Escalating interest in Native Softbills?

[garymc]

Over the past few weeks I have had an amazing number of people (around 20 (compared to previous seasons, where although everything found new homes eventually it did take a while)) enquiring as to the availability of native softbills, particularly the fairy-wrens and chats.

Being somewhat of a country bumpkin, with limited contact with the broader avicultural community I am interested to here other opinions/thoughts on whether there is an increase in interest in these species in the wider conmmunity.

[Jayburd]

I agree with the amount of interest now,
Just today at my new workplace I saw some white-browed scrubwrens and superb fairy wrens in the big aviary that had not been there previously!

[Lukec]

I think there has always been a fair amount of interest but just limited information on Husbandry and the perception by most is that the softbills are extremely hard to keep.

I think what's improving interest in them is the increased knowledge in breeding livefood and articles and forums showing how interesting they really are.

A good book or video by an Aussie would also help promote further.

Softbill keepers are also like a secret society, or at least in Sydney they are from what I have seen.

[E Orix]

There are a couple of reasons,
The availability of live food has offset a major hurdle.
This availability has also seen a marked increase in interest in the Weaver family.
The Softbills are different from the normal run of finches and there is the challenge
in just keeping them let alone successful breeding.
With more people keeping and breeding them their availability increases.
Also more is being writen about them as well which pricks peoples interest.
I hope the interest continues for along time.

[arthur]

Softbill keepers are also like a secret society, or at least in Sydney they are from what I have seen.

Have you tried to 'infiltrate' this 'society' by joining a softbill club

90% of bird-men(persons), a reflection of society in general, are nice people

[Lukec]

Softbill keepers are also like a secret society, or at least in Sydney they are from what I have seen.

Have you tried to 'infiltrate' this 'society' by joining a softbill club

90% of bird-men(persons), a reflection of society in general, are nice people

hahahha no i wouldnt say i have tried to infiltrate

However i once attended a club meeting that was held at a gentlemens place near gladesville as a mate of mine provided a talk at, the blokes that attended seemed like a top bunch and not long after i turned 18 and found a passion for the other bird typ and lost touch.

6yrs later tried looking for some softbill clubs but havnt found any.

Do you know of any?

[garymc]

I think I can relate to some of the issues that Luke has come across, but once the door has been opened (or just knowing where to find the doors) most are amongst the most helpful of bird people that you could ever meet.

I think co-operation between softbill breeders is far more critical than finch breeders for a number of reasons. Amongst these

1/You can't just pick up a book and learn (apart from Rosemary Huttons). Other breeders are a great source for sounding out ideas.
With relatively so few having being kept (over the years) it is a relatively new field.

2/ Locating and purchasing the initial stock

3/ Developing ongoing co-operative breeding programmes. Most of the softbills are territorial so aviary space (particularly from season to season) can and does become a major issue. Hence you tend to dispose of a lot of the youngsters and when you lose one of a breeding pair locating a replacement isn't always easy. Alternately whats the point of someone having a hen on one side of the country and someone else having a cock on the other side

For me personally the more capable people that are encouraged to diversify down the softbill path the better and easier it is for softbill breeders as a whole

[dano_68]

Hi Gary,

there has also been a big surge of interest here in Qld. One factor though is we cannot keep many of the softbills that those in other states of Aus keep and this has created a real ruckus! Problem is the government is not reviewing the law for another 6 years, so will not even listen until then!!

Anyway, I think the new interest is from most of what people have already said, but also from new style magazines like Just Finches and Softbills. I know this mag who was mainly bought by finch breeders has opened thier eyes/minds to a whole new area.

I for one do not find the softbills tempting, so I am very happy to stay with finches!

I do know some reputable breeders of softbills here in Brisbane so I could hook you up with them, however something tells me you already know them lol (Ian B, Danny B??)

[Jayburd]

I. B. ... scarlet honeyeaters mMMM

[desertbirds]

Having kept a pair of Crimson Chats for 12 months i think there is some misconception as to the difficulty in keeping some softbills that are available.They require live food but so do many of our finches.The chats and wrens are incredibly interesting aviary birds and its hard go to past a Splendid Wren in full colour.Hopefully thats a trend that continues Garymc and its good to hear these birds are becoming sought after.Would you say that the Crimson chat would be a good place for someone to start if they were interested in softbills.They seem to be very robust,colourful and always on the go.