After a break from keeping the charismatic dusky munia, in 2016 NEIL BICKELL decided to start up with this species again. But the road ahead wasn’t easy, with problems sourcing new stock, breeding challenges and messy nests.
FOREIGN BIRDS
HAVING sold all of my dusky munias (Lonchura fuscans) in 2012 and then deciding I wanted to take up this species again in 2016, I found it extremely difficult to get hold of some new stock. This is a very underrated mannikin, probably due to the birds being rather dull in colour – a mottled black and brown all over with a black and silver beak.
After putting a few posts on various groups on Facebook with no joy, I had more or less given up trying to find any. Thankfully, only a week or so before the 2016 National Exhibition my prayers were answered. Dave Harris, a fellow Waxbill Finch Society (WFS) member and chairman of the Australian Finch Society (AFS), had a pair available that I could collect from Stafford.
Whenever you decide to keep a new bird species I fully recommend doing as much research as you can. A phone call or a few emails to the breeder can usually help tenfold compared to what you may find online. You can’t always believe what you read on the World Wide Web either. Luckily, I can look back on several years’ experience keeping these great little munias and breeding more than 50 chicks.
When I picked the birds up from Stafford, I can only describe the feeling as a kid in a sweet shop. I was so pleased to have a pair again. It does make me think that I should give it some real thought if I decide to ever sell up or move on from a particular species again, because it is not always that easy to get hold of certain birds. I was very lucky.
Denne historien er fra February 14, 2018-utgaven av Cage & Aviary Birds.
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Denne historien er fra February 14, 2018-utgaven av Cage & Aviary Birds.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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The World's Best-Known Hummingbird?
Intensively studied, the gem-like Anna’s hummingbird is a welcome visitor to the gardens of America’s most populous state: California. Bill Naylor investigates its life history
The charm of the English Cinnamon
Despite its long and complicated history, the true Cinnamon canary is still with us – in the hands of a tiny group of breeders. DONALD SKINNER-REID reckons it deserves wider appreciation
Spangles: a personal overview
FRED WRIGHT relates a budgie story of over-exploitation, consequent problems and abundant potential for the future
New converts to old breeds
Old and rare canaries have a reputation for adding fresh interest and challenge to the hobby. PETE HOOK and NICK JOY agree, and explain the birds’ charm to Dave Brown
Themed aviaries are a hit with the public at annual Stafford show
DECORATIVE AVIARY DISPLAYS from a CBS and an online bird keeping advice group were voted in the top three by visitors for the inaugural Stafford Aviary Competition.
Pieds with potential
More than just a lesser variety, the dominant pied will introduce challenge and change into most studs, reckons CLIVE WAKEMAN. Here he discusses pairings to try and others to avoid
Club News
Welcome to the club and show pages – the bit that’s all about you Results: convention, specialist & rare and Breeder of the Year
Canaries Month by Month:
With Christmas around the corner, BRIAN KEENAN is well into his winter programme, and reckons he might deserve a nice outcross
Smart Choice, Docile Nature
Dave Brown welcomes the masked grassfinch to his birdroom and shares advice on this lovely Australian species
The truth about the ‘flying toad'
Odd local names and weird superstitions can’t hide the beauty and elegance of the nightjar, a species that has made a fascinating subject in a few zoo collections, reveals BILL NAYLOR
