Book about Softbill management

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Pete Sara
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Jay its a very good book the Australian softbill management by Rosmary Hutton , I have had it for years and keep going back to it, like Gary says there is a chapter on the inland there also splendid wrens , red capped robins , which are good to start with and the orange chat , but who needs a book when you can ask Gary....also has a chapter on live food, its well worth the read.....pete
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Jayburd
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Thanks Gary :D :D

Just a few questions and comments/info:

So I plan to build and plant out a habitat aviary matching to a large extent their habitat in the wild. (this suits because most of the other species I plan to keep are inland as well). While my aviary is small (2.9 x 2.7m) I plan to have some closed - off areas, and lots of little hiding places. Would that be suitable? I know it's under the required size you listed, but it's all I've got.

when I say closed - off areas, I mean there will be a closed shelter, and I plan to get some bits of big - holed wooden rose lattice and fence in some areas for privacy. There will be Lantana in some of these areas, as not all the finches I plan to keep are inland!

The floor will be red gravel in some areas, with sand patches both in sunny spots and under trees and grasses for shade, dust bathing and ground - bird nesting.

The aviary is in full sun in the morning, and partial sun in the afternoon, coming back to full sun in the evening.
There will also be a small pond about 90cm square.
garymc wrote:but feeding may need to be done externally
what do you mean by externally? I would be in the aviary sometimes, for various things like feeding, cleaning, etc.
garymc wrote:If you do eventually go along this path it is good to know that if the cock bird hops of the eggs for a break he will cover the eggs with rocks and leaves and sticks giving them an abandoned look. Then when he returns he clears them all off and starts sitting again.
Yes I read that in Mark Shepard's book (Aviculture In Australia). I will have to be careful when walking around!

As for feeding, I have access to mealworms, termites and I'm still arguing the maggots out with dad. :roll:
Obviously the quail being there seed/water/softfood/livefood will all be provided at ground level, and probably above for the finches.

That's a pretty good price. Something like I would expect for a bird not common in aviculture.

Do you know anyone else in Australia who breeds them?
Julian

Birdwatcher and finch-keeper.

Feel free to check out my photos here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/lewinsrail/
And my birding antics here: http://worthtwointhebushbirding.blogspot.com.au/
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Jayburd
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Thanks both of you, didn't see the other posts before I posted mine :oops:

Gary, that clears that up, thanks! cleaning will basically be washing down a few perches, maybe spraying a few bushes with the hose to clean off, a bit of scrubbing on walls, and a light rake on the gravel. Shouldn't disturb them too much. Of course cleaning will be kept to a minimum when birds are breeding.
garymc wrote:I would however do away with the pond (other opinions appreciated) I think theyproblems that they can generate far outweigh the benefits. Is is certainly not a must for the dotterals. The red gravel floor should be ideal.
I like the pond idea, mainly because it's a place to bathe and drink in a natural setting. Also I hear that Golden Song Sparrows (which I plan to keep in a number of years) like to dunk their nesting material :? , and ponds would be better than the water dish!
Therefore I would prefer to put one in while building then to put in in later when there are birds in the aviary.
garymc wrote:f you can maintain a good, regular supply of termites, I wouldn't bother with the maggots. Rather than trying to make more work for yourself and less time to enjoy the birds - stick to the white ants. They are in my opinion the best form of livefood available. I use maggots only because it is not possible to get a good, reliable supply of white ants locally.
yes I have access to a good supply of termites on a friend's farm just outside Canberra. Living in a suburban area however, the termites would have to be snap frozen and then thawed out later to be fed to the birds.
garymc wrote:The red gravel floor should be ideal.
Awesome :D
garymc wrote:There are a few people that keep and breed them. I personally know of two others in Perth and five in SA and NSW.
Cool, how close to Canberra are the ones in NSW? I only know of two, you and the Healsville Sanctuary :)
garymc wrote:Worth getting a hold of Rosemary Huttons Australian Softbill Management - there is a good chapter on the inlands dotterals in that
poitta wrote:Jay its a very good book the Australian softbill management by Rosmary Hutton , I have had it for years and keep going back to it, like Gary says there is a chapter on the inland there also splendid wrens , red capped robins , which are good to start with and the orange chat , but who needs a book when you can ask Gary....also has a chapter on live food, its well worth the read.....pete
Thanks guys, will be asking for a copy for christmas ;) :D
Julian

Birdwatcher and finch-keeper.

Feel free to check out my photos here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/lewinsrail/
And my birding antics here: http://worthtwointhebushbirding.blogspot.com.au/
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garymc
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Yeh Jayburd,

Don't know what happened there. Posted a reply to your posting only to have mine come in before yours. Glad you figured it out though

The guy I know in NSW live in or near Bowral - don't know how that sits in relation to you. The Gorge wildlife park in SA is another that keep them.
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Jayburd
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:? all a bit confusing

ok thanks! :D Yeah I've heard of Gorge Road, read about in th Just Finches magazine last year :)
Julian

Birdwatcher and finch-keeper.

Feel free to check out my photos here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/lewinsrail/
And my birding antics here: http://worthtwointhebushbirding.blogspot.com.au/
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finchbreeder
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The forum seemed to have a severe dose of the hiccups yesterday. :oops: Posts went through, but not necessarily in the order they were posted. :roll:
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Jayburd
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He Gary, can 2 pair of dotterels go in the same aviary? or if not, is my aviary big enough to split into 2 sections each 1.35m wide? Just want to be able to breed unrelated young.
Or I guess I could see if anyone else here who has a license for them might want some...
Julian

Birdwatcher and finch-keeper.

Feel free to check out my photos here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/lewinsrail/
And my birding antics here: http://worthtwointhebushbirding.blogspot.com.au/
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garymc
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Jayburd, what you have just asked relates to one of the major problems with keeping softbills in general. Most are terratorial hence one pair per aviary, although some may exist as family groups until the next breeding season.

I think what I have found is, and this takes time, to build up a network of aviculturists whereby you have access to additional/unrelated stock to make up pairs for any further interested parties, rather than try and go the whole way independently. Patience here really is the key.

I have run dotterals together in the off season with no problems - since aviary space hasn't been a problem for me yet, I haven't had to try breeding them in this way. I will not say that dividing the aviary will not work, but I would have serious doubts that it could. Also the smaller aviary floor space would further give the dotterals that closed in trapped feeling (claustrophobia??) that they do not seem to appreciate.
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Jayburd
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ok, will see if there's any interest at my next club meeting.
I hold a license (I originally had it for my Double bars), and under that license is where Dotterels go. I have my license for another 3 years :D

ok, it was kind of a last resort anyway, big is always better than 2 small I reckon (in my circumstances at least)

Hmmm, maybe I can convince Crazy Cuban.. ;)
Julian

Birdwatcher and finch-keeper.

Feel free to check out my photos here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/lewinsrail/
And my birding antics here: http://worthtwointhebushbirding.blogspot.com.au/
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MadHatter
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Jay mate, I gotta tell ya, I reckon you are being too ambitious trying to squeeze a pair of Inland Dotterels in that aviary, let alone 2 pair. True, I have no personal experience with this species, so take my advice for what it's worth...
I'd say you are better off going for those Little Button Quail you want so much...
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