Torrential rain

[MariusStegmann]

In the early hour of this morning, I woke up because of torrential rain. For a while I debated whether to got out and see of my birds were ok, but the bed and sleep won. I must admit that I thought for a few minutes of my yellow pair of gouldians, who together with a few of my parrot finches prefer to to sleep in the open where there is no roof covering. This morning I expected to see wet and bedraggled looking gouldians, but they were dry and perfectly groomed. They must have flown in the dark to a dry place when it started to rain. Nature knows best!

Every morning after giving my birds their eggfood, I plunk my bottom down in front of my avaries and watch my birds, and lo and behold a solitary common waxbill landed on my aviary. My red-eared waxbills were performing inside the aviary for the guest. As I pulled out my cellphone to take a picture, it saw me and flew away. It was a small special moment for me, because nowadays, it is a rare sighting in the rural areas.

[Rox]

It's always so amazing when the common waxbills come into our gardens, very special moments! I'm sure having waxbills in our aviary's does help to attract them

The rain last night was awesome! I must admit I didn't even think of the birds when I heard it, I was just too happy to hear rain! Glad your birds had the brains to move to a dry spot

[debbie276]

My birds especially the gouldians love the heavy rains. The males will start singing and dancing to the girls and all play in the puddles. For mine it's like a trigger for "times of plenty".

[steve]

MariusStegmann

A lot of my birds will sit in the rain until they have had a good shower, then they take cover, I sit and watch my birds in the afternoon, no time in the morning, it takes nearly an hour to feed all of them.

Steve

[MariusStegmann]

Steve, you guys get your rain in the afternoons. I was worried because it was during the night, accompanied with a strong wind. It was deluge of rain. Coming down in buckets. I understand if it is during the day, it won't be frightening to the birds, but at night it is a different story. But yes, Debbie, my non-breeding gouldian pair seemed energized, popping into nest after nest.

[monotwine]

Yeah the rain last night was crazy for middle of summer. I thankfully don't worry about the birds as they have full cover overhead. Most of mine sleep in the shelter at will. However I am thankful for my night light that helps any startled birds find a resting spot.

Lovely to have a moment of two with wild birds. I have a rescued recuperating Malachite sunbird at the moment that we are treating after it was caught by a cat. It was so nervous initially, now only 2 days later it will drink from a cup in my hand. They quickly learn where their bread it buttered.

[MariusStegmann]

monotwine Do you give it sugar water? I wonder if honey water would work for them?

[monotwine]

I give it honey water with med's for the first few days until I can get some Lorikeet nectar. I also gave it flowers (fresh from the garden - the type they like). Not sure if it will survive, but worth trying to save it. Has a damaged wing .

[MariusStegmann]

Yes, definitely worth the effort. Does it eat flowers? I thought that it only drinks nectar.

[MiaCarter]

monotwine - Oh, I hope your little friend survives! I Googled malachite sunbirds and they're so lovely!
It seems to be similar to a hummingbird in form and function.

You SA folks are so blessed to have such lovely wildlife! (Though we get a good amount here in Florida too. I'm just in the middle of a giant field, so there's not much here aside from burrowing owls. But it's different world once you reach the forest at the end of the road.)

I don't have any outdoor birds, but a couple years ago, I had a pair of Amazons who loved the rain. I'd put them in a big cage on my lanai during the day. And when we'd get our afternoon deluge, they would squack like crazy until I rolled them outside. They LOVED the rain.

Sadly, the closest my finches get to rain is a spray bottle.

[monotwine]

MariusStegmann
Sorry for the change in conversation Marius. I'll see if I can get pics and maybe start a new thread on the Malachite.

Quick answer, no they don't eat flowers but get nectar from them. They do eat spiders etc when feeding young and sometimes some soft fruit.
I gave it flowers in case it would not take the honey water. However it has taken to life in a cage and promptly samples anything I put in there. That long tongue works overtime in the Lorikeet mix. At least that way it is getting a balanced diet.
I'm just happy it decided to take food from a bowl or it would not have made it.

@MiaCarter
We do have wonderful wildlife, but our country is very large and lot of the bird life is spread around, but that doesn't mean I don't enjoy what I have.
In summer I put the sprinkler on for my birds. They love bathing in the drops that fly into the aviary. Silly birds.