BirdCast

**  How can we express our shock at the events of Thursday 24th February 2022? Birdcast has a loyal group of listeners from Ukraine and our thoughts are with them, their families and their avian family (as well as other innocent animals) during this darkest time in their lives.  Out of respect to these people we have delayed our podcast launch. A small gesture we know but one we could actually do in recognition of the tradgedy.  We hope for peace to return to Ukraine and surrounding countries quickly**

Today's episode is all about getting your aviaries and your birds prepared for the breeding season ahead.  Hints and tips about preparing your environment now that the very hot weather/summer is moving along.

If you have any ideas or suggestions please be sure to contact us!

The items mentioned will be placed onto the facebook page

https://www.facebook.com/Birdman-Dad-1678314232464220

https://www.facebook.com/Birdman-Dad-1678314232464220


Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/birdman_dad/?show_story_unavailable=1

and Reddit

https://www.reddit.com/user/birdmandad/

BirdCast has come back to visit the naretha aviaries but not to talk about naretha bluebonnet parrots instead the cleaning of the aviaries and some hints and tips on nest box and general aviary management.
If you keep aviary birds yourself you will know how important it is to manage your bird's living space on a daily basis so as to keep your birds happy and healthy.
Hope that some of the suggestions offered up will help you in your bird keeping journey.
All the items/aviary points mentioned will be posted to our instagram, reddit and Facebook pages - the links are below:

Insta: birdman_dad
https://www.instagram.com/birdman_dad/?show_story_unavailable=1

Facebook:

 https://www.facebook.com/groups/1892441777643619

or 
https://www.facebook.com/Birdman-Dad-1678314232464220

Reddit:
https://www.reddit.com/r/Birdmandad/

You don't even need to leave Australian shores to find natural wonders that exist nowhere else on planet Earth.
The Great Western Woodlands of south western Australia is a place of temperate forest that exists no where else and it is massive in size.
Within the woodlands exists flora and fauna unique to this forest and on a camping trip many years ago Birdman Dad was lucky enough to spot not only a family group of black backed Inland Western Rosellas - said to be a racial variant of Platycercus icterotis xanthogenys - but also had another amzing bird literally just drop by!

All the photos mentioned will be shared on Birdman Dad's socials:

Instagram: Birdman_dad

Reddit:  u/birdmandad

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1892441777643619

If you have a great bird find story be sure to share with Birdman Dad!

Wow summer has sure burst into Western Australia this season.  The Christmas week was unbelievably hot and there's been a few more days since and no doubt many more to come.
All birds no matter where they live in this part of WA will be feeling it, including any outdoor aviary kept birds.
Please put out cool, fresh water regulalrly in suitable access containers for our precious wildlife! Cool, clean water is quite literally a lifesaver on these hot days.

And try out some of these ideas to keep your aviary birds comfortable.

If you have any other ideas please let us know:

1. birdman_dad on Instagram
2. u/birdmandad on reddit
3. Birdman dad on You Tube
 https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCPY7Oh4zOdznC2SRV4esVWw

4. Birdman Dad on Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/groups/1892441777643619
5. email: [email protected]

Join BirdCast as they cook up a festive treat for their parrots and finches;  this cake is a favourite choice and enjoyed by all the feathered friends who are lucky enough to receive it!

Let BirdCast know if you have your own  favourite avian receipe!

Happy New Year 2022 to all the BirdCast listeners and we are hoping you have a safe and happy holiday.

Remember to go and check out our instagram or Reddit accounts to see the photos!
Insta: Birdman_dad
Reddit: u/birdmandad

Welcome back to BirdCast after our covid19 break!
We launch off today with a Citizen Science Project.. the hunt for the black throated finch  (Poephila cincta) (southern subspecies).. in northern New South Wales and southern Queensland.

Poephila cincta became famous back a few years ago  over the planned (now approved) coal  mining operations in the Galilee Basin in Queensland. The Galilee basin holds rich coal deposits, has multiple mining areas owned by various companies/organisation some headed by very well known people and is also one of the last Queensland refuges of the Poephila cincta :( .  A people power movement was started to stop the coal mine development, amongst which was the "Black Finch Project" instigated by Melbournite creative, Charlotte Watson. https://www.charlottewatson.org/black-throated-finch

Despite the massive street protests and the many and varied personal protest held under  #stopadani the mine is proceeding.  https://www.stopadani.com/

 Due to the significant expected impact on this finch, the black throated finch became the banner for the #stopadani movement.

Voted Australian Bird of the Year in 2019 in the Guardian newspaper's poll was still not enough to change the minds of those who approved the Adani/Carmichael coal mine.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/nov/15/black-throated-finch-wins-2019-bird-of-the-year-as-tawny-frogmouth-comes-second

Poephila cincta did not only live in Queensland .. it was also known to live in northern New South Wales and southern Queensland.
It was however declared EXTINCT in New South Wales in 2016.
Spurred on by the rediscoveries of the night parrot over Australia, and the impending black throated finch doom in the Galilee Basin, a collaboration between  3 organisations : Australian Society for Avian Preservation (ASAP), EnviroKey, and the Finch Society of Australia has emerged in these Covid times and the hunt for the black throated finch - southern species - is ON  AND  the team needs your help!

Today's episode is all about the hunt for the black throated finch.

https://www.facebook.com/blackthroatedfinchproject

https://snelandcare.org.au/component/content/article/134-e-news/1353-help-us-find-the-black-throated-finch.html?Itemid=437&fbclid=IwAR0a6JntzJCcPySNWaDXwKmM98QDpqrxBeXLbYJlxuX6p3LUupp3l431_y8

"To survive today, other animals must endure global warming, pollution, and fewer habitats.
More tragically, they must endure the silence of human hearts>"
Anthony Douglas Williams

Part 2

Hear what the Artemis Nature Fund is doing to preserve the last stronghold of the wild golden shouldered parrot.

Want to see it for yourself? Check out the videos at:
https://artemis.org.au/

Donations to the preservation efforts for the golden shouldred parrots aka antbed parrots at Artemis Station can be made to the Fund directly via their webpage or you can donate via Landcare Australia until 18th December 2021:

https://fundlandcare.org.au/campaigns/saving-golden-shouldered-parrots-by-practical-on-ground-actions/

Back on December 17th 2021!!

"To survive today, other animals must endure global warming, pollution, and fewer habitats.
More tragically, they must endure the silence of human hearts".
Anthony Douglas Williams

Australia is well known for their history of flora and fauna extinctions, and it seems to be a national trajectory from the lowest level of government to the highest; we keep "developing" land at unsustainable rates and all the "little" developments accumumulate into a mega sized snowball.  We have so many "recovery plans" for the habitats we remodel, to the point that most of them can never be fully funded to fruition.  The environment, though everyone talks about it, is lowest on the funding ladder and there simply is not enough tax payer funds to support every plant and creature that is in need.  At some point in the very near future the average Aussie is going to have to realise that the government just can't fix each and every habitat that we destroy in our development frenzy, it is in fact going to be up to the every day Aussie to say enough is enough, and put their own hand up and say "it is up to me".
It's just this sort of attitude that created a plan to save one of Australia's most threatened parrot; the antbed parrot aka the golden shouldered parrot; also known to the Olkola people as the alwal. 
Since the 1920's the golden shouldered parrots have disappeared from more than half their range in Cape York Penninsula.  Situated within their northern homelands is Artemis Cattle Station, considered by many a scientist, parrot lover and bird watcher to be the last stronghold of this parrot, but even here their numbers have declined from around 500 to now less than 50.  The owners of Artemis Cattle Station, Tom and Sue Shephard, have spent decades trying to ensure that this particular parrot survives, but in recent years have become so concerned over the ever decreasing population, that have stretched out their hands (and their hearts) to a group of scientists and supporters who are willing to get things doing and moving into the direction of actual ground work recovery. This collaboration has become the Artemis Nature Fund.
Today's podcast opens the doors (and hopefully listeners hearts) to the life of a golden shouldered parrot and the birth of the Artemis Nature Fund.
This is a 2 part "special" that is our gift to the dedicated listeners as our Season 4 finale.
This has been an extraordinarily long Season 4 - our demonstration of solidarity with our fellow Australians, and people throught this world, in various lockdowns through Covid19.  BirdCast went past the usual season ends to provide lockdown listeners, as was the request, with something bird related to listen to.  But as the lockdowns have lifted we are going to take a break and hunt down some great stories for season 5.
So unlike previous episodes Part 2 of Silent Hearts - a pathway to extinction for antbed parrots will be next week! Be sure to listen in.

https://artemis.org.au/

When Larry and Barbara retired to the south of Western Australia they " thought" their days of research and development were behind them - that was until some large and noisy neighbours decided to drop in for a drink.  
Since arriving at their home in Nullaki, Western Australia;  the 3 species of black cockatoos - which are all endangered - The Carnaby cockatoo/ngolyenok, Baudin's cockatoo/ngolak and the Forest retailed cockatoo/karrak - have made such an impression on Barbara and Larry that they have decided to dedicate their property to the preservation of the species and are inviting every day people to join them in the battle to halt the extinction of these magnificent birds.
So was born the Nullaki Cockatoo Nursery.
The Nursery is in the City of Albany within the Nullaki  natural wilderness, around 50km west from the regional town of Albany, Western Australia.  It is truly stunningly serene and has been placed under strict wilderness protection through a  conservation covenant by the City of Albany.
The word Nullaki is a local indigenious word in noongar language meaning "narrow place of seaweed"  - making reference to the nearby inlet (later named Wilson's Inlet by the first european settlers).
Within this Nullaki wilderness Barbara and Larry have listened to the noisy black cockatoos and set up artificial cockatoo nest tubes to compensate for the lack of available cockatoo sized nest sites. They have started with 20 for now and are offering other humans who are interested the ability to buy one of these nest tubes, to make it their own. They are selling these already installed nest tubes for $250AUD. The tube will become the property of the purchaser.  Barbara and Larry then voluntarily host the owner's cocky tube in a tree on their own property in the area where all the cockatoos are looking for suitable nest sites.  
Barbara and Larry make no money from the sale of the cocky tubes, the $250 is what they paid to have the cocky tubes supplied and installed.  They volunatrily offer their time and offer their trees to the new owner's tube.
They have also ensured that the tube's will always be protected and be able to stay ion the "cockatoo nursery" for the lifetime of the tube is written into Barbara's and Larry's land ownership, so that no matter what happens to them, the new owner/s will have to ensure the tube is always in the tree and at the disposal of the cockatoos to use - black cockatoos if they successfully fledge young will return to the same nest site for their lifetime - that way protecting the investor's purchase. On purchsing a tube Larry and Barbara mail you a hard copy of the cocky tube details and a information letter explaining all the ins and outs of the Nullaki Cockatoo Nursery cocky tube purchase.
Realising that not every human has $250 to spend - Larry and Barbara are also offering an entry level rental for $50/breeding season.  This private model is something entirely novel to the conservation of the black cockatoo scene of Western Australia and is 100% sure to ruffle some feathers.

Nullaki Cockatoo Nursery Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1716700181869100

Email: [email protected]

Will post Nullaki Cockatoo Nursery photos on Birdman Dad insta, reddit and Facebook pages
birdman_dad
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1892441777643619

The future life of all avicultural societies, clubs and organisations will be determined by the ability of the hobby overall to engage and recruit the younger generation.
We are forever hearing in the media that Gen X,Y,Z... are engaged with their smart phones and social media platforms and not much else; so if that is the case; how can aviculturists today inspire and encourage younger people to put down their phones and engage in a real live bird in an aviary rather than a insta video?
Bernie O'Leary is a long time aviculturist who has a life time of caring and admiring the Wonder of Birds and has a clear passion for encouraging the youth of his local area to share and develop their life skills through bird related experiences. Led by his granddaughter's, Naomi's, passion to establish a school-based aviary at her own school, Bernie has provided the necessary foundations to support Naomi's enthusiasm and, together with the lead garden teacher at the College, there is now an aviary that is located within the working gardens of the primary school section at Carey Baptist College in Harrisdale, a southern suburb of Perth, Western Australia.
The College is so proud and committed to it's " Aviary Project" it even features in it's most recent promotional video!
Listen in to Bernie as he chat's about his own bird experiences, and what his thoughts are about establishing a school based aviary, the benefits to the students and the wonder of birds.  This is just the beginning of this fantastic project and we think Bernie has much more planned!

Carey College promotional video with the Aviary Project (point 1.14)
https://fb.watch/8qG1KO_mVs/