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yטרם תורגם
ולדוברי האנגלית שבינינו,
ניתן להצטרף לחוויה הלימודית בפורומים הבאים ביאהו:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ABBASEEDBIRDSQANDA/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/COM_USA/?yguid=47202339
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ColorbredCanaries101Genetics/?yguid=47202339
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EuropeanGoldFinch/?yguid=47202339
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/GPA101911/?yguid=47202339
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/timbrado/?yguid=47202339
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NFSS/?yguid=47202339
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What a difference a few days
of pleasant sunshine and spring-like temperatures made in New Jersey.
Suddenly, all of the grass lawns and other grasses became a luscious
green. Many of the flowering trees suddenly blossomed. White flowers,
pink flowers and other colorful flowering trees displaying an array of
colors was a welcome sight for all to enjoy. Has nature finally
awakened? The wild birds (outdoors) seem to be beginning their
courtship; they seem more in the breeding mood. On Sunday April 22nd,
early in the morning, from the window of my house in NJ, I watched a
pair of Starlings performing their courtship dance. Suddenly, the male
bank! and the pair begins gathering nesting materials. It was evident
that they were beginning to build their nest. What a welcome site. Maybe
our Canaries, and the other seed eating birds in our bird rooms, will
come into their breeding moods, too? When I arrived in New Jersey on
April 14th, everything looked so depressing. The effects of the cold and
nasty weather were evident everywhere. All the vegetation and trees
seemed to be at a dormant stage. I began to feel very pessimistic about
the 2007 breeding activity outcome, indoors, as well as outdoors. All of
the birds in my birdroom were not showing any signs of being in the mood
for breeding activity. However, all of the Gouldian Finches and the
Green Singers were busy raising their families. To make things worse, on
Saturday in the PM hours and on into Sunday, the universal deluge began.
Remember when I posted from Noah's Ark #2. This had to be worse. Well,
despite of all the bad occurrences, weather conditions eventually began
to improve, although very slowly, I might add. But boy, was that
universal deluge #2 Unfortunately, because of my continuous absence from
New Jersey and from my bird room, it is difficult for me to control
every situation. Unfortunately, again this year, I discovered several
pairs of females, as well as several pairs of males, fighting in the
breeding cages and nearly killing each other. I had to do a lot of work
to correct the pairing in an attempt to salvage the situation for this
breeding season. Well, now, I am happy to say that as of Sunday, April
22nd, in the PM hours, which was just before a I took a flight to come
back here to Marco Island, my breeding room was alive and well with
love-making activity? Most of my Canaries had built nests and all seemed
to be going well? We shall see, we shall surely see at a later date. As
the old saying goes, " Never count the eggs before they are laid!"
Before I left New Jersey, I made sure that I instructed my helpers to
continue on keeping before all the birds, fresh clean cuttlebone and
mineral grit. We also continued feeding the breeding pairs soak seed and
nestling food, both which contain Calcium and Vitamin D. And both assure
that the breeding birds will receive the necessary nutrients to produce
fertile and hatchable eggs. These nutrients will also prevent egg
binding, which is a very serious problem that can occur during the
breeding season. In fact, cage birds of all species must receive the
proper nutrition all year around in order to breed well when the Spring
arrives. During many days of last week, I managed to gather a lot of
crispy dandelion and chickweed, plus other wild greens, that my helper
will keep under special refrigerated conditions, where the greens will
remain fresh and crispy for several days. (I learned the method of
keeping greens crispy and fresh while cruising on cruise ships). After a
couple of days that the Carduelan Finches, and especially the European
Goldfinches, have been receiving seeding chickweed and the seeding heads
of the dandelion and other seeding weeds and grasses, they begin to sing
their hearts out. As a matter of fact, when given the same types of
greens, the European Greenfinches, also begin to feel in the breeding
mood! We will be supplying nests and nesting material to the European
Finches during the first week of May. That is when the European
Goldfinch' beaks should be of perfect white color. Remember, pairing
them early and giving them nests and nesting material is simply a waste
of time and may result in failure when they are not ready. Providing the
Carduelan Finches, as well as other species of birds, with the perfect
nesting materials will aid a great deal in achieving better breeding
results. Perhaps many of you have noticed the kind of nesting material
the wild birds use in their wild habitat and the way birds build their
nests. They start by collecting small dry twigs from trees. Then they
collects roots of trees and grasses. Finally, they finish with fine
pieces of grass and animal hairs. They build their nests with various
materials; thereby, creating a nest so that the eggs, and eventually
young birds, will have proper air circulation. However, their special
creations still keep the eggs and youngsters dry and clean at all times.
I have seen fanciers that use Styrofoam type nest pads and cotton for
nesting material and unfortunately, all of them have been experiencing
terrible breeding results. These types of nests become wet and have very
poor air circulation which is detrimental to the health of the
youngsters, and results in a heavy mortality rate of the youngsters.
Through my personal experience, I have found that Canaries all basically
breed in the same way, regardless of the type. Many times I even use
Norwich and Yorkshires as foster parents for other canaries with
excellent results. Many times I have had nests with 3 Norwich
youngsters. I then place an additional 2, or sometimes even 3 youngsters
of the Color-bred Canaries, or other canaries, in the Norwich nest and
the Norwich parent did raise all of the youngsters with tender loving
care. This is also true for the Yorkshire parents. Actually, it only
takes a few simple steps, when followed to the letter, to ensure the
Canaries and other species of birds, successfully raise their
youngsters. First is #1) Provide the birds with an ideal environment.
Then #2) Provide the birds with a sensible, clean and fresh seed diet,
coupled with the right supplements, including a small quantity of fresh,
crispy, dark greens and a small amount of fruit, too. Next #3) Supply
the feeding parents with a sensible, clean, non-rancid and freshly made
nestling food, coupled with the properly prepared soak seed. Also #4)
Prevent the infestation of avian parasites. Last #5) Supply the feeding
parents with a clean, cool bath every day. The rest you leave up to
Mother Nature! Simple, Right? Well, that is all for now, my fellow
fanciers. Just do the right thing in your bird room and remember that
perseverance will pay great dividends. Please, do your share of posting,
let us keep this wonderful hobby alive and pleasurable.
If you are not a member of the following
groups, please join and be part of the learning experience.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ABBASEEDBIRDSQANDA/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/COM_USA/?yguid=47202339
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ColorbredCanaries101Genetics/?yguid=472023\
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http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EuropeanGoldFinch/?yguid=47202339
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/GPA101911/?yguid=47202339
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NFSS/?yguid=47202339
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/timbrado/?yguid=47202339
Best regards to all,
G.A. Abbate
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