Double Bar dilemma

[maureen_g]

To my delight I found 3 healthy little DB fledglings last week. It's a smallish aviary with a partition separating off the area where the brush and most nest boxes are. So they are mostly out of my sight. There are 2 pairs of DBs, 2 pair of Painted (one of whom fledged 2 bubs 2 weeks ago and I think the other pair is on eggs) and a pair of Stars. Only one of the male DBs is banded. My dilemma is that I can't possibly catch and put identifying rings on the DB bubs as the parents call them into the nesting area whenever I am near. It would create huge chaos with the other nesting pairs if I was to try and catch them. They are growing so fast and almost the size of the parents already!!!! Should have done it on the first day they fledged when they couldn't fly so fast and were more naiive!!! But I had no idea they would mature so rapidly. Any ideas on where I should go from here would be greatly appreciated. These are my first DB babies and my first Painted

[Pete Sara]

The best bet is to try and catch the adults , put a leg ring on them as it makes it easier for later if you can use a different colour on each so you can identify them the female's or on alternate legs if you have the same colours. As long as you are quick it shouldn't be a problem...Pete

[TomDeGraaff]

Although I don't always practice what I preach, I try to ring my breeders. That way when young mature, the identification quandry doesn't arise.
I wonder if - since you have to catch and ring somebody - you should catch the adults and ring them. Just a thought
Tom

[maureen_g]

Although I don't always practice what I preach, I try to ring my breeders. That way when young mature, the identification quandry doesn't arise.
I wonder if - since you have to catch and ring somebody - you should catch the adults and ring them. Just a thought
Tom

The best bet is to try and catch the adults , put a leg ring on them as it makes it easier for later if you can use a different colour on each so you can identify them the female's or on alternate legs if you have the same colours. As long as you are quick it shouldn't be a problem...Pete

If the adults would be copoperative and get out into the safety cage I might have a chance to catch them but they are guarding those bubs so fiercely and mostly staying in the area where the nests are - the buggers!!! Perhaps if I linger in the aviary for longer than usual they might come out. But if they don't I can't see how I could catch them in that area. They are so freaking fast and suspicious!!!!

[maureen_g]

I had no idea those babies would grow so damned fast!!!! They were half their size a week ago!!! Too many maggots!!! They're awfully cute though when I can catch a glimpse of them.

[finchbreeder]

Sounds like you need to put their maggotts in a small wire cage with a string on the door that you can let down once they go in to pig out. Then you can catch and ring them.
LML

[maureen_g]

Sounds like you need to put their maggotts in a small wire cage with a string on the door that you can let down once they go in to pig out. Then you can catch and ring them.
LML

Aha!!! Now the maggots get put into a box which I have access to from outside the aviary!!!!! I might be able to rig up a door of some description inside. But they are so fast and would never be eating maggots if they see me near. Hmmmm. Food for thought though

[Diane]

But they are so fast and would never be eating maggots if they see me near.

Time to bring out the camouflage gear and hide behind a tree to get the job done.

[NgoDuong]

use the fishing line, tie it loosely so when you pull it, the door shut by itself. then go and hide somewhere and wait.

[maureen_g]

OMG!!!!! Four new DB babies fledged from the second nest in the aviary yesterday I managed to catch and put plastic rings on 2 of the initial bubs (who went into the safety cage and didn't follow dad fast enough) Today I managed to get rings on 2 of the new bubs. Will try and catch the others in the morning. Not such a big deal now as there is just 1 pair of Painteds nesting in the partitioned off area. So I can probably get those bubs without stressing out too many birds