Has Anyone got a good story?....
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Danny
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- Posts: 794
- Joined: 02 May 2011, 08:04
- Location: Sunshine Coast, QLD
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I've been cleaning the shed and aviaries the last couple of weeks and a few things have jogged my memory. Just this morning I went to pick up some birds with my trusty old carry cage with BROWN emblazened across the top of a black box and I recalled that the first time old Keith Wass commented "I think you'll find its a black cage" was in 1984. Its a good solid box. I also have a blue ice cream bucket thats been my termite/maggot serving bucket since I last lived at home so it must be at least 18 years old and still doesn't have a crack in it.
I recall one day when my old mate Trevor Wilson asked me as a lowly 15 year old to help catch out some birds in one of his massive aviaries. We strung a mist net from side to side, yelled "boo" and 160 + Silverbills hit the net at once. About 20 seconds later Trevor pointed out he'd left his glasses in the car and I'd have to untangle them, while he sat back and drank a beer.
When I was 18 I had an old HK holden with a clear perspex wind visor on the drivers side. I remember picking up a box of birds at the airport, sitting them on the seat beside me and half way down the highway saw the cage door fall off. A hen melba flew out, made a beeline for the window but got trapped in the visor. I managed to drive with my knees, with one hand where the cage door used to be and the other catching the hen from the visor. All made it home.
I have a notorious record with airports. I had to pick up a box of aberdeens (back in 1982 when they where $1.80 a kilo) on my way to work. The front of the clinic where I was nursing at the time was a row of shops with big open glass doors. I pulled up out the front carpark, jumped out of the car followed by two hen Aberdeens (another dodgy door) - one circled the car and then flew back inside the car door, the other went straight up and then turned and flew straight inside the clinic doors with a full waiting room and managed to get caught without being eaten by the half dozen dogs in the waiting room.
Remininscing. I must be getting old.
I recall one day when my old mate Trevor Wilson asked me as a lowly 15 year old to help catch out some birds in one of his massive aviaries. We strung a mist net from side to side, yelled "boo" and 160 + Silverbills hit the net at once. About 20 seconds later Trevor pointed out he'd left his glasses in the car and I'd have to untangle them, while he sat back and drank a beer.
When I was 18 I had an old HK holden with a clear perspex wind visor on the drivers side. I remember picking up a box of birds at the airport, sitting them on the seat beside me and half way down the highway saw the cage door fall off. A hen melba flew out, made a beeline for the window but got trapped in the visor. I managed to drive with my knees, with one hand where the cage door used to be and the other catching the hen from the visor. All made it home.
I have a notorious record with airports. I had to pick up a box of aberdeens (back in 1982 when they where $1.80 a kilo) on my way to work. The front of the clinic where I was nursing at the time was a row of shops with big open glass doors. I pulled up out the front carpark, jumped out of the car followed by two hen Aberdeens (another dodgy door) - one circled the car and then flew back inside the car door, the other went straight up and then turned and flew straight inside the clinic doors with a full waiting room and managed to get caught without being eaten by the half dozen dogs in the waiting room.
Remininscing. I must be getting old.
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wagga
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- Posts: 678
- Joined: 24 Apr 2010, 22:08
- Location: Port Macquarie NSW 2444
- Location: PORT MACQUARIE NSW
Danny's story has reminded me of another story.
About tens years ago I was mowing a customers lawn on my ride on mower when a yellow object landed right in front of me. Suddenly my eyes focused on the yellow object, yep its a canary. It was feeding on the insects disturbed by the mower. I simply jumped off the mower and picked it up. So I thought to myself 'what am I going to do with a canary'. I put it in my top shirt pocket for safe keeping until I finished the lawn. What next to do, I am half through my work load for the day and its nearly 40 degrees. Yes you might of guessed it, put the canary in the glove box until I get home. I arrive home with no where to put, pre finch days, yes you might be thinking, just put it in the major mitchell aviary. Only for the night of course, 2 months latter the canary was flying happily with the cockatoos, 25mm x 25mm mesh, problem solved.
My wife and children were upset when I told them this story some 6 weeks after the incident. I for some reason I cant understand why they think I am some kind of bird nut.
About tens years ago I was mowing a customers lawn on my ride on mower when a yellow object landed right in front of me. Suddenly my eyes focused on the yellow object, yep its a canary. It was feeding on the insects disturbed by the mower. I simply jumped off the mower and picked it up. So I thought to myself 'what am I going to do with a canary'. I put it in my top shirt pocket for safe keeping until I finished the lawn. What next to do, I am half through my work load for the day and its nearly 40 degrees. Yes you might of guessed it, put the canary in the glove box until I get home. I arrive home with no where to put, pre finch days, yes you might be thinking, just put it in the major mitchell aviary. Only for the night of course, 2 months latter the canary was flying happily with the cockatoos, 25mm x 25mm mesh, problem solved.
My wife and children were upset when I told them this story some 6 weeks after the incident. I for some reason I cant understand why they think I am some kind of bird nut.
Life in Port Macquarie is the ultimate Aussie sea change lifestyle.
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E Orix
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- Posts: 2740
- Joined: 29 May 2009, 23:30
- Location: Howlong on NSW/Vic Border 30km from Albury
- Location: Howlong NSW
I was collecting swamp grass around Lake Hume in an area I thought was public land. Well a reasonably old man walked up with a
shotgun nestled under his arm.He just asked what on earth I was doing on his property.When I said I was sorry that I thought it was public land
and was collecting nesting grass he laughed and walked off. It was hot and within 5 minutes he drove up on his tractor with a cold drink and a rake.
Yes he felt sorry for me and decided I needed a hand.I collected there for many years until they put a chanel through and no more grass.
I was taking some King Quail home and some how 6 got out inside my car, four were caught easily but 5 and 6 went under the seats some where and I had no hope of finding them and I had no intention of pulling seats out.It took to the next day before both had been caught after they appeared to drink and feed from the containers I put on the front passanger floor area.I have been very careful from then on.
shotgun nestled under his arm.He just asked what on earth I was doing on his property.When I said I was sorry that I thought it was public land
and was collecting nesting grass he laughed and walked off. It was hot and within 5 minutes he drove up on his tractor with a cold drink and a rake.
Yes he felt sorry for me and decided I needed a hand.I collected there for many years until they put a chanel through and no more grass.
I was taking some King Quail home and some how 6 got out inside my car, four were caught easily but 5 and 6 went under the seats some where and I had no hope of finding them and I had no intention of pulling seats out.It took to the next day before both had been caught after they appeared to drink and feed from the containers I put on the front passanger floor area.I have been very careful from then on.