Wild finches

[CQDude]

Well I saw the first wild finches the other day that we have seen since we have been here. I saw a pair of blood finches down in our river block while plowing. (we have a 1000 acre paddock on the comet river about 12k's from the house). I also had to go around an emu on his nest, had 7 eggs in it, but I don't know if he went back after I plowed up the padock all around him. As for the finches, they are the only ones I have seen, but it shows that there must be an odd one around, maybe there was a lot more here once.

As fo mine I am down to one, I'm not getting anymore until I cover the whoe thing in shade cloth or something, kind of defeats the purpose though of sitting on the veranda watching the birds doesn't it ?

[Buzzard-1]

Spent a bit of time around Nebo,Clermont up to Berdigan in the mid to late 80's cant say I saw any come to think of it.

[CQDude]

Spent a bit of time around Nebo,Clermont up to Berdigan in the mid to late 80's cant say I saw any come to think of it.

I have been almost all over the Australian outback over the years and have seen finches in some shape or form almost everywhere I've been, but been surprised by the lack of them around here. I saw a small flock of what were probably zebs or double bars a few weeks ago down around carnarvon gorge, but we were stopped in the car at road works so I couldn't get a good look at them

[finchbreeder]

If there is some dense vegetation round the river, the combination of water and protective vegetation in which to nest would be the reason this particular patch is where they are. And you could possibly increase their numbers by leaving this patch of vegetation and even adding to it with plantings of your own.
LML

[CQDude]

If there is some dense vegetation round the river, the combination of water and protective vegetation in which to nest would be the reason this particular patch is where they are. And you could possibly increase their numbers by leaving this patch of vegetation and even adding to it with plantings of your own.
LML

Yeah the vegetaion stays along the river and all the creeks to protect against wash from the floods. All the country we farm down there is flood plain, we are still fixing up the damage from the floods in Jan,Feb March this year. we didn't plant most of our farm due to washouts and silt deposits. We had over 3000 acres to fix. We have a fair bit of scrub still left along 3 creeks, around the dam and along the river. The river still has water in it this year, but mostly its dry, but our dam covers 500 acres so they can get a drink there. Hopefully I will spot some more soon. If there is 2 there there is bound to be more.

Now to buy some more for my aviary !

[finchbreeder]

Typical Aussie farming. Your side of the country is recovering from floods. And our side is praying for a 2nd good year in the last 8. Drought is almost normal round here. Planting a couple of patches of shrub round the dam would help increase the smaller birdlife.
LML

[jusdeb]

With that much water there is no reason for them to be flocking together for a drink , maybe a bird feeder ( yes its a no no ) or 2 stationed near a quiet , bushy area of the property will attract them .

[kimberley breeder]

I am lucky to live in an area where finches are abundant (Kimberley). I have a feeder up which attracts: Double Bars, Chestnut Mannikins, Crimsons (black bellied), Zebras, Longtails.

I have seen in other areas all of the above plus: Gouldians, Painteds, Yellow Rumps, Masked,Pictorellas and Stars.

I am in Finch heaven up here!!

[Diane]

I have a feeder up which attracts: Double Bars, Chestnut Mannikins, Crimsons (black bellied), Zebras, Longtails.

That would save a bit, you dont have to buy an aviary to have the pleasure of seeing those birds

[CQDude]

Where abouts in the Kimberly are you ? I was in Kununurra from "85 to end '98, farming. We had a huge population of blood finches around the faarm as well as the usual double bars, zebs and chestnuts. There were that many chestnuts they used to near block the sun out when they flew over, lol.

I am lucky to live in an area where finches are abundant (Kimberley). I have a feeder up which attracts: Double Bars, Chestnut Mannikins, Crimsons (black bellied), Zebras, Longtails.

I have seen in other areas all of the above plus: Gouldians, Painteds, Yellow Rumps, Masked,Pictorellas and Stars.

I am in Finch heaven up here!!