully grown. A lot of cups of coffee were made for the neighbours who all came round to inspect the predator when (coincidentally) a loud bang was heard to announce its demise.

To be continued (I need 5 posts to read the newsletter!)

[Diane]

Hi welcome to the forum.
Im enjoying your story. So what finches do you have now? Only 4 posts to go

[finches247]

Hi and Welcome to the forum

[SamDavis]

Welocme Vince. My story is similar, but more double bars rather than redheads. I recall bringing them home overnight in a shoe box on the bus/train from Qld.

[ColouredFeathers]

welcome vince to the forum good to have you.

[garyh]

Great story i was enjoying the read ,hope to hear the rest,and welcome,garyh

[Tintola]

OOOOOOOWW Are we gonna like you?

[Pete Sara]

Welcome to the forum..... pete

[west finch]

Well yes had the same experiences with red brows caught hundreds and let them all go .Welcome to the forum

[iaos]

Hi Vince,

Welcome. There are a few Novacastrians on here

Cheers
Ian