A sad morning
By donnah
21 comments
Yesterday I went to my avairy first thing in the morning to check and feed my birds. I found one of the Golden mantel rosellas dead on the floor. I have never lost a bird in the avairy before so I was quite upset.These birds live till they are around 30 years old. My breeding pair of rosellas had 3 babys last year which I had kept and it was one of the babys which i found dead
This is a photo of the family together
This is the Male Rosella. A very hansom boy. I could not understand what had happened to my bird and while i was trying to piece all the evidence together trying to make sense of what could have happen I could hear this sound coming from the flower bed, It was a strange noise it sounded like a bird in destress also it had like a clicking sound as well ( sorry if that sounds odd but its the only way I can descibe it)
Then I found my Cat olley stalking something in the flower bed It was a weasle. That was the animal making all the racket. I chased olley away as I did not want him bitten by it. Then I put 2 and 2 together and found my answer why my bird had been found dead. I have never seen a weasle in my garden before .I know its nature at the end of the day. but i love my birds very much and that weasle had one very exspensive killing.
18 Oct, 2009
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Comments
Thanks pipsqueak They have lovely markings on their wings
18 Oct, 2009
That is very sad, they are beautiful birds. I've never seen a weasle but i did'nt realise they came into gardens.
18 Oct, 2009
Yes they hunt at night they take birds and mice . The farmers dont like them as they will kill fowl as well. I dont like them now,
18 Oct, 2009
Its a shame and yes its nature, proberbly frightened to death, which there is a consolation at the end, at least you know its not any kind of desease which could wipe the hole family out, also you can now put safe guards in place to protect the rest.
18 Oct, 2009
Awww im so sorry donnah poor little bird, weavels must be quite small to get through the cage then. nature can be cruel, i guess he thought they were easy targets in the cage, you will be so worried at night now,, is there anything you can do to protect the cage at night donnah
18 Oct, 2009
the avairy is 14ft by about 15ft the wire mess is about 1 inch square which is big enough for a weasle to get in. But my indoor flight has a hatch way so they can fly from the indoor to the outdoor. As the weather closes in we put large plastic sheeting all round it to keep out the wind and rain. The roof is sheeted over all year round, The birds often sleep out side even in the winter They have a choice to go in The indoor flight has a heater and 2 lights as well. I think because the outside flight is so well wrapped up they are happy in it. But now with the weasle problem I will put them in at night and close the hatch. That way they will be safe.
18 Oct, 2009
Yes you are right Morgana a desease would be alfull.At least I can deal with this problem
18 Oct, 2009
Thank you Donnah have had birds myself so that why I said what I did :o)
18 Oct, 2009
What sort of birds do you have Morgana?
18 Oct, 2009
I don't have any, any more I use to have budgies, fan tail doves, russian canaries, and love birds.
18 Oct, 2009
I Love the fan tailed doves. I have often wondered about getting some and buying a dove coop. But we have a lot of birds of prey in my area Marsh harriers kestrels buzzard long tailed kites the list just goes on
18 Oct, 2009
It would be a shame to lose them, I kept mine in an out house over night, let them out in the morning.
18 Oct, 2009
I was SO sorry to ready your sad news just now....
You must have been devastated Donnah...what a horrid thing to find like that - and to one of your beautiful babes too. The only thing is - at least you do know what happened and as you say - you can do something about it. Weasels are wicked killers....we have them in abundance up here and most days up on the moors..just a few miles from here I see them. They are so enchanting ...to look at!!! Beautiful masks but vicious natures - like most stoats and ferrets - and they seem to delight in the act of killing for killing's sake. Thank goodness you managed to chase it off and get Olley safely out of the way - it could so easily have had a go. They are great climbers - so closing your gorgeous birds in is the only answer and make sure there are no tiny holes they can get through...as it now knows your glorious birds are there - it will keep coming back. Always carry a stick with you when you go near your aviary - they have been known to nip the ankles too!!!
18 Oct, 2009
Oh hun thats terrible news
am very sorry to hear that
but at least now you know what it is like you say you can sort the problem
x x
18 Oct, 2009
its a shame they have to be kept in donnah but its for the best isnt it and like you said winter coming so need to be sheltered now, hope you dont get any more trouble x
18 Oct, 2009
That's such a sad story, Donna....
As Alz says, make sure there are no tiny holes around the aviary, where the weasel could get in...
I hope the other birds will now be safe. x
18 Oct, 2009
So sorry to hear such sad news, just hope your others will be safe, as you say if locked up they will be.
18 Oct, 2009
Beautiful Birds.. I surpose if shuting them up at night keeps them safe then that's the thing to do ,very sad poor little things :o((
18 Oct, 2009
That's a real shame, Donna. I am sorry. :-((
18 Oct, 2009
Only just found this blog Donnah,very sorry to read what happened and sincerely hope you haven`t lost any more birds.......
24 Oct, 2009
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Beautiful birds but sorry to hear about the young one
18 Oct, 2009