Forest Fodys

[desertbirds]

I was after some feed back on Forest Fodys.A few years back i purchased a trio and bred a few of these birds.I advertised the young ones and had not one reply.They are apparently not on the register of species that are available in Australia and yet ive seen them on price lists on finch forum.I ended up giving the birds to a friend who still has them and i was wondering if anyone else has had the same dilema with these birds?

[E Orix]

There is still a fair amount of conjecture over these birds.
Since wayback, here in Australia were referred to the two red Weavers available to us as the Madagascar Weaver and The Comoro Weaver
These were also described as such in the book "Finches and Softbilled Birds" by Bates and Busenbark and a plate on page 541 shows this.
Then some 10 years ago Peter Mandry found a book with a description of what we called the Comoro Weaver as a Forest Fody.
He worked on the species and improved it apparently then sold it as the Forest Fody and at far higher price.
I may be wrong but to me it is an over price bird whos value if of good quality should be similar to the Madagascar Weaver,under $200
Recently there has been many references about these two birds all saying they are Fodies, this is true but we use Common local names and those that are comfortable with Madagascar and Comoro should be able to use them.
We have several local names that have been changed over time ,Aberdeens is an accepted name yet it should be Amerdine from memory.
The Grenadier Weaver(Aust.) is called the Orange Bishop (Africa) and in many books as well
So its your choice but I doubt if I would lay out the money being asked for Forest Fodies.

[desertbirds]

Thanks for your reply.I was one of the people that paid the inflated price,lesson learnt.I saw on the price list for diferent states that they were still advertised for a $1000 a pair and i thought it was interesting to say the least.I bought them at the time as i coulnt get hold of Orange Bishop weavers.I asked a few breeders about Comoro`s and they said the comoro was white-ish on the belly.The Fodys i had were grey in that area.I also had people telling me of their murderous reputation but i saw none of that from the birds i kept.Nice birds but as suggested probably worth a few hundred a pair.

[Jayburd]

I have heard of them, love them and would have bought some!!!! ah well late now good luck!

[E Orix]

As I said Peter did some work on them, but they are not in the same class as the Orange Black Weavers.
Jayburd your new aviary is far far too small, for all the birds you love and want I think you will need
at least 10 aviaries and most likely even more than that. But get the first up and worry about the rest further along.

[Jayburd]

hahahaha ah I know I know but it IS nice to dream

[Mickp]

life in Canberra is going to be scary when Jay finally wakes up from his dreams and starts building lots of aviaries.
there wont be any building materials available for anyone else, let alone any spare birds for miles around.

take your time Jay, you have plenty of years to get it right and achieve what you really want

[jusdeb]

There was a little Jayburd who lived in a zoo ,
with so many finches he didnt know what to do.

Has visions of Lake Burleigh Griffin surrounded by aviaries and the Jayman as caretaker .

[Jayburd]

nah the lake is gonna be a big aviary for penguins and seabirds oops shouldn'da said that

[Myzomela]

So Jaybird,

You'll be right in winter,

But how do you plan to refrigerate Lake Burley Griffin in summer???