BirdCast

All over Australia land is being developed at an astonishing rate - that in itself is not surprising as we are a country in a national building mode - but what is shocking, and disappointing, is that in 2021 we, the trophy holders for most mammal extinctions, want to extend our extinction rates into other species, and continue to utterly destroy vital habitat, especially large trees, in our efforts to build human homes and facilities.
Councils, Cities and Shires will approve these developments; saying they are just a small habitat removal; not a significant size; but what they are failing to see is the big picture - all these small removals are cumulative.
We are most blessed in Australia to be home to an amazing array of stunning parrots, and one of these  is the Glossy black cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus lathami) our smallest black cockatoo that now days is mostly living in eastern Australia. 
The Glossy was once widespread across the whole of the south-eastern part of Australia, but it has become locally extinct in South Australia and only remains on SA's Kangaroo Island.  You would think we would learn from this event.
Up in Queensland, in a most beautiful part of the world, in the domains of the Shire of Noosa, lies the beautiful beach side community of Sunshine Beach.  (Seriously Google the place and see the phots for yourself!).  Sunshine Beach has been developing (like the rest of Australia) and the area is in demand for obvious reasons, everyone who is anyone wants to have a piece of Sunshine Beach.  So habitat for the indigenous animals of this Biosphere Reserve is reducing significantly and no "offset" planting is going to cut it for the animals that have more particular diets or those requiring old growth trees. The Glossy black cockatoo is one of those particular animals.
The glossy black cockatoo feeds off a particular tree, in fact almost solely on the seeds of casuarina trees in the genus Allocasuarina - in Sunshine Beach they eat A. littoralis.  And to make their diet even more specialised, the seeds they eat only come from female Allocasurina littoralis trees!
And these are the exact trees that grow on a 5 hectare virgin bush block at Grasstree Court at Sunshine Beach - a block of land that has been purchased by the Uniting Church of Queensland to develop into an aged care facility and the land development was approved by a prior amalgamated Shire of Noosa.
Enter Spencer Hitchen - a 10 year old Wildlife Warrior supported by his mum, Maxine and the Glossy Team Sunrise, who as local down to earth citizens are trying desperately to negotiate a land swap that will be facilitated through the new Shire of Noosa and be between the Uniting Church and the Shire of Noosa.  
The hiccup is the Uniting Church of Queensland has to approach the new Shire of Noosa, and this is Spencer's aim; to get the Uniting Church to see his, and other Glossy lover's point of view, that this 5 hectare property that the church owns is indeed precious, important and essential to the long term survival of the local Sunrise Beach glossy cockatoo flock.

Petition:
https://www.change.org/p/uniting-church-help-spencer-to-stop-the-church-to-save-our-glossies

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/maxine.hitchen.98

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

Insta
savesunriseglossies

email:
[email protected]

Domesticated birds, like all pets humans share their homes and lives with, have a financial cost attached to them which has to be met by their human owner.  Just like the average dog, cat or horse, pet birds need to be fed, housed, watered and given veterinarian attention as required.  All these essential care items cost money and it is the bird/s owner/s who have to provide the required funds. All this is a given and is a point that should be carefully considered when first deciding if you want to keep a bird, in fact any pet.

Through the amazing insights social media has provided us all access to;  today we  can see photographs and videos of the most amazing and extensive bird aviaries and companion bird jungle gym rooms. And these owners deserve the accolades and praise they receive for treating their feathered friends to the very best of everything that their owners can supply them  with; 
but what if you don’t have a lot of money, and can’t purchase your bird the very latest cuddle barn? 
 Can you even keep a bird or birds on a limited income?

Today’s guest, Tom, speaks to us candidly about his bird keeping journey over many years, and many budget types – from the days where funds allocated to his much loved feathered friends was not any real hardship to finding himself, through injury and disease, having to part with his much loved cockatoos.  
Tom shares with us all some hints on how to keep birds when you are on a limited income and we hope these suggestions are useful.

Above the content we hope that you can all hear the love and gratitude Tom expresses for having his feathered family members in his life.

The clubs mentioned in Tom’s talk:

The Avicultural Society of Australia

https://asaust.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1786916591615820

 Geelong Branch

P.O.Box 865 Geelong. 3220
 Mob: 0411036664 Krystal
 email : [email protected]

Venue – Belmont Park Pavilion. Barrabool Rd, Belmont. Meeting commences at 7.30pm on the 3rd Monday of the month

Sometimes we forget how very precious and unique our own backyards are, and that we don't need to travel thousands of miles to be some place that exists nowhere else on the planet.  For today's guest the Perth Hills is that very fabulous and special place. And it was this appreciation of knowing  the Perth Hills was the special land at the end of the yellow brick road, that led this young woman to write and publish her very own bird watching guide of the special birds endemic to her own patch of paradise.
Talitha may only be a young woman, but she knows the value in the Jarrah and Marri trees that create the Perth hills forests. These forests have evolved in this special part of Australia for millions of years and are found nowhere else on the planet.  As such they have created a unique ecosystem in which Talitha has explored and provided an insight into the birds that chose to make this special forest their home.
Join us in this episode to listen to the intriguing story of why a young Australian chose to share her passion for birds with the rest of us humans who share this world.

Talitha mentions several organisations and businesses - these will be listed below.
If you wish to obtain a copy of her book "Birds of the Perth Hills" you can visit one of these mentioned places or contact her via email -
[email protected]
Books are $22 each and $5 postage within Australia.
If you are wanting international postage please email Talitha directly.

Kanyana Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre
https://www.kanyanawildlife.org.au/visit-us/

Snap Printing Midland
https://www.snap.com.au/snap-midland.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=gmb_Midland

The Environmental Printing Company
https://www.environmentalprintingco.com/

Places where "Birds of the Perth Hills" will be for sale:

1. Mundaring Tourist Bureau aka Perth Hills Mundaring Visitors Centre
https://www.perthhillsmundaring.com.au/Pages/default.aspx

2. Hot Shots Coffee Van
https://www.facebook.com/hotshotscoffeevan

3. Gidgegannup Post Office

4. Robyns Coffee Van

Don't forget we have pictures of the book on our instagram page:
birdman_dad

The human fascination with birds and keeping them in their homes has been part of human existence for 1000's of years.
The surviving frescoes and mosaics of ancient civilisations such as Pompeii shows the prominence of birds in people's homes. Chinese historians suggest that birdkeeping became an established social event during the time of Qing (1644-1912) when the nobles of the Qing dynasty and the court eunuchs kept birds in their homes to fill in time, giving them something to do.  So the notion that birdkeeping, as in keeping birds in the house with you, is a modern Western society phenomena is simply not true.
Today we chat with Bruno Mars and his owner, Ruby Smith. Bruno is a cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus) aka weiro bird.  Bruno is actually a re-homed bird and Ruby has owned him for some 10 years.  
If you love "teils", or have your own companion bird, or are considering getting a companion bird have a listen in to what Ruby has to say about her 10 years of living with Bruno and how she lovingly provides this boy a forever home.
Birdman Dad will be posting video and photos of Bruno and Ruby on his Instagram page:
Birdman_Dad

and on his sub-reddit-
u/birdmandad

and pintrest
Birdman Dad
so if you are keen to see their pics we hope we have them up on a platform you can access!

Although many people are quick to condemn the pet shop trade - pet shops offer a valuable contribution to aviculture overall.
Firstly they provide a great visual presence to the general public, in that they show a variety of birds and also place these birds within the realm of more widely accepted domestic pets such as cats and dogs - how often have we all heard people say "set them free" - when in reality these birds are domesticated; just like a cat or a dog - and if they are set free they will simply perish either from starvation (because they are domesticated) or from predation (hawks, cats etc).  Placing them alongside other widely accepted pets helps reinforce to the general public within the store that these birds are in fact not wild birds, rather birds that have grown up in a captive setting.
Secondly, birds in pet stores, particularly in the dedicated bird stores or the independent bird (and generally fish included) stores offer a showcase to customers of what birds are available in the local area, and give bird owners, or want to be owners, some idea of the variety of  birds.  It is essentially a type of window shopping.  Many a time the Birdman Dad team take a drive to go and see one of the independent bird speciality stores in Perth, just to see what's there - sadly in Perth there are not really any bird parks or wildlife parks that have a great selection of birds on display. The exception to this would be Caversham Wildlife Park (listen in to our 2 episode visit to Caversham in Season 2).
Thirdly, the local bird store offers an outlet for those whose birds breed - whether intentional or not - a place where they can sell the offspring.  Some bird stores will buy the young outright and sell them, others will offer a commission type arrangement.  For a smaller city such as Perth, where the bird trade is so much smaller than in the eastern states or overseas; this aspect to the local pet shop is a great option. Not everyone wants to deal with "customers" face to face; add in the security concerns of having unknown people to your home and this "pet shop" option is often far more attractive.
Finally, and by no means exhausted in a list of reasons, the pet store offers a multitude of avian related products for every bird type kept - from aviaries, to seed, to avian supplements, to enrichment activities to a huge variety of associated products.
Added to this list; in the smaller, independent bird stores - the humans working in the stores have a great love for birds and in general an extensive knowledge concerning most things avian.  If you are unsure of what bird would be best for you and your situation, and you are not wanting to attend a bird club, or ask anyone on social media; just have a quiet chat to the humans behind the pet shop desk.  If you choose your time well; that is when the shop is quiet and the customers are not knee deep at the counter; you will find most bird pet shop humans are happy to talk to you about birds, their needs and what bird might be the best match to your lifestyle.
In Perth we do not have the huge selection, or volume of bird and pet stores compared to other cities.  Despite being small there are still some independent bird speciality pet stores and it was one of these stores the Birdman Dad Team visited in today's episode.
The anti stress product mentioned by Birdman Dad in today's episode:
Quick Gel - a product created and distributed by Dr Rob Marshall of Carlingford Animal Hospital NSW, Australia.
https://www.birdhealth.com.au/quik-gel
Another similar product would be Vetafarm's Spark product:
https://vetafarm.com.au/product/spark-liquid/

or
D-3 Vita
https://www.pigeonandbirdproducts.com.au/online-shop/cage-aviary/d-3-vita-detail

or
Vita Stress
https://www.afrimash.com/shop/veterinary-products-and-services/vet-medicine/vita-stress-multivitamins/

Today's episode epitomises the core philosophy behind the very creation of BirdCast - the sharing of information between bird keepers and owners.
We are very grateful for today's guest who was willing to share the knowledge he has accumulated over many, many years in the keeping of finches. Our guest,Les, who lives in a tropical area of Queensland, Australia explains to the BirdCast team the aviary finch keeping issues particular to the climate in which he lives, as well as his own aviary design. He also shares with us all a wealth of information about how he looks after for the finches in his care.
If you keep finches, this is a "must listen" episode with many fabulous and informative hints and tips.
Les mentions several particular products and the club in his chat and these are listed below.

Again if you have any feedback on BirdCast we would love to hear from you!

Melaleuca Irbyana plant: https://apps.des.qld.gov.au/species-search/details/?id=26403

Black Parrot small bird food with turmeric and fish oil: https://www.lauckemills.com.au/products/category/BGFIRCTN-birds/7973

Avian Pro Vita (bird pellets):  Noah's Avian Health: https://www.facebook.com/NoahsAvianHealth

Queensland Finch Society: https://qfs.org.au/

Polly's Calcium Grit: a blend of shell grit, oyster and Canundra shell, vitamins and other goodies.  Contact John (02)49383552 for orders.

How does a nature loving, non-birdkeeping young Aussie guy with no background in aviculture become a leading authority on the captive breeding of one of Australia's most endangered large birds?
Today's episode is truly an amazing story!
A "by chance" encounter with a pair of painted black cockatoos (South Eastern red tailed black cockatoo aka Calyptorhynchus banksii graptogyne) in a bird store back in the 1990's, set in motion a lifetime of learning and dedicated caring of this stunning red tailed black cockatoo.
Our guest today is William (Bill) Palmer - a Graptogyne custodian.
Bill's knowledge of this bird species is extensive. The Graptogyne is endangered in their homelands and their ultimate survival in the wild is precarious.  Bill has made it his life's work to raise the Graptogyne successfully in captivity so as to preserve this species DNA, allowing it to act as an insurance population, should something happen to the wild population.
Bill is one of a handful of people able to raise this peculiar species in captivity, and he is willing, in fact wanting, to share his knowledge so that it is not hidden from other people wanting to preserve this bird for future generations.  Bill has a Facebook page where he posts photos of his birds, the captive bred young and his information concerning this bird - if you are keen on seeing this very special species it is one of the few places you can see "chick" Graptogyne photos:

https://www.facebook.com/Goliath-Parrots-327128311468907

Bill's ultimate life plan is to create a sanctuary dedicated to the Graptogyne - not only providing a suitable habitat for these birds but a place of learning where interested people can learn how to care for this bird species and fortify their survival into the future.  Understandably this project requires funds so Bill has created a "Go Fund Me" project to raise some much needed funds to kick off his sanctuary plans - as the Graptogyne is a very long lived bird (but no one actually knows how long they survive in a captive setting) the birds in Bill's care currently are sure to outlive him - so he needs to future proof the Graptogyne's futures.  If you feel inclined, no matter how small the amount, please feel free to go over to this link and donate what you want.

www.gofundme.com/f/q85uk6?pc=fb_co_emailupdate24&rcid=r01-161355366193-a1e3724cd60646b3&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&utm_campaign=p_email%2B3201-24hr-reminder-v5&fbclid=IwAR3Elsu4l1ckq3WoICH_PIkgd8lBJhwY-5N-DUsAeCEE8BjhiqnpDrVf4rQ

We are certainly looking forward to the next chapter in this bird story!

Once again - we love to hear your feedback! You can contact via the following methods:
Instagram: Birdman_dad
You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPY7Oh4zOdznC2SRV4esVWw
Reddit: r/birdmandad
email: [email protected]

Pretty much all birds enjoy semi-ripened grass seeds - from the biggest macaw to the tiniest finch.  There are many grasses that grow naturally in our gardens, balcony pots and verges - but what exactly are they and how good are they for a bird?  If these are some questions you ask yourself then today's episode is for you!
Bird Keeping in Australia has created a great booklet on this exact topic and today Birdman Dad is discussing the book and how it can be of help to you; and your birds.
Bird Keeping in Australia is the official publications of the Avicultural Society of South Australia Inc - and just as a side note; this particular bird society was founded in February 1928, and is the first avicultural society to be established in Australia!
Here is the link to their facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/Bird-Keeping-in-Australia-Avicultural-Society-of-South-Australia-415386255302715
This Avicultural Society still publishes a colour monthly magazine and meets in person when permitted.  People can join the society and there is an annual membership fee.  Bird Societies and clubs are repositories of bird related knowledge so if at all you are unsure of an issue there is always someone in a bird society or club who is sure to know the answer you seek!
The booklet being discussed today is:
"What seeding-grass is that? The birdkeepers' Pictorial Guide to seeding-grasses"

Cost = $12.50 (postage included within Australia) + postage for international orders - for Non-Society members
If you want a copy please order by:
1. Making contact via the Facebook group
2. Emailing Richard: [email protected]

Birdman Dad thought that today's guest might be of great interest to the listeners as he is discussing some great, simple hints and tips to help you take better photos of your own birds.  We all like to keep and share great pics of our own birds!
Today we are speaking with Chris Tate, a well known West Australian nature photographer.
Chris has recently published a book called -
"West Australian Birds & Wildflowers - Tips to capture them on your camera, phone or device".
In the book Chris has provided his personal tips on the best ways to photograph nature (all from his personal experience) whether using a SLR camera, smart phone or a device.
This small book, which is packed full of hints and tips, as well as full page stunning photos of birds and wildflowers of Western Australia can be purchased from Have A Go News - via email message: 
[email protected]
or by telephone:
Australia (08) 9227 8283
The book is $25 AUD plus postage and handling ( an additional $6 if within Australia - enquire about international postage costs).

OR   if you go to his webpage you can order the book there direct:
https://christatephotography.com/

Also on his webpage you will see a variety of different photographs Chris sells -  Some lovely bird photos amongst those captures for sure!

Being a professional photographer Chris also has a Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/ChrisTatePhotography

Birdman Dad hopes you enjoy today's episode! We would love to see some of your "Tated" bird pics!  If you want to see some of our captures head over to Instagram:
birdman_dad

Water. It is essential for life - if you think about it our planet should be called "Water" not Earth!
All birds need water, aviary birds included.
Fresh, cool, clean water can never be underestimated.
Water is a known medium that bacteria and other illness causing pathogens can breed in and transmit quickly to your birds, so you want to keep your aviary water sources fresh and clean.
Birdman Dad shares with you how he provides water to his birds, both as in what he puts the water into, cleaning and how he fills his bird's bowls.  Hopefully this will also give you some ideas on how to give water to your birds.

BirdCast would love to hear your feedback on the podcast!
You can contact us on:
Instagram: birdman_dad
You tube: Birdman Dad
email: [email protected]