Aussie Finch Forum

It's raining. The Gouldians are out getting happily soaked just by standing in the rain and fluttering, but the Tricoloured Parrot Finches are doing something I've never seen - they are balancing in the middle of the broad leaves of an Illawarra Flame Tree and fluttering around there. They are using the big leaves to capture more of the splashing water, as a kind of very shallow bath! Cute.

I would video it to show you but I don't feel like getting wet... I am watching with binoculars from the house.

They have a perfectly good aviary bath to use, but apparently there's nothing quite like a proper shower.

You have a Flame Tree inside your aviary . Wow, you've got lucky birds but catching them must be fun.

I assume that the flame tree (Brachychiton) is not large enough to flower but if it does keep in mind the flowers are poisonous, as are most parts of the tree. I lost a pair of kakarikis a while ago as they were eating the flowers as they fell onto the aviary. A pic of the tree would confirm it is a "Flame Tree".

Finchy wrote:I am watching with binoculars from the house.

Glad to hear Im not the only one who does that!

Yes, it's a small grafted Flame Tree in a pot. It flowered 5 years ago but never again since!

I had no idea it was poisonous though . I thought I had my complete list of poisonous plants...but apparently not.

You probably already have, but Google it and find out more.