Now I have to say, I didn't see these two in the wild, and I don't know if I ever will? I took the photo at Healesville Sanctuary some time ago, but I think it's a good place to see some birds you might otherwise not have the pleasure to see.
They were just building a nest, and he was bringing little presents to her. ( normally I would only post photos taken of free birds,but I can't resist , they are such charming birds). Hope you enjoy them.
They are lovely little birds, and I am happy to see them alive and thriving, where ever they are. Some aviary keepers keep birds for profit, but some now are joining in the need to breed up some species so they don't go extinct. The Gouldian Finch is a good example of this, so I would like to see more breeders breed the birds for their original colours rather than hybrids. This goes for so many birds now being hybridised.
Karen
Brisbane southside.
Thanks Karen, if you don't live anywhere near Melbourne, you mightn't have heard of" Healesville Sanctuary", it's worth going to should you have the time one day. Have a look at what they are doing, too long to explain here. It's more like an open Zoo , only native animals and lots of birds and reptiles. Just Google , they are doing fantastic work in conservation, breeding and research.
M-L
M-L, I will look that up. I'll also have to see if there are any like that group here in Queensland. We do have Currumbin and Lone Pine Sanctuaries, but just how far they go, I am not sure. They are set up for the tourist trade, for funding, I guess. Can't seem to do much of anything without those $$$.
Karen
Brisbane southside.
Healesville Sanctuary is part of Melbourne Zoo (as far as I know?), and it is big. There are smaller ones from time to time, there was one near Gembrook where I live, they had big plans, and did some great work with native animals, because they started off as Wildlife Carers. But it all fell down in the end, because they didn't have enough money to pay the bank loan on the land they used. They took injured wildlife and did some great education programs for school children. Unfortunately all the good programs depend on funds. It's very much like the Arts, some projects don't seem to be that important in poeople's eyes.Very sad !!!
M-L
They are beautifull little guys and I'd love to see them. I looked and failed when I was in Brisbane.
Cheers, Owen.
Owen1, Of all the places I have been photographing around Brisbane I have only seen them once and have gone back to that place on several occassions, unfortunately for me I had a faulty lens which I wasn't aware of and thought it was my bad technique, so I could have gotten some great pics of them as they were feeding on grass seeds about 25mtrs from me. Fortunately the sight of them was memorable because at the time I didn't even know what they were.
Regards
Shane
Hi Owen, what's the angry looking cartoon character in your avatar? Do tell an old chook like me.
M-L
They're very cute. I found them here in the wild once - if you ever come up this way we'll have to go looking for them
Should I ever get a chance to come up your way, I will take up your offer, thank you very much.
(have you forgotten to e-mail me?)
M-L
I have got shots of them around here too Marie-Louise..... and you know you are welcome to come up this way anytime ..... though there are more birds in your back yard than anyone's I have ever heard of !
Sunshine Coast Queensland
Sorry yes I did forget. I'll get on to it. btw did I tell you I'm doing 10 weeks of French lessons?
Oh that thing in my avatar is one of the birds from a game called Angry Birds for phones.
@ Clif2 where did you see the Mannikins if you don't mind saying?
Cheers, Owen.
You didn't tell me you were doing French Kim, birdie did, 10 weeks every day? you'll be perfect!!!.
Alors, je te parlerais en Français, a bientôt , Marie-Louise
M-L
Only once per week on lundi, for 1.5 hours. We are doing very basic things eg je m'appele Kim. I'll have to use google translate if you write a whole passage of French!
That's lovely M-L. I think these finches are stunning. I am lucky to see them almost daily during my doggie walks out near the Penrith quarries. :-)
Last spring (2010 actually) I found three nests in a local swamp, where they are also reasonably abundant.
If I get to Melbourne before mid-Jan next year I'll definitely visit Healesville as I have a complimentary annual zoo pass to most Australian zoos for having given a number of images to one of them for use.
Hi Owen1, sorry for the late response been busy the last four days taking photos. The Mannikins were in a local Park near my place called Minnippi Parklands, which is very close to a freeway at Tingalpa on Brisbane's southeast, all sorts of interesting birds frequent this area and only recently has been spared from being taken over by developers for a golf course and housing precinct.
Regards
Shane
Ah dammit! I've been to Minnippi Parklands before and never found them. I will have to go there again if I'm up that way again.
Thanks for sharing that though :)
Cheers, Owen.
Owen1 if you are up this way again I can give you the exact location if you need it and I will give you the time of year and day from the exif data. I will also keep an eye out in some of the other places I go to. The most likely places from a gut feeling are Oxley Commons and Greenwood Lakes, so any sightings and I will let you know. In fact I might go to Oxley Commons now and try and get a snap of an adult Mistletoe Bird that I missed yesterday.
Regards
Shane
Owen,
I think I've also seen them at Oxley Creek Common, around by the flood gauge/water monitoring station. Usually along with double-barred finches, red-browed finches and red-backed fairy wrens. Though I don't think the Mannikins are there all year round.
Cheers
Tim
Brisbane