psittacine and others

2008-12-26T04:11:00.000-08:00

November-December 2008

As the year comes to a close it is a relief to see that the transformation of the garden is almost complete, it has been a busy few months and not without a few minor hiccups however we can now concentrate on the coming breeding season and there is plenty of interest from Cockatiels to tortoise; they are all in the mood! All of the aviaries have now had a coat of paint and with general maintenance finished the nest boxes are being put in place so there will be little reason to disturb the birds in the coming months.
As you stake a step back and look at the work that has been completed you can see that the garden, aviaries and house were in need of a face lift and it is also good to take stock, bird wise, of how you want to progress. We have been successful in the breeding of the birds that are housed in the collection but do you let the birds breed for the sake of it or should there be a purpose? That will depend on why you keep aviary birds, pleasure or profit, we are fortunate in that we can make decisions as to where our talents lie and what direction we wish to proceed and, as we both enjoy the challenge of breeding and rearing birds that are considered ‘difficult’ or endangered in their natural habitat they are the birds that we willconcentrate on. With all of the, aviary, moves involving different birds only time will tell if we have got it right and that may not be this breeding season or even next, it’s a waiting game.

The colony of Hyacinthine macaws have been up to their usual tricks namely, wire trimming and metal work and they appear to have a sixth sense when it comes to fining a loose weld or a piece of wire buried under the gravel, luckily they are happy to share their find with you, even if it does mean a three man team going into the aviary to sort it out! Maybe they should be called Tenacious Macaws…

We had visitors come to stay in November and it is great when they are interested in the birds, Lou enjoyed her hands on with the Palm Cockatoo as well as the Hyacinthine Macaws and both colonies of birds enjoy the attention they receive and they are not at all nervous around people, in fact, the Hyacinthine can be a bit too much ‘in your face’!

Or is it the latest style in headwear? It dosen't really matter which of the above avairies we go into as these birds just love the attention.

Weather Wise
The weather has been lovely and if the daytime temperature stayed like this throughout the year, Bahrain would be ideal, sadly this is not the case, so you get out and enjoy these next few months as much as possible. The air is crisp and clean and everything takes on a different perspective in the winter light, the colours are sharper and even in the evening the lights from the Saudi-Bahrain Causeway are bright and remind me or the piers that are illuminated in some of the seaside resorts in the UK. We may have warmth through the day but the early mornings and through the evenings can feel icy, that may sound like an exaggeration but ask any local or long time resident of the Island and, with the sudden drop in temperature we find that we have more problems with the birds due to the cold that we do the heat and for all of our feathered friends that like a natural rain shower there are plenty more that stay snuggled up inside their aviaries, beak tucked into their feathers and as close to the next bird as possible. The cooler weather also sees the return of the Cormorants and, as usual, it is enjoyable to watch them flying across and stopping for a snack before continuing their journey. As the weather cools i spend more time taking photographs of the birds and garden. Having invested in a digital camera has certainly saved a lot of money, we have lost count the number of films we have had developed in the past only to throw most of the prints away because we did not manage to get a decent image of a particular bird.

We even had a lunar event in December, can’t remember what it was called but two stars and the moon gave a good impression of a smiley face, as you can see from my attempt at capturing the image.
Eggs and Chick Info.
The macaw chick that hatched in November was replaced back with the parent birds but the chick was attacked and died. We are currently rearing Palm Cockatoo chicks and the Red-tailed Black Cockatoo, Eclectus, African Greys as well as Amazon are sitting eggs, the Galah’s, Major Mitchell’s and Molouccan Cockatoo are all in and out of the nest boxes and I don’t it won’t be too long before we have eggs in these nest sites.
Garden
As usual, ongoing projects, though Petunias and nasturtium are now planted and are just starting to bloom. A number of trees that had died, or in the case of a Palm tree become rather old and teetering dangerously, have been removed, nothing is wasted as the birds enjoy fresh wood and branches to chew or as nest material.

Cycads that have graced the beds in front of the main house have been moved to a different site, within the garden, which will afford them more natural shade through the long, hot summer months. The only areas left to sort out are around the main house but when the contractors have finished it should not take more that a week to put right as we have plants ready to go into the flower beds and pots that usually stand around the house and pool area.

Honey’s Antics
She’s still a happy little [read big] girl and we still delight in her antics, as you can see it looks like she is in deep conversation with a Palm Cockatoo, all of our dogs have to behave around the birds or there is a good telling off, Honey has learned that she is not to jump up at the aviaries but we encourage nose-to-nose contact as the larger birds are used to the dogs being around and the macaw, especially, would nip her nose if they had the opportunity and, not surprisingly the dogs remember pain and that makes them wary of getting too close! That isn’t to say that the wild doves in the garden aren’t fair game but when you are as big as Honey and can’t put on the brakes when necessary, as well as having no finesse what so ever when it comes to stalking, she is not very successful-though she does have a high prey drive and we always know when there are cats about as she is sniffing around, looking up into the trees and checking the underneath of the cars. Luckily they have only been a few chases and no ‘cat fights’.
Although big she is quite agile and likes to chase her Frisbee-so, no, she has not had collagen injected in her lips it is her bright orange Frisbee!

As I have been writing the blog for three years it may not be monthly in the future as the same things tend to occur at roughly the same time of year and I am busy doing other things so maybe I will write every two months-but log on and ‘watch this space’!

And that is all for this year, Christmas came and went and now the New Year is just around the corner, so we offer our good wishes for a happy, safe and peaceful New Year.

2008-10-31T03:49:00.000-07:00

October 2008

Things are slowly coming together in the garden and, hopefully by the end of the year the aviaries and garden will have been sorted out, though the main house will take longer. It has been good to see some of the wild birds are back, the Reef Heron has taken up his usual position on the end of the Jetty [Honey like to eat his poop] and the Curlews have been seen, though i don't think they like the activity around the main house as i have only seen them later in the afternoon when the workmen have left, The Hoopoe is in and out of the garden and even a few seagulls flew over a couple of days ago, sadly the crows are still hanging around though the numbers have been less plus i saw my first, dead, sea snake of the season, hopefully that will be the last!
I was walking through one of the planted aviaries and managed to photograph three of the Pin-tiled Sandgrouse, sometimes we take for granted the smaller unobtrusive birds but they are equally as important and, as for these birds they have beautiful markings on their feathers.

There has been a lot of moving around and we now have quiet a few of our birds housed as a colony, these include the Hyacinthine and Scarlet Macaw, Palm Cockatoo and Molouccan Cockatoo. The Hyacinthine and Scarlet Macaw have been in their colony for a while now but it is only this month that the Palm's and Molouccan's have been housed as colonies and they look GREAT! When placing birds together for the first time you have to monitor the interaction that they have with each other, dominance and aggression can be a problem but if there is an equal mix of the sexes we have found the group are more likely to settle down together. The Palms, apart from two females, are relatively young from 2000 hatch to this years chicks.

We did not include our breeding pairs in the colony as, obviously they are older and are settled in their aviaries and, even though our birds are healthy the Palm's have blossomed since being place together, they enjoy the extra space and the interaction with each other.

The Molouccan's are all mature birds and two pairs have bred but again, literally within minutes of being placed together they were shouting and shaking their feathers out and were soon perching together. The Molouccans and Scarlets will be given nest boxes and it will be interesting to see if they breed within a colony but that's how it works in thier natural habitat!

Back to the Hyacinthines a.k.a 'the thugs', within a few of days of being placed in their new aviary they had found a couple of loose welds so that meant we had a quick repair job to do, in general, they do spend a lot of their time examining the wire plus there is one bird who is working on the bolt on the inner door, we half expect to go out one day and see the Hyacinthine's flying around the garden! We love them really.

Bird and Chick Info

The African Greys now have their nest boxes in place and most of them have been busy sorting out the wood shavings inside and I'm sure there will be eggs and chicks by the end of the year. One of the Eclectus is rearing a chick and we have a pair of the Hyacinthine sitting eggs, her third clutch this year. This particular pair have reared a chick for the last three years but we haven't had much success with their eggs this year though she seems to be determined to have a baby, we will have to remove the egg[s] for hatching and, if they are fertile the chick[s] will be placed back with her for rearing so fingers crossed and watch this space...

Garden News

The garden is slowly recovering from the summer/builders/bugs and everything else that had left it looking so bedraggled. Some of the grass has been replanted though that is an ongoing job as the weeds appear to take over quicker that the grass can grow!

We have some colour in the form of the bougainvillea and a new tree to the garden, lovely flowers, though i don't know the name of the tree.

We usually have petunia's planted by now but even they are late this year and we will probably not plant until the end of November when the bedding plants have some decent growth on them, as ever the garden is a 'work in progress'.

There are also a few different butterflies aound but i doubt i will be able to capture them on camera especially when i am accompanied by my four legged friends!

Weather

One word can sum it up this month, horrible! The beginning of October was lovely, lots of sun but cooler in temperature and even a breeze, you could almost hear the Island breathing a sigh of relief. It was short lived as this has been one of the most humid months of the year seemingly day after day and everyone has complained about it but, we did have rain on two days, i think here it amounted to a couple of minutes and didn't even give the birds anything to get excited about! Hopefully next month will be more seasonable.

Honey's Antics

Well this little girl, i would say lady but she isn't, has been with us for a year now and she has been a real pleasure, she is still up to her usual antics but i think she now has a new playmate, we have always had owls in the garden in the evenings though we have no idea where they spend the day. I need to digress, a few years ago one of our German Shep's., Khan was tormented nightly by one of the owls, he would swoop down and just skin above the dogs head, because owls are silent in flight the dog knew nothing about it until he had been 'buzzed' and then the owl would settle on one of the lamp posts, just out of harms way and watch Khan who would be barking and jumping up trying to get at the owl. This went on for months and many of us witnessed this performance, it now seems that Honey has been singled out for similar treatment as i have see the owl around where the dogs are and yes, it is Honey, who has excellent night vision that is trailing around the garden trying to catch her new friend!

The two images of Honey with her brother, were taken in the summer and i have just recently received them, in one it looks as if they are about to rip each other to bits, but it was just how the camera caught them and as you can see in the other image she really does have a 'big brother!' The last image of her stood at the main gate looks like she is trying to make her mind up, 'should i stay or should i go...'

More next month, to be posted at the end of November.

2008-09-26T04:31:00.000-07:00

June through to September 2008

Apologies for no blog recently but there has been a lot happening in the garden over the last few months and when all the work is finished the garden, house and aviaries will have had a ‘make-over’ on a grand scale.

Any major work always seems to be carried out during the summer months, there are two reasons for this; one being that the majority of birds has finished breeding and the other is that the family are on vacation and we do not have any one visiting the garden. This summer has seen major changes to the birds and aviaries as well as the main house and surrounding area.

Birds
Over the years the collection has steadily grown and we have been successful in breeding and rearing many different species of birds but there has to be a ‘cut off’ point and you have to decide where priorities lie. To continue as we had would still have meant alteration to the aviaries and the building of more, which in turn means the need for more staff and, you end up spreading yourself ‘thin on the ground’ and being little more than a caretaker rather than an aviculturist. After consultation it was decided that we should downsize the collection and concentrate on breeding the more vulnerable species of birds that we keep.

With this in mind we have successfully managed to re-house numerous birds into other bird collections on the Island yet still retaining a varied and unique collection of birds that Al Azizia Garden is known for.

The Hyacinthine Macaw aviary that was started and completed earlier this year will be used to house a colony of Palm Cockatoos and the Hyacinthine Macaws have a new, larger flight, aviary which was completed by the end of September.These birds really are characters-nothing bothers them and they took the move to the new aviary with no fuss at all-we are just waiting to see what the first damage will be as they like to try and demolish, chew, break, re-design their 'space' on a regular basis!

Note. One of the older pairs of Hyacinthine Macaws [8 year old male and 6 year old female] nested in one of the two nest sites that had been placed within the aviary for them to ‘play in and explore’,
Although these eggs were not fertile it proved that the birds could co-habit and breed in a colony without there being any aggression toward the other birds within the group. By observing the birds we found the other Hyacinthine within the colony to be respectful of the nesting pairs space and because there are numerous feeding sites as well as perches there was no need for any territorial squabbling. This pair of birds are now housed separately in a large flight aviary.

We have also placed our pairs of Scarlet Macaws on a colony basis, these birds were housed together in June and after careful observation we have decided to try them with nest boxes to see if they will breed as a colony-watch this space.

Other changes have included refurbishing the rest of the ‘block’ aviaries, one was just a straight forward refit of new wire etc. and this block now houses African Grey Parrots, though another block was refitted to take only three pairs of birds namely a pair of, Military Macaw, Caninde Macaw and Red-Fronted Macaw.
Block no. 4 has been utilised to house the Hyacinthine Macaw colony giving an ‘indoor’ area for feeding, sleeping and protection from the weather with a large flight area attached-this aviary will be the focal point as you enter the garden and the colour and size of these birds will not go unnoticed!

Some of the above work has been carried out by contractors but the majority of the work has been through the effort and hard work of the guys who work here and it has been hard work this long, hot and frequently humid summer.
While the Hyacinthine aviary is now completed general maintenance work is ongoing in Breeding Centre 3 with minor repairs to individual aviaries as well as painting and refreshing the gravel-this in turn will mean we can move birds to different aviaries or house them temporarily while work is carried out on their particular site. We are hoping to have all of the birds sorted out by the end of the year as the breeding season will start any time from October onwards and so it continues. The birds did benefit from the fruit of the above cactus as well as the dates from the numerous palm trees in the garden-the majority of birds do like to sample different foods and flavours and like humans different coloured fruits and veg. are good for them as well as us!

House and Garden
The main residence is undergoing long awaited work; the exterior of the house is in the process of being sand blasted so that a new finish can be applied giving the walls a ‘face lift’. The cost, in terms of damage to the immediate area of the garden, is heart breaking. The area is covered in a fine white dust and the surrounding trees, plants and grass have either died or are looking in a very sorry state, it will take months to repair, replace and renew the above.
The garden, in general, has taken a battering in the last few months; the main irrigation pump had to be renewed leaving the garden without water for a number of days-in the middle of the prolonged heat of a summers day it didn’t take long for large areas are grass and plants to wilt and die, even with the pump repaired the amount of salt in the bore hole water has increased and the higher concentration of salt in the water will cause more damage to the garden

The ‘doom and gloom’ doesn’t end there-with continued land reclamation the sea wall that was built last year to combat our coastal erosion is in need of repair-we found an old photograph, taken in 1994/5 and it showed the beach that gave way to the lapping water’s edge-even at high tide and it made us realise just how much of the land has been reclaimed by the sea! Developer’s will have a lot to answer for in the not to distant future-not everyone can live in a property that has a sea view and a beach on the doorstep without naturally occurring consequences!

Weather
This has been a peculiar year as it has consisted of more sand storms and dust haze than we have ever experienced and that in turn managed to keep the heat down but when it did kick in it came with a vengeance and everyone suffers, people, animals and the birds and we will be welcoming the cooler weather in, hopefully, the next few weeks.

The Good Stuff!
This has been an exceptional year for breeding and we have had more chicks bred and reared than in any other year even-the Red-Vented Bulbuls in the garden have increased in number.
We had the pleasure of Anya once again this summer, probably the last visit on her own for a while as she will be in full time school from the beginning of the New Year and will only be able to take ‘official’ school holidays and it was just too hot for her this year though we still managed some pony riding, swimming and dog minding around the garden.

Honey had her first birthday-it feels like she has been with us forever; she is still charming, full of the joys of life and a very large coward! Her greatest sin is that she is a kleptomaniac and cannot resist picking up odds and ends that she finds around the garden-even though they may not be lost!

We have been, reliably, informed that Great Danes rarely bark; well this is a Great Dane that thinks it is a GSD! And they bark! We had workers in the garden and as they got out of their van Honey fixed them with a closed mouth stare and proceeded to walk in their direction. Now when you have not come across a Great Dane before they do look rather well, big and these men did not move, I and the other dogs took no notice and after she had eyed them up she came to join us. What the men did not realise is if they had coughed, sneezed or said BOO! Honey would have high tailed it away at the speed of light! But we like to enforce our guard dog theory-well that’s what it says on the main entrance! Secondly the new lamp posts that have been erected in the garden where causing her to be vocal, she would stand and bark at these tall monsters on and off for most of the evening and the comment from us? “Lamp posts are still there then…”

Hopefully, the blog. will be back to some semblance of normality by the end of October.

2008-06-03T05:57:00.000-07:00

May 2008

The weather throughout May has not been too hot, just the last few days have been rather humid and, this is when we have to be cautious with the birds as they can look okay one minute and then be stumbling around due to the heat. All of the aviaries have fans and the overhead showers are on once or twice per day and it is surprising how much difference this make to the temperature in the aviaries. As you can see with the image of the Hyacinthine Macaws they know how to keep their cool!
Good intentions. We had a guy come and visit with Mike, he wanted to borrow a couple of books on keeping birds-no problem-it's always good to meet like minded people and share information. He then told us about the two birds that he was hand feeding, he was concerned that they were not getting enough nourishment, thinking they were just a few weeks old we started to tell him about the weaning process only to be told his African Grey ‘chick’ was eight months old and the Umbrella Cockatoo was well over one year old! He didn't like to leave them at night without a feed even though the birds were eating a full and varied diet and are within the range, weight wise, for their age-young adult. We have had people who have bought weaned birds and started to feed them when they get the bird home, they think this will help them to bond with the bird. We can only advise and, occasionally we do have to take the bird back and re-wean it. Did he stop the hand feeding? We will have to wait until he returns the books to learn the answer to that question.
We were also contacted by a lady who had taken in a baby Crow and as she was going to be away was wondering if we could help her and take the bird in to rear, i politely told her that we do not take in wild birds due to the risk of disease. The sad fact is that a lot of 'garden birds' are taken in because people feel sorry for the little birdy but there are several reasons why that bird may not be in the nest. The chick could have been pushed out by a stronger sibling or it got a bit to close to the edge of the nest site, the parent birds may have discarded the chick possibly because they sense something is not right or the chick has been taken from the nest by another bird.
Some chicks also fledge a few days after hatching and the parent birds do tend to keep an eye on their chicks so, before taking any action either leave the chick where it is or just move it into a shaded place, there is every chance the parents will come to feed the chick-taking a wild bird in to hand rear means you either have to try and reintroduce the bird back to it’s natural habitat or keep it as a pet as it will be too imprinted to fend for itself.
As for the nest above our front door [see image] this is a yearly event and within the space of a few minutes, regardless that we are in and out frequently, it can go from a couple of twigs and a feather to a full size nest, do we allow the birds to nest? Simple answer, no!
Chicks EggsInfo
We are still busy with chicks hatching and it looks like this will continue for the next couple of months. This is aslo the time of year when the pheasant and quail chicks are hatching and we enjoy watching them running around and foraging for food with the parent birds, in the planted aviaries, though trying to photograph them is a different matter!
Not all eggs/chicks left with the parents to hatch and rear are successful. We have a pair of Greenwing Macaw and for the last 4 years the female has laid from the perch-even though she spends time inside her nest box-there isn't a lot that can be done and usually the bird will get the right idea. So we were pleased when her nest site was checked to find 3 eggs, these were left with her to incubate and hatch off, she is a mature bird and we wanted to give her the chance to rear young.Well she must have got fed up with the time spent inside as one of the bird keepers came with one barely live chick and two broken eggs. The chick that had hatched was approx. 2 days old and we think she initially fed this chick but all that was in the crop was air! The chick and the 2 eggs had been pushed out of the nest and all had landed on the floor-sadly we were not able to save the other two chicks, one was only 24hrs or so from hatching and the third egg about 3-4 days but when you have been launched from the nest site, which is about 7 feet from the ground, survival is slim! Luckily the live chick just needed feeding and is progressing well.

Our pair of Silvery Cheeked Hornbill are in the process of nest building and it will be interesting to see if the female spends the same amount of time in the nest as she did her first time around and, hopefully this time there will be chicks.

Garden News
The date trees are slow to fruit this year, last year it was because there had been too much rain and this year i don't think there was enough, hopefully it will be a decent harvest and we can enjoy warm, ripe fruit fresh from the tree.
Honey’s Antics
We have been, reliably, informed that Great Danes rarely bark, well this is a Great Dane that thinks it is a GSD! And they bark! We had workers in the garden and as they got out of their van Honey fixed them with a closed mouth stare and then proceeded to walk in their direction. Now when you have not come across a Great Dane before they do look rather, well, big and these men did not move. I and the other dogs took no notice of her and after she had eyed them up and looked generally menacing she came to join us. What the men did not realise is if they had coughed, sneezed or said BOO! Honey would have high tailed it away at the speed of sound! But we like to enforce our guard dog theory-well that’s what it says on the main entrance!
Secondly the new lamp posts are causing her to be vocal, the majority have now been put in place in the garden, though not, as yet, wired up and Honey will stand and bark at these tall monsters on and off most of the evening and the comment from us? “The lamp posts are still there…” Don't know what she will do when they are switched on!

She has now mastered the garden watering system and regularly drinks and showers when they are on and then she likes to rub against you-just to dry her nose and mouth...

Her brother, Ringo, has had a bout of tick fever, from which he has recovered and due to our being busy they have not met up for a few weeks, i think they will need plenty of space when they do. More of Honey and the birds next month, to be posted around the end of June

2008-05-01T04:57:00.000-07:00

March-April 2008

Apologies for the late blog but having been away, again, due to the birth of another 'chick' Alfie, i think i am back for the foreseeable future!

Before continuing i have say that it was magical to open the curtains on Easter Sunday morning and see the covering of snow that had fallen overnight-we may have sun, sea and sand but it is still a treat to see snow.

I was staying with my sister over this particular weekend, although her garden area is small she really does get lots of different bird visitors. There were 6 Gold Finches, Blue tits a pair of Wood Pigeons, Collared Doves, Robins and a pair of Blackbirds as well as the Sparrows and Starlings and all due to the different seeds and nuts that are available for the birds to sample. I did try to photograph them but only had my phone camera so that is why there is only an image of the snow!

On to other things...
I was able to catch up with some bird reading and one of the magazines that we subscribe to, 'Psittacine' Feb. 2008 edition featured an article on the illegal trade in wild caught African Grey parrots.
There were two illegal shipments in November and December 07 that had been confiscated prior to travel and some of the birds from both of these shipments were destined for Bahrain-the state of these birds was appalling and it gives a country a bad name when issues like this arise. Bahrain would not have been their final destination, it was more likely to have been Saudi Arabia, Bahrain is linked via a causeway to Saudi Arabia and many, many animals cross the borders illegally-well money and status talks! Due to a ban on the import and export of birds to and from K.S.A the price of an African Grey in Saudi is higher than in Bahrain but who is to blame, the traders or the people who buy these birds? We have been contacted by many well meaning people who have purchased wild caught African Greys, some out of concern for the welfare of the bird and others because they think they have a bargain and as the average price for one of these birds is BD50.000 [Bahraini Dinar] it is a lot less than would be paid for a captive bred bird but as the saying goes you get what you pay for and this is usually true as a lot of these birds have died or are in need of veterinary treatment. In places like the Cameroon where human life is 'cheap', birds and animals and their treatment will not be high on any one's list, rightly or wrongly i feel that for animals to be well treated humans must be treated 'humanely' in order for them to respect the right to life of animals and while money is omni important the capture and subsequent sale of these birds will hold little importance. Well that's my rant over with if you would like to know more of the fate of the Cameroon Greys log on to http://www.parrots.org/ and read the full story. AND if you would like to make a difference DO NOT buy anything from these animal traders it is the quickest way to empty their pockets!

There has been plenty happening here in the garden, work has been ongoing with regard to installing new lamp posts and this has involved renewing the electricity supply cable, which is encased in plastic tubing-so that should stop the sparks flying when the garden water is switched on!

Also needing repair was an underground water pipe that had burst, this was in one of the Hyacinthine Macaw aviaries, so they had to be moved out for a couple of days while the repair was carried out.

I keep meaning to mention the local Camels, we often have a herd wandering outside of the property, foraging on whatever they consider to be edible. The bunch in these images are all young Camels and we have always had a bit of a soft spot because they are kind of cute BUT OH! the smell it definitely is a case of you smell them before you see them!

The Bee Eaters have graced the skies again, these are a beautifully coloured bird, similar in colour to a Kingfisher but we have yet to successfully photograph these birds-as they are always on the move. The image, on the right, is of the Bluecheeked Bee Eater curtosy of url:http://www.kolkatabirds.com/bluecheekedbeeater8n.jpg

Chick/Egg Info

We can never predict from one year to the next what birds will go to nest or how many chicks we will have. This year has proved no exception, we have had very little rain this year and consequently the African Greys have not been as prolific as expected neither have the Galah Cockatoos but the Macaws are laying eggs like they are going out of fashion! We have Buffon Macaw, Blue and Gold Macaw, Greenwing Macaw chicks of various ages and the majority of parent birds have laid a second clutch.
The Red-tailed Black cockatoo that was being hand reared died, we thought the chick was doing well but it is the same as it is when rearing Palm chicks they are okay and then they are not and thereis no in-between, but we will get there ,f that i am sure!

We are also rearing 3 Palm Cockatoo's along with Molouccan and Major Mitchell's Cockatoo's plus Amazons, Black Headed Caiques and Cocketeil.

The fruit pigeon and doves are producing well along with the pheasant and Green and White Peafowl. As usual it will be the Hyacinthine Macaw that are the last of the birds to lay and they are looking very interested in each other as well as their nest sites.

Garden News

The petunias are coming to the end of their 'sell by date' and are starting to look shabby, they are being replaced by the hardy portulaca plants and these will see the garden in colour for a few more weeks.

Some of the Cacti have produced flowers and the Hibiscus and Bougainvillea give a constant colour to the garden.

Weather

The weather has been a mixture, apparently there were days through out March that were unseasonably hot but this gave way to many days of sand storms and a dust haze that left visibility at not more that a couple of hundred yards. Everywhere looks dirty as the film of dust lingers on the greenery and buildings leaving a somewhat shabby look, lets hope for a long Shamal to blow it all away.

Honey's Antics
Well she tends to lead Mike a dance when i am not around but within 15 minutes i had her coming when called, sitting, laying down and parting, voluntarily, with whatever she had in her mouth-all to the disgust of Mike-like most children animals always know who the easy parent is!Anyway she is still sweet natured and appears to be 'happy' with her lot, the other dogs take her in their stride and will rescue each other if she is chasing one around too much. Honey has total respect for my eldest dog, Kim, and you can tell how proud and privileged she is if Kim allows her to sit close by!

She paid her first visit to the vets at the end of April, it was for 'the op.' So there will not be any unwanted puppies or any accidents! Her brother, Ringo has also had the snip. The pair will be one year old in June and, although she has only been with us since October she really is a part of our extended family and a pleasure to have around. [The image of her with a paw in the air is because she has hurt it and is looking for a bit of sympathy!]

More of Honey and Al Azizia garden next month. To be posted around the end of May.

2008-02-28T07:07:00.000-08:00

February 2008
It is always a relief to get back home as I miss the birds and dogs and the space of the garden, I like wondering around in the late evening with my canine companions and taking stock of the surroundings, listening to the sea and looking at the starry skies, my ‘Hotel California’. Though I was surprised that it was still so cool in the evenings and, how sad the garden looked, the trees and shrubs had taken a battering from the winds and the cold temperatures that have been constant for most of February.
As I am now back home I can download images to the blog. You can now see the Hyacinthine in their new aviary and they really do enjoy the surroundings - they are creatures of habit and it is interesting to see how they use the space. After the morning feed time is spent in the ‘outside’ part of the aviary usually chewing on the wood or wire or picking up stones off of the floor-good for keeping beaks in trim! They all retire to the inside of the aviary for the afternoon snooze-this is the time when the garden is also quiet and then it is back out for the rest of the afternoon. All of the birds sleep inside and depending on the weather they will have a favoured spot and companion but if it is cold they all sleep on one perch side-by-side keeping warm…I wonder if they swap places with the two end birds throughout the night?
Two of the pairs are coming up for breeding age and we have placed a nest box inside, there has been some chewing on the box and wood shavings thrown out and both pairs are keen to show there mating ritual-common in Hyacinthine-they are quite the exhibitionists! It will be interesting to see how this progresses as Hyacinthine are not bred on a colony basis.
Egg/Chick Info
Had to include my ‘little hatchling’ in the chick info, Kaylin was the reason I went to the UK and as you can see she’s cute [I’m biased] the good thing is I don’t have to ‘hand rear’ this one!
We are currently hand rearing African Grey as well as 3 Palm Cockatoo Chicks. The Red-Tailed Black Cockatoo again laid from the perch-her fourth fertile egg-though it is in the incubator we will be surprised, though pleased, if it hatches. 1 pair of Blue and Gold macaws has three eggs and a lone male Military Macaw that was paired with a spare female Blue and Gold Macaw have laid three eggs, these have been removed as 1 was broken, 1 has a large crack in the shell though the embryo is developing and the third egg is also showing fertile. The weather has been so changeable and though we have had a few rain showers this season we find that the birds are more productive when there has been a few good downpours, some of the birds have gone ‘off of the boil’, we usually have eggs from the Galah and Major Mitchell’s cockatoo by now but up to yet, nothing. We will see what March brings.

Garden News
As I mentioned the garden is looking a little sad, luckily the bougainvillea are starting to produce new shoots though there are many trees that are wind burned, they are not cold weather trees so it is to be expected that they will suffer when the weather turns really cold.

The plants in the greenhouses and vegetable plots, well that’s a different story, green and growing!

We have a ready supply of Spinach and, the tomato plants are doing well and the seedlings are coming up from the packets of seeds I brought back with me. In theory we should be self sufficient in fresh vegetables for the birds and that is what we are aiming for-not only will it be freshly picked we will know exactly what has been used on the plants.

Honey’s Antics
Our ‘puppy’ is still as loving and as cute as ever even though some of her tastes leave a lot to be desired! Especially fetid sea snake! Yes it’s that time of year when we are seeing the odd, dead sea snake washed up-I did point out that it should be moved as I was sure she would spot it and she did, Honey proudly walked up to Boy with the decaying mess hanging from her mouth [luckily I wasn’t around], the site and stench of this even turned his stomach! She was persuaded to part with this little gem and the two other snakes that washed up were quickly removed. Subject forgotten-well sort of until her brother, Ringo came for a visit and then she thought it was a good idea to share her treasure with him, well it was still a stomach churning experience not only did it reek but to see the dogs playing tug-of-war- well, I let Maggie deal with it! Otherwise these dogs enjoy life to the full but are now entering the obnoxious ‘teenage’ stage and this can be a trying time for both dog and owner, more of Honey next month. To be posted toward the end of March.

2008-01-29T13:17:00.000-08:00

January 2008

Although not at home this month i still get daily updates and as i did not leave Bahrain until the 9th of Jan. I was there to see the Hyacinthine Macaws enjoying their new home. The aviary is now finished and the birds are well and truly settled, it was a real pleasure to see them exploring their new home and they are now visible from the road as you drive into the garden, if these birds aren't a traffic stopper then i don't know what is! [I will add images when i get back to Bahrain]
The majority of the birds spend the day time in the 'outside' part of the aviary either perching or playing on the ground and they are as vocal as ever but in the evenings they are to be found 'indoors' and huddled together.

Weather
It had turned cold before i left the Island and it did not bring any comfort to learn that Baghdad had their first snow fall in a hundred years or that Kuwait's temperature had plummeted to zero!
There is very little you can do to warm up the birds, most of the aviaries are covered but it was sad to see them looking so miserable and huddled together, we can cool birds down in the summer but can't warm them up when the weather is cold and by their reaction to this cold spell they obviously prefer blue skies and the warmth of the sun! January has also been a wet month, although rain is always welcomed for the garden you can have too much of a good thing!

Chick Info
The Palm Cockatoo chick is doing well and has been joined by African Grey chicks. Surprisingly we have had to replace the nest boxes in the macaw aviaries as one of the female Greenwing Macaws laid from the perch and others have been decidedly lovey dovey. The fruit pigeons and doves have chicks throughout the year but we were suprised by the arrival of Kakariki chicks. The egg from the Red-Tailed Black Cockatoo did not hatch, the second egg only developed for a few days and her third egg, laid on the 24th of this month was again laid from the perch and this egg was found broken on the floor of the aviary-they are young birds and she will learn where she needs to lay her eggs, though we were dissapointed that the first egg failed to hatch.

Garden News
The tree and plants, in Bahrain, are not used to such a sustained cold spell and many of the trees have shed there leaves or turned brown including the bougainvillea and as lovely as the garden was last month it now looks very different-bleak, is the word!

Honey's Antics
Honey continues to grow and it seems strange referring to her as a puppy, but she is and, although she is maturing nicely she still has her moments, which now include digging holes and eating hose pipe. It's not as if she is left on her own as she has the company of the other dogs and plenty of people keeping an eye on her antics but it does not stop her getting into mischief!

Before i left i took her to meet her brother for a walk and a romp, it involved some traffic but she coped okay. She enjoyed chasing around with Ringo and it was so funny as i took her inside Ringo's home, they reminded me of two children, it was as if he was trying to show her everything in the house and they ended up outside chasing around the garden. Ringo has also paid a couple of visits to see Honey and i was told that they had such a good time rummaging around in the dump that they were both in need of a shower.

Short and sweet this month, hopefully things will be back to normal for the next blog, which will be posted around the end of the month

2008-01-01T11:54:00.000-08:00

December 2007

The month of December seems to have flown by and as you can see from the images the work is progressing on the Hyacinthine aviary. It has been quite a big undertaking because the aviary has been extended out and that involved employing masons and carpenters. The internal renovations have included galvanised sheets being added to the roof sections and minor repairs to the existing wire, with the high salt content in the water and air, the wire soon rusts. As with most jobs the 'big' work is completed quickly and the smaller jobs take the longest, hopefully the aviary should be completed and the birds re-housed by the end of January.

Weather wise there has been a real change in temperature, between the hours of 9a.m through to 4p.m it is lovely, there is still warmth in the sun and the crispness of a winter’s day is refreshing, the light is different at this time of year and everything seems to have a ‘sharper’ edge, colours as well as shapes. The downside is the evenings through to morning,it has felt soooo cold. Everyone has been sorting out jumpers and jackets to wear and as most homes rely on oil filled radiators or electric fires for warmth there is always a rush on sales of these items. Though we shouldn't complain, weather is always a topic for conversation!

Egg Chick Info
The Hyacinthine chick that is being parent reared fledged from the nest on December 10th by the 12th it had taken it's first flight and the following day was seen enjoying a Brazil nut! The two birds that have been hand reared are now weaned and when the new Hyacinthine aviary is ready they will be joining the other birds.
Nest boxes have been placed in the African Grey aviaries and all have shown an intrest, so January should see eggs and chicks from these birds.
We were surprised to have eggs from one of our pairs of Red-Tailed Black Cockatoo’s. These birds were only returned to their aviaries in October, as they had been taken indoors throughout the hot, summer months. At the beginning of December one of the females was acting out of character, she couldn’t balance and was very wobbly on the perch. She was removed from the aviary and we placed her in a smaller cage for observation and the result was an egg laid onto the floor the following day, luckily it was in tact and is fertile, the egg was placed into the incubator and hopefully will hatch at the beginning of January. She was placed back in her aviary a couple of days later-alondg with a nest box. A second egg was laid on the floor on the 27th December. This egg is also fertile, obviously she doesn't like her nest site so we will try a different type of nest box, usually if a hen does not use her nest site she will lay from the perch and, of course the egg is broken, so this female is being very considerate!
We are hand rearing a Palm Cockatoo chick that hatched on December 31st and, regardless of sex we will call this one ‘Eve’ or He-eve!! More on these next month.

Garden News
Apart from general maintenance and more planting there is little to say, the petunias are now coming into their own and the nasturtiums are starting to bloom, last year I had lots of colour outside my front door but we discarded that idea due to a certain puppy, my flower borders are now encased in gravel and any plants are in pots! We have also gravelled one of the other beds, as it was a favoured place for the dogs to lie, and I know they say you should let sleeping dogs lie, but not when they are constantly covered in sand/soil!
I made good use of one of our 'chicks' this Christmas holiday, Ian is a horticulturist and in return for his xmas dinner i asked him to reshape the Olive trees. When we had the storms, last year, most of them had branches broke off and Olive trees are really lovley but need to be kept in shape, we do have fruit from these trees and it is very bitter tasting! [Rather have my olives out of a jar].

Honey’s Antics
Yes, she is still growing and getting quite cheeky, this month she took great pride and pleasure in bringing me a dead cat, her head and tail could not have got any higher! And she enjoyed carrying a live mouse in her mouth-she was happy to swap it for her dinner and this tiny mouse must have been in total shock, I picked it up [by the tail, of course!] and put it under a tree, it had gone later when i looked, so hopfully it made a full recovery! She also likes to forage for any foul smelling 'goodies', obviously she is lacking these nutrients in her diet and is trying to tell us this in her own way!
She enjoys frequent games of tug-of-war with Lucy and did manage to get wet earlier this month, but when she realised how cold it was she made a quick exit.

Well that's it for this month. Next months blog may be a little late as i am back in the UK. Mike and i wish you a "Happy, Healthy and Peaceful New Year"

2007-11-29T01:59:00.000-08:00

November 2007

Work has started on converting Block 1 to the Hyacinthine aviary, there are quite a few jobs to do to make it ‘Macaw’ proof-no easy task! Part of the internal roof has been replaced due to the wood rotting and this has been covered in galvanised sheeting, which will be painted removing some of the electrics and replastering also has to be completed before the bulk of the work can start, hopefully the aviary will be completed before the end of the year-the birds will have more flight room and they will be visable from the road as we will also be extending the avairy out to give them 'garden space' they enjoy so much.

Other jobs have included making sure the roof is completely covered on Breeding Centre 3-Saudi Arabia have had, at least 3 outbreaks of the H5N1 virus and have culled up to 3.5 million birds. We are not complacent here and will take every precaution to keep our birds healthy.

Nest boxes have been given to the African Greys and the Palm Cockatoo’s, this is the start of their breeding season and quite a few of the birds have been in the boxes, sorting out the wood shavings etc. So, all being well, we should have eggs, if not chicks by the end of the year.

We had two visits from Madeline's Pre School, the children have been visiting the garden for a few years now, they have a look around the birds and then have their mid-morning snack and drink before going back to school. They are aged between 3-4 years, some of them are intrested and others just want to make use of the space and run around, a favorite pastime with them all is to throw stones into the sea. Luckily the teachers have always taken back the same number of children that arrived!

One of our dogs, Monty, went walkabouts a few weeks ago, not unusual in itself as he is an intact male and locally, if there is a bitch in season, they pick up the scent and off they go. Brains and testosterone do not mix! Usually they have returned the next day, worse for wear and slept it off. Monty didn’t return and we went out looking for him, put the word around and contacted the BSPCA [Bahrain Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals] to no avail.

He was missing for almost six weeks when Mike got a phone call to say he had been found, wandering, a rope leash around his neck. He happily jumped into the car, which is no doubt what got him into trouble in the first place, but it was a relief to have him back.
His initial enthusiasm at being back soon gave way to underlying problems. Although he looked quite bulky he was, in fact, little more that skin and bone-his winter coat had filled him out. From being a very happy friendly dog he was now aggressive with all of the other dogs and he had obviously been bated to be used in a dog fight-there would have only been the one and he would have lost. If he had been human we would have said he was on the verge of a nervous breakdown he was so stressed out and so hungry. We took it easy with him, I also used Flower essences to help calm him and, it has been two weeks now, and we can see the other Monty returning he is again relaxed around the other dogs and we doubt he will go wandering again. What is there to be said about dog fights-it happens the world over, money changes hands, some consider it 'sport'. Sadly a lot of the pet/family dogs that do go missing or have been stolen here are used to that end and what an end to come to...

Weather wise this month has also been a mixture, we have had days that have been cool and pleasant and others that have been humid but as we came to the end of the month there was a chill factor in the air in the evenings.

Chick Info
The parent raised Hyacinthine Macaw made an appearance at the entrance of the nest box and, based on last years chick we do not expect this one to emerge before the end of December.

Garden News
Most of the seasonal planting has been done and some of the petunias are in flower. The garden is looking fresh and green though we have lovely colour from the double, red, bougainvillea that are around the garden. Our Cyclads have also produced seeds, i think that's what you would call them-it's the first time we have seen any so we had to get conformation!

Honey’s Antics
Honey has grown in the last month and is now the tallest dog in the garden-with the amount of food she eats that isn’t really surprising! She has settled in to her surroundings and does not shy away from the people around her, though she likes to maintain a discreet distance! She has mastered the art of drinking water from the sprinkler system and is not averse to getting her paws wet!
I try to avoid looking at the gardeners as she has little respect for the flower beds. One of the beds has broken off pieces of palm fronds and these have been placed there to give the petunias a ‘security net’ against paw prints. Honey, though, is under the impression that these sticks have been planted just for her and she likes to pull and carry one around-at least when she has finished with it the stick can be replaced!
She has a fondness for all things fetid and likes nothing better than to go through the dump to see what is available-but, unlike her brother she has not killed and eaten a chicken-all of it-or feasted on road kill, maggots and all [sorry Maggie couldn’t resist that one1].
We now need to find the time to take her out ‘street walking’, we do not need to take the dogs out for a walk as we have the space to let them run free but it is an important part of their development that they you are able to be walk them by the side of a busy road-and this will have to be done in the coming month or I may need to throw a saddle on and ride her as when she does not want to do something she sits, front legs rigid, refusing to budge and visions of me on the Saar Road pulling a rather large dog is not one I want to experience!

More of Honey and her antics next month, blog to be posted at the end of December. As it is that time of year again we wish you a happy and peaceful Christmas.

2007-10-30T04:34:00.000-07:00

October 2007

We start this month on a sad note, one of the A.C.s, in the Amazon Aviary caught fire luckily we were alerted within minutes of it starting.

It was a shock to see the aviary aflame, with thick smoke billowing out. Apart from the crackling noise that a fire makes there was no other noise. The thought of the birds burning to death was stomach turning but you cannot just barge into these situations and risk human life and it is imperative to gain control.

The fire was contained to the A.C. and the surrounding area and the windows were open allowing the smoke to come out. Mike and I were first on the scene but we were unable to enter the aviary because it is kept locked overnight-but that did stop us rushing in and making unnecessary mistakes.

Not having a foam hydrant we had to use the hose pipe but all of the electrics had shorted anyway and you have to use what is available.

As all of the birds in this aviary are housed in suspended cages it made it easier to get the cages out, so with the fire under control and the door open the cages could be man handled out of the door. I don’t suppose it took too long but it felt like a life time and it was only as the cages came out that we could see that the birds were still alive. We lost three birds, a pair of Lilac Crowned Amazons and a male Yellow Fronted Amazon. these birds were located directly under the fire. Though barely alive when we brought out the cages it was a relief to see that they were not burned, though we are sure when they died, later that evening, it was due to smoke inhalation and stress.

Because we only had torch light to work with there were a few birds unaccounted for, luckily these had taken refuge in their nest boxes. All of the Amazons are captive bred and it makes so much difference when it comes to handling the birds, even though they had been thrown about to get them outside and hosed down, they were not unduly phased by the noise and our female Primrose Cheeked Amazon even managed her repertoire of whistles and chirps!

All of the birds were placed in smaller cages and moved indoors to a cooler, quiet room, visually checked over and given water they were left, overnight, to calm down.

The following day all but three of the birds appeared to be okay, of the three birds one obviously had smoke in her lungs as her breathing was a little raspy and the other two were suffering stress-shock but these birds are now okay.

As for the Amazon aviary well apart from smoke damage, a burnt out A.C and fire damage to the immediate interior near the A.C there was little to show how traumatic it had been the previous night.

We were lucky; the fire could have been worse and we could have suffered numerous losses but thankfully with the help of all the men who work here we were able to minimise the damage. As for the A.C, although not in use the electricity supply was on and there was a shortage in the wiring of the A.C even though it tripped the switch, with all of the dust that accumulates in the A.C it fed the sparks that led to the fire.

Moving and Maintenance

We finished the initial moving around of the birds in B.C.3 and we have made quite a few changers. The Silvery-Cheeked Hornbills were moved to a slightly smaller, planted aviary, so that we could use their aviary as another planted aviary for fruit pigeons and doves as well as aviary no 2, a large flight aviary that had always housed our Lovebirds, Alexandrines and a few other compatible birds. These have all been moved and this aviary has been planted out and Crown Pigeons, fruit pigeons and doves have been re-housed here.
One of the reason for the above is we have had our Red-Tailed Black Cockatoos indoors throughout the summer months and we wanted to house them close to where there is a lot more ‘people’ traffic and now they occupy the two planted out aviaries and both pairs appear to be settled.

The Amazon’s have all been relocated as we were able to move other birds around, we now have the Queen of Bavaria Conures in a colony and they appear settled in their new surroundings.

As well as all of the moves the roof has been renewed-it had to be left as it was after the storm damage as we had a lot of the birds sitting eggs and, of course throughout the summer months it is too hot for this kind of work to be carried out.

As the birds are used to different activities their feathers arn't ruffled too much from 'traffic' on the roof!
In the meantime we have emptied out the aviaries in Block 1 so that this can be converted into a large flight aviary for the Hyacinthine Macaws –when Block 5 was refurbished, earlier in the year, we saw what size the aviary would be if it was allowed to be just one aviary-basically the inside will remain the same but all of the front will be extended out to give the birds an outdoor flight-with a soil and gravel base. These birds are really happy when they can ‘ferret’ about through the soil, they enjoy breaking off pieces of wood or chewing on a stone and when the roof was being redone above their aviary they had a great time taking pieces of wire or trying to wangle the tools through the wire mesh and they really are quite brazen flaunting what they have and then you have to go inside and persuade them it is not in their best interests to be chewing it!

Garden News

The garden is being made ready for the seasonal plants and it looks so fresh and rich when the soil has been dug over and compost added-the dogs appreciate it! The greenhouses’ that have been erected over the last couple of years are now full of seedlings-this is mainly due to the ‘green fingers’ of one of the gardeners Saleh Amhed, he tends them with care and diligence on a daily basis and we have a large selection that will soon be ready for planting.

Red-Vented Bulbul Pycnonotus cafer
At last, I managed to get photos of the Red-Vented Bulbul, These birds were regulars in the garden a couple of years ago but their numbers diminished-courtesy of the crows-thhough we know one pair has bred and reared young and we have another pair over the far side of the garden, hopefully they will be able to re-establish themselves and increase in number.
Their habits and nesting are similar to that of the White-Cheeked Bulbul but they are not as prolific in Bahrain.

These birds are easily recognisable with their black head and the deep red vent-though they are a little shy when it comes to being photographed!

It's nice to see that the Reef Herons, Egrets and Curlew are once again in and around the garden.

Phew!!!!!!!
The weather, this month, has been out of character we usually experience a cooling down in October that, after the summer months is more that welcome but this year October has been humid and warmer than usual and the odd day that has been pleasant has been just that, one day here and there throughout the month. As it is now getting dark earlier it feels like we have gone from summer to winter evenings minus the autumn!

Chick Info
There are now only three chicks still being hand fed and all of theses are in the process of weaning so the baby rooms should be empty before we start again!

Sweeter than 'Honey'
Our new addition is a Great Dane puppy named Honey, she arrived the second week of October aged 18 weeks and, at the moment, she is delightful. She cannot be compared with the German Shepard puppies that we have had because she has a totally different character-and I was reminded that ‘Scooby Do’ is based on a Great Dane. We can see the resemblance, at times she appears remarkably intelligent and at other times we wonder if there is a brain in her skull at all!

Because she had spent her first few weeks in the company of women, she prefers me (at the moment) and when she first eyed the guys who work with us she almost had a panic attack. She just could not comprehend a coloured skin and, initially, she would hide anywhere in the garden to feel safe, though she is getting better-not that she will not have much say in the matter!

She has accompanied me, a couple of times, to the stables where I ride and she was fine, after our lesson we even went a short walk out with all of the dogs following the horses including her brother, Ringo, who belongs to a good friend of ours.

She gets along well with the other dogs we have but the one dog we thought would ‘take her under her wing’ totally ignores her and Honey senses that and does not bother her. My eldest dog, now eleven enjoys her presence as it means her ‘daughter’ Lucy, now has someone a bit livelier to play with.

The downside is the copious amouts of saliva that will only increase the larger she grows and, of course, she enjoys chewing the water pipes in the garden though she hasn't quite got the hang of drinking water from a sprinker when it is on and it looks and sounds great when Lucy does it! This annoys her because when she tries the water is colder and more powerful that she realises and i think most of it goes up her nostrils and she will jump back and run manic around the garden, throwing herself onto the wet grass and, at the moment this is as complicated as life, for her, gets.

She is okay walking on a leash and over the next few weeks we will introduce her to as many situations as possible, doing this will help her gain confidence and hopefully she will be able to cope when presented with something new.
So this will probably be an ongoing piece of the blog! ‘Honey’s, Antics’!

Next months will hopefully see most of the work done on Block 1 and planting completed in the garden. To be posted around the end of November.

2007-09-29T03:52:00.000-07:00

June and July 2007 (August and September Below!) Renamed ‘Quad Blog’!

Mike was away for the first 10 days of June and I was busy with chicks and ‘house guest’s’, their company was greatly enjoyed. When Mike came back he was accompanied by our granddaughter, Anya, who is here for her summer holidays and she is one of the reasons for the ‘quad’ blog! You forget how much time they require and how active a youngster can be! Well there is my excuse and apology! Now down to business.

The beginning of June saw a typhoon in the Oman and we did expect to have gale force winds and rain but the knock on was experienced in a different manner altogether. With the various building projects around the Island, involving land reclamation we have, as mentioned previously, noticed higher tides and land erosion, but the tides that followed in the wake of Gonu’s trail were a bit too high for comfort. The jetty that extends out into the sea looked like a causeway to nowhere, the sea water having risen to a height we had not seen before and there is very little you can do about it-except watch and hope that it does not get any higher. There was damage to the jetty and we also lost another metre or so of land so we did get off lightly though elsewhere on the Island there was some minor flooding.

The project for June/July has and will be to build up the shore line to try and limit any further erosion. Though ‘mother nature’ will be able to do exactly as she wishes in the future and as we have seen with the weather conditions around the globe they have, this year, been very unsettled and many have suffered loss of life and home.

The work on refurbishing Block 5 has finished and the aviary now has a fresh look about it. Three pairs of African Greys have been transferred to this aviary and have settled well and other birds will be moved after the summer.

Chick Info

June and July saw the hatching of more African Grey Chicks, Amazons as well as Ruby Macaws, Military and Hyacinthine Macaw, the Palm cockatoo chick, DNA sexed as a male and now named ‘Boris’ is doing well, he is eating a varied diet but it will be a good few weeks before he is weaned-it would be extremely easy to bond with him as he is an affectionate bird but we curb our temptation as he will remain at Al Azizia Garden and form part of our breeding programme.

Garden News
The garden still looks colourful and not as tired as it usually appears at this time of year due I think to the weather, though the dates didn’t start to ripen off until the end of June and the harvest will not be as good this year as it has in previous years. That does not stop me enjoying taking warm dates from the tree, in the late afternoon, and tasting the toffee like flavour of the overripe fruits. Sickly, but yummy.

Our other Chick
It has been an interesting few weeks with Anya and we have enjoyed her company. At 3 and a half she has taken a big step leaving mum and dad behind to come and be with gran and granddad - the only contact that she has had with us since her last visit, last year, has been via the phone that is when it suits her to talk with us.

As our animals come first she learned some valuable lessons about taking care of their needs before her own, learning the names and breeds of the dogs and birds and how to be around them safely.

She has a few favourite birds and, Boris is one of them, she saw chicks developing in the egg and in the process of hatching-which she thought was great.

The one thing that she did find strange was the attention given to children-they are genuinely liked and she found the fussing a bit overwhelming but she coped.

Anya had her first pony ride - though she thought she hould be able to ride the big horses, maybe next time.
And we were thrilled that we were able to teach her to swim unaided and, to be confident in the water-not that she had much choice!

She is already planning next years visit along with her mum and the new baby-well that’s what you get when mum and dad have time on their hands…

August/September
The hot and sunny weather finally gave way, in August, to intense humidity; luckily I was away for most of it. It is difficult to cope with and understandably only the necessary jobs are done, as the heat depletes your energy levels and heat stroke can occur rapidly. All of the guys here take rehydration salts to help replace electrolytes lost through sweating; drinking just water does not do the job.

The ‘wall’ along the sea front is now finished and, hopefully this will help stop the coastal erosion reclaiming the garden. It was only when we were looking at old photographs, taken in the mid to late 90s that we realised just how much land we had lost and at some point, in the not to distant future, we have to do the same with the land adjacent, though this will be a bigger job altogether as we will need to reclaim land now under water.

Breeding Centre 3 is in the process of maintenance to some of the aviaries as well as a coat of paint. It is surprising how quickly they become shabby looking especially after the summer - dust and sand has settled and even with the daily showers and weekly cleaning routine they look dirty.
It is the constant upkeep that keeps the place looking good and I wouldn’t like to think what the garden and aviaries would look like without the care and attention they receive.
As the birds are removed from the aviaries while they are being painted etc. it gives us the opportunity to move and transfer birds and alter things around-change, sometimes, is good.

Chick Info
Two of our Hyacinthine Macaws are rearing chicks, one is rearing a Hyacinthine chick and, the second pair are rearing a Ruby Macaw chick. The reason for this being, this is the first time this pair of birds have been given a chick to rear and, in all honesty a Ruby chick is expendable. Luckily both pairs are dutiful, attentive parents and next year, providing they lay eggs, they will both have a Hyacinthine chick to rear. We thought these chicks were our last to hatch but when transferring a colony of Sun Conures, at the end of this month, we found we had 4 chicks in a nest box – these chicks will be left with the parents to rear and will remain in the colony when they fledge. Now we consider this year’s breeding season to be over - though our African Grey parrots do, usually, lay from November onwards-but that is next season.

Garden News
The grass is still causing a problem as weeds and insect grubs are leaving large areas that are brown and dead, though we are preparing land to grow our own grass plugs, this will be a different kind of grass and as we replace areas of dead turf we hope that this will be resistant to the weed and bug problem.

We have lost a few trees in the garden, a Triangular Palm and a couple of Conifers-it is surprising that a lot of the Palm trees look a little jaded-not just in the garden - elsewhere around the Island, the rain we had earlier in the year may have helped the garden grow but we think there was more than the Palm trees could cope with they are, after all, a tree suited to a dry climate.
Who’s yer Daddy?
We had to have another of our German Shepherd dogs euthanaised a few weeks ago – at one time, not so many years ago we had 10 German Sheps. one Dalmatian and a couple of Lasho Apsho in the garden. Over the years as they have aged have succumbed to various health problems including old age and with the death of Max we were down to three Sheps.

We had been thinking about buying at least one dog from the UK but we liked the line that ours have come from, they have been, on the whole, steady and dependable, well they have with us! Strange things happen-the day after Max died we had a phone call from a friend, who runs a boarding kennel and, she had been contacted by a couple who had had one of the pups that we had bred here, 8 years ago, they needed to re-home him and wondered if we would take him back. No problem!

So he is now back home and it is like having the reincarnation of his 'dad',Pete, in his looks his tempremant and most of the time we call him Pete-which must be a bit confusing when your name is, Monty. Monty is on the left and his 'dad' Pete, with the grey face, and Monty's sister, Lucy,and his 'mum', Kim, below .

As his ‘bits’ are still intact we are hoping to have a female Shep. pup within the next few weeks and when she reaches maturity we will breed her with ‘Monty’ and have part of our breed line back again and truthfully I can’t wait.

Well that’s it for this session-more garden escapades at the end of October. And maybe news of a new arrival...

2007-05-31T07:41:00.000-07:00

May 2007

May has been another busy month. Work began on renewing the interior of one of the larger aviaries and all of the original mesh, wood and framework has been removed.

This aviary has six units and one half has been completed which includes painting of the walls, 'rat' proofing the interior and renewing the wire. Birds will not be transferred there until all of the aviary has been completed as the noise and the paint fumes would be detrimental to their health.

Work on the garden is always ongoing and this month as well as the last year, or so, we have used natural stone as edging, the finish is neat and tidy and gives definition to these areas.

Chick Info

We had a number of chicks hatch this month including, Double Yellow Head and Yellow Nape Amazons, Hawk-Headed Parrots, Triton Cockatoo and more African Greys-this is late in the year for the Grey's-as well as White and Green Peafowl, Silver Pheasant and various Fruit Pigeons and Doves-all in all this years breeding has been successful.

Planted Aviaries

As mentioned last month we will have a look at planted aviaries. We have a few different sized, planted aviaries, within the garden and deciding on the size and location of a planted aviary can give you a interesting mixes of compatible birds.

Getting the planting right in the aviary is important and trees and shrubs that are
poisonous are, of course, to be avoided. The height of the various greenery should be a major consideration because this is where you can achieve different levels of interest in the aviary. Ficus. Cornicarpus, Hibiscus, Pomegranate and Yucca are a good choice, here in Bahrain. These trees and plants have proved, over time, to be hardy. We also place Palm fronds around the sides of the aviary, as these offer privacy and shade.

The aim is to create a natural looking environment, though it can look messy and
unkempt if the trees and shrubs go unchecked, therefore maintenance of the trees i .e. pruning is necessary, ours are cut back as and when needed.

Bougainvillea planted in front of the aviary gives colour from the outside and in the evenings the aviary takes on another aspect- this is created with internal ground lighting-giving a ’soft’ glow-we use lighting as a deterrent to the rats. As stated before we have an ongoing rat problem and we had lost quite a few of the small ground birds, placing soft lighting in the aviary gives the birds a chance to escape from predators and we have found that their have been fewer losses since we incorporated lighting.

Getting the right mix and numbers of birds can, initially, be trial and error. But over time we find a planted aviary is easy to maintain and the birds, once settled will breed in these natural surroundings though excess birds need to be removed because you can end up with one or two species dominating the space.

These are some of the birds that are housed together Pheasant, Golden and Grey Peacock-pheasant. Crowned Pigeon, Nicobar Pigeon, Cinnamon Ground Dove and Green-wing Ground Dove, these are mainly, throughout the day, ground dwelling.

Mid level birds include Palm Doves, Australian Crested Pigeon, Rufus Bellied Fruit Pigeon, Pink-spotted Fruit Pigeon, Wompoo Fruit Pigeon and Superb Fruit Pigeon. Birds that prefer the upper level are Pied-imperial Fruit Pigeon and Red-knobbed Fruit Pigeon.

Other birds in the aviary are Australian Grass Parakeets and Bulbuls. The different species and their varying sizes gives movement within the aviary at all levels and because of the height none are out of eye sight.

Due to the requirements of the birds there is a wide range of foods given on a daily basis including: Commercial pelleted food, boiled maize and pulses, chopped greens, diced fruit’s, a commercial soft-bill mix plus trays of millet. Food is sited in different areas and levels in the aviary and the fresh foodstuff is given 3-4 times per day.

The same applies to the nest sites. These are at different levels and vary in size, shape and materials. Nest boxes and pans are made for the pheasant and Crowned Pigeon, small plastic bowls and wicker work baskets are fastened into the trees for the smaller Pigeons.

The general care of the aviary includes dry sweeping and hosing down plus once per week the whole area is dug over-this keeps the aviary fresh and clean and helps minimise a build up of bacteria.

Through the long summer months, shade cloth on the roof, overhead showers and fans are used to help keep the aviary cool- as the temperature can reach 40C plus!Though it is surprising how many of the birds enjoy sun bathing, wings outspread, in this heat. All in all a planted aviary is well worth the effort for the pleasure it gives.

Garden News

As the warmer weather gathers momentum the grass grows at a similar pace and needs to be cut on regular basis to keep it under control. The portulaca are still in magnificent bloom as are some of the trees.

The dates are late in ripening and not as abundant this year and we think that is due to the cool winter that we had and the heavy rainfall-this time, last year, we and the birds were enjoying the fruit of the Palm trees.

Weather

Well i have to say, May, apart from a few hot and humid days toward the end of the month was moderate-we even had a tropical storm, sand storms and rain!

Next month we will hopefully see the finished, refurbished aviary and the birds it will house.

2007-04-30T03:52:00.000-07:00

April 2007

Well the Formula 1 has been and gone though I don’t know what the visitors to Bahrain would have made of the weather; they probably had a covering of rust rather than a tan! Half of the month has been taken up with dust haze, rain, thunder and lightening, the temperatures have been surprisingly pleasant and we have managed to get through April without too much heat or humidity, according to a long time resident of Bahrain, the ‘odd’ weather is due to a 40 day Shamal, the onset being in March, therefore May will be hot and humid and June hot and dry-we will see…
Work carried out through April has concentrated on covering framework with fine mesh shade cloth and fitting to the top and fronts of aviaries, this will give protection from the heat and if there is a problem with avian flu the covered aviaries will offer protection from the wild bird population.
There has been a Spanish ornithologist visiting Bahrain, conducting a count and logging of the wild bird population, he paid a visit to the garden and was accompanied by Tom King, a long time resident of Bahrain who, with Mike Hill had a book published on, ‘The Birds of Bahrain’, a book that we have in our own collection and one that can be recommended to all ‘Twitchers’!
[Image of Scarlet Macaw enjoying the daily shower]

African Grey's

The Grey’s are now ‘adult’ in appearance-all of the birds are eating a varied diet and they are slowly being weaned, they are on two feeds per day-this is just a couple of spoons of the hand rearing mix given in the morning and evening and by the end of next week the birds will be fully weaned, all of the birds are vocal and whistle when you enter the room and we have one that will say “Hello”, the birds all have homes to go to and we are sure they will bring a lot of pleasure to their new owners.

Assisted Hatch

As I mentioned last month we would look at assisting a chick to hatch. When the chick has internally pipped-broken through the membrane and into the air space-the next step is for the chick to chip away at the shell, with the egg tooth, which is situated on the very end of the beak, and with the help of the strong neck muscle, work’s it’s way around the inside of the egg until the chick can then push it’s way out, this is considered to be an independent hatch.

If the hatch is assisted it can be for the following reasons. The bird has internally pipped but has made no progress, or you are no longer able to see or hear movement within the egg. The chick has externally pipped but has not made further progress, or according to the dates the chick has made no attempt at hatching and you need to find out if the chick is alive. What do you do? Sometimes all that is needed is a small hole at the top of the egg, where the air space is, giving the chick a chance to hatch but knowing that oxygen is available. If there is still no progress then we will break off pieces of the shell to locate the beak then will free the break-it may be covered by the membrane and has adhered to the beak area limiting the movement of the chick, in some cases the chick will suffocate. The membrane can be removed with either a cotton wool bud or small paint brush-plus warm water to damp down the area and lift or pull back the membrane.

Please note if fresh blood is present proceed with caution as the chick can bleed out. Also this process cannot be more that a minute long as the chick will get cold and can go into torpor and die. The process can take a number of hours and it is always a case of proceeding with care, it is also possible to ‘feed’ the chick during this process and this can be done with either a dropper or a cotton wool bud, and give the chick a drink of warmed ringers solution or rub a wet cotton wool bud around the beak area.

As you remove more of the shell it will be possible to see if the yolk sac has been ingested-if not leave the chick in the shell-as i have just mentioned you can keep the chick hydrated. When the chick finally hatches there may be a little blood around the umbilical area, again use a cotton wool bud to clean the area and apply either anti-biotic powder or crème, then you can proceed as you normally would for a newly hatched chick. [The images on the left are of a 'normal hatch' and images on the right are of an assisted hatch]
More often than not we need to assist our Hyacinth Macaw chicks when it is time for them to hatch-this is a common problem with the eggs of these birds, many aviculturists, including us, have lost chicks due to the inability to independently hatch. If you would like to read more on the Hyachinthine check out http://www.thebigbluemacaws/ site where you will find many articles on these wonderful birds.

Assisted hatches don’t always work so do not be too hasty in opening the shell-remember it can take up to 72 hours for a chick to hatch from the initial, internal pip. Patience is required!

Egg Chick Info

Because of the rain we have had this month we still have African Grey’s laying and the Scarlet/Greenwing pair are now rearing chicks, we have more Galah and Major Mitchell chicks and eggs as well as eggs from the Military Macaw. Silver Pheasant chicks are running around one of the planted aviaries and our pair of, Silvery Cheeked Hornbill, are working their nest site-so fingers crossed that we will have chicks from them this year. We are also hand rearing a Palm Cockatoo chick and all appears to be well-we have reared four in previous years but these chicks seem to walk a fine line between healthy and dead! We had left a chick with one of our pairs and they were doing really well, then both of the birds were out and not making any move to go into the nest box, when Mike checked the site the chick had gone-we presume rats had taken the chick yet we have taken various measure to combat this problem-obviously the rats are still one step in front of us!

Garden News

The garden is now starting to recover from the winter, gales and dust storms, with the majority of trees ‘greening’ up. The petunia has been replaced with Portularca-these are a colourful, ‘happy looking’ flower-that opens as the sun rises and closes in the late afternoon. Various cacti have also flowered-and every time I think to get a photo it’s the next day and as most of them only flower for a day, I wasn’t too lucky-though I did manage a couple of shots.Next month, we will take a look at one of our planted aviaries, to be posted around the end of May.

2007-04-01T03:19:00.002-07:00

March 2007

Yes, the favourite topic of the Brits.-the weather! I have to start this month’s blog with the weather because it has been a month to remember! We have had more rain and thunder storms this month and on the 22nd Bahrain experienced it's worst storm in 3o years. We had trees and lamppost's blow over and the corrugated roof on the passageway between the aviaries came off plus we had a power cut of almost eigth hours.

Luckily everything was okay and the birds did not appear to be distressed by this weather or Mike, Boy and Ronnie walking on the roof, with torches, trying to 'batten down the hatches'! Sadly the garden took the brunt of the gale force winds and overnight went from a manicured mass of colour to a wind burnt disaster.Branches of a large Eucalyptus tree, on the adjacent property, ended up in our garden and it took a days work of cutting and clearing to clean the area up-though the birds enjoyed the fresh branches! The majority of petunias have now been removed and the garden has lost some of it's 'colour' as these plants would normally continue flowering until the end of April into May and really some of the trees have still not recovered from the cold start we had earlier in the year.

African Greys

As you can see from the images the grey chicks are growing fast and all five birds are now sampling chopped fruits, veg. and seed. The three older chicks are now fully feathered and perching-they may have mastered the technique of getting on to the perch but tend to drop in a heap when they want to get down. Though practise will make perfect!

The chicks were DNA sexed last month and we have 3 males and 2 female-the nature of all 5 birds is very sweet and they vie for your attention when we are in the baby room. Over the next few weeks the chicks will have the hand feeds reduced as they will be eating a more varied diet. The average time for these chicks to become fully independent, when hand rearing, is 12-16 weeks and it is important to make sure that they are fully independent before they go to their new homes-though it is surprising how many new owners will start to spoon feed the chicks when they get them home-the excuse being they want to ‘bond’ with the bird. It sometimes makes you wonder why people ask for advice on caring for the bird and then totally ignore what you tell them! Ahhhhhh!

Chick and Egg Info

It looks like being a ‘Cockatoo’ year, as we have young Galahs, Major Mitchell’s and Molouccan’s with more of the same due to hatch in the coming month. Some of the Amazons have also started to lay-it is a little early for them and we have had numerous infertile eggs. We are rearing 4 Macaw chicks these are hybrids being Greenwing [hen] and Scarlet [cock] cross. We do not normally cross breed our birds, but a few years a go we had a ‘spare’ Greenwing and Scarlet-it was love at first sight as they had eggs within three weeks of being placed together. We have separated them and paired them with their own kind but to no avail and, yet again, when we placed them back together it was straight into the nest box and a late clutch of chicks. The chicks, as they mature, are quite nicely coloured-not at all ‘gaudy’ looking as some of the crosses can be though they do tend to resemble the Greenwing in size and colouring.

Bird Flu Update

I was wrong last month, the KSA has admitted to an outbreak of bird flu-we heard that an ostrich had been smuggled in from Kuwait and infected some of the birds on a farm near Damman-all the birds were culled. Indonesia is still struggling with the H5N1 virus and Bangladesh has reported numerous outbreaks.Kuwait has culled over a million birds in a bid to stop the spread of this disease and, fingers crossed, we are bird flu free here in Bahrain.

Egg Incubation

When you are responsible for any animal that you intend to breed from be that domestic dogs-to birds you have to be prepared to rear the offspring if they are abandoned by the parents. It is slightly different in our case as we are predominantly set us as a breeding facility. That being the case we have a number of incubators that we use to incubate the eggs. The reasons for taking away the eggs form the parent birds range from; encouraging birds to lay a second clutch and this is a common practice with breeders. There are also some birds that do not incubate the eggs or they will break the eggs, others will attack the new born chicks, especially common in Cockatoo’s and our Peafowl literally lay an egg and walk away-not even bothering to make a scraping in the ground.

As we deal mainly in psittacines the recommended temperature for incubation is around 37.5 C Our main incubator is a Grumbach and we have found this to be reliable temperature and humidity wise-though I am happy to let the temperature fluctuate either way-as it is difficult to maintain a constant temperature within the ‘baby room’.
Before eggs are placed into an incubator they are cleaned and marked with the name of the bird, which aviary it came from and the date. So maybe and egg will 'read' Y/N cg.4 Ablk. 23/3 which means Yellow-Naped Amazon from cage no. 4 in the Amazon Block of aviaries and laid on 23rd of March.

The eggs are monitored via a candler-a light is shone onto the egg-and this will show the developing chick and also monitor the progress of the internal pip and hatching process of the chick. The eggs are left in the incubator until they have externally pipped-which means the chick has broken though the membrane and-cracked the shell from the inside with it's egg tooth-the egg is then moved to the 'hatcher' and the temperature is lowered slightly and the humidity is increased to help the chick to hatch. This can take anywhere from 24-72 hours and patience is required! Once hatched, the chick is checked over, weighed and then given a drink of, warmed ringers solution-as explained in last months blog. The majority of chicks hatch independently but other chicks have to be assisted- more of that next month!

As the blog started with the weather we didn't mention that work in the garden this month has been to remove more green hedging, some of this has been replaced and we are waiting for more bougainvillea to be planted-walls have been painted and we are in the process of putting shade cloth on framework-this will go on top of the aviaries that are not fully enclosed. Otherwise March has been a pleasant month-when the sun graced us with her presence-and we know that it will only get warmer as the months progress!

Next month we will look at an assisted hatch, catch up on the African Grey chicks and, hopefully , it will be posted around the end of April. On a final note i have my own egg safely tucked away-no we are not expecting I'm talking about the chocolate kind!! Good wishes for Easter!

2007-03-01T06:38:00.000-08:00

February 2007

February saw the arrival of two pairs of Red-Tailed Black Cockatoo-stunning birds, one pair is 5 years old and the second pair are 2006 hatchlings. These are captive bred birds from BII Philippines and luckily we have a couple of Tagalog speaking keepers and the birds are quite friendly with them-it is a familiar voice.. it is the female that is the larger of the pair and she is very colourful-the image does not do either of the birds justice-the male has the red-tail feathers.

We also lost, [died] one of our dogs, a little girl, Mukianna though we gained a Saluki-Safi- she will be partner to our rescue dog, ‘Lucky’ he came to us almost 3 years ago and as you can see from the images he was in a bad shape when he turned up, literally, on our doorstep but with some TLC he pulled through and the only reminders of his ill treatment are a couple of scars otherwise he is a lovely boy and very happy that he has a ‘friend’-though there will be no pups as she has been snipped!

There has been more maintenance work carried out, the remainder of the external and internal boundary walls have been painted and more ‘rat proofing’ carried out in the planted aviaries.
We have again heard the 'buzzing' of the Formula 1 cars-apparently there have been 9 of the teams in Bahrain testing the 2007 models-i'm sure they look very good!

Bird Flu Update

Bird Flu -well what can you say as far as the UK is concerned-nice one Bernard-obviously his bio security wasn’t up to scratch and were where the government vets and just what have they been checking? As the H5N1 carries on with it’s, seemingly, relentless path outbreaks have been reported in Kuwait and the KSA is not admitting to anything! Anyone for Falcon Flying? Bahrain is free of the flu but we will have to keep on top of any reports true or otherwise.

Egg Chick info.

The weather has really thrown some of the bird’s body clocks out of sync. We have had a lot of infertile eggs and it is possible these birds will not recycle-only time will tell. On the hatch side we have had Galah Cockatoo’s and African Grey chicks as well as Pheasant and Fruit Pigeons.

African Greys Progress

As you can see from the images the African Grey chicks are growing fast. All five chicks are on 5 feeds per day.

The eyes are all open now and feathers are emerging on the eldest chicks-with the red tail feathers just showing on two of the birds, they are more alert and make lovely, almost kitten like, noises when they are being fed, their smell, is warm and 'earthy'.

The diet of the Grey’s consists of an equal quantity of Witte Molen Egg rearing mix, skinned peanuts, muesli and Milupa baby food-either veg. or multi grain. This mix is blended together until it forms a crumb like mixture-we have used this particular diet for years and it works well with all of the parrot type birds and as the saying goes; ‘if it a ain’t broke…’ When making up a feed it is mixed with boiled water and then cooled, though the chicks do prefer the food to be warm. We feed with a spoon and that is our choice , there are four of us who will feed when we are busy, though Mike and I do the majority of feeds-especially any newly hatched chicks.
The routine is as follows; when a chick hatches they are given a drink of, warmed, lactated ringers solution-this will be given hourly until we feel the digestion is ‘up and running’ and the chick has passed ingested yolk sac. We then move on to feeding a weak mix of the hand rearing diet-this will be fed at 90 minute intervals. Feeding starts around 5 a.m. and continues until 11 p.m. After four or five days the consistency of the mixture is thicker-like a thick soup- and the chick is fed every two hours-then in a couple of weeks the chick will be on five feeds per day, this will continue until they are ready to start sampling chopped fruits and veg. when the feeds are reduced to three per day. As the chick takes in more solids the feeds are down to 2 per day and then one until we feel the chick is feeding independently. The chick will remain in the weaning room until we are satisfied that the chick is fully weaned. It is important to make sure they are weaned and not to rush the process.

We use three rooms for rearing chicks; one room is my incubating and initial rearing room, when they start to take solids they are moved to the weaning room and when they are on one or two feeds per day they are moved to either larger cages or an indoor aviary where they can ‘flex’ their wings.

Weather Wise

February has been another month of mixed weather. We have had more rain and thundery showers as well as cold winds though toward the latter half of the month it has been lovely, like spring, plenty of sun but still that nip in the air and it is so nice to have the windows open and 'real' air circulating around rather than the AC's.

Garden Snippets

The Petunias in the garden are stunning and i cannot capture on camera a snap that will show the garden as we see it-they have benefitted from the fresh, rain, water and they are a riot of colourey are a riot of colour.

We have a pair of Hoopoe back in the garden as well as a pair of Curlew and their 2 young-it is a pleasure to see them and they must feel 'at home' as they return year after year.

We lost our 'fresh water' lake-that had become part of our front landscape- there were 6-8 water tankers draining the water over a period of 4 days and that was 24 hrs. each day!

In March we will look at incubating eggs and hatching as well as catching up on the progress of the grey chicks, to be posted around 31st of the month.

2007-02-02T11:03:00.000-08:00

January 2007

January started off cold, improved slightly toward the end of the month and finished with rain! December and into January have been marginally warmer than the coldest on record-in 1964. I suppose we should be thankful for small mercies!

Fish have died due to the lower sea temperatures, we had a large Hamour [we think] wash up on the beach as well as more dead, sea snakes, in the last three months we have counted around 12-I think that will put paid to any future paddling!

The birds have coped well with the cold weather-like us if they are healthy there is no problem. The only virus we have been hit with is the one that has been doing the rounds among the human population on the Island.

Jobs completed in January include painting of the external walls of the rearing and weaning rooms and the internal walls of the garden, where the Bougainvillea has been cut back, as well as our villa-a.k.a ‘Candy Floss Villa’! Maintenance is an ongoing necessity and if any job is left too long before repairs are carried it results in more time, as well as money, being spent to regain the original look.

For me January is the month when I make sure my bird records are up to date, this involves a yearly inventory of birds, an ‘Who’s where in the garden’ as well as breeding information such as who bred, whose eggs were fertile, ring nos. etc This is important if you export any birds, especially those listed on C.I.T.E.S and the majority of countries require breeding information of the birds to be imported-this helps to rule out any illegal trading of birds.

African Grey’s Psittacus erithacus erithacus

We thought it would be of interest to track the development of, 5 African Grey chicks that have hatched in the past couple of weeks. You can see from the image there is a vast difference in the youngest chick and the eldest, who looks a little blue in the image but that is just the underlying feather tracts. The size difference will be apparent for a few weeks to come but as soon as they feather up there will be very little, apart from leg ring identification numbers, to tell them apart.
These five chicks come from 2 different pairs of Grey’s and the number of eggs laid per clutch is between two to five eggs with 3 being the average. The eggs were removed and placed in an incubator and all hatched independently in the hatcher. There was very little difference in the hatch weight with the smallest weighing 12 gm and largest weighing 14 gm, 11-15 gm is within the hatch weight range for these chicks. Hatch dates are; 16th, 18th and 22nd, 27th and 29th. January 2007

African Grey’s are a popular companion bird, mainly due to their ability to talk. They originate, as the name suggests from Africa, and can be found in central and west Africa from the west coast through to western Kenya, as well as in north-western Tanzania. These birds, once a common sight in the wild, are now thought to be in danger due to the heavy trade in wild caught birds. As most aviculturists know there are enough Grey’s bred in captivity to supply the demand for these birds. Here in Bahrain, though not recently, wild caught birds have been imported and the numbers that die due to disease and stress is criminal and both bird and buyer are the losers. Some buyers think they are getting a bargain, paying in the region of BD50.000 about £80.00 while others will buy in the hope of saving the bird-both are often disappointed when the bird dies.

If you keep birds in an aviary setting or as a companion, taking in any bird either captive bred or wild caught without quarantining them can put your own birds in danger. Play safe and buy captive bred birds from a known, reputable breeder and be informed about the needs of the particular bird.

Next month we will see how the chicks are developing as well as looking at the food used when we hand rear.

Bird Flu Update
Well H5N1 is still doing the rounds, with recorded cases in China and Japan, in comparison to last year’s world wide panic, it is now less of an issue, news wise. Just what did happen to the threatened flu pandemic?

Egg and Chick Info
Quite a few of the eggs laid in December, after the rainfall, were infertile, though birds such as African Grey’s and Molouccan Cockatoo are now into their breeding cycles. With more rain due we think this will be a busy year, chick wise. Watch this space…

We had sad news re. one of our hand reared Molouccan Cockatoo chicks. This lovely bird, who was housed locally, died suddenly. With any death that is unexpected it is best to get a necropsy done, this gives information to the owner as well as the breeder-especially when the bird is young and otherwise healthy-sadly the bird was found to have an Almond lodged in the throat. This kind of incident does occur and not just with young birds but you cannot deny your birds the seeds and nuts they require and enjoy, ‘just in case’ there is a problem. The best course of action is to thoroughly check the bird and if the throat area feels ‘lumpy’ try and massage the mass up if is near the top-so it can be removed-or massage down into the crop where it will be digested.

I had a similar thing happen with a Blue and Gold Macaw, he started to ‘cough’ and at first I didn’t know what was wrong but as he was eating at the time it gave me an indication of the problem though I wasn’t sure what I should do so I picked him up and kept rubbing the back of his neck as well as patting his back, luckily he brought the peanut back up and continued to eat it! Disaster averted-but it was down to luck rather that knowledge and, sadly, accidents do happen.

Garden News

Although the Petunias are in full colour some of the trees have suffered due to the cold weather, they should recover, in time though as you can see from the image they do look very ‘dead’

Otherwise the garden is looking fresh and clean-rain water does not appear to damage plants-but if you over water with a watering can, everything wilts!

Lake Side
The natural, fresh water, lake we now have outside of the main entrance has been topped up with the latest rain fall. The wild birds are enjoying all that it obviously has to offer-we even had a Mallard, happily swimming around, a couple of weeks ago, we think he was an escapee making the most of his freedom!

February’s contribution will, hopefully, be posted around the 28th.

2007-01-01T03:09:00.002-08:00

December 2006

We hope you all enjoyed Christmas and recovered enough to celebrate the New Year. This month again, we have to start with the weather; we have had more rain in December than we can ever remember having-words like downpour and washout come to mind. The water has nowhere to go and is sitting like miniature lakes all over Bahrain-the birds are now thoroughly fed up and the only ones who seem to enjoy the excesses of water are the ducks and they are welcome to it! Some of the land on the next property has been completely covered, the good thing to come of that is the rats have been either forced out or drowned-nature has a way of controlling things. Over the last few days it has become very cold with recorded temperatures being lower in Bahrain that the UK. As we are not geared up for long spells of cold weather everyone is fed up with being cold, especially in the villa’s as many of us have tiled floors and the winter woollies are definitely getting an airing this year!
It has been another month of general maintenance; some of the nest boxes had to be taken down and dried out because of the rainwater seeping into them. The walls of BC3 have had a coat of paint-it looks very bright and cheerful on a dull day and we had a film crew, from Singapore television, filming the main house, birds and garden. They are filming a number of houses in the Middle East for a, a six programme series.

The Garden

All of the rain that we have had this last month has been a real bonus for the garden as any salts have been washed away and all of the trees and plants have been thoroughly cleaned-the only problem has been with the garden being water logged-and since the cold weather descended a lot of the Palm trees and smaller bushes are suffering ‘wind burn’, the leaves have turned brown and shrivelled, otherwise the Petunias are in full bloom, with Nasturtiums and Holly Hock pushing their way through the ground.

Bird Flu: Update.

There are still some Far East countries reporting outbreaks of H5N1 virus and South Korea have culled a number of birds in the last few days. Bahrain has not had any problems although all poultry workers have been given a flu jab as a precaution.

Profile:Toucans

Toucans are beautifully coloured birds and at, Al Azizia Garden we have Toco, Swainsons, Sulphur Breasted, Channel Bill as well as Ariel and as the images show they are all similar in the fact that they have a black body with the colouring being to the breast and beak area.
The beak is hollow and the tongue is comparable to a fern frond. The natural diet of these birds is a mix of fruits and berries and small vertebrae, such as small birds, mice and insects,
The diet for the birds here is a mixture of chopped fruits plus a propriety Soft Bill Mix, the diet is supplemented with any mice or pinkies that we come across. As these birds do not have a crop, the food is soon digested-the one failing is if they ingest too much iron from food given it is toxic to the Toucans [as well as other Soft Bills] and will lead to liver failure and result in death.

The birds have bred though we have not been lucky enough to have chicks reared as they are prone to eating the eggs or the newly hatched chicks, which is quite common with these birds. One attempt we did have at rearing a couple of chicks was not successful, the female had died in the nest box and the chicks were just to cold to bring round, but we keep our fingers crossed that we or they will be successful in the future!

A Walk on the Wild Side Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber

This was an unexpected pleasure for us; we have had up to 8 young as well as adult Flamingo’s who have made the sea in front of the house their home for the last few days. The Flamingo’s are a common sight in certain parts of the Island and although considered a migratory bird they are evident throughout the year, especially the younger birds.

Egg Chick Info

We had to bring in the Hawkhead Chick–one had died in the nest due to the rain and cold but the surviving chick is doing well. This wet weather has been responsible for some of the birds going to nest-it stimulates the breeding cycle. We have Molouccan, African Grey’s, Blue and Yellow Macaw and Palm Cockatoo sitting eggs. Our Hyacinthine Macaw chick finally fledged on 26th December-the image shows the chick at the fore with mum next to her-as you can see she is a lovely young bird. All Credit goes to the attentive parents.

Sea Side

We still have the Reef Heron, Curlew and the Egret and they have been joined this month by some rather large Seagulls, all have been enjoying the plentiful supply of small fry. The erosion continues and we have lost more land due to the bad weather and high tides. And for the second time in the last few weeks we have had a sea snake, this one turned out to be live, which I did not realise until Mike pointed it out to me that dead ones don’t consume food! Luckily it was occupied as myself and the dogs passed within inches of the snake and I even stopped to take photos! I admit not to being brave and had it moved you would have heard me screaming and behaving like a ‘girl’!

Finally we would like to wish you a, Happy, Prosperous and Peaceful New Year. The blog will probably continue but with a different in format and as I am the, ‘chief cook and bottle washer’ I’ll work that one out as I go along!

Kate and Mike

2006-12-01T03:33:00.000-08:00

November 2006

As November draws to a close we are reminded that there is only one more month left in 2006. This month’s blog has to start with the weather; we have had rainfall a significant amount over a couple of days that has left the gardens soaked and some of the other areas flooded. The birds love a good down pour; they become very noisy and spend time getting as wet as possible before taking time out on the all important task of feather preening, though they soon get fed up, they sit together feathers fluffed out and huddled against one another as if to say “okay we enjoyed that but bring back the sun”!
They say it is the Brits. who spend time taking about the weather but here in Bahrain it is just as much a topic of conversation and everyone has a ‘wet weather’ story, from water coming into the house to sewers over flowing and either witnessing or being involved in any of the numerous fender benders on the roads. The winter clothes come out and it can look a sight to see someone dressed in woollies, looking decidedly chilled, but wearing a pair of flip-flops, it makes it easier to get in or around the many puddles!
Here, in the garden, the main house had more problems with water not draining from the flat roof, the drain pipes all go into the ground and we had to dig and delve to find out what the problem was-all were blocked with roots from the palm trees, so the drain pipes had to be re-routed.
Otherwise, during the month, it has been business as usua, with ongoing maintenance and repair. The Hyacinth Macaw that sprained its leg, October’s blog, has now lost the foot, the leg was obviously bound to tightly and the blood supply would have been cut off, luckily-if you can call it lucky- the foot dropped off after the joint so she will not be standing on a stump.

Bird Flu. Update

Now that the birds are starting on their migratory journey there have been fresh outbreaks of the H5N1 virus, with the last one being reported in Korea though, as yet, there does not appear to be the uncertainty and panic as there was last year surrounding the bird flu.

Psittacine Profile: Caninde Macaw Ara Glaucogularis

The Caninde Macaw is sometimes mistakenly identified as a Blue and Yellow Macaw and although the birds are of a similar length, the Caninde weighs less and has a smaller frame. Although they are blue and yellow in colour it is a different hue, the Caninde also has a blue bib under the throat rather than the black of the Blue and Yellow Macaw. Caninde’s are on List 1 of C.I.T.E.S their numbers are small in the wild as well as in captivity and they are not prolific breeders.
The pair we have been with us since 1994, female and 1996 male, the male is younger than the female and we have found that, in macaws, a younger male paired with an older female rarely results in breeding and that is the case with the pair we have, though compatible, they have not made any attempt at nesting.

Pigeon Focus: Rufus Bellied Fruit Pigeon Ducula chalconata

This one is my favourite pigeon; she is gorgeous, look at her eyes and her size, stunning! She has been with us for eight years and should have been one of a pair though only one bird arrived. We know she is female as she occasionally lays an egg! We have not been able to locate any more of these birds, so if anyone out there has a spare male, we have a mature female waiting!

Egg Chick Info.

We have Hawk Headed Parrot chicks that are being parent reared; the parent reared Hyacinthine Macaw chick has been caught peeping out of the nest box and the blood sample that was taken last month for DNA sexing revealed the chick to be a female.
We have lost one of the fruit pigeon chicks due to the rain-their nest sites tend to be flimsy, the chick had not feathered up and was just to young to survive the cold, wet, weather.

Weather Watch

As mentioned, we have had rain this month, but in general the weather, this month, has been mixed. At the beginning of November it was still warm and humid and now there is a crisp autumn and in the house it feels cold, the AC’s have been turned off in favour of a the warmth of an electric fire-as we have said before anything less that a temp. of 100 feels nippy!

Garden News
The garden always looks healthy after a good down pour, the trees are cleaned and all of the plants perk up when they have had a ‘drink’ of rain water rather than the usual ground water.

All of the planting has been completed and the garden is now looking colourful, the images this month are of the different cacti here in the garden, apologies fro not knowing their names!

Sea side

We have still had an abundance of seaweed washed ashore this month and with the ever increasing land reclamation we have noticed a significant increase in the ground water levels. We have always had sea water coming up in certain areas of the garden but not so much at this time of year-maybe January time when there has been a spate of bad weather and high tides. Environmentally this will cause problems in the future-it’s okay to create more land space but it is at the cost of coastal erosion and I think, in the not to distant future, we will see subsidence in some of properties.
The cormorants are heading back to their winter retreat, though there is a reduction in the numbers that we used to witness a few years ago, it’s the same story with all of the migratory birds.
We had to smile at a lone Egret he had settled on the jetty for the evening, a Reef Heron flew across and that was all the excuse the Egret needed, he took off and chased the Heron away from his food supply-though we are sure there would be enough to feed many Egrets and Herons.

December Offerings

Psittacine profile will be Toucans and will be posted toward the end of the month; we would like to take this opportunity to offer you our good wishes for the coming festive season.

2006-10-30T02:08:00.000-08:00

October 2006

Ramadan ended and Eid al Fitr was celebrated-the kids were on October break from school and many look forward to Halloween-as with every thing else this has become more commercialised and the shops are full of ghoulish items, and food, in orange and black!

October has been another month of renew and repair, at the end of every breeding season nest boxes are removed, cleaned and repaired as well as more new ones being made. From the end of October onwards we start to replace the nest boxes-all have a piece of wood placed of the entrance to the nest box and as the breeding cycle comes around various birds can be observed 'working' the nest site.

Bird Flu Update

There has been very little in the news regarding new outbreaks of the H5N1 virus, a couple more people have died in Indonesia, which of course is sad, has this virus been another scare tactic over these last few months? We had the Sars virus to contend with a couple of years ago, which was supposedly going to be a global outbreak and the past year and more we have lived with the 'epidemic' of the bird flu...We will have to wait and see.

Psittacine Profile: Swainson's or Blue Mountain Lorikeet Trichoglossus haematodus moluccanus

We have kept and bred these Lories for a number of years and they are a stunning looking bird, photographic images do not always do them justice.
They originate from Australia but can be found in aviculture collections worldwide, these birds thrive in a colony setting and tend to be good parents-so we rarely hand rear these birds.

Our Lories do not seem to have a set breeding season as there will be chicks in various nest boxes all year round. When they breed the female will lay 2 white eggs and the incubation period is around 23 days-as these birds receive a liquid diet the one problem we do have is the wood shavings in nest box becomes wet and smelly, so this is frequently changed, there is no problem taking out the chicks and renewing the nesting material-the parent bird will return to the nest site and carry on with their parenting duties.
The diet we feed includes a made up liquid food consisting of a powered fruit flavoured baby food, fresh carrots and fruits such as apple, banana or pear. The food is mixed with hot water and blended and then this mix is diluted before feeding to the Lories, they also receive pieces of fresh fruits and because these birds share an aviary with peafowl we very often see them eating the pelleted food and yellow corn of the peafowl! They are an inquisitive bird and can be very vocal, they also enjoy their daily shower-to the point of bathing in the food dish on occasion!
These birds are sometimes mistaken for the Green Naped Lorikeet-from the images you can see the differences.

The Swainson's Lorikeet is a more colourful bird, with the lighter head colouring and no colouring on the shoulders, though both birds are of a similar size and weight.

Pigeon Focus White Fronted Fruit Pigeon

At first sight this pigeon does not appear as colourful as some of the other fruit pigeons but when the colours are observed under sunlight it positively shines!
These are a shy pigeon and are easily disturbed, they are not ground dwelling bird and, although we have had these particular birds in the collection for a few years they have not, as yet, bred. Though there breeding habits are the same as the majority of fruit pigeons and doves, shared nest building and incubation of the one, white, egg laid.

We are not unduly worried that they have not bred as with the Nicobar Pigeons we had to wait six years for them to produce eggs and chicks!

Egg Chick Info.

Although we have no eggs the one chick still being successfully parent reared is a Hyacinthine Macaw chick.
We removed the chick from the nest box a couple of weeks ago to take a blood sample for DNA sexing, the chick was checked over, ringed and weighed-all in all everything appears to be going well and the parents are very attentive.
The interesting point is that after the first couple of weeks the parent birds do not spend too much time in the nest box with the chick, one or both will be sat on the perch closest to the nest site, maybe 'on guard' - and i do not know if the parents roost in the box with the chick as the nest box is situated at the rear of the aviary and i can't see in the dark! [neither would i risk upsetting them by shinning a torch in to the aviary]

A Walk on the Wild Side Little Egret Egretta garzetta

Over the last few weeks the Egrets have started to return to the Island, we have had a couple in the garden-or i should say by the sea as there is an abundance of small fry and the Egrets are guaranteed a daily meal!

A few years ago the numbers of these migratory birds was in the hundreds and they were local to where we live, maybe because there are more buildings around or the numbers of these birds, in the wild, have fallen we no longer see them in such large numbers. But that can be said with a lot of the wildlife that frequents Bahrain.

Weather Watch

The weather for October has been very mixed, we have had heat and humidity as well as overcast days-but the last couple of days have been the best, cool in the mornings and evenings but still warm and breezy through the day.

Garden News

The garden has seen a lot of activity this month as the remainder of the bourganvillia have been planted along with 8,000 plus petunias-the colour is just starting to become apparent and in another couple of weeks the garden will, again, be in full bloom!

Other seeds planted include nasturtium and Holly Hocks as well as green leafed vegetables such as spinach.

The one good thing, now the weather is cooling, the grass will only need to be cut a couple more times this year.

Sea Side

The seaweed has continued to be a problem again this month and a few days ago a, dead, sea snake was washed ashore. This is the first sea snake we have seen in all the years we have lived here. It is possible with all the dredging and land reclamation work that is ongoing these creatures may have been disturbed, what is more disturbing is the fact they may also be frequenting the more shallow waters. That will be good enough reason for me not to paddle!

November Offerings

Psittacine focus will be the Caninde Macaw, pigeon focus will be the Rufus Bellied Pigeon [my favorite] and will be posted around the 30th of November.

2006-09-29T04:13:00.000-07:00

September 2006

Nine months of the year now gone, it doesn't seem all that long ago since we started this 'blog'. The Holy month of Ramadan started on the 23rd September, this is the month when Muslims fast throughout the daylight hours, from sunrise to sunset. Two of our gardeners are fasting, they change their work pattern so that they work a full day without a break and then go in and sleep before praying and breaking their fast at sunset. Although they show great resolve it is a bit worrying as the temperature is still high and they do not take any water while they are working- this is their choice and credit to them for keeping their faith. Ramadan Kareem.

Anyway...It has been another busy month in the garden as we are still refurbishing and doing maintenance on different aviaries. This month we have re-roofed one of our large planted aviaries, more supports have been added inside the aviary as we had had problems with the wire sagging. Once completed it should be okay for a few years.

On a sad note we had to have one of our German Sheps. Holly, put to sleep, she had a problem with her spine that had left her without control over the bottom half of her body. We have kept her as mobile as possible for the last few weeks but she had had enough, this is never an easy decision but when they are your responsibility you have to take account of thier needs and if had been left to Holly she would have been dead weeks ago as she would have found a place to die and lay their until death came. There is a lot that animals can teach us-it's just our 'humaness' that gets in the way.

Bird Flu. Update

There has been very little in the news about the bird flu other than two more human deaths in Indonesia-we have noticed that the migratory birds are just starting to arrive so we will have to wait and see if there are more outbreaks world wide this year.

Psittacine Profile: Molouccan or Salmon Crested Cockatoo Cacatua molouccensis
The Molouccan Cockatoo is the largest of the cockatoo species. These are a beautiful coloured bird, the feathers are almost a pastel pink with salmon coloured underfeathers and crest. These birds are on appendix 1 of C.I.T.E.S mainly due to trapping in the past and though there are numerous birds in captivity they are sometimes reluctant breeders-we had one female who would incubate a walnut-and no it didn't hatch! They are a vocal bird, which can be loud at times though they do not screech like a lot of the larger white cockatoos.
When breeding the female will usually lay two large white eggs and both the male and female share incubation which is around 28 days.
We are currently handrearing two chicks that hatched in March -i say chicks-they are now the size of an adult bird and they will probably still need feeding this time next year!
Handreared cockatoos can be slow to wean due to their reluctance to give up the rearing food as well as the attention they receive, we are always careful when handrearing cockatoos as we do not want them to become too attached-obviously it hasn't worked this year! With patience we will wean them but it is difficult not to make too much off a fuss as they are like two puppies!

Pigeon Focus: Australian Crested Pigeon Ocyphaps lophotes

At first sight these pigeons do not appear quite as colourful as some of our other fruit pigeons and doves but when the sun catches the feathers the iridescence brings out the pinks and silver and blues-and they look stunning.
We have had the Australian Crested at Alazizia Garden for over ten years and they are steady breeding birds, they are not as timid as some of the other pigeons and doves and one bird that we had to hand rear would always come to us when we went into the aviary.
When breeding the pair will either use one of the nest pans provided or make their own flimsy nest in one of the trees. The female will lay two white eggs and the incubation of 18 days is shared by the male and female. The chicks are in the nest for approximately 3 weeks before fledging and they continue to be fed for another 2-3 weeks before they are fully weaned. The breeding pair will usually lay two clutches per year.

Egg Chick Info

As the breeding season is over we have had no more eggs laid thoug chicks that are still being reared include, Hyacinthine Macaws, Yellow-Naped and Double Yellow-Headed Amazons, African Grey and The Molouccans.

A Walk on the Wild Side

Well i have tried to photograph something different this month-but these birds are not playing fair-or i'm losing my touch! Anyway in the garden this month are a pair of Hoopoes, the Curlews and the Egrets are back as well as the grey Heron and we have spotted Abyssinian Rollers as well as the Comorants returning-it's does not seem all that long ago when they left.

Weather Watch

During the month of September the heat has started to abate and we have had some wonderfully cool mornings and evenings, there is a 'smell' of Autumn in the air as the nights draw in-it is dark by 6p.m. It's surprising that a few degrees drop in temperature will make all the difference-it even starts to feel cooler in the house and the AC's are not going full blast to keep us cool and the water in the 'cold' tap is now cold. It's enjoyable to be outside and the dogs and birds are more lively now it is not so hot-and 'hot dogs' know how to keep cool!

Garden Delights

It is a busy time in the garden as the grass is cut and the trees are trimmed as well as the ground being dug over and made ready for planting from October onwards. Seeds including petunia, nasturtium and alysisium have been planted in the greenhouse as well as under cloches.
We are also planting spinach, tomatoes and other vegetables though i doubt we will ever be self sufficient.

Overthe last few months 500 bourganvilla have been planted in the garden-most of these have replaced the green hedging that has been removed-so the garden will definitely be a riot of colour in the coming months.

Images of the Hibiscus are just four of the different colours that bloom in the garden and they always look so exotic-sadly they are not a scented flower.

Sea Side Snaps

We think it is all the dredging that is going on around the Island has caused the vast amount of seaweed to be washed up-literally tons have been removed from the beach- the tide comes in, dumps its load but takes very little back and the seaweed has to be removed not only because it looks unsightly it SMELLS, one consolation is we have been getting more cuttle fish bone and the Amazons really enjoy it.

October Offerings. Psittacine profile will be Swainson's Lorikeet and the Pigeon focus will be the White Fronted Fruit Pigeon. To be posted around 30th October.
ing

2006-08-29T00:49:00.000-07:00

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August 2006

There was a bit of controversy in our local newspaper a couple of weeks ago regarding the Google Earth web site, some internet users said that the site had been blocked. Well that is a bit like dangling a carrot in front of a donkey. We had not heard of the site so we went in search.... not only did we find Bahrain-that bit was easy we just typed 'Bahrain' in to the box-we also located our garden!!! [If you knew about my disability in reading a road map-you would be impressed] So we have a picture of the garden, from above, courtesy of Google Earth!
We are all quiet again in the house, Tom left us on the 18th August, i will not say anything else... don't want him to loose his stree cred!
But, hopefully it won't be a year before we see him again!
Mothers!
Just because it is hot does not mean the work stops. One of the bigger jobs this month was to get rid of, yet, another hedge-they really are a haven for rats. Bourganvillia has been planted in its place, this will give colour but will not be allowed to become dense like a hedge. It also gives a better view of the aviaries we have there.
Block number 5 has had all of the birds removed as this is in need of refurbishment-we have no specific need for that aviary so this particular job can wait until the weather is cooler.

Bird Flu Update

Thailand and Indonesia have had more outbreaks and both have had human fatalities due to the H5N1 virus, Indonesia has had almost 50 deaths so far. China also admitted that they have had the H5N1 virus since 2003 but we knew that already.

Bird Profile: Hawkhead Parrots Deroptyus accipitrinus

These are a colourful parrot and the way the head feathers fan out when they are excited or as a warning give them a unique look. I'm sure one of the UK's football teams have the same colours-maroon and blue!
The original pair of birds had been purchased, from BII in the Philippines, before Mike arrived-though the male of this pair died a couple of years later. The female, who will be at least 14 years of age, was paired with a new male and has laid either one or two infertile clutches yearly. She finally hatched young in 2004-she will usually lay three white eggs and incubation is around 25 days-initially she is a good parent-but we have to remove the chicks after two weeks as she appears to neglect them, and chicks have been lost, even if we leave her with just one chick to rear we end up removing it for hand rearing or losing it. The chicks that are hand reared are usually quite vocal are friendly and like attention they usually wean at around 10-12 weeks of age.

Pigeon Focus: Purple-Crowned Fruit Dove

Yes, another colourful bird, though it is the male with the striking plumage, the purple head cap that blends in to the green and orange of the nape and shoulders with a black band across the abdomen, the female is predominantly green.
The pair, when breeding, make the nest together and both birds will incubate the one , white, egg laid-incubation is around 14 days. As with the majority of pigeons/doves the chick is in the nest for a short time only-about 7 days-before fledging-though the chick continues to be fed by the parent birds.

Egg. Chick Info

The breeding season has now come to an end for this year. As usual our last birds to breed are the Hyacinthine Macaws and we have hatched 5 chicks with one being returned back to the parents. This pair, although successful in laying fertile eggs had not reared a chick of their own, the first Hyacinthine chick given back to them was not fed and died, though a couple of years ago we swapped their egg with that of a Greenwing-which hatched and was readed by the pair. So, fingers crossed, she will do the same with this chick.

A Walk on the Wild Side: Grey Francolin Francolinus pondicerianus

Apparently these bird are an introduced species to Bahrain, but have taken a firm foothold among the local bird population. We often see them [photographing them is another matter- they are quick and camera shy!!] in the garden or while we are out and about. Breeding season is April onwards and they nest on the ground laying between 4-8, cream coloured eggs. It is a pleasure to see them when all of the chicks have hatched, they are constantly moving around- one of the parent birds heads the line up followed by the chicks-as many as 8-9- the rear guard is the other parent bird, sadly they are lucky to rear one or two chicks, as the young are easy pickings for predatory birds.

Weather Watch

Two words sum the weather up this month, hot and humid! We shouldn't complain, August did start off okay and then the humidity came in and the humidity has been with us the remainder of the month. The weather forecast is always, "another hot, sunny day", giving the maximum temperature somewhere in the low 40's with the apparent as 54 C and it certainly feels like it.
Those of us who have been on the Island all of the summer are now looking forward to the cooler weather and a 'breath of fresh air'!
Luckily the birds have been okay, they are showered twice per day and all have the benefit of fans, either in the aviaries or placed ouside blowing in, the majority of birds throughout the day, and can be found sat on top of the fans keeping cool-feathers blowing wildly as the fans whirl around.

Garden Delights

The garden seems to be full of bugs, slugs and grubs, the replacing of grass, whose roots have been eaten by slugs, is ongoing and we had a visit from the ministry as grubs have been attacking the palm trees, in different locations on the Island. Four palm trees in the garden had to be cut down and removed and a few more have had the 'grub holes' blocked up with a cement like substance.
The date harvest is almost at an end-the fruit seems to loose the sweetness- probably gone past their 'sell by date'?!

Sea Side

The Curlews are back and can be seen in the garden, enjoying a tasty morsel, or by the sea most days. There has been a lot of sea weed this year we think it may have something to do with all the land reclamation going on-but the amount washed up, on an almost daily basis, is tons. The sea looks dirty and smells, not really very inviting if you like swimming.

September Offerings. Psittacine Focus; Molloccan Cockatoo, Australian Crested Pigeon and whatever i can photograph in the garden! To be posted around the 30th September.

2006-07-31T03:39:00.000-07:00
July 2006

What can we offer you for July? Well, our two chicks went back to the UK, so it was very quiet and empty in the house, and then one of our other chicks, Tom, came home on a months leave from the Navy. Chaos restored!

Apart from general maintenance to some of the nest boxes it has been quiet with regard to the birds as we have been busy with other jobs such as giving a face lift to the main entrance gate, this has involved welding and repainting.

We still have a problem with the rats but they are getting easier to kill -the ones in the block aviaries, mainly No. 2. get so hot that they venture out about 3.30 ish and sit on top of the wire trying to cool down. Tom has taken on the job of 'ratter' and he has killed about six.

We have a lot of grass snakes in the garden, they are silver in colour and reach about 1 metre in length but we were surprised by what we found on our doorstep one afternoon. We have an arch surrounded by trailing greenery around the front door, i had seen snakes there previously but as long as they leave me alone, well, that's okay! This particular snake had literally bitten off more than he could chew-it had caught one of the small lizards and crushed it and was attempting to eat it leg first-Mike does not mind snakes and i thought i was 'rather cool' standing, camera in hand, taking my photos and showing Anya the snake eating the 'Bahraini Croc' [she likes crocodiles!]-but we soon went back inside! Leaving the guys to deal with it.

Bird Flu Update

There have not been any new outbreaks-unless i missed reading about them. But in the Cage and Aviary Birds it said that the UK was continuing the ban on the import of birds, both wild caught and captive bred into the UK until it is reviewed again in December. The only exceptions are pet birds but more information can be gained from contacting DEFRA.

Bird Profile: Double Yellow-Headed Amazon Amazona ochrocephala oratrix

Amazons are as popular in aviaries as they are as companion birds, and rightly so, as they are vocal and interactive birds. They are, apart fro The St Vincent's Amazon Amazona guildingii, a predominantly green coloured bird, with colourings on the head, nape, shoulders breast, tail and flight feathers giving them 'common' names such as: Double Yellow-headed, Yellow Naped, Primrose-cheeked, Red-tailed, Blue-fronted-to name but a few. Amazons vary in size from 9 inches, the Yellow-lored Amazon to 16 inches, the St Vincents Amazon.

The oratrix is approximately 14 inches in length and weighs about 17 oz. The pair, pictured, have been together for 4 years, they are both adult birds and bred for the first time in 2005. The female will usually lay 2 or 3 white eggs and incubation is around 24-26 days.
During their breeding cycle both birds, especially the male, are aggressive and for this reason they are housed in a suspended aviary, [as they will attack given the chance], with the nest box being situated on the outside of the aviary for easy, human, access.

Hopefully the chick pictured in the nest box will be left with the parents to rear to independence, but this will depend on how they treat the chick in the coming weeks, as both are 'first time parents'.
Their diet consist of small mixed seeds and fresh, chopped, fruit and seasonal greens vegetables
and pulses.

Pigeon Focus: Rose-crowned Pigeon Ptilinopus regina

Another pretty little fruit pigeon- really a planted aviary for fruit pigeons and doves is a must. There is real satisfaction in seeing these birds settled in their surroundings and breeding. The chick in the image is one that has been fledged just a few days. The female will lay one white egg, incubation and rearing is shared by both the male and female, the chick hatches at around 16 days and is fully feathered, though dull in colour, and fledged at 10-12 days of age. The parent birds carry on feeding the chick until it is fully independent aged about 4 weeks.
We initially had 5 birds, though one was never really healthy and consequently died, but the numbers are steadily increasing and with there pink head give added colour to the aviary.

Egg Chick Info

As we are at the end of the breeding season the number of chicks being hatched is less, though we do have Hyacinthine Macaw chicks that are currently being hand reared. Other hatches include Silver and Siamese Fireback Pheasants.

A Walk on the Wild Side

I haven't had the chance to go out and look for wild birds to photograph so i will try and make up fo it next month!

Weather Watch!

As you can imagine it is a hec of a lot warmer this month with the humidity more evident in the mornings-though the first few days and these last couple of days have not been too bad as we have pleasant breezes throughout the day but compared with the UK, Europe and parts of the USA at least we are accustomed to the heat and we have AC's!!

Garden News

Thought i would post pictures of Bourganvillia, there may not be much colour on the ground at the moment, apart from Portularca, but with the different colour of the Bourganvillia we always have a colourful garden. The Bourganvillia are used for hedging and as a trailing plant as well as covering for walls and, when clipped, are added to boarders, making them a versatile addition to the garden.

Sea-Side

We saw a lone Flamingo fly over a couple of weeks ago, as beautiflul as they may be on the ground they look 'out of place' when in flight. Bahrain does have flocks of Flamingos around the Island, feeding among the mangrove as well as the ones kept at, the conservation park, Al Areem.
We also have sea horses! Need i say more!

August offerings will include Hawkheaded Parrots and Purple-crowned Fruit Dove, to be posted around the 30th.

2006-07-13T05:45:00.000-07:00
www.what-do-we-know.co.uk

2006-07-10T06:25:00.000-07:00

June 2006 [Belated]

Apologies for the late monthly blog. We do have a good excuse-we had two extra chicks to look after, namely one daughter and a granddaughter, so it was difficult having computer time without little 'helping hands'!

The Aviary for the cockatoos was finished and the birds are now enjoying their new aviary also during the month of June one of the large aviaries was refurbished. We have sixteen Hyacinthine Macaws-ten of them aged 4 years and under, and we are now able to house the young birds together. There is more room for flight and together they look stunning, the floor of the aviary is soil and as these birds do spend a lot of time on the ground it is a pleasure to watch them digging and generally enjoying life. Our kitchen window looks onto the side of this aviary so we are able to keep watchful eye on their antics as well as hear them!
We were worried one evening to see thick black smoke heading in the direction of the garden, luckily the breeze took it away from the aviaries and out to sea or we would have had some very sick if not dead birds. One of gardens close by had decided to burn plastic piping-how thoughtful!

Bird Flu Update

During June a family of seven in Indonesia died and it was confirmed that at least one death was due to human-to-human transfer. Otherwise it has been a quiet month in regard to new cases being confirmed. Import and export of birds is still being strictly controlled and we doubt that will change in the near future.

Bird Profile: Buffon Macaw Ara ambigua

The Buffon and the Military Macaw are often mis-identified, both of the macaws are predominantly green in colour though it is the Buffon Macaw that is the larger of the two. [Military Macaw image on palm log]
We have two pairs of these birds at Alazizia Garden and they are all have 'character'! The eldest pair of Buffon's are noted for being able to take apart their aviary-even when the wire is supposed to be 'macaw proof'! During their breeding season they all become rather aggressive and do not like any undue attention, when they are angry or excited the colour of the cheek area will turn bright red and the wings are extended in a show of dominance!
The eldest pair of Buffon's have bred regulary since 1997, though the female tends to be a bit hit and miss in the laying of eggs, sometime she will lay from the perch instead of the nest box and chicks that hatch have to be removed from the nest for hand rearing as she will neglect or kill the chicks if they are left with her for to long.
The clutch size also varies-sometimes 1 eg is laid and other times she will lay up to four eggs. Incubation is the job of the female and the chicks will hatch at around 24-26 days. They are totally dependent and the chicks that have been hand reared will take up to six months to become fully independent. From our experience we do no consider the Buffon Macaw to be suitable as a companion bird.

Pigeon Focus: Bleeding Heart Fruit Pigeon Gallicolumba luzonica

It is obvious when you see these birds why they are called 'bleeding heart' as it looks as though they have been shot through the heart. The Bleeding Heart's have been in the collection since 1997, they are predominantly a ground bird and we find them to be 'shy' in nature.
Nesting is above ground and they will either make their own nest or use one of the nest pans provided. One or two, off white, eggs are laid and the incubation-around 18 days- is shared, the birds do not tolerate any unwanted attention and will leave the eggs if they are disturbed. When hatched the chicks are dependent on the parent birds though they fledge at around 10-15 days of age they continue to be fed and cared for until they become independent.

Egg Chick Info

Chicks hatched this month include Yellow Naped and Double Yellow-headed Amazon's, Hawkhead Parrots, Hanh's Macaws as well as various pigeons and doves.
As the image shows-you are never to young to learn-though Mike had more patience that me when it came to feeding time!
I think grandads are more pliable than grannies!

A Walk on the Wild Side: Palm Doves Streptopelia senegalensis
Although these birds are a native of Arabia they have probably been introduced to Bahrain over the years. Although not as common as the Collared Dove their numbers have increased and we see a lot of these birds in the garden. They are a colourful dove especially when the sun cathes their feathers and you can see the iridescence colours.
They do breed throughout the year and will nest in bourganvilla or cornicarpus trees, the nest is a flimsy one and the two white eggs that are laid are incubated by the male and female. The chicks hatch at around 14 days and are usually fledged and fully independent by three weeks of age.

Weather Watch

The beginning of June started off hot and humid and we thought this would be the start of a long summer! But we have had a pleasant month blessed with shamals and evenings that beg to be spent outside!

Garden News
Basically the garden is now on a 'maintenance regime', that includes resowing grass that has been eaten away by beetle lava, the trimming of hedges and frequent grass cutting.
Some of the Date fruit is now ready and it is sheer indulgence to eat warm fruit straight from the tree.
The fruit does not go to waste, it is harvested for eating and drying, as well as being included in the daily fresh diet of the birds, which most enjoy if not for the flesh then the seed inside, even the dogs can be seen eating ripe fruit that has fallen to the floor.
Sea Side
We occasionally get schoals of small fish and this particular day the sea looked black-there were so many-and it was funny to see a Cormarant at one end of the jetty and a Heron across the other side. I am sure they feasted until they could eat no more!
July Offerings
A look at Double Yellow-headed Amazons and Rose Crowned Fruit Pigeon and on the wild side-not sure yet! To be posted around the 30th July inshallah.

2006-05-29T03:41:00.000-07:00

May 2006

May seems to have come and gone in the blink of an eye, but it has still been a busy month. When we rehoused some of the birds at the end of last year, re; protection from any possible bird flu outbreak, we were left with a number of empty aviaries. It turns out this has proved to be a good thing because we now have the opportunity to re-organise the collection and re-furbish the empty aviaries.
Therefore 3 of the planted aviaries have had a 'face lift' including new shadecloth and a splash of paint. Wire mesh has also been inserted a metre deep into the ground around the outer perimeter in an, ongoing, attempt to stop the rats digging their way through. Now the work has been completed, some of the fruit pigeons, doves and peafowl are now housed there and others will be placed in at a later date.
We had one aviary, by the main house, that was divided up into 5 separate units, this has now been rewired to give just 1 aviary and we plan to have a colony of Leadbeater's Cockatoo housed there. [see picture at the top of April page]
Bird Flu Update
Mike had an interesting conversation the other day-he was told about some findings regarding the lifespan of the flu virus. The virus can live up to six weeks in the excretment of the chickens that has been composted, which makes sense, a nice warm place full of bacteria for the virus to feed on-and what a way to spread the bird flu, makes you think...
Indonesia and China are still reporting outbreaks of H5N1, with a number of people from one family in Indonesia dying as a result of contracting the virus.
Bird Profile: Eclectus Parrots Eclectus roratus vosmaeri
There is no mistaking a male and female Eclectus, the males are predominantly green and the females are predominantly red. Our original Eclects Parrots have been at Alazizia Garden longer than Mike and I.
When they are mature enough to breed, usually from age 3 years, the female will, usually, lay 2 white eggs and the incubation period is around 28 days. They tend to be good parents-though we have found if we leave male chicks with the parent bird once they are fully independent- the adult male may attack the youngster. The females do spend a lot of time in the nest box and will continue to lay eggs if the box is not removed, they are also prone to feather plucking. The hand reared chicks, in our opinion do not make good companion birds, we find them to be 'grumpy' as chicks, that is hard to explain-we are Constantly talking to the chicks when we hand rear and these chicks are so different to the others, they are slower to feed and will, as they get older, bite the hand that feeds them! They are happy to interact with other chicks but not with humans and this is not just one chick this applies to all the chicks we have hand reared! But i like them regardless of their disposition. And yes i do know these are a popular companion bird in America-maybe it's in the genes!
Pigeon Focus: Red-Knobbed Fruit Dove Ptilinopus insolitus
I know i keep repeating myself when it comes to the fruit pigeons and doves but this bird is so pretty they look, to me, quite femmine with the pink blush on the cheek blending into the soft grey of the breast feathers and they certainly enhance any planted aviary setting. The Red-Knobbed have been in the collection for 3 years and, as yet, they have not bred, they appear to be a timid bird, flying away from you when you enter the aviary. We have found with a few of the fruit pigeons and doves that they will not breed until they feel settled and as these birds were moved from their original aviary at the end of last year that may explain why. We plan to leave them where they are as this is a larger aviary and there are more than enough nesting places, so hopefully in the not to distant future they will breed.
Egg-Chick Info.
Because we did not know, at the beginning of the year, what restrictions there would be on the movement of birds, expot/import, we did not want a surplus of birds, there are only so many you can intergrate into the collection and the larger birds need more space.
Luckily the birds have obliged this year, only a couple of the Macaws have bred, the Greenwing and Buffon.
We have more eggs in from the Amazons, which is okay as we have a local trade for this type of bird.
The Java Green Peafowl have also started to lay and hatch.
A Walk on the Wild Side: Carrion Crow or Raven? [ can't find relevant information]!
These birds are large, predominantly black with a grey coloured head, identification please...
The birds have very few fans in Bahrain. I can't remember seeing any in the first few years that we lived here though over the last 4-5 years their numbers have increased dramatically. That would be okay if they had natural predators to keep their numbers in check. Sadly they seem to be taking over the skies at the cost of some of the other species of birds, such as the White-Cheeked Bulbul, the Red-Vented Bulbul and even the Collared Doves.
In their defense i find them to be intelligent birds; periodically they will be seen in the garden, they raid the nests of the smaller birds taking eggs and chicks-we have even seen them taking down newly fledged chicks-then they will disappear. They obviously 'know' the breeding cycle of the birds because two or three weeks later they are back again in their quest for a tasty meal.
They no longer nest in the garden because we destroy the nesting sites-any animal/bird has the right to life but in an environment where everything is in balance they would have natural predators-when that balance is tipped it can cause other problems-it will be interesting to see how they do,or don't, progress in the future.
Weather Watch
Well the month started off overcast but gave way to blue skies and higher temperatures, though it is still 'manageable'. It is around 36-40C through the heat of the day and in the evenings it is pleasant. The nights are staying lighter a little longer, though it is dark by 7p.m. We have had a few breezy days-they are called Shamals-and they are more than welcome, though we have had to replace some of the shading on top of the aviaries due to the damage.
Garden News
The gardeners have been busy this month; hedging along one of the perimeter walls has been dug up and replaced with Bourganvilla, this will add colour and need less maintenance once it is established.
All of the flower beds are now bare, the Petunias etc. have now been removed, these areas have been dug over and fertilised and will have nothing else planted in them until the end of September.
There is still plenty of colour with various flowering shrubs and trees and the frangipani is, as ever, fragrant
Beside the Sea
Sorry, not much to offer this month, i have been busy with other things and not had the time for bird photos!
The one view is from the main house overlookng the, i like to be here when it is quiet-well usually me and the dogs-we sometimes sit in the shade and just enjoy the view!
Just June.
June offerings will include, Buffon Macaw, Bleeding Heart Doves and on the Wild Side, Palm Doves, to be posted around the 30th.

2006-04-30T01:18:00.000-07:00

April

Well it's the end of April, four months of the year gone. We have had another busy month. Now the weather is warming up all of the fans have been checked and either repaired or replaced. Once they are switched on it is for 24/7 until, at least, the end of September.
The same with the overhead showers, some of them were disconnected when we covered aviaries with the plastic sheeting these have been repaired and all of the birds are enjoying a daily shower. It is surprising the difference it makes to the temperature and when the weather is really hot and humid the showers are used a couple of times per day.
We have always had a problem with rats but this last 2 years has been even worse. We are limited to how we deal with them, we can use poison in some areas but not were the birds are, or we place a hose pipe down the rat holes and either drown them or they surface and are killed. We have lost both eggs and chicks to these persistent creatures but in one of our planted aviaries they had taken over 20 birds. Although wire mesh is inserted into the ground-the rats just dig deeper-so more mesh and concrete has been used in an attempt to rid them from the aviary.

Psittacine Profile: Palm Cockatoo Probosciger aterrimus

Palm Cockatoo's are beautiful birds both in looks and their nature and are one of my favorites. Although a black bird, it is the cheek colour-which varies from pink to deep red, that gives them a stunning appearance. Their vocalisations are easy to mimic and if you whistle to them they will interact with you or their partner.
Although we have had Palms for a number of years it wasn't until 2003 that we had a live chick.
During their breeding season, here it is October through to March, Palm's will lay only 1, white, egg per clutch. The incubation period is around 28-30 days and both of the birds take turns in incubating the egg. We were hoping to have a parent raised chick as they are notoriously difficult to hand rear-but when the chick hatched they showed no interest and we couldn't leave the chick- it hatched in February and the day was cold.
We managed, with a few problems, to rear the chick and had 4 more chicks that year, sadly one died-though is was not for lack of trying on our part-still it is upsetting especially when you can't solve the problem. Two of the male chicks have been paired to other females, they settled well in an aviary environment and have bonded with their partners, showing an interest in nesting.

Pigeon Focus: Orange-breasted Fruit Pigeons Teron bicincta

These are colourful birds and any planted aviary is enhanced by their presence. They are a small bird, predominantly green, though as their name suggests the breast is orange. The diet, as for all of our fruit pigeons and doves, consists of a mixture of chopped fruits and a commercial soft-bill mix
These birds do not seem fussy about where they nest, it will be one they have built from twigs or a small plastics nest bowl and even a large leaf! The female will only lay 1 egg per clutch, i am not sure if both of the birds incubate the egg as there is no, visible, difference between the male and female. When chick hatches it is naked though the feathers develop rapidly as it fledges at 5-6 days of age-the parents carry on feeding and tending the chick for a few weeks until it is fully independent.

Egg-Chick Info.
Birds still nesting include, Greenwing Macaw, Molouccan and Triton Cockatoo as well as Green Peafowl and various Fruit Pigeons.
Amazon, African Grey's, Molouccan and Hanh's Macaw chick are currently being hand reared.
A Walk on the Wild Side: Indian Ringneck parakeet Psittacula krameri manillensis
These birds are now firmly established on the Island, being recorded as early as 1953, and can be seen in Manama, where it is always busy, as well as the less inhabited parts of Bahrain. Like most of the birds that are not native to Bahrain they have been imported, for the pet market, and now thrive in this environment.
There are usually a number of these birds in the garden and we have them nesting in Palm trees as well as the 'nooks and crannies' of the main house.
[Photo's show a male Ringneck keeping watch-it is the female that is squeezing out of gap between the shutters and the house]
I don't know if there are less sexually mature females than males, as for the last couple of years, usually April time, we see males squabbling over a lone female.
This will carry on for a few days until either she chooses a mate or it is the victorious male that gets the female! [The males are easily identified as they have the dark ring around the neck]
When breeding the female will lay up to four, white, eggs, incubation is around 24-26 days and the chicks will be in the nest for 6-7 weeks. Both the male and female care for the chicks and this will continue for a few weeks after they have fledged. The chicks are a paler version of the parent birds and immature males lack the dark ring around the neck-this becomes visible as they mature, usually 3 years of age.
Weather Watch
I'm not quite sure what to say about April. The first half of the month was overcast with a few showers, then we had blue skies and hot days. For the last few days we have had dust storms and clouds. It feels 'heavy' and i'm sure a good downpour would clear it...
Garden News
The grass is growing fast and needs to be cut on a regular basis, we have a large sit on grass cutter as well as smaller, electric mowers, though it still takes a full day to complete.
The dust storms made the entire garden look a mess-leaving everything coated with a film of sand-the seasonal flowers received a battering and a couple of borganvilla were blown over and had to be replanted.
Now that the date fruit is forming some of fruit is removed, this gives larger dates, and the remaining bunches-usually six or eight are left-are tied down to a palm frond ready to be cut when they start to ripen.
A small greenhouse is under construction for the growing of seedlings-as you can imagine we need a large number for the size of the garden- and we are hoping to try a few different types of flowers in the garden at the end of the year.
From the Shoreline
It was a pleasant surprise the other day to be walking by the sea and witness the cormorants leaving their winter home-there were hundreds of these birds and, luckily, i had my camera with me-though i'm not saying the shots are good!
As one lot of birds leave another arrives, the Swift's are now in residence. I have not seen this number of birds in all the years we have lived in Bahrain-it was almost surreal to be walking by the sea, late afternoon, and these birds were constantly swooping just above the water and the grass-feeding on insects, invisible to our eye, it was as if we weren't their as they were flying within inches of us, not at all bothered by our or the dogs presence, they certainly have an apt name!
May Meanderings
Bird Profiles will include Eclectus parrots, Red-knobbed Fruit Pigeon and from the 'wild side'-Crows. To be posted around the 30th May

2006-03-25T03:23:00.000-08:00

March Missive
F1 fever hits Bahrain! No this is not a new strain of the bird flu. The opening race of the Formula 1 season was held in Bahrain over the weekend of 10th -12th. By all accounts it was a great success and though we did not attend the race we could hear the drone of the cars in the garden, the track is about 8 kilometers away, as the crow flies!
The external painting of the aviaries is now complete and we think the colour combination is a good one. We have gone from Candy Floss Pink to [Terry's]Chocolate Orange!
Bird Flu Update
We were speaking with a friend of ours about vaccinating the birds against the avian flu, buy until we know more, in regards to the movement of captive bred birds, re. import-export, we will wait.
Bahrain is still free of the H5N1 virus and hopefully we will have 'breathing space' until the autumn when the bird migration gets underway yet again.
according to various articles the threat and repercussions of the H5N1 virus will be with us for the next 5 years, lets hope they have got it wrong.
Profile: Silvery-cheeked Hornbill Ceratogymna brevis
I have to say i am totally smitten with our pair of Hornbill, well looking as they do it is either love them or, well for me, there is no alternative!
The pair have been with us since 1997 when they were purchased from a souk in Dubai. As young, wild caught birds they were in a sorry state and it was quite a few weeks before they showed signs of improvement, though the female, continued to cause concern as she did not cope with the heat and humidity through the summer months and had to be removed from the aviary.
Both are now healthy, they are settled and inquisitive and both will come and say hello, or should i say, 'haw-haw-haw'! The male is the larger of the two birds in body and in the size of the casque.Though a black and white bird the blues-turquoise shine through when the sun catches the feathers and as the name suggests they have silvery-grey feathers around the cheek area and frame the large brown eyes and long lashes.
The pair have had one attempt at breeding, though unsuccessful, it certainly made for an interesting summer. When breeding the female is sealed in the nest, apart from a slit, through which the male passes food. She will be 'holed up' prior to laying the eggs, incubation and rearing the chicks until they fledge. Our female was in the nest for 150 days! There were no chicks but eggshell was found in the nest site. It is possible the eggs were infertile or that she ate the chicks, which is not uncommon, why she remained in the nest for this length of time is a mystery, luckily the male was very attentive and kept her well fed!
That was in 2004 and they are again showing an interest in the nest site, so fingers crossed....
Pigeon Focus: Nicobar Pigeon Caloenas nicobarica
The Nicobar Fruit Pigeon has to be one of the most colourful pigeons. The iridescence of the greens, blues and bronzes is a feast for the eyes. We have kept Nicobars since 1998 although, initially, slow to breed we now have a colony of 18 plus birds.
They are, predominantly, a ground dwelling bird and are usually found in groups within the aviary. They do roost in the evenings and when nesting they will either use a wooden nest pan or basket or build their own nest in one of the trees.
The female will lay 1 white egg and the incubation and rearing is shared. The young Nicobar is not as colourful as the adult birds and lacks the ruffle around the neck and the white tail feathers, there appears to be no visible difference in the male and female. We DNA sex the birds though a blood sample taken from clipping a nail this is then sent off to the UK. All of our birds that are not dimorphic are sexed this way.
Egg-Chick Info
Birds sitting eggs this month include, Blue and Yellow Macaw, Amazon and African Grey Parrots, Major Mitchell, Galah, Molouccan and Triton Cockatoo as well as Silver Pheasant and various Fruit Pigeon.
[A pair of African Grey chicks]
A Walk on the Wild Side: Hoopoe Upupa epops
The Hoopoe can be seen in Bahrain from January onwards and it is a real pleasure to be walking around the garden and come across one or more of these birds. They are truly stunning with their black and white stripped body, the tan coloured back, chest and head and a crest that is tipped with black. The beak is long and narrow and they are usually to be found on the grass digging for a tasty morsel.
Nesting, according to information, is more likely and successful when there has been a reasonable amount of rain. They will nest in hollows either on the ground or in trees and between 7 and 8 egg are laid. The incubation is the responsibility of the female-though rearing of the chicks is assisted by the male and the chicks will fledge at around 26 days of age.
Although we regulary see the birds in the garden we have not seen any signs of nesting, possibly the number of dogs we have deters them.
Weather Watch!
March has been the kind of month you remember and long for when the weather is hot and humid, the temperatures are pleasant [if you have lived here for a few years or hot if you are a newcomer!] and day light lingers just a little longer. We have had rain, not enough to make Gene Kelly want to sing and dance-but the birds chirped in appreciation!
Garden Notes
The garden still boasts colour with petunia, hibiscus and bourganvilla in full bloom. The gardeners have been busy moving trees, planted as saplings, they have been re-planted as they need more space to grow and mature.
Two of the flower beds have been built up around the sides, we have Cyclads planted and they need more nutrient, we can now add more soil and this should support their growth.
One of the palms had to be removed, it had been eaten away by grubs- the sweetness of this particular palm makes them vulnerable, the palm has to be burnt and the soil treated to kill off the grubs.
Sea Side
Due to land reclamation we find that erosion of our bit of coastline has gained momentum especially when the tides are high and the sea choppy, we have reinforced some of the banking but a more permanent solution is needed.
I eventually managed to capture, on camera, our Curlew. They are yearly visitors to the garden and can be seen on the grass digging for food, wading in the shallow water or resting on the jetty.
How do you cool a hot dog? Well they seem to know the answer-guess the name of the Dalmation...four letters and starts with an 'S'!...
April Foolishness
Birds in profile will include Palm Cockatoo, Orange-breasted Fruit Dove and Ringnecks in the wild.
To be posted around the 30th.
Finally. Our prayers and sympathy go to the victims and families of the boating accident that occured on 30th March, may your God be with you.

2006-02-17T03:48:00.000-08:00

February 2006

Maintenance

We are in the middle of repainting the aviaries. It is three years since they had the last lick of paint and it is surprising how quickly they go from looking okay to looking an eyesore! The salt in the air and water does not help and, of course, the birds are quite adept with their beaks to do a reasonable amount of paint striping.
We use water based emulsion, nothing is lead based, for obvious reasons and the internal work is ongoing at the time of writing this post.
Preparation of the site includes repairing any of the concrete, blockwork or wiremesh plus scraping away loose paint on the walls and the wire mesh. The mesh is first undercoated then given a top coat of black gloss-painting the mesh black enables you to see the birds without 'seeing' the colour of the wire. The colour of the walls has been changed from pink to green. It's a bit bright at the moment but soon blends in. Larger aviaries are to be painted cream as well as internal passageways.
Some of the birds are removed during the repainting though in the larger, mixed aviaries, it just isn't practical.The birds are not unduly bothered by the intrusion because the work is being carried out by people they see on a daily basis. It's quite funny to see the guys trying to paint and at the same time having their ears 'nibbled' by one of the hand reared birds!

Bird Flu Update

Since writing in January the H5N1 virus has been detected in other countries, namely Italy, Germany, France, Austria Nigeria and Egypt. Iraq and Nigeria are the countries causing me concern, Nigeria due to the poverty of the country and lack of resources available to the people and Iraq, again poverty, plus the lack of infrastructure due to the ongoing unrest - i read in our local paper, The Gulf Daily News, that children were playing with the dead chicken carcasses....
I think we sometimes forget that even a couple of domestic birds be it, chicken, turkey or geese, is not only food for some it will be their only 'asset'. And when people are poor and starving and sadly ignorant, through no fault of their own, of these matters how do you convince them it is in their best interests to cull their source of income and food?
Psittacine Profile: Hyacinth Macaw Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus
The Hyacinthine Macaw is the largest of the macaw family. It is on List 1 of C.I.T.E.S and until recently was considered, in the wild, to be an endangered species. With good conservation and up to a certain extent eco tourism these birds now have a future. The men who were once poachers have a wealth of knowledge regarding the nest sites etc. and are now paid to monitor and maintain these sites and the birds rather than raid the nests or trap the adult birds.
They are a beautiful bird and we find them to be confident, inquisitive , cheeky and vocal! Hyacinths have been breeding at, Al Azizia Garden, since 1995 and currently we have sixteen birds including four young reared in 2005.
The Hyacinths are usually our last birds of the season to breed and will lay between 1-3 eggs, we have found the incubation period to to be around 24-29 days. This time span, we think, is due to weather factors such as temperature and humidity. It is the female that incubates the egg[s] leaving the nest only to feed-usually early in the morning and again in the evening. The chick is naked, apart from some white 'fluff', blind and totally dependent when it hatches. By the age of 16-20 weeks they are fully feathered and a similar size and weight to the adult bird, lacking only the yellow colouring around the eye, beak and tongue which deepens with age.
Pigeon Focus: Crowned pigeons
The Crowned Pigeons, namely, Victoria Crowned Pigeon Goura Victoria, Scheepmaker Crowned Pigeon Goura scheepmakeri and Common Common Crowned Pigeon Goura cristata are the largest of the pigeon species. The three, although similar in size and appearance do have differing markings.
The Crowned Victoria's have white tips to their crown feathers and a blue-grey wing bar.
The Scheepmaker is predominantly purple breasted with a large white wing bar.
The Common pigeon is grey breasted and has a small white wing bar.
We keep all of the above and they are either in family groups or pairs. They are an attractive looking bird and an asset in any planted aviary setting. They are considered a ground bird but do roost in the evenings and nest above ground.
Ours don't appear to have a set breeding season, we have had chicks hatch throughout the year, regardless of weather conditions. Part of their mating ritual is to bow to each other while making a throaty 'booming' noise. It echoes around the garden and in the evenings can sound almost haunting!
Both the male and female will build the nest, using twigs and whatever else they find on the aviary floor, either utlising a wooden nest pan or wicker baskets placed around the aviary. The birds share incubation of the one, large white, egg and the nest site is not left unattended. The skin colour of the chick, when it hatches, is blue but the feathers are soon through and apart from the lack of eye definition it is a replica of the adult bird.
The chick will fledge at 28 days and continues to be fed by the parents for a few more weeks until fully independent. Both parents are attentive to and protective of the youngster. Other birds in the mixed aviaries are tolerated as long as they do not come to close, if they do one of the birds will either chase it away or will raise and flap a wing in their direction as a warning.
Egg - Chick Info.
We have Molouccan and Triton Cockatoo's sitting eggs as well as Hanh's Macaws, Black-headed Caiques, Eclectus, Alexandrines and Ringnecks.
Chicks hatched this month include Scheepmaker Crowned Pigeon and Peacock Pheasant.
Diets
Due to the diversity of the collection we provide a varied selection of food for the birds. Macaws and the larger Cockatoo's have a daily diet of sunflower seed, peanuts, walnuts and Brazil nuts as well as a mix of fresh fruit and vegetables, which includes; apple, orange, carrot, chopped greens as well as cooked maize and peas.
The diet of the smaller Cockatoo's, African Greys and Amazons consists of small, white sunflower seeds, millet as well as peanuts, which are limited, this is because these types of birds are prone to being overweight. They also receive the daily fruit and veg. mix.
We make up our own Lory food and the mixture includes a powdered baby formula, fruit such as apple and banana, plus a commercial soft bill mix. This is blended with hot water, as the mixture is quite thick it is diluted prior to feeding, these birds also receive pieces of fresh fruit- banana,apple or pear.
Soft bills such as the Toucans and Fruit Pigeons have a diet that is a mixture of chopped or diced fruits and tomatoes plus the commercial soft bill mix.
Pheasant, Peafowl and Pigeon receive a commercial pelleted food, chopped greens and pulses. Some of the birds also receive meat balls, this is raw minced meat that is rolled into small balls. Toucans, Hornbills and some of the larger Cockatoo's enjoy and benefit from the extra protein.
A Walk on the Wild Side: Common Mynah Acridotheres tristis
The Common Mynah is a bird that has found a foothold in Bahrain, possibly coming into the country as pets, they have adapted well to the conditions here and can now be seen all over the island.I have counted six pairs of these birds in the garden and they are as happy on the ground as they are in the trees. Although not brightly coloured they are a colourful bird-especially in flight when the white wing bar and tail feathers are visible.
Nesting is from April onwards, 4-5 eggs will be laid and the birds will possibly rear two or three clutches per season. We always know when they have young, either chicks in the nest or fledglings, because the parent birds will swoop down in warning, especially when the dogs are around.
[Yes i know i said Hill Mynahs in my January post-obviously i didn't know my Common's from my Hills!-i do now!]
Weather Watch!
We have had the threat of rain for most of the month but apart from a downpour on the 22nd-23rd with thunder and lightening and a couple of light showers that has been it. In all the years we have been living in Bahrain this has to be the driest winter yet. The lack of rain will put an extra strain on the natural water reserves.
Garden Glimpses
The garden does look a lot fresher for the rain, the trees and plants are free from a build up of sand and dust. The fertiliser that has been used recently will have had a good soaking. We use a product called, Al Bustan, it is basically sterilised manure, it certainly smells like it! It is either mixed with the garden soil and dug into the borders etc. or spread as a feed for the grass as well as being laid around the Palm trees. The dogs love it! They eat it, smell it and delight in rolling in it. Kisses are not encouraged!
This month the Palm trees have also been fertilised and trimmed. The developing palm fruit is thinned out and tied into bunches and is fertilised with pollen from a 'male' palm [yes really!]. We have only two male palms in the garden and one of the reasons for fertilising the developing fruit, rather than leaving it to nature, is to ensure a good crop of fruit. There are numerous types of date palms and there is a big difference in the colour, size and taste-some of the fruits are highly prized. I enjoy picking and eating fresh dates that are still warm from days sun- though that will not be before the end of July.....
Beside the Sea
Image of the Grey Heron, they and othe members of the Heron family are regular yearly visitors to the garden and can usually be spotted on the jetty in the early morning and as the sun is setting.
March Missives
Bird profiles will include Silvery-cheeked Hornbill, Nicobar Fruit Pigeon and on the 'wild side', the Hoopoe.
To be posted around 29th-30th March

2006-02-05T00:01:00.000-08:00

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2006-01-13T04:24:00.000-08:00

Al Azizia Garden

Our initial idea is a journal of, hopefully, one year in the life of the garden. This will be on a monthly basis and will include the general day-to-day management of the birds including breeding ,successes and failures, incubation of eggs and the rearing of chicks. There will be profiles on the birds we have in our care, a look at some of the varied bird visitors we have in the garden, that will, i hope, be of interest and finally a bit of horticulture! It still amazes me the numbers of flowers, plants and trees that grow and thrive in this environment.

A Short History

Al Azizia Garden is a private residence and the home to a large and varied collection of birds. My husband, Mike, has been responsible for the collection since 1994 and i joined him the following year.
The original number of birds, around 80, mainly parrots and macaw, where housed in a different location and moved here upon completion of the garden.
Over the last few years the collection has grown and diversified to include Fruit Pigeons, Doves, Peasant and Peafowl as well as Tortoise and dogs! It is an eclectic mix and as aviculturists we enjoy the diversity and challenges that seem to change on a yearly basis!

Aviary Design

The garden is, approximately, 29000 sq. metres and the accommodation of the birds can be described as follows: Five hexagagonal blocks, each consisting of five aviaries.
These all have tiled floors with a central passage giving accesss to each aviary and initially these were adequate for the number of birds in the collection.
As the numbers and species grew additional aviaries were built, although different from the original design, they are more practical because we are able to mix planted aviaries among the more basic, one pair, aviary.
As we are predominately set up as a breeding facility most of the psittacine are in pairs whereas the fruit pigeons and pheasant can live quite amiably in a mixed aviary.

January 2006
Frames being made
Although Bahrain is free from the H5N1 virus we decided, in December 05, that we should be prepared in the event of an outbreak. Why would we jepadize the lives of the birds and all of our hard work over the past few years by being complacent. As the majority of aviaries are open to the elements it was decided that the best and most practical way to afford them protection was to cover, were necessary, with plastic sheeting. Frames were made and by fixing these to the roof and fronts of the aviaries the birds will hopefully be classed as being 'indoors', affording them the necessary protection.
Note: By the end of January the H5N1 virus had been confirmed in, Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Cyprus, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.....
Breeding Season

Consequently we were late in replacing some of the nest boxes this season due to making the frames for the aviaries. Usually we will have eggs and chicks from November onwards, so the last few weeks have been busy making, repairing and replacing the nest boxes. The African Greys and Cockatoo's are normally the first to breed and now have their boxes in place, along with branches of the eucalyptus tree, which they love. [Umbrella Cockatoo Cacatua alba enjoying fresh Eucalyptus]
Some of the birds, such as the Swainson's Lorikeet Trichoglossus haematodus moluccanus, breed freely throughout the year and the picture [26th Jan.]shows a newly fledged chick being fed by the parent. The parent birds are very attentive and both will feed the chick.
Weather watch!
It has been a mild winter, apart from a few days this month that have included two light showers, rising sand and dark clouds threatening, but not delivering a downpour. This doesn't bode well. It could mean winter is non-existent this year or February will be cold [okay it FEELS cold when the temperature drops below 20C!] As the garden is situated on the coast it can also get quite breezy! The birds enjoy the change in the seasons and when the weather is mild for extended periods in the winter it throws there breeding cycle out of sync. So fingers crossed for rain...
Psittacine Profile: Sun Conure Aratinga solstitialis
Sun Conures are one of the 35 sub species of the genus Aratinga. The vivid orange-yellow colouring of the adult bird make them easy to identify. The Sun Conures in our care are kept on a colony basis and varying in age-mature through to last seasons young. Normally they start to breed from December onwards. There will be a lot of mutual preening and the male can be observed feeding the female. They will select a nest box, all boxes have wood shavings in, and the female will scrape out a hollow-usually to one corner- before laying up to four eggs. Iincubation is around 24 days and we have found the females to be more than capable of rearing four chicks. They young will fledge at about 12 weeks of age and continue to be fed by the parents until fully independent-though even a few months later they will still beg and receive food from the adult. Occasionally we will remove chicks for hand rearing as they make lovely, if somewhat noisy, companion birds. The photograph, above on the left is of a 2005 hatch chick, the colour will gradually darken to that of the adult by the age of 2. We have noted as the bird ages the feather colour starts to fade, our original pair of birds, purchased prior to 1994 died last year and from C.I.T.E.S papers that we had for them, although hatch date wasn't indicated, i would put their age at 16 years.
A Walk on the Wild Side:White-cheeked Bulbul Pycnonotus leucogenys
White-cheeked Bulbuls are beautiful, melodic birds. They are mainly resident in the central and north of the Island and can be found in most gardens where date palms are present.

Breeding season is from February through to July. The nest, as pictured, is made up of grasses and small twigs, all woven with great care. 2 to 4 eggs are laid. The young, naked and dependent when they hatch, are fully feathered and flegde 10 days later-though they are still fed by the parent birds.
Once commom in Bahrain their numbers are now threatened. Some of the reasons are;urbanisation and an increase in the numbers of of the Red-vented Bulbul plus the loss of eggs, chicks and fledglings to the ever hungry crows, who are more prevalent on the Island than ever before and have no natural enemies.

Pigeon Focus: Pied Imperial Fruit Pigeon Ducula bicolour
The Pied Imperial Fruit Pigeon is one of 25 different species of fruit pigeons and doves at Al Azizia Garden. These particular birds have been in the collection since 1999. As with a number of the pigeons they take time to settle in an aviary, they can be 'nervy'-every intrusion will unsettle them, and therefore did not breed for 2 years. Originally 6 birds were purchased and some 40 plus chicks have hatched, not all have survived, the last head count put their number at 22 - twelve others are in various collections in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia
On a daily basis
The routine in the garden varies little on a day-to-day basis. All of the birds receive an early morning feed and fresh water. A second feed is given to the fruit pigeons, doves and Lories - especially in the summer as the food soon becomes unpalitable. The morning continues with food preparation: all fruits, vegetables and sunflower seeds are washed, yellow corn and peas are cooked, the peanuts are boiled, rinsed, and laid out to dry. Aviaries and the kitchen area are then cleaned and the birds can then enjoy some quiet time. Afternoons continue in the same way, feeding and cleaning plus any minor maintenance and repair work. From 4.30 onwards all of the food and water dishes are removed for cleaning - ready for the next day.
The guys who work specifically with the birds are: The Dingle brothers, Romeo [Who prefers to be called 'Boy'] Ron and Ronnie. Abu Bakker and Khadger. All are hardworking and diligent and we couldn't do this without them.
A Little [Horti]Culture
From October through to March the weather, temperature wise, is similar to that of Europe in the late spring - early summer. The garden is a plethora of colour with Petunia, Nasturtium, Alyssum and Geranium, to name but a few, in full bloom vying with the Bourganvillea and Hibiscus plus the exotic scent of the Jasmine...a veritable feast for the senses!
Scenes of the garden in January and in full bloom!
Sea Side Snaps

Both Mike and i, as well as our G.S.D's, love water and consider ourselves fortunate to live so close to the sea. This time of year we have the really low tides and cuttlefish is abundant. Sea birds, especially Gulls - gorge on the shoals of small fish - as well as the Heron, ever graceful wading through water as in flight, watching the sunset and the Dhows in the distance make for a serene ending to the day.
February Focus
Profiles in February will include: Hyacinthine Macaw, Crowned Pigeons and the Hill Mynah, plus the various diets of our birds.