Aussie Finch Forum

A friend of mine has let me photograph his free flight aviary today. I tried to get a close up photo of his sparrows, as they are very shy this was impossible. I did snap a couple of long range shots. The pied hen is paired up with a normal cockbird. Last year they produced 2 chicks both cocks. This season 1st nest 2 chicks and rebuilding at this moment. All the chicks have light/white legs. Note that these birds are not for sale.

Just for interest this aviary is about 10m x 20m x 8m which is lightly planted and no roofing. The birds are feed a basic seed diet, peas and corn, no live food or supplements. The aviary houses gouldians, cubans, tricolour nuns, jacarinis, gold finches, and a very large colony, 70 plus, madagascan weavers. Yes thats right at least 70 weavers. At this moment I counted 14 weaver nests not including other bird nests.

Sorry, Here is some photos,
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http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/ad93 ... rds028.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/ad93 ... rds035.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/ad93 ... rds033.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

WOW That is one mother of an aviary! That hen sparrow is very heavily pied.

Its bigger than my house and backyard. The amazing thing is there no protection from the elements except for a small aviary on the side used for seed, as a catching cage and nest boxes for the gouldians. Yes the hen is well marked I initially did not recognise her as a sparrow.