Aussie Finch Forum

Some random thoughts . . .

1. All of this fits perfectly with my oft stated philosophy: "It is usually easier to ask forgiveness, than to ask permission."

2. Many years ago a forestry ranger lived up the street from me. Every so often 2 or 3 large termite mounds would mysteriously appear on my front lawn. Equally as many times a 6 pack would appear on his front steps. Corruption, Qld style??

3. Same guy found himself in charge of the local NPWS while regular boss was on leave. No corruption here, but a mate of mine just happened to go to the office for a permit to import 'Baldy' Pigeons from NSW . . strictly taboo in those 'enlightened' times.

Not really knowing the rules, being a forestry man, and working on the assumption that if 'Baldies' were kosher in NSW then it should be OK, a permit was issued. The 'proverbial' hit the fan when the regular trump returned, and my mate copped a bit of heat . . but a permit was a permit.

As they say in the classics: 'Timing is everything'.

That short period was probably the first and last time that a sensible person was in charge of the local office. Common sense, Qld style!!

4. If I were to find myself charged with "The Illegal Taking of Whiteants", I would try for a hearing in front of a jury . . couldn't see a jury of normal Aussies convicting anybody of said crime . . especially in states where duck-shooting is legal . . but then again, normal people are getting hard to find

Don't believe everything they tell you at the zoo. It's amazing what the FOI will turn up: Permit & Tenders to collect termites 2012 for Perth Zoo

There ya go. I only heard about it cos a friend did some work there (volunteering I think) and spent most of their time banging bits of wood together to collect the termites

Well I never . . . !!

arthur wrote:Some random thoughts . . .

1. All of this fits perfectly with my oft stated philosophy: "It is usually easier to ask forgiveness, than to ask permission."

2. Many years ago a forestry ranger lived up the street from me. Every so often 2 or 3 large termite mounds would mysteriously appear on my front lawn. Equally as many times a 6 pack would appear on his front steps. Corruption, Qld style??

3. Same guy found himself in charge of the local NPWS while regular boss was on leave. No corruption here, but a mate of mine just happened to go to the office for a permit to import 'Baldy' Pigeons from NSW . . strictly taboo in those 'enlightened' times.

Not really knowing the rules, being a forestry man, and working on the assumption that if 'Baldies' were kosher in NSW then it should be OK, a permit was issued. The 'proverbial' hit the fan when the regular trump returned, and my mate copped a bit of heat . . but a permit was a permit.

As they say in the classics: 'Timing is everything'.

That short period was probably the first and last time that a sensible person was in charge of the local office. Common sense, Qld style!!

4. If I were to find myself charged with "The Illegal Taking of Whiteants", I would try for a hearing in front of a jury . . couldn't see a jury of normal Aussies convicting anybody of said crime . . especially in states where duck-shooting is legal . . but then again, normal people are getting hard to find

....I may well know of the people yopu speak of Arthur..........

Dead Right........timing is everything............and true, you'd be hard pressed to get convicted......but as I said to the guy at Cessnock, if youre commercial, everyone seems to think youre Gina Reinhart and wants to go ya!

Arthur, youre baldy pidgeon story is a great example of "its not always what you know but who you know".........lyrebird tastes better though

GregH wrote:Don't believe everything they tell you at the zoo. It's amazing what the FOI will turn up: Permit & Tenders to collect termites 2012 for Perth Zoo

Bl**dy hell.....I just read how much the supply tender was worth........$137,000!!! ..........I'll send 'em over to Perth on the train individually wrapped for that much!

Probably easier to train a goose to lay golden termites not eggs. Saves the hassle with import/export licenses, quarantine of introduced fauna, fumigation of residue soil, ensuring the humane treatment and ensuring the safety of live stock in transit into that country (remember the recent controversy with cattle shipped into Asia).

Just be thankful we're breeding finches that they are only insectivorous while breeding. Numbats, while cute, are certainly beyond my resources to keep and breed. Termites on the other hand can be kept and bred in small numbers if you've got the patience and the right species. I've scoured the internet and found a few sites that might interest those that are worried about constantly raiding wild stock in your area. These are American sites and they rely on a species that has no queen - I don't know if we have such a species in Australia but that's for somone else to look up

Check out:
How to make a termite box
e-how: How to raise termites
Arachnoboards: How to culture termites
Cincinnati Zoo: Termite trap

I may well know of the people you speak of Arthur

This chap is long gone . . I don't tell tales out of school about people who are still around

As for lyrebird tasting better . . When we were kids, times were hard and money scarce, the weekly menu always featured some kind of game . . wild duck, brush turkey, bush pigeons, hare, wallaby . . and I hated the lot

Anyone know if the new birdsrus are still providing this serveice , there website still states coming soon.