Finch Update 22-12-2013

I'm in the process of cleaning out the cages so I have returned all of the Zebra Finches to the main aviary.  I also replaced the two (dead) potted grasses with alive (for now).  A bit of greenery really makes the aviary looks nice and the birds seem to like it as well.

The two charcoal males returned to the aviary without issue (although the smaller of the two seemed to have poor flying stamina initially).  I returned the pair of fawn Zebra Finches (nothing eventuated from the seven eggs they laid) and it turns out the male is quite the bully.  He insisted on occupying a large perch and would let no other bird near it.  The male grey Zebra Finch in the aviary is a solid little bird and even he was being pushed around.  I was hearing squawks I never thought finches could produce.  This was not good.

So late today I removed the pair of fawn Zebra Finches and placed them in a small cage indoors.  The atmosphere in the aviary changed instantly.  When I have cleaned out their cage they can go back in there.

Finch Update 15-12-2013

The proud father and a very industrious nest builder.

One of the young, almost all of the beak is now orange.  The beginnings of the "white spots on chestnut" sides mean this is a male (I think).

The whole brood is here.  The four on the left are the young, Dad and Mum on the right (blurred).  Third from the left is the "charcoal" Zebra Finch.

Finch Update 24-11-2013

All four young Zebra Finches have left the nest and a happily flying about the aviary.  I don't think the Gouldian and Painted Finches are terribly impressed with the young whippersnappers and their constant chirping and reckless flying.

Interestingly, one of the new arrivals appears to be a charcoal, raising the possibility that the pair of normal Zebra Finches have incubated and raised an egg from the pair of charcoal Zebra Finches that occupied the aviary (until the female died).

Still no news from the nest of the fawn Zebra Finches (there are at least four eggs in the nesting box).

Finch Update 17-11-2013

For the second day in a row the strongest fledgling in the aviary has escaped from the nest and had a bit of a run/fly around the floor.  This seems to cause the parent finches no end of distress and in both cases we have returned the truant finch to the nest.

Truant fledgling Zebra Finch (note the grey beak)

So in summary:

• 4 fledgling Zebra Finches in the pot plant in the aviary;
• No news regarding the nest and eggs in the smaller cage (I am starting to suspect they are too young).

Finch Update 09-11-2013

As far as I can tell four eggs have hatched in the main aviary.  The young make a racket when they would like a feed.  Despite that they are very hard to see (their parents have done a sterling job with the nest construction and camouflage).  The remaining two eggs may be from the charcoal pair (where the female died) so they may not hatch.

None of the eggs in the smaller cage have hatched.  I'm starting to get suspicious...

Finch Update 02-11-2013

Two of the eggs in the main aviary nest (normal/grey Zebra Finches) have hatched.  Four unbroken eggs still in the nest.  The parents are constantly feeding and maintaining the nest - wonderful to watch.

Finch Update 27-10-2013

In a medium sized cage with nesting box:

• The pair of fawn Zebra Finches have constructed a nest and laid two eggs.

In the aviary:

• The pair of Gouldian Finches are happy and enjoying the warmer weather;
• The pair of Painted Finches are happy fossicking around in the sand on the floor;
• The pair of normal/grey Zebra Finches have constructed an elaborate nest in a dead clump of grass in a pot plant and laid 6+ eggs.

In the medium sized "holding" cage:

• Two male charcoal Zebra Finches are keeping each other company.  One was in the aviary but his partner died last week.  I had thought it was the male that had died… hence the two males...

N Gauge Layout MkV

Despite the software indicating that the siding (between the Loco Shed and the Controller) would be possible, in practice it was too tight.  Below is what the layout will now look like.

1200 x 400 mm N Gauge Layout MkV

Mulga Parrot

Mulga Parrot (Psephotus varius, Boorabbin National Park, WA, Australia).

Mulga Parrot (Psephotus varius, Boorabbin National Park, WA, Australia).

N Gauge Layout MkIV

Below is the fourth design iteration of my small N Gauge layout.  I have replaced the two Peco engine sheds with a single Graham Farish pre-built unit.  This gives me more track space at the front and rear of the shed (the MkIII version was very crowded) and allows for the addition of a storage line down the side of the shed.

1200 x 400 mm N Gauge Layout MkIV

White-necked Heron and Emu

White-necked Heron (Ardea pacifica), WA, Australia.

Emu and young (Dromiceius novaehollandiae) photographed west of Coolgardie, WA, Australia.

Red-browed Finch and Grey Butcherbird

Red-browed Finch (Neochmia temporalis) photographed at Melville Rose Gardens, Carmel, WA, Australia.

Grey Butcherbird (Cracticus torquatus).

Brown Honeyeater

Brown Honeyeater (Lichmera indistincta) photographed in our backyard in Perth, Western Australia

Howell Cubby House

Cameron enjoying the iPad in the cubby house.

The cubby house is (for now at least) complete.  To see the build pictures go to this Flickr set.  At some stage in the future I will no doubt add or improve a few things but everything I had planned for it is now done.  I've enjoyed building it and learning some new skills.

N Gauge Layout MkII

I have made some modifications to my planned layout.  See the image below.  I have simplified the design and added a signal box.  Construction has commenced with Tasmanian Oak beams and plywood base.  The controller will be a Morley Controllers Vector Zero Two (rapidly becoming my favourite controller).

1200 x 400 mm N Gauge Layout MkII

Edit:  See below for a slightly modified "MkIII" design.  This is the design I have commenced construction on.

1200 x 400 mm N Gauge Layout MkIII

A belated update of sorts

So, it's been a while since I posted a blog update.  Here goes:

• I upgraded the RAM in my 13" MacBook Pro from 4GB to 16GB (purchased from http://www.macfixit.com.au).  The performance boost is nice.
• The cubby house I am building for the kids is progressing well.  I am looking forward to the first round of bulk rubbish collections in the area for the year so I can stock up on some supplies (mainly Colorbond offcuts and wood).
• The computer collection received two new additions - an SE/30 and a PowerMac 7600.  Both are used but came in their boxes including all peripherals, cables and documentation.  Two very nice Macs.
• The N gauge model train collection and layouts are progressing well.  Recent additions include some old Graham Farish Class 43 HSTs, a new Dapol Class 58 and numerous rolling stock items.  I am in the process of planning a small 400 x 1200 mm layout as space in the Howell residence is becoming a little tight (see below for the planned layout).

400 x 1200 mm Layout Plan

• I purchased an iPad Mini (16GB, WiFi+3G, White).  I am finding it a very convenient size.  This is my iPad, the children have claimed the other iPad (3rd Gen iPad, 16GB, WiFi, Black) for YouTube, ABC iView etc.

2013 Birding Targets

Here is a list of the birds I am looking for in 2013:

• Terek Sandpiper (Xenus cinereus);
• Roseate Tern (Sterna dougallii);
• Black-eared Cuckoo (Chalcites osculans);
• Shining Bronze-Cuckoo (Chalcites lucidus), not sure how I've managed to avoid this one;
• Gilbert's Whistler (Pachycephala inornata), should be around the site I work at;
• Malleefowl (Leipoa ocellata), a remote chance near the site I work at;
• Inland Dotterel (Charadrius australis);
• Painted Button-quail (Turnix varius);
• Southern Scrub-robin (Drymodes brunneopygia).

Currently I have no plans for any birding trips so 2013 might be quite a dry year.