Wild-Caught Bird Research

[isobea]

Hi everyone,
Here is my two cents worth on this topic. The middle of last October was the first time in my 30+ years of keeping finches that I bought some wild caught birds (1 pair of strawberries and 4 black-crowned waxbills). I couldn't find any captive-bred ones anywhere around here and I had wanted them for some time. My reasoning was that I have a big enough outdoor aviary that they hopefully can follow at least some of their normal behavioural patterns, get enough sunshine and have a chance to exercise, establish territories etc. Plus if we all want captive-bred birds, somebody has to start by breeding wild-caught ones first. If the lawmakers shut down all imports in the future, this won't be a topic anymore.
So, about my experience with these 6 birds: the black-crowned waxbills have settled down nicely after they were quite flighty in the beginning. My aviary is 16 feet long and as long as I don't enter the last 4 feet, they are relaxed with me there. They haven't started building nests yet which is perfectly fine with me because there aren't enough half-ripe weeds, aphids and bugs yet this time of year. I know of a few more people in Southern California who bought black-crowned waxbills from Birds Express and hopefully we can establish a small population of captive-bred ones in the future.
My strawberries adapted faster to captivity than the black-crowned waxbills. At the end of December they built a wonderful nest out of mainly coconut fiber and laid 6 eggs. Three babies hatched but were tossed after one week. I've heard from other members on this forum that most likely they ran out of one or more kinds of their favorite foods which led them to toss the babies. It is definitely a learning process as everybody's experience with favorite and accepted foods is different (even with captive-bred birds). Anyway, they laid 5 more eggs shortly thereafter and if everything goes well, I should have some fledglings in a few days. If I can raise these successfully to maturity, maybe I can then help establish a captive-bred population around here. That at least is what I'm dreaming of.
Iso

[MiaCarter]

.... If I can raise these successfully to maturity, maybe I can then help establish a captive-bred population around here. That at least is what I'm dreaming of.
Iso

That would be lovely as it would eliminate the need for wild-caughts. I like that.

@Bunny Whisperer --- If you don't mind me asking, is it a personal research project? Or for university?

I can't wait to hear your findings!

[Colt]

1. How many wild-caught (or possibly wild-caught) birds have you purchased? What species?

Out of the 150-200 birds I currently have, I would hazard a guess that 20-24 of them are possibly wild-caught.

I have one pair of wild-caught Strawberries as well as one captive-bred pair. Also two pairs of Black-crowned Waxbills that are wild-caught. And my pair of Amethyst Starlings.

I would assume that both pairs of my Orange-cheeked Waxbills, both pairs of Red-cheeked Cordon Bleus, six Black and White Mannikins, and pair of Red-billed Fire-finches are probably wild-caught. Also possibly one of my two Gold-breasted Waxbill pairs. I don't know that for sure but would guess as there are not many people successfully working with these species.

2. Where from were they purchased?

The wild-caught Strawberries came from Frank Tromp as did the Red-billed Firefinches and one pair of Gold-breasted Waxbills.

The Black and White Mannikins came from Jan Door with Pride Aviary (who is now retired and was a breeder and a broker I believe) as well as a pet store in Houston. I do not know if those birds were imported or were captive-bred.

One pair of Orange cheeks came from Quality Pets and was ordered through a local pet store. The other came from a breeder in Frisco and were second hand when she got them.

The Red-cheeked Cordon Blues came from the same breeder in Frisco and were also second hand birds as did the Black-crowned Waxbills, but I believe both pairs initially came from Jan Door.

The Amethyst Starlings came from a breeder in Plano, but were imported. I'm not sure who she got them from.

3. For what price?

Strawberries - $150 per pair
Orange-cheeked Waxbills - $40 per pair
Black-crowned Waxbills - $150 per pair
Gold-breasted Waxbills - $30 per pair (?)
Red-cheeked Cordon Bleus - $60 per pair
Amethyst Starlings - $350 per pair
Black and White Mannikins - $40 each I believe

4. Were/are they banded?

A few birds were banded with split plastic bands or split metal bands. But the majority are not. I intend on NFSS close-banding any chicks I get from the pairs.

5. How long did they live (and how did they die) or how long have you had them?

I've had the birds anywhere from 1.5 years down to this week with the birds I received from Frank Tromp.

6. How long did they take to calm and settle down? Did they display any alarming behavior (crashing into the cage walls, excessive fear and noise, aggressiveness, lethargy, food rejection etc.)?

That depends on species. The waxbills range in flighty-ness. My Red-cheeks are actually really calm around me even when I'm in their cage but their flights are really well planted. My Gold-breasts are a little skitzy especially if they aren't in the nest when I'm in the cage. The Black and White Mannikins are nuts and lord don't let them out because you'll spend an hour trying to catch them. My captive-bred Strawberries are actually pretty kooky too. The male is constantly trying to get out when I'm feeding. The male Amethyst Starling is super crazy. His face was actually bloodied up when I received him from banging against the wire of the flight while being caught. He's settled down quite a bit, but the hen is much calmer. She'll sit and watch me and go about her business if I'm not actively in their cage. The male shoots back and forth hanging from the wire. She only hangs from the wire when startled or if I'm in the cage feeding or watering.

7. Did they ever start singing (if yes, after how much time)?

Yes. Just about everyone sings. The Starling actually whistles and does all kinds of fun things.

8. Were/are they particularly scared and flighty compared to other birds?

Yes and no. I have captive-bred birds from breeders who act completely insane because they aren't used to traffic around the bird room. My Javas and Strawberries are prime examples.

9. Did they have any health problems when just bought and throughout their life?

Not to my knowledge no.

10. Were you aware that you were getting a wild-caught bird?

Yes. Common sense told me even if the seller did not.

11. Where are you from (at least country please)?

I'm from the USA, and North-east Texas to be more exact.

[Colt]

lovezebs - Your waxbills and strawberries are all captive-bred? I believe Petsmart actually sells wild-caught birds like the RCCB waxbills.

[lovezebs]

Colt

My Berries, came to Canada from a Dutch breeder, in the Netherlands.

My Waxbills, if they were wild caught, are the calmest wild birds I've ever seen.

The only ones that I got from Petsmart, were my early birthday present free birds (the three RCCB , the Goldbreasts and the one Red Ear) and they are fairly tame as these guys go, so I highly doubt that they were wild caught.
My Redbilled Fires, were bred right here in Calgary.
My Parrot Finches, two were bred here, and two in Vancouver.
My Orange Cheeks, came from a breeder in Ontario.
My Gouldians, are from Calgary and Edmonton.
My Zebras and Societies, are from different Calgary breeders.
My Stars, are from a Vancouver breeder.
My Shaft Tails, are from two different Calgary breeders.
My Budgies, are Calgary bred.
My Canaries, are from a Calgary breeder.

So........ that's all I know.
I would not intentionally buy wild caught birds. It just doesn't sit well with me.

~Elana~

[Colt]

Well your waxbill breeders need to share their secrets with me. And you. Mine are driving me batty...lol

[lovezebs]

Colt

Honestly, I haven't really tried that hard with the tiny guys.

My Orange Cheeks, like to cuddle and snuggle, but other than one egg that broke, there hasn't been any interest in nesting.

My Gold breasts, are two bonded males (rescues) who are just starting to accept my lonely female into their little group.

My Cordon Bleus, (rescues) are three girls.

My Redbilled Fires, are two boys ( who are dancing and attempting to mate) but...

My Berries, look like they might mean business , but just not yet.

My Red Ears, were two males , now joined by a third (rescue), whom I think is another boy.

So here we are!

Which ones of yours are driving you batty?

~Elana~

[Colt]

All of them,

The Strawberries aren't doing anything... Both pairs of RCCB lay, incubate, and toss or don't feed their chicks. The Societies aren't any help raising them. My OCW only build nests and the GBW lay and inconsistently incubate....