Visiting White-eye

This female Mata Puteh (Oriental White-eye) seems to be quite brave. Always coming to harass my other birds within a few feet of me. Wonder whether its a released bird. Anyway, been feeding her with oranges and she is picking up dry food from outside the cage of my Mata Putehs. Lets see how this relationship develops ;)

Tai Mong Pt.2

Tai Mong B

Tai Mong

Can only keep one. Difficult choice.
Tai Mong A

Red and Yellow Barbet

Started research into these noisy birds today.
Would consider keeping one ;)

Incubating RJF eggs

Started incubating 5 eggs from the Red Junglefowl on 13th July 2008 using a home made incubator.

An impromptu gathering on 6th July.

Green Junglefowl

One research leads to another. Then the Green Junglefowl (GJF) caught my attention. Not so much the GJF itself but how the GJF is used to produce the Ayam Bekisar (the National bird of East Jawa in Indonesia).
After a search, found one for sale in Melaka. A male GJF but at an exorbitant price of RM800 (as seen in picture). Not many people keep the GJF. A friend eventually recommended a seller in Penang who is willing to let go at RM700 per pair. Hmmmm.... sounds more reasonable ;)

However for the past days (weeks even), the Red Junglefowl (RJF) at home is crowing like crazy already. Now waiting for neighbours to complain hehehehe! I won't blame them if I am woken at 5a.m. by loud crowing. So if I cross the GJF with the RJF and get a sort of hybrid Bekisar and if its true to what has been written of Bekisar, a crowing that reverberates and audible 1km away could be a potential "anti-social" activity. Let me shelf this GJF project for a latter time.

Synergy

Today, a word crossed my mind with a strong force while I was reminiscing my ill-fortune. The word is "synergy". I was thinking how synergy between bird breeders, in the particular case, the Shamas could bring about better and faster results.

Synergy is the equation of 1 + 1 = more than 2. If it is only 2, then it can't be synergy. It is just normal equation. Sometimes 1 + 1 = less than 2. Then this will be a case of not seeing eye to eye and the coming together of a union that is more detrimental to the cause rather than supporting it.

Could the teaming up of Shama breeders gives the needed synergy to attain a common goal? in shorter time? I do hope so. I have set sight to breed the best Shamas I could get my hands on and improve its physical and mental traits to what is in my vision a truly beautiful specimen. Now...... to find another with the same vision......

For now, let me enjoy what I have first hehehehe! and count the unhatched chickens (or rather birds) another day ;)

Breeding the White-rumped Shama 3

The tragedy :(

Breeding the White-rumped Shama 2

In happier times. Feeding from the potential death trap.

Breeding the White-rumped Shama 1

1st of July 2008 will forever be marked as a dark day for me in my efforts to breed the White-rumped Shama. Not just any Shama, but a line of Shamas that is beautiful and has a powerful voice, bold and aggressive. The beautiful stud bird I have died due to drowning. This will probably set me back a few years in my quest to breed a good Shama.

It was raining heavily the night before and the acrylic aquarium that I place live food in was half filled with water. He must have drowned when attempting to feed from the aquarium. I got a friend to drill some holes in the aquarium. And hopefully, there will be no more accidents.

The sadness is immense when coupled with the fact that it is the first Shama casualty in my care. And it could have been avoided if only I practiced more foresight :(