New Book Looks at the Einsteins of the Bird World

Many of us who keep birds of differing species will know that some of our birds are very bright while others are a little lacking in the brains department.  This can vary in a species in much the same way that it can with cats or dogs – some are just brighter than others.  A…

Why Breeding Waxbills Can Be Done – Here’s the Numbers to Prove It!

If you have ever looked at collections of finches that included species such as waxbills and mannikins then told yourself that they were beyond your abilities to breed, then this article is for you.  As a proud member of the Waxbill Finch Society, I have submitted my breeding returns along with over half of the…

The Many Types of Mannikins

Few bird keepers won’t have encountered the Bengalese or Society finch, those ever friendly and reliable little birds that are the basis of many an aviary alongside the Zebra Finch.  But how many of us know the rest of the family?  Known as the mannikins, munias or even nuns, this is a group of thirty…

Common Bird Populations Altered by Climate Change

For many of us who spend time watching the birds in our gardens, the fact that climate change has altered these populations in subtle ways isn’t news.  But a new study has been released in the journal Science that shows not all of the news is doom and gloom. Around the world The study has…

Tips for Starting a Finch Aviary

So you’ve been bitten by the bug, those cute little finches that you have in a cage in the house suddenly seem nowhere enough.  There are so many species and you love the idea of seeing them flying around naturally.  The obvious answer is that you can convert a corner of your garden into your…

The Strawberry Finch

If you like your finches small and brightly coloured, friendly and interesting to watch, then the Strawberry finch will be a great one to consider.  These small three or four inch long finches are members of the same family as the equally tiny Gold Breast Waxbill and make great cage or aviary birds.  Just beware…

Holiday in Africa – Time to Practise Your Song!

It may seem that many of the song birds of Europe fly off to Africa for the winter to enjoy the sun, relax and generally get away from it all, much as many of would like to.  But it seems that in addition to getting themselves into top condition for the return flight, many species…

Keeping the Greenfinch

If you speak to anyone with experience keeping British birds in an aviary, they will say that the Greenfinch is one of best species to start with if you have had some experience with other birds.  These birds are frequent garden feeder visitors around the country and the male bird in particular is easy to…

What is Coccidiosis?

Coccidiosis is a parasitic disease of the intestines that is caused by a coccidian protozoon.  Different types of the parasite effect different animals and can spread from one to another through contact with droppings as well as with infected tissue.  One of the main symptoms is diarrhoea but in many cases, the parasite causes no…

The Diamond Firetail

The Diamond Firetail is an Australian finch that dares you to ignore it – with its bright red beak, sparkling black and while flanks and forthright personality, this isn’t a quiet little finch that disappears into the bushes.  In fact, firetails have a reputation as being not the most sociable bird with other species and…