Fantasy finches

31 May 2009, 22:23

What species have you always fantasised about keeping?

Ever since I was a kid I wanted pintailed whydahs - I was fascinated by the plumage, the behaviour, their parasitic breeding....
I'm thrilled to see they're around still in Oz, although a bit steep at $1500 a pair.
Maybe one day I'll get some!

31 May 2009, 22:27

Yep, Pintailed wydahs for me too. I am building my colony of St Helenas for this purpose. Just have to convince the wife to let me start building my new aviaries.

31 May 2009, 22:35

You'll have to let us know how you go!

Here's an article from an Aussie pintail breeder:

http://www.feathered.flyer.co.uk/finche ... hydah.html

01 Jun 2009, 08:38

red eared and beautiful firetails are for me.only a few years from reality.as I will start building their avairys next year.

01 Jun 2009, 18:27

They're lovely looking birds, but they need a lot of privacy.

01 Jun 2009, 20:14

My fanasy finch I saw today down on the IRRI farm here in Los Banos. There were 5 birds and what looked like a couple of juveniles. Although I was too far to get a good look they were definitely Estrilid finches feeding on seed barnyard grass and they were arterial blood red and black and somewhat larger than a strawberry finch (Last seen here 2002 and presumed extinct). My best guess is i) an undescribed parrot finch, ii) the long-lost local strawb, iii) dyed juvenile chestnut munias (Lonchura atricapilla). During festivals here the locals sell dyed spice finched in a dull red or green but these birds weren't like that. If this birds is a new parrot finch or Straw then that's what I want. I'm going with a couple of disapproving twitchers on the weekend so I hope to confirm the ID as one of these guys has seen them too and I didn't believe!

01 Jun 2009, 20:19

Ah your a twitcher Greg.had one here on the weekend.took hundreds of photos, mainly at my fathers cause he ran out of time.He left a few bird call cds.i will listen to on the weekend.

01 Jun 2009, 20:34

my wish is the same as Gomer's although not as close to coming true. red eared & beautiful firetails are what I want. would happily give up all of my other birds for a pair of each

01 Jun 2009, 21:57

What's the attraction?

01 Jun 2009, 22:12

i am the same the red ears and beautiful firetails. i have had pretty much what i wanted . they are high on the list but where i am at currently, theres no room. but there are a few softbills i would love to get . i think i just have a thing for birds that are hard to sex or to find.... pete