Cordon Bleu (Red Cheek)

Proud to show my 2009 Cordon Bleu (close banded) babies and also African Fire Finch babies. They're some of the best aviary birds in a mixed collection, the male Cordon Bleu and the male African Fire finch showing off their coutship immediately after growing in to adult plumage.

RED FACED PARROT FINCH (erythrura psittacea)

The Red-Faced Parrot Finch (Erythrura Psittacea) - is native in New Caledonia - an island near Queensland coast (Australia). It can usually be found in grasslands or open country bordering forested areas.
The Red Faced Parrot Finch is my favourite bird. They are very popular aviary birds. There are few beautiful mutations.
I have a very strong affinity for them. They are a true delight to have in a mixed aviary or as a colony breeder.
They have a natural inquisitive nature, and seem to have the happy knack of recognizing the breeder immediately and greeting them at the aviary door.
This breed is totally vivacious, very energetic, and always on the move. They are very gentle, which makes them an ideal choice, for a mixed aviary.
This finch loves water -- they enjoy jumping in and out of it. Bathing will take place a couple of times a day, summer or winter - and are an important part of their daily grooming.

It's very important that the birds are not disturbed while they have young in nest or parents will abandon them. One of my 2009 males won the best young Parrot Finch at the DAS Bird show 2009.

Red Billed African Fire Finch ( lagonosticta rubricata)

Breeding African Fire Finch (lagonosticta rubricata) is not only exciting but also put you on the same league as expert breeders in the world. The satisfaction of getting 100% fertility rate combined with healthy fledglings is very rewarding. I have closed banded these 4 babies that are of the identical size when fledged. They were bred in an aviary with other finches as Red Cheeked Cordon Bleu, Lavender, Masked Fire Finch and Gouldians. The aviary is 12' long 4' wide and 8' high with natural tree barks and gravel at the bottom.

Gouldian Finch-cloebia gouldiae

Here are some 2008 birds that I bred. The colors of these birds are impeccable, they have built very strong mussels while in the flight cage after moulting. This is how I tone my birds in two stages so that they are strong breeders and healthy. They must be in small cages while moulting so that they can preserve every bit of energy to transfer in to feathers of rainbow colors.

Lavender Finch

This pair of "Wild Caught" Lavender Finch have adopted very well to their new In-door aviary. They have constructed a nest between branches of an artificial plant that is approximately 40" above ground. Their courtship is different to most other finches. Male has a slightly whitish upper breast.

BREEDING CORDON BLEU

All four babies fledged on the twentieth day. Observed some disagreements between the parents, first it was the female, aggressive towards the male around the seventeenth day after babies were hatched and then on the day young fledged it was the male that was aggressive towards the female. These were not very serious, but they would fly in the air and peck at each other while on flight face to face. These pictures were taken on the same day young fledged.

Aviaries for Enjoyment

I have always been a fan of Aviaries, the whole idea of enjoying birds kept indoors have to be thoroughly examined. Enjoyment of captive birds will vary form person to person and also from one species to another. From smallest of finches to largest of parrots. The later in most cases are clipped and therefore flightless. However, the smaller birds are given the opportunity to fly in cages and in some cases in "Flight Cages". But the real Aviaries that are 8' high , 10' long and 3'-4' wide with live plants are the best form of enjoyment. To me it's a"Stress reliever" and also a "Meditation Centre", specially when you house a selection of small finches. As colourful as they are, the quaint songs of different species, just gets you absorbed in to meditation.