This year´s chicks (2019)

Several species have bred this year. The Zebras and Bengalese are impossible to stop. However, we are pleased to have also bred the Pekin Robins, who raised more than 1 clutch; Diamond Doves, Canaries, Chinese Painted Quail, Java Sparrows and Red-eared waxbills. With the new aviary, we are hoping to extend this list of species next year.

We were particularly pleased to see that a pair of Java Sparrows have been successful this year. They produced 3 chicks.


The is one of a clutch of Chinese-painted Quail chicks that hatched out this summer. They started taking large meal worm almost immediately and grew very quickly.


The zebra finches have produced dozens of chicks this year.

 

Welcome to Our Aviary

Welcome to our web site where we will be explaining the origins and current state of our aviarys. As well as talking about the buildings themselves, there are detailed, illustrated pages about all of the birds which we keep or have kept - well over 30 species at the last count. We have also included information about the plants which we have tried out and some of the suppliers which we have come to depend upon.

We refer to "Present" and "Past" because we left UK in 2008 and so passed on all of our birds to people who we knew would look after them. The aviary was not maintained and fell into disrepair - we could hardly expect tennants to take on such a comitment! We have now both revived expanded it - adding 2 further aviaries - and we are starting to build up three communities of birds to enjoy.

On the right are a few of the chicks that we have managed to hatch out, both presently and over the last few years. We do not incubate eggs for any bird as we do not have the time or the space, either to look after the incubator or raise the chicks. All of our breeding comes from birds who have built their own nests and raised their own chicks.

The menu at the top of the page will take you to wherever you wish to go. Throughout the site you will come across various symbols. There are sound clips of most of the birds. Use the Sound symbol to hear the call of the Californian Quail. Map means that you can bring up a map that illustrates the distribution of a bird. Again, try it now to see the distribution or the Chestnut Bulbul. You will find a world map first and can then access a continental map to get a more detailed picture. 1 means that you can mouse-over the superscript and see the source of the information that we are quoting.

Most pages have Gallery Images. These images of chicks are Gallery Images. Click on one and a larger version pops up. More recent pges have video clips and there is a media page where you can explore a variety of different videos.

We hope that you enjoy your visit.

Some of the previous year's chicks

The Swinhoe's hatched out a clutch of 5 chicks who then bumbled around the aviary following their leader.


The touracos have hatched out their first chick. It is huge and very black.


The zebra finches continue to breed readily, filling the space with young.


The mousebirds have revealed the cause of the disappearance of one of their number. She was sitting on eggs in an old nest box in a corner of the aviary.


These 2 orange-cheeked Waxbills are just emerging from a long-leafed Choisya where their nest is.

 

 

© Dave Spencer 2013-2024