Local lizards

I think bird keepers usually with time become more in tune with nature compared with other pet keepers. For one, they usually try their hands in bird trapping out of curiosity. And to successfully do that, you have to know where to look, what bait to.use etc.

A friend has migrated to trapping the local "chameleon", a very fast lizard. Another has gone into Gecko hunting. Could it be due to the vacuum left by the "Lizard King". Hope not hehehe!....

Gecko prices appears to be going by the weight 100g++, 200g++, 300g++ sigh!


The local "chameleons"....






I shall take it as a duty to find out the real name of the specie....

Update: identified as the Changeable lizard (calotes versicolor) by an expert ;-)

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Finding Nemo, the sequel

My son has this preoccupation with Clown Fish. So went out with him on a trip to KL. With food supplies in the car, a bottle of milk & extra change if clothing, we left home at 10.30a.m. after I fed all the birds.

After catching up with a couple of friends over lunch, we went to Sg. Buluh to a wholesaler of fishes (another bird kaki showed me the way). After becoming RM100 poorer, we came home with 3 clown fish, 1 unidentified fish (he calls it air-bag), 1 anemone and 1 puffer fish.

Whew! that should keep him happy for some time. So, the collection of Clown Fishes now are 7 consisting of 3 species....
Hmmm.... this is getting interesting ;-)

Plus learned today there is a pair of Akita for sale in Penang. Maybe.... just maybe :-D







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Disappointing performance

Passed this RJF to a friend but he says that it can't be used as when the wild chicken came out, it just cluck like a hen in fear.

Sigh! now must decide where to release him. No place to put him. Unless I sacrifice a chicken coup I have been reserving for a special bird yet to be acquired ;-)


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Fish Food Mash

Found a nice Clown Fish. Found 4 actually....


Then expanding options in feeding them, I found the commercial marine fish food mash. At a quoted 38%-40% protein contents, the amount of fish meal they used must be substantial.

Bought 200g @ RM1 ;-)



Mixed into a small dough, it was well taken to by the fishes.



Then started another 2 feet marine tank to house the Clown Fishes. Today is the 2nd day that the water is being cycled. Still too soon, but a 5 year old has only so much patience. Have to transfer the fishes tomorrow.

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Song of the Straw-headed Bulbul

It is hard not to be moved to at least try to breed these fast disappearing birds....
....on their own, they don't stand a chance. Not with the price on their heads :-(

Keeping the White-rumped Shama

It has often been recommended that a new White-rumped Shama should be kept in a fully covered cage. And to tame it, the cage will then be gradually opened, bit by bit. SOme even recommended that it be hung in a placed with lots of human activities. End point is to get the bird used to humans and to tame it.
Is there an alternative? What if the cloth was never removed. Would the Shama still tame down and rise in form? One such Shama was subjected to such treatment. Totally covered with only an opening in the zipper to provide better ventilation and a peek at the outside world (although through the cloth, shadows of the outside world is still visible). The only time the cloth was removed was during bathing. Well, I have always been an advocator of one odd case is not of statistical importance, but just to note for future reference....
Time to "jadi" appears much shorter. Once "jadi" fear of humans greatly diminished although it still retains certain wild streaks.
Time to test this fella out in the "chai" place. Unfortunately the closest place appears to be in Muar where only of handful are present. This Sunday? sigh.... got sporting appointment :-( too many things to do, too little time....

Song of the White-rumped Shama Pt.3 of 79

Reading the white papers on this website, ok! ok!, I will go with the parabolic microphone.

http://www.telinga.com/

Now, where to find a local supplier?

Continuing this thought about communications among birds....
I am much influenced by early Buddhist thoughts. Among the traditions that I admired most is the Dhutanga practice of the forest monks. Among them, one that stands out among them is Phra Ajaan Mun Bhuridatta (1840 - 1949). Well, this is not going to turn into a religious thing, but reading about him first shed light into communications among animals. I mean, I suspected it all along, but he just gave me the confirmation or rather confidence in that direction. That animals do communicate in their own limited capacity.
I am not about to suggest that we could learn the language of animals, but understanding the mental and physical conditions of a bird by its song seems an achievable target. How? thats why this is going to be 79 parts long hahaha!

Plan B

Woke up this morning and decided that Plan B need to be executed. What is Plan B?
Plan B = relocation and reduction in stock.
Sigh! no sing also headache, sing also headache :-D

So, some of the noisy buggers and at least 2 pairs will be located above a watering hole (Pub lah!) Leave 3 singers at home. Return some birds on loan from friends. Auction off the Mata Puteh. Give away the Sooty-headed..... ah! that will accord some peace to the neighbours.

Not that they are complaining. But taking cue from Uncle Sam, its called "pre-emptive" hahaha!

Incidently, the related authorities has replied favourably to my breeding plans. Now, to get invited for drafting of the guidelines muahahaha!
I did provide them link to my blog which they may or may not read. Well, hopefully I don't end up in the court of law trying to prove that I am harmless. Hopefully they realise that working together with hobbyists are the way forward ;-)

Red Jungle Fowl

It has been a while since I keep the Jungle Fowl. So when a friend decides to look for one, I took him around hunting for a bargain.
Seems like prices is a little on the high side. Nevertheless, determined not to return empty handed, he took one RM60.

Then received an MMS from a friend in Kuala Pilah. A nice red specimen. Caught 1 chicken before. Hmmm.... don't mind keeping these magnificent chickens again ;-)

Maybe I will just take the red one :-D


- Time you enjoy wasting wasn't wasted -

Cost of bird feed

I have never kept track of bird feed prices thus far. Maybe about time I do so....

Chicken feed (small) - RM2.10/kg
Chicken feed (large) - RM2.00/kg
Millet (green) - RM3.00/kg
Millet (white) - RM2.10/kg

.... and see how over the years, it would escalate ;-)






- Time you enjoy wasting wasn't wasted -

Home made enzyme

Will switch from....





to ....





A home made fruit enzyme made by a friend. Myself too lazy to make. Like Confusion says - "why make yourself, things others can make for you" hahaha!

The above enzyme, was made with 100% pineapple.

The formula has been discussed extensively in the Malaysia Bird Forum....

- Time you enjoy wasting wasn't wasted -