New Finches - Had to Share

Post by **Hilary** » Wed Sep 05, 2007 11:16 pm

Ok, I just can't stand myself, and have to share (though it's hard to type while jumping up and down). Another shipment of African finches just came out of quarantine, and I just drove home with:

2 pairs gold breasted waxbills
2 lavenders (hens, I hope, for my 2 lavender cocks)
3 Senegal firefinches (2 hens and 1 cock - a friend will sell me a 2nd cock)
1 rosy rump hen (for my lonely widower)

Of course the goldbreasts have me worried - I put a pair in one side of a divided cage and a male in the other. I was banding the second female when I looked and saw one of the males was missing. He had slipped through the bars to hang out with the other guy.....

Eek! Happy dance.....

Of course, I'll be eating ramen noodles for a month......

Post by **Sally** » Thu Sep 06, 2007 12:17 am

Omigosh, you must be so excited!! I'm excited for you! Did you get them from Kimberly at MD Feathered Friends? I have been watching her website, and I think I am just going to have to get some, too. I wished I lived nearer, I will have to have them shipped. I am looking at a similar list to yours. I had not planned to increase my bird numbers at this time, but I am worried that these birds will go back on the CITEs list, and I will have missed my window of opportunity. And I'll think of you when I'm dining on my Ramen noodles.

Post by **Hilary** » Thu Sep 06, 2007 12:33 am

Thanks Sally! I'm less worried about CITES than bird flu - that's what closed down Ghana (these came from Senegal), but I'm right there with you. Who knows when the shipments will end. I'm back to too many cages for my space, but oh well! I actually bought them from Murad at Maryland Exotic Birds. Kim sells birds for him, but I already had a relationship with him - he's been calling me with "lavender sightings", and let me know as soon as these became available. The drive up wasn't bad - about an hour and a half in rush hour traffic - and it was very cool to see his birds. He had three different whydahs - how gorgeous! And the cubans are so incredibly cute (if only they weren't so ornery). LOTS of cut throats and green singers. Sigh.....