FINCH PHOTO GALLERY

[Kdawg]

They were quite a bit smaller than the nun species we currently have.

[arthur]

finch pealii.jpg

PEALE's PARROT FINCH . . Were here in the early 70's, and can recall an article in AA by W.S(?)Gates on successful breeding . . Word of mouth communication regarding those Hunter Valley stalwarts Tom G. and Les M. also succeeding with Peales . . Hard to find now

PINTAILED NONPAREIL . . Much more swish than 'Pintailed Parrotfinch' IMO . . Came on ships way back when . . Diet seemed to have been a problem, with many assuming rightly or wrongly that they needed unhulled rice to survive . .Alan R. (in QFS mag) was quoted as having paid 500 quid a pair for a few of them . . so pre-decimal days, and must have been scarce as that was a lot of money (Alan wasn't short) . . I believe he bred them on and off, but lost his stock in Brisbane floods 1974?? . . Rumoured to be a few about if you look in the right places . .

BAMBOO PARROT FINCH . . Came to notice around the 80's/ 90's?? . . WA seemed to be the place for them, but not really up to speed on these birds . . Same rumours as PTNP's

To Be Continued ...

[Craig52]

Both species are here Arthur, but not sure about the peales. I'm sure they bred too many cock birds but without hens the species suffered badly and may have gone.

[noah.till]

Pintails are definitely here, although I have heard of a pair being kept by an ever so (not) popular 'Stamp collector', and a few gents are trying to purchase them off this fella to put with their current stocks
Here's hoping they succeed......

[arthur]

Thanks Craig . . and Kdawg . . and Orix . . and in advance, any other 'wrinklies'

Please feel free to contribute by adding your knowledge to complement, or contradict my not so reliable memories

[Alf63]

No one seems to have mentioned Orange-cheeks which once again seem to be making a come back.

One of our forum members once had Paradise Whydahs

Alf63

[arthur]

G'Day Alf

I didn't include Orange-Cheeks, because during my 'time' they have always been present; albeit in low numbers . .

I purchased my first pair in the early 70's from a well respected Sydney dealer for $90 . . a bit lower than the 'going rate' because the hen was a little bit plucked

As for P. Whydahs, I was going to include them, but my knowledge of them is limited to the chapter in QFS "The Foreigns" . . and the fact that the last(?) one supposedly died in the Perth Zoo many, many years ago

Please add your knowledge . .



PS . . I still have about a dozen more species to add to my "Gone or Just Forgotten" list . .

[Kdawg]

Four others I can recall from many years ago, green cardinals, indigo bunting, bramble finches and Indian rose finches.

[arthur]

GREY SINGING FINCH . . About 30 years ago a mate from S.A. offered me a cockbird gratis, because he couldn't find a hen . . I couldn't either, so the old bachelor stayed at home . . Only supreme optimists would hold out hope

GREEN AVADAVAT (Strawberry) . . Like the Orange-Breast these little beauties have never disappeared as such; but unlke the waxbill, they have gone from 'Boom to Bust' . . I purchased 3 pair from Ken R. in the Hunter @ $450 in the 80's, and had good success with no plucking in an 18 x 3m aviary half filled with Guinea Grass . . Green Strawberries, for whatever reason(?), were one of the few finch species placed on the NEBRS schedule, but I disagree with those who claim that the inclusion contributed to their demise . . My last 5 pair (housed in a 5 x 5m aviary) were wiped out overnight by their co-tenants, a pair of Superb Wrens . . NEVER put wrens with finches . . The current gene pool is probably not broad enough to see a resurgence . . Last info I had was that a breeder in WA had just about the entire Oz population . .

[noah.till]

I know of 2 fellas with them, one fella with 2 pair and a few cocks, and another fella with a hen as far as I know
Neither have bred any as far as I know, last time I heard, the bloke you mentioned over in WA Arthur is really the only person in the whole of Aus having any success at the moment....