BirdCast – Details, episodes & analysis

One of the most breathtaking finches to keep in an aviary in Australia is the exquisite Purple Grenadier Finch (Uraeginthus ianthinogaster). Native to Africa, this stunning bird was last officially imported into Australia in the mid-1940s. While it has specific care requirements, adapting your aviary to meet its needs will be well worth the effort. A male Purple Grenadier basking in the sunlight is a truly spectacular sight, making this finch a rewarding choice for any dedicated bird enthusiast.

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A special treat for our loyal BirdCast listeners - a special episode for your enjoyment and education!
For decades Jurong Bird Park in Singapore held the mantle of the biggest and most impressive bird collection available for viewing and exhibition to the general public. Jurong Bird Park had the biggest man made waterfall located inside a massive walk in avairy - 30 m tall - and the aviary was lush and planted out in all types of plants and flowers.  The bird collection was astounding and at the time the park demonstrated some of the most innovative bird housing arrangements.
But as time moves on and technology improves Jurong's environment became outdated and so has been re-invented and re-invigorated into Bird Paradise!
Bird Paradise is located within the Mandai Wildlife Reserve of Singapore. It sits alongside the Singapore Zoo.
Bird Paradise has utilised the most up to date aviary construction methods and materials and hosts a multitude of absolutely enormous walk-in-avairy collections. Bird Paradise covers around 17 hectares (42 acres) offering double the walk-in-avairy spaces of Jurong Bird Park. 
A must see is the Hong Leong Foundation Crimson Wetlands - which houses free flying macaws of all types AND the re-created Jurong Falls - although still spectacular and offering a much appreciated cooling mist in the very humid weather of Singapore - the new waterfall is 20m tall - never the less it is still spectacular!
If you are visiting Singapore and have even a slight appreciation for birds, do make the effort to go and visit Bird Paradise.
If you are like Birdman Dad and the BirdCast team Bird Paradise is sure to become your bird pilgrimage site.
https://www.mandai.com/en/bird-paradise.html

We have placed photos and videos on instagram, Facebook and have also created a You Tube video of the visit.
https://youtu.be/ovwoRgYQn4Q

https://www.instagram.com/birdman_dad/?show_story_unavailable=1&hl=en

Birdman Dad is back this week - talking about what he is up to with his pet birds but also the little gems of wild bird life he gets to glimpse and be part of because he keeps pet birds.
And he is learning all the time!
As well as chatting about some recent aviary bird experiences concerning his finches and scarlet chested parrots.

There is great nutrition, enrichment and usefulness is all sorts of plants for aviary, companion, rescue and zoo living birds - in fact so many plants are so good for every bird's health and general wellbeing.  But sadly many bird owners are unsure of, or unaware, of the plant treasure trove in their very own gardens.
Many bird owners are unsure which plants are "safe" and which ones are going to make their birds sick.
So hopefully today's episode can help you out!
While Birdman Dad is away working his "real job" the crew have stepped in to chat about what plants they grow in their garden and in their aviaries, that are not only good for their birds to eat, but also provide much needed enrichment and mental stimulation as well as being useful nesting and protection materials.

Remember the BirdCast competition is still on!  Get your entries in to win Dr Dan Klem's book - signed and with a personal message.

Due to very important birthday celebrations BirdCast will take a short break and be back on FRIDAY August 5!


For either of the 2 booklets mentioned contact The Avicultural Society of South Australia (Inc):
"What seeding grass is that? The birdkeepers' pictorial guide to seeding grasses"

"Is it safe? The birdkeepers' pictorial guide to safe and poisonous plants"

https://birdkeeping.webbsoftware.com.au/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/106693059415107

Some items in Birdman Dad's aviaries have been in need of a change for some time and this winter it has happened - a bit like the automatic watering system in the summer - it just takes a while to get things sorted, especially during the past few years of material and tradesmen shortages.  A long standing issue of bird breakfasts getting wet when it's raining has finally been solved.  And both Birdman Dad and the birds are happy with the solution!

Don't forget to enter our competition and be in the running to win one of Dr Dan Klem's books - Solid Air : Invisible Killer Saving Billions of birds from windows books.  
Just answer the question of what is the special idea that we humans could use in new building glass that would make both birds and humans happy.  The hint: it has to do with what birds can see but that we humans can not see.  Just drop us a message on either our You Tube, instagram or facebook pages with the answer!

In response to listener requests today BirdCast is presenting a very brief review of what people can do to help birds with regards to their existing glass windows and glass pool fencing.  
This is a real snap shot of what you can do - just remember in windows whatever you"do" has to be on the outside of the window - and everything must cover the entire glass space and be no more than 5cm apart.
Any art pen markings or the paracord must be 3.5mm thick.
There are photos of all these options on  Bird man Dad's instagram, reddit and facebook pages.
Be sure to get your entry in for our listener competition!

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https://www.instagram.com/birdman_dad/?show_story_unavailable=1&hl=en


Reddit

https://www.reddit.com/user/birdmandad/

"We are their only, hope, and I am confident we will make our windows safe for birds because it is the right thing to do."  Dr Daniel Klem Jnr, 2021.

This is the third episode concerning the very large conservation issue of wild bird deaths because of clear glass/plastic used as glass - the glass we have in windows, sliding doors and pool fencing.  This episode is all about what we are doing in Australia, how much an issue it is in Australia and what products are available today for purchase in Australia to make glass bird safe.

BirdCast encourages all Australians to supply information to Birdlife Australia, and/or the Global Bird Collision Mapper - for without enough Australian based information (despite the international data) building codes and all three levels of Australian government are highly unlikely to change to become bird safe.

A first for BirdCast is our first listener competition! Be sure to listen in for the information we require for an entry.
We can only accept entries who have an Australian based postal address.
Good luck to all our interested listeners!

Bird strike information:

Birdlife Australia - Bird Strike Project:
Online survey
https://birdlife.org.au/projects/urban-birds/bird-strike-project


Global Bird Collision Mapper:
https://birdmapper.org/app/

Retrofitting existing windows and glass pool fencing:

BirdScreen:
https://www.birdscreen.com/

Zen Curtain - paracord curtain: DIY instructions
https://www.birdsavers.com/make-your-own/

Glass films:

Solyx film - the film used at Mary Cairncross Rainforest Discovery Centre
https://www.windowenergysolutions.com.au/window-film/decorative-window-film/

Feather Friendly Tape
https://www.featherfriendly.com/residential

CollidEscape stickers
https://www.amazon.com.au/CollidEscape-Strikes-Prevent-10-Year-Performance/dp/B06VVBRKVZ?th=1

New Glass:
Both these products are proven to be bird safe in all applications but are both based internationally.  If you are interested in new glass that is  bird safe in all applications suggest you contact National Glass Australia - https://www.nationalglass.com.au/

Walker Glass - AviProtekt T
https://www.walkerglass.com/products-options/aviprotek-t-pattern-713-transparent-bird-friendly-glass/

Guardian Glass
https://www.guardianglass.com/us/en/why-glass/build-with-glass/applications-of-glass/glass-for-facades/bird-friendly-glass


BirdCast contact points for Competition:
What's on offer 2 x signed copies of Dr Dan Klem Jnr's book - Solid Air Invisible Killer: Saving Billions of Birds from Windows - Dr Dan Klem Jnr has also written an inscription inside the book - a special message to BirdCast listeners!

Facebook:
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Reddit
https://www.reddit.com/user/birdmandad/

Email:
goosemanki8@gmail.com

As stunning and useful our glass windows, doors and pool fencing is; it conceals a dark secret - annually it is killing millions of our beautiful, free flying wild birds.. and that's a conservative estimate.
Help be part of effective change to this simple to solve environmental problem.
Become part of the critical mass of bird admirers that demand effective change to our glass users - builders, architects and government departments who control the use of glass in all our buildings.
Join our guest Dan Klem Jnr, the world authority on this very issue, as he discusses the solutions that exist to limit and reduce birds hitting our glass.  All of us can apply these effective, research proven strategies to the glass in our lives.

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1892441777643619

https://www.facebook.com/Birdman-Dad-1678314232464220

Reddit:
https://www.reddit.com/user/birdmandad/

Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/birdman_dad/?show_story_unavailable=1&hl=en#:~:text=Birdman%20Dad%20(%40birdman_dad)%20%E2%80%A2%20Instagram%20photos%20and%20videos

Dan Klem's book:
https://www.booktopia.com.au/solid-air-daniel-klem/book/9780888396464.html

Making glass bird safe:

Existing glass:
Retro fitting film for existing glass (USA calls it tape)
https://www.featherfriendly.com/residential

https://www.collidescape.org/

The Paracord bird savers - Zen as used in Brisbane
https://www.birdsavers.com/make-your-own/

https://www.3m.com.au/3M/en_AU/graphics-signage-au/applications/windows-and-glass/

Novel or new build glass:
https://www.walkerglass.com/products-options/aviprotek-t-pattern-717/

Brisbane Commercial building using paracord:

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-10-28/the-curtain-saving-birds-from-hitting-glass-windows/11638774

Today's episode (Part1) is a plea to humans of our world to change what they are doing for the sake - and lives - of all wild birds. And everyone can take part - with somewhat reasonable ease - to alter their own solid air and literally save billions of our beautiful, wild birds.
For as "noice" as clear sheet glass (or the plastic alternative is) - you know the glass we use in windows, pool fencing, exhibit barracades, building frontages - reflective glass included -  this material is lethal to the free flying birds of our world.
But don't take BirdCast's word for it - instead listen to the world authority on this issue that has literally dedicated decades of his life to researching the issue, examining the existing building use of clear sheet glass and most importantly how each and every human on this planet can reduce this needless slaughter for the sake of an uninterupted view.  Daniel Klem (jnr) is a Professor of Ornithology and Conservation Biology at a University in Pennsylvania.  He has dedicated some 47 years to researching the issue of bird strike on glass windows/barricades and states that this issue is quite literally killing billions of birds worldwide..... yet no one is reporting the issue, and worse, we humans keep building with the glass as we have done for years, making no changes what so ever to rectify the bird deaths. We simply can not "offset" the magnitude of these wild bird deaths.
Dan has written a book on this exact topic, and how every human can take their own steps to reverse the carnage - from individual home owners, to Local Government Planning authorities, to National building Codes creators - every human has a role. Dan's book is called:
"Solid Air - Invisible Killer: saving billions of birds from windows".  The book explains that where ever standard clear or reflective sheet glass exists so do dead birds. But it also explains how easily this problem can be rectified.
Join BirdCast in this discussion of this significant environmental calamity, but also join us in the solutions.  
This discussion will be presented over 2 episodes.

https://www.booktopia.com.au/solid-air-daniel-klem/book/9780888396464.html

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Your pets need regular care to maintain their health.
BirdMan Dad explains how he keeps his scarlet chested parrots (Neophema splendida) happy and healthy.
Hopefully one of his suggestions will help you and your own avairy birds.

If you have anytopics you would like to hear about please contact BirdMan Dad:

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