Apartments?

The advantage of getting a roll of wire mesh is the endless experimentation & possibilities of DIY cages. I did one 4 unit terrace type horizontally & thought I try a vertical one. Advantage of vertical type is the small foot print which is space saving, birds don't see each other & easier to carry around. Now, what shall I place in it? Probably leave it empty 1st unless I get the urge to keep 4 new Mata Putehs ;-)



- Time you enjoy wasting wasn't wasted -

Sooty-headed Bulbul - episode 2

Took home 2 Sooty-headed Bulbul today. They are not listed in the Wildlife Act & therefore do not need a license to keep.

They appear to be not too wild for birds just taken out from a flock. At least there is a male, as I heard one sang it's mid-tone at the back of my car. Unless of course, both sexes sing mid-tones for this specie ;-)

















- Time you enjoy wasting wasn't wasted -

Female Shama - arrival

Collected this little princess today. 2nd molt female living in the luxury of a big aviary. Very easy to take out from the aviary. Owner placed a bathing cage inside and throw a couple of crickets in it as bait. She goes in like she has been doing it for years now. Looks promising - I just wanted a female Shama that is used to having people around.

Will take out Apollo X tomorrow and put this female in the aviary.



- Time you enjoy wasting wasn't wasted -

Sooty-headed Bulbuls

38 Sooty-headed Bulbuls was seen for sale today. Bought 2 from the flock. Have no experience with them except for a specimen that I kept for a short while before I sold it off to a friend. Plan to keep these two new addition To the family a bit longer. At least until they are in form so that I can sample their songs.



- Time you enjoy wasting wasn't wasted -

Female Shama

Am away in KL for a meeting since yesterday. But very anxious to get back. Received a call from a friend in Johor. He has a 2nd molt captive Shama to give me. Wow! just when I thought this year is going to pass without any breeding activity hehehe!

Have to wait until Friday to go collect. 2nd molt captive bred female is good. Just what I have been waiting and looking for. Advertisement placed on MBF proved fruitless. Somebody up there loves me ;-)

Looks like will have to speed up negotiations with a friend to use the upper floors of his shophouse to be converted into an avian loft/ bird rooms or whatever I wish to call it :-D

The 4 Kings (at the moment)

Today felt like capturing a few of my Shamas on video while I start bathing them. There are 4 singing - would have named them after the 4 heavenly kings of I had acquired all of them at the same time.
The problem is with Zeus - he started his molt again. Not too long after finishing his molt. Braving strong criticism from the birding community, I must say its all my fault. There could be 2 reasons - one of which was the changing of food. This round, I wanted to try a new food on him. Instead of the gradual change by adding the new food to the old one, I decided to offer him 2 cups of different food.
For the 1st week, he did not touch the new food. Then suddenly he ate only the new food. Well, I thought must give him some credit on wisdom. He should know what he is doing hehehe! Then 1 primary tail feather dropped and another one drop 2 days later. Could it be reason no. 2??? - for me to know only :-D maybe one day I will document it down ;-)
Interestingly, Zeus's form wasn't good after his molt. But currently his form picks up as he enters into his molt hmmmm..... interesting. I shall observe further......

But then.... I shall not experiment with Zeus any more.... I shall not experiment with Zeus anymore.... I shall not experiment with Zeus anymore....

Of Cats & Dogs

Learning never cease. That is the wonder of life. What did I learn today - difference between a Bengal Cat and a Leopard Cat. ;-D

Saw some for sale in a shop today and called a friend over. As of the moment, deal not done yet. Maybe by end of the day. As for me, cat is not up my league. Maybe a dog.... one that can flush out birds in the bushes ;-) wondering... just wondering... whether a Jack Russell would be that ideal dog......




- Time you enjoy wasting wasn't wasted -

Sightings of Sparrowhawks

This year the Japanese Sparrowhawks appear to be early in their annual migration. I was in Umbai savouring their specialty there which is grilled fish (ikan bakar) with a friend and his wife when we saw a total of three birds. Actually we were there to confirm early sightings of them by some Tekukur trappers. The Sparrowhawks are not due until at least mid to end of September. So, this year they are very early.

Maybe, just maybe it is the early sign of monsoon too this year. With the current widespread of flooding all over Asia, it could have been a triggering factor. Anyway, that's the job of the meteorologists or scientists, or whoever is in charge ;-)

The Sparrowhawks are both welcomed and loathed visitors depending which end of the bird keeping fraternity you are on. They are the worst enemies of the Tekukur trappers and bird keepers who wants to sun their birds in the open. To others, it marks the beginning of an adventure ahead ;-)

Leucistic Shama pt.2

It may appear common, but rest assured that the leucistic Shama is far from common. I have only encountered 3 so far. I have known of trappers who have not seen one before.
Well, the point is, it has become increasingly difficult to decide which Shama to let go to accommodate this new addition. I think one of the female can go free :-( In Malaysia, we can only keep as many as our license permits. And the issuance of this license has been frozen for years. Was thinking of breeding a hybrid (last resort), as a legal way out :-(

But the leucistic Shama is in my plan too. With the long tailed & the Straw-headed & the sparrows hahaha! there seems to be no end......






The above is a Shama with white throat, short tail but nice long body. Have been with my friend for 2.5 years. Will be interesting to breed Shamas for colour. Then they may fall under the grey area of the law (pun intended).... muahahaha!

- Time you enjoy wasting wasn't wasted -

Leucistic Shama

Wow! A new word for me...... leucistic (thanks to Jeffrey for shedding some light to the term), an accurate description for this Shama. He dropped his tail feather today. Hopefully it's the beginning of a molt and not some creature pulled out his tail. He is one of the type that has a wild nature. Going to be difficult to tame & start singing :-(

Slightly shorter than 6". Hopefully he will grow a 6.5" tail after this. Sort of to balance a little bit. Otherwise, not so nice leh ;-)











A difficult Shama to photograph due to it's wild nature too.

Now, getting boring, so what next? thought of free flying a lovebird. Maybe I should stick to existing stock and free fly a Hill Myna instead hahaha!

- Time you enjoy wasting wasn't wasted -