With the current storm damage and flooding here in Brisbane my thoughts turn to the aviaries and birds contained in them.

 

We are blessed to have the damage pass us by here in Redcliffe (north of Brisbane) however I feel for those people who have suffered damage not only to their houses etc but how are they coping with their aviaries, surely a terrifying time for the budgies as well?

 

Please let us know how you are coping, I'm sure we are all thinking sympathetically of those involved.

I lost an aviary in the wind storms we had here earlier in the year and those windstorms were nothing compared to what Brisbane is currently going through, I would say everyone should be keeping an eye out their windows for lost birds during this time

Edited November 20, 200816 yr by melbournebudgies

I lost an aviary in the wind storms we had here earlier in the year and those windstorms were nothing compared to what Brisbane is currently going through, I would say everyone should be keeping an eye out their windows for lost birds during this time

 

Good idea MB! Shall look out for any lost birds. Its funny how everyone thinks of all the possessions lost (and rightly so!) but I immediately looked at my Charley and thought how devastating it would be if he was lost in a storm, this is what brought to my mind that there are bound to be wind damaged or flood damaged aviaries, and perhaps poor little feathered friends who would be stressed.

It was devestating to loose mine, I lost a beloved galah, 4 tiels and two quails, to lose pets you care so much for can be one of the most horrible feelings, pets can put a smile on your face when the rest of your life seems to be falling down around your ears. How many times have we seen images in the media of dogs rescued from flooded rivers and seen the smiles of their owners when they have them in their arms again.

So right MB so right, I hope all is okay for everyone.

During storms, snakes look for shelter and it is common that they will chose an aviary because there is food there also.

My house is fairly protected and has just had some really good rain. I thought my breeding area was snake proof because it is all screened and enclosed, but apparently not. The snake probably chose to shelter in my aviary breeding room because my house is quite protected from the weather. It ate two of my best birds, a pair of yellow double factor spangles. Take extra precautions to snake proof your aviary particularly during storms. I think the snake must have got in under one of the doors, so I am getting windstoppers for the bottom of the doors to prevent that.

Edited November 20, 200816 yr by DrNat

How sad, DrNat! How horrible for the poor little birds and yourself. I guess snakes can squeeze themselves through tiny spaces anyway so not a lot you can do? You must have been heartbroken!

 

And I agree with MB, the poor animals you see so confused and stressed in any natural disaster. It makes my heart bleed when I see sheep etc trying to struggle in floods or fires. Mind you I can end up in tears watching a lost dog walking the streets, panic stricken and confused as it desperately looks around for a familiar face. So sad!!!

 

I find it stressing to watch Charley during a full blown thunder/lightening storm, he's safely in his cage inside however he must find the noise and flashes so frightening! I do make a point of trying to act "normal" during storms but tend to talk to him quietly and calmly, hoping that it reassures him. I dont know if it helps him.

 

I also feel for the birds in the wild and wonder what they do during these tremendously heavy electrical storms.. do they try to find a safe place to hide? or are they just sitting it out? I find I cant stop thinking about them .. and we've been getting the storms every evening this week. Poor little (wet) feathered friends!!

I was very upset and furious at the time. But it's okay. The snake was hungry and probably frightened of the storms too.

I let him go with a warning not to return, though he tried to attack me when I did this.

I wish he had chosen to eat the escaped pet mouse that lives in the breeding room instead... but clearly he has exceptional taste for exhibition budgies!!!

 

Small blessings, he was too fat to get out of the cage after eating the two budgies, so he didn't eat any more. He also left five of their eggs. So after sending him away, I warmed the eggs and put them under other hens. Maybe they will hatch and I will get babies after all. Wait and see I suppose.

Dr Nat, What is it with the wild animals with expensive taste - they always seem to go for the best birds

I hope your eggs hatch!

 

I hope everyone's birds stay safe during the storms. Feel free to send some of that weather down here, we need some rain - this summer will be a scorcher

My parents were in the worst hit area. But their aviary is on the veranda that faces north, and the wind came from the south. So the opposite side of their house got smashed up, but the budgies were totally fine!

 

Not so the cat -- she decided to hide in a cupboard right in the room where a window smashed and shards of glass flew and hit into the door of the cupboard she was in. She didn't get hurt, but she was just trembling for an entire day, and wouldn't eat or drink until the following night.

Awww that's terrible:(

 

We've been really lucky here in Murrumba Downs, the storms have pretty much fizzled out by the time they reach us and we just get lots of flashes, noise and rain, but no real damage, apart from some fallen branches. Sunday's storm left us without power for 16 hours, but other than that nothing.

Those of us in Melbourne have been told to expect storms over the weekend, hopefully not as bad as Brisvegas though

I live in lockyer valley and we had huge flooding, biggest I've ever seen. The water was that strong it knocked our metal fences down and dragged everything with it. Luckily the house and sheds were not damaged.

I live in lockyer valley and we had huge flooding, biggest I've ever seen. The water was that strong it knocked our metal fences down and dragged everything with it. Luckily the house and sheds were not damaged.

 

When I was in vanuatu I saw that they had created fencing by planting these flexible skinny pole like trees and stringing woven vine rope between the trees. There is heavy rainfall there, the trees can be knocked over by floods, but less likely since they are deep rooted and hold the soil together. This method of fencing is very simple, inexpensive and effective, because the trees are just planted in the correct position from locally grown cuttings or saplings, and the rope comes from vines on local trees. Also the tree/fence line provides shade for their animals and food/shelter for the native wildlife. If they need to change the fenceline, they just plant another tree, re-rope it, and harvest the unwanted tree for timber, or leave it there.