BirdCast

This episode the BirdCast team is taking an aviary visit to see for themselves the beautiful and unique Naretha Bluebonnet parrot ( Northiella narethae)  aka the "Narrie".  The naretha has been a bird of concern for many years and is currently listed as Near Threatened in the Australian state of South Australia and Fauna Priority 4 in Western Australia - which indicates fauna which is rare, near threatened and other species in need of monitoring.  How the naretha bluebonnet came to be in today's private aviaries is a fascinating story in itself and one well worth telling!
So if you enjoy aviary visits, and hearing about how other backyard birdkeepers care for birds you are sure to enjoy this episode!

Notes from the episode:
Facebook page mentioned:
https://www.facebook.com/Naretha-Bluebonnet-Parrots-of-Australia-1043833309041193/

Tummy rite product:
https://tummyrite.com.au/products/tr_pl

Vetafarm Spark:
https://vetafarm.com/product/spark-liquid/

Dr Rob Marshall's Quick Gel:
https://www.birdhealth.com.au/product-page/quik-gel

Any questions or suggestion please make contact with the BirdCast team:
Instagram: birdman_dad
You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPY7Oh4zOdznC2SRV4esVWw
Email: [email protected]

The short billed white tailed black cockatoo aka Carnaby cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus  latirostris) would have to be the most widely recognised and iconic large birds in Western Australia. The government (both State and federal) in collaboration with several non-government organisations such as BirdlifeWA, have invested time and taxpayers funds into trying to preserve this bird and with it, it's habitat.
The Carnaby cockatoo has been in marked decline for many years and is listed as endangered.  The decline in numbers being attributed primarily to habitat fragmentation, habitat destruction - in particular the loss of nesting sites - as the trees they nest in are often over 100 years old  and competition from other native bird species for the available nest sites.
The issue over suitable nest sites has been significant for many years and the problem is magnified by the fact that a suitable hollow for such a large cockatoo is often found in a tree over 100 years old; so planting a tree to day was hardly going to solve this particular problem.  This particular issue has been investigated in recent years, again in collaboration with government, non-government and a university; from which the cocky tube was born.
The cocky tube project was initially developed and marketed via LandCareSJ group and more information on this project can be found here:
https://blackcockatoos.org.au/tag/artificial-nesting-boxes/
Birdman Dad's cocky tubes were actually MK1 versions of the LandcareSJ tubes - this is why they look different to the tubes shown on this link. BirdlifeWA sourced these 2 second hand cocky tubes for Birdman Dad.
Birdman Dad's cocky tubes were installed by Dean from Carnaby Crusaders -
https://www.facebook.com/Carnabys-Crusaders-103755334826928
Birdman Dad in this episode describes the beautiful Carnaby cockatoo and the circumstances of the arrival of cocky tubes to his house.  
Birdman Dad wishes to acknowledge the assistance to the 2 pairs of Carnaby cockatoos and now their offspring with great thanks to Adam at BirdlifeWA - The Black Cockatoo Project and to Dean of Carnaby Crusaders.  These 2 people were able to provide assistance when so many others were not able, or willing.  It is thanks to them there is a new generation flying in the skies in 2021.
If you have a suitable Carnaby nest site, or even a black cockatoo nest site, the cocky tube may offer the birds in your neighbourhood a substitute nest where there are no old growth trees.  Make contact with BirdlifeWA, or Carnaby Crusaders and find out if the cocky tube may help out these iconic birds that are in desperate need of human assistance.

Sure we expect the weather to be warm in summertime in Australia - but this has been a HOT start to summer and just reminded us perhaps there are other bird keepers and lovers out there who are looking for ideas and tips on  how to keep their birds cool!
So even though we were not planning another podcast until after New Years..here's a special episode and we HOPE that you find some hints or tips in this episode that you hadn't thought of before that may help your birds keep a little bit cooler this summer.
If you are planning the design of a new aviary there is some tips in this episode about aviary design and useful materials; if you have companion birds that can come into the house we have a tip for you and if you have birds in outdoor aviaries that have to stay outside we share our methods on keeping our birds cool - so we hope there is some hint or tip in this episode that will help you!
Again we are keen to know how you went and how you keep your birds cool over the summer.
Feel free to share your information with us - trying to give you loads of choice here for contact!

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email: [email protected]

As the end of 2020 approaches, human social lives ramp up, as people make preparations for celebrating Christmas and the New Year.  In Birdman Dad's neck of the woods this time of the year is summer, and many Australians have extended holidays over the summer break.  Life can be very busy this time of year, and for those who keep birds in their backyards, you may be finding it challenging to care for your birds whilst trying to fit in all your social and holiday plans.
As well as the social demands on your time, as a birdkeeper you  may want to provide your birds with something special within the celebrations.  A great little book the BirdCast team have found is "The Finch Keeper's Recipe Book" by Peter Roy James.  Mr James managed to prise these recipes from a variety of finch breeders at a finch convention in Brisbane back in 2008. The book provides 52 recipes that you can cook/create for your finches (and we also feed to our parrots).  The book also contains some tips and hints on getting your finches to eat what you have cooked for them as their "Christmas treat".
If you Google the title a number of places that sell this book will pop up.  The BirdCast team purchased their copy at their local bird store, but there are several online stores that advertise they have this book in store.  Two places in Australia is here: https://www.tassiebirdandpoultrysupplies.com/products/the-finch-keepers-recipe-book
https://www.petandgarden.com.au/bird-books-dvds-magazines/1037-the-finch-keepers-recipe-book.html
and it is also being advertised on Amazon.
Birdman Dad and the BirdCast team would sincerely like to Thank our listeners! 
Thankyou for the regular downloads of our podcast and for the comments we have received to date offering words of support, encouragement and listener suggestions to future podcast topics.
The team wishes everyone a safe and merry festive season.
Over the summer the team will be busy compiling a few You Tube videos (as requested) and these will be placed on the Birdman Dad channel.
The team will be taking a few weeks break from Birdcast but keep a watch out in the New Year for our next podcast!
Any questions please email: [email protected]
instagram: Birdman_Dad

Well if you are not a West Australian you may be scratching your head on this podcast name!  What on earth is a Naso?  The name comes from the birds scientific name - Calyptorhynchus banksii naso - a black cockatoo species described by the famous English birdman John Gould; he chose this name in reference to the bird's large bill.  
The Naso is an Australian black cockatoo that lives in the far south-west corner of Western Australia.  This bird is also called the forest red tailed black cockatoo, as it lives and feeds in the eucalypt forest endemic to the south west corner.
Sadly this cockatoo is under serious threat of extinction (like so many birds) and is given a suitable listing to reflect it's status in the wild by the WA state government.  There was once large flocks of the Naso but sadly with human endeavours such as logging, agriculture and clearing, along with  natural disasters such a bushfires, this bird is struggling.
The Naso is an incredibly noticeable bird; it is showy and loud.  You couldn't miss hearing it if you wanted to!  So although Birdman Dad has seen the Naso in wildlife parks and in people's aviaries (helping protect the species DNA survival) he wanted to see the Naso for himself in it's homeland.
Truly a beautiful bird and a real joy to hear as you walk way down on the forest floor.

Guinea Fowl (Numida meleagris) are a quirky and one of a kind bird. Not suited to every home - mostly on account of their noise and their roaming habits - if you are lucky enough to have a flock of guinea fowl in your life - you will be much richer for their most amusing habits.
The order of birds known as Galliformes is one of the oldest on our planet and they have a rich history interwoven with our own human one.  Within the Galliforme family are chickens, pheasants and turkeys and nearly every continent on our planet have a native Galliforme member - one exception being Australia. The Australian continent has no indigenous species of these birds and as such the common African guinea fowl became a popular food source in early human settlement.
Birdman Dad keeps a flock of guinea fowl to assist in the management of insects.  In years past there has been large numbers of locusts that required some re-balancing and more recently ticks have been the target insect.  Admittedly the mornings start early when you have guinea fowl as they come up on the grass to nibble their early morning greens.  If you can tolerate the guinea fowl commotion and want to keep some keen insect micro-managers, the guinea fowl may be the bird for you!

As promised during Season 2 Birdman Dad is going to go out in the field and make some aviary visits!
 Today's podcast is Part 2 of  Birdman Dad's visit to  Caversham Wildlife Park in Western Australia .
Caversham WP is the largest private collection of Australian native fauna within Western Australia and as such Birdman Dad makes an annual pilgrimage there to immerse himself in all animals Australian.
Caversham WP is a very popular destination for Australians and foreign visitors. Of course, during Covid 19 , the visitors from overseas have been pretty much non-existent so the Park is in need of more Australians coming to see what animal wonders exist in this Great Southern land!  They have an amazing collection of birds on display in aviaries - both walk in and stand alone AND have several birds on display at their "Meet the wombat and friends" shows.
In fact there are SO MANY birds on display at Caversham WP Birdman Dad had to split his podcast for this aviary visit into 2 separate podcast - so be sure to listen out next week for the rest of the Caversham WP aviary visit.
Caversham WP is a wonderful experience for all people so we hope that you can enjoy hearing about the birds here even if you are unable to visit them!
Caversham WP have a webpage - here's their link:
https://www.cavershamwildlife.com.au/
So hope you all enjoy today's podcast aviary visit!

As promised during Season 2 Birdman Dad is going to go out in the field and make some aviary visits!
Today Birdman Dad is out and about at Caversham Wildlife Park in Western Australia .
Caversham WP is the largest private collection of Australian native fauna within Western Australia and as such Birdman Dad makes an annual pilgrimage there to immerse himself in all animals Australian.
Caversham WP is a very popular destination for Australians and foreign visitors. Of course, during Covid 19 , the visitors from overseas have been pretty much non-existent so the Park is in need of more Australians coming to see what animal wonders exist in this Great Southern land!  They have an amazing collection of birds on display in aviaries - both walk in and stand alone AND have several birds on display at their "Meet the wombat and friends" shows.
In fact there are SO MANY birds on display at Caversham WP Birdman Dad had to split his podcast for this aviary visit into 2 separate podcast - so be sure to listen out next week for the rest of the Caversham WP aviary visit.
Caversham WP is a wonderful experience for all people so we hope that you can enjoy hearing about the birds here even if you are unable to visit them!
Caversham WP have a webpage - here's their link:
https://www.cavershamwildlife.com.au/
So hope you all enjoy today's podcast aviary visit!

Having live animals in your care means you have an obligation to provide them with the very best care you can; the animals in your care are dependent on you so there is no days off as such when you don't need to be looking after them.
In this new segment "Birdman Dad Talks" - Birdman Dad wanted to talk to you about the routine of his bird care. Birdman Dad is not a professional birdkeeper - he does not make his living out of birds as such - he has a regular job and has to fit in his paying work around his love of birds and caring for those birds in his care.  So Birdman Dad wanted to share with the BirdCast listeners what his after and before work routine is like with his birds; what he does in an afternoon when he comes home from work and list what his typical "bird care" day sounds like - hoping that this may give someone some ideas on how they can add care to their birds.
The Birdman Dad team hope you enjoy this episode and find something useful in what Birdman Dad describes.  It is only what Birdman Dad does and is by no way prescriptive - many people no doubt will do things very differently.  If you are willing to share your "avairy routine" please contact us by email; insta or You Tube - [email protected]; Birdman_dad  or Birdman Dad channel.

Keeping track of your birds is so important - especially when you have birds that can breed all year round like some finches. You need to know who are the parents and who are the young - because some birds look exactly the same once they have matured - you also need to know which young belongs to which parents, so that if you are breeding with the young you don't have directly related bloodlines - this is always something you avoid if you can so that you don't end up with genetic problems.  So, you need to develop a way to be able to easily see which birds are which, and who is related to whom.
Birdman Dad uses leg rings for his finches and he speaks about why he uses them in today's podcast.
Once you decide how you are going to know which bird is which you really need to develop some method to keep a record of your system. Some bird clubs suggest certain computer programs, where the user buys a software, loads it onto a computer and enters the required data about the birds, keeping track by adding young bird data as the birds breed; other people prefer to use their smart phone, using bird breeding apps - like birdBreeder  - this is currently an iphone/ipad app; you pay a set price and then download the software onto your device; this app allows you to enter data about your birds and stores it onto your iphone/ipad. As with the computer software, you need to enter the data specific about your birds and their young - ring numbers/colours/species.  There are also many bird breeding journals available - booklets that you write into and keep track of bird species/rings/colours etc.
Birdman Dad prefers the "old fashioned" write it down in a book/diary method. He has used the journal/booklets in the past but now days uses a hard cover ruled journal to write his bird's details into - partly because he is not a big fan of computers and secondly because our internet is very hit and miss and you can't always access your bird data, let alone downloading a program onto a device!  That may change in the future but for now he is sticking with good old pen and paper!
Birdman Dad would love to hear how other bird keepers are keeping track of their birds and which software or apps (if you are using those) are most effective and good return on your money.  If you have a comment on this topic please contact Birdman Dad - email:[email protected]; instagram: birdman_dad or You Tube: BIrdmanDad. Looking forward to your suggestions and comments!