Aussie Finch Forum

27 here today , bit muggy but nice .

Birds are loving this mild summer , Im letting some have a 3rd clutch and removing nest boxes from others .

I find the best policy in this very hot weather is to check the birds early, leave them in peace during the day. With auto waterer that flushes the water dishes midmorning and midafternoon. Then a late check that all is right. Disturbing them in the very hot weather is only distressing to everyone. But my avairys are under a giant cape lilac that was established 30-40 years ago. Which helps considerably. Good luck to all the West Aussies who are expecting 36 - 41 solid for the next week with very late sea breezes. (Hope that means 5pm not 8pm)
LML

We've just rigged up some sprayers to give them a bit of relief throughout the day..

Fingers crossed they all stay well during the weather!! :/

Yep early feeds , a water change mid afternoon and a night time check before dark else leave them alone to deal with it themselves .

Well as it was still 33 indoors and 36 on the back verandah at 8.30 last night the early breeze wish didn't happen. And it's already back to that at 9am this morning.
LML

Forecast is for 39-42 for the next week. Using our misters a couple of times a day. Plus they have the larger water saucers if they want a dip. Used to see the birds go in regularly but have not noticed that in quite a while. Not sure if I am spending less time with birds or they don't bathe any more....

With temps like that I found even 10 litres of water warms up quite a lot, it might be too hot for them. That might account for them not wanting to take a dip. I know as soon as I put cold water in there the BFPF are in straight away.
I use 3 litre plastic milk and orange bottles and freeze them, then just stand those in the trays of water. Cooler water available all day. The birds tend to stand in the cool draft from the ice in the bottles.

you are probably right especially as the dishes are quite shallow so would warm up quickly. Have just put some large ice blocks in there, they won't last much past an hour but will hopefully cool them down. Shame we can't freeze them as fast as they melt!
I am very proud of our gouldians though, who clearly are better adapted to coping with the heat. All the other birds are up high which in a metal aviary means they are much much hotter hotter! however yesterday afternoon all the gouldians had gone to the ground. the sand would be moist so cooler plus heat rises so again cooler near the ground. Good thinking guys!

With this constant hot weather and very late and weak breeze. Am also changing the water morning before the auto flush, but after it has warmed up from the night temp. Rain is only increasing the humidity.
LML

Alice Springs 7-day Weather Forecast Summary Fri
Jan 4 Sat
Jan 5 Sun
Jan 6 Mon
Jan 7 Tue
Jan 8 Wed
Jan 9 Thu
Jan 10 Fri
Maximum 43°C 43°C 43°C 43°C 41°C 41°C 41°C
Minimum 24°C 25°C 26°C 26°C 24°C 22°C 22°C

Its that time of year again- Ouch !
Didnt quite copy and paste right but you get the picture. Currently a pleasant 41ish and overcast.