Breeding Aviary Project

Some of our smaller friends

This Project is one of Michael's passions* and began pre 'Octoberfest' 2011 and has been a continuing project since. It will be an on-going project that has and will be created in stages. 

Stage one consisted of converting a calf house into the aviary. This consisted of knocking out stalls, putting up wire mesh, creating perspex windows, high step up doorways and sealing up any holes that possible rodents or reptiles could enter by. Putting down a sand floor, heating for the winter months, hanging nesting 'boxes' and creating water baths/drinking bowls and feeders.

When This was complete some feathered friends moved in. At present there are Star Finches, a Blue Faced Parrot (who will be getting a mate in the next couple of months), Long Tailed Finches, Masked Finches and Zebra Finches. There are expected new arrivals in the coming months.  

Inside of calf house during conversion to aviary.

Almost complete inside view.

Outside view holding up window that will lead to first flight zone.

Inside view - nesting bundles, food and water dishes,
heater and sand floor

A wee nest

Stage two consisted of the 'first flight zone'. The 'first flight zone' has had tin dug into trenches to prevent anything from digging under it, and is fitted out with wire mesh to make an enclosure. This eventually will lead out to a greater or free flight zone with the wire mesh cut so the birds can come and go into a greater flight zone and then into the bush land beyond where they can 'learn' survival skills from the native non captive finch populations that inhabit the area. At present there is a small family of Red Brow Finches that come and go from bush land behind the flight zones.

first flight zone under construction

Earthworks for the 'first flight zone' under construction.
Digging the tin into trenches

Adding wire mesh to 'first flight zone' and beginnings of planting out

beginnings of planting out and construction of wire mesh zone.

The plants taking to their new environment and the beginnings of small
bird food abundance.

Same as above, different angle.

The intention is to eventually have a release programme for native and endangered finches (and small birds in particular) that educates the birds to care for themselves in the 'wild'. We are in the process of planting a lot of spiky, dense native flora to create nesting and habitat for small birds.

We would also like to design and implement in future portable aviaries that can be taken to regeneration sites near food and water, with birds in them where they can create nests and 'living' quarters and be safe from predators while they get established. Once 'educated' by 'wild' finches (- to avoid attack and not be totally dependant and domesticated) the flocks established and flourishing we will remove the portable aviary and begin the process again. 

In the mean time we are planting out seeding grasses that small bird and finches like and that attract insects, shrubs, bushes, trees for nesting and food near to permanent water sources to create habitat and as ideal conditions as possible to encourage breeding and support large populations of bird life.

For more information or details feel free to contact us.

* Though we all gain much joy and excitement from it.

Some of the small birds that are in the Breeding Aviary at this time