+263 782 123 852

+263 716 129 088

musararadavies@gmail.com
Plot 362 Rainham
Zvimba,Zimbabwe
PARROTS AND COCKATOOS
BUDGERIGARS
This small Australian parrot is familiar the world over
as a caged bird, with several artificially bred color forms.
In its natural habitat, the budgerigar lives in nomadic
flocks, moving on in search of seeds. Where food is
plentiful, budgerigars may congregate in the thousands
before flying on again. Although they live in dry places,
they are vulnerable to prolonged drought and will flock
around creeks and waterholes early and late in the day.
Like most nomadic birds, budgerigars are opportunistic
breeders, nesting whenever rain produces a flush of food.
Eggs are incubated for 21 days. The chicks fledge a month
after hatching, at which point the flock often moves on
once more.
LOVEBIRDS
Well known as caged birds, lovebirds are bright green with
dark brown heads. Lovebirds get their name from their habit
of perching side by side for long periods, signifying their
strong pair bond. There are nine species of these small,
short-tailed parrots. Native to the Tanzania Highlands, the
yellow collared lovebird has also been introduced to adjacent
parts of Africa. lovebirds live in well-wooded grassland, and
feed on seeds, buds, and leaves. Traveling in small flocks,
they have a fast, direct flight, often screeching noisily while
on the wing. They breed in small colonies, with each pair
building a nest in a tree hole, or sometimes on a building.
The females incubate the eggs, and the young are ready to fly
after about six weeks. Like all lovebirds, the partners mate
for life, building another nest the following year.
COCKATIELS
Widely kept as a caged bird, the cockatiel is the smallest
of Australia’s cockatoos. Slender and graceful, it has a
gray body with a long, tapering tail. This bird travels in
flocks, small groups, or pairs. It flies rapidly with
backswept wings, making a loud, two-syllable call to keep
in touch. Cockatiels feed on the seed of wild shrubs and
grasses, as well as spilled grain. When alarmed, they often
perch on dead trees, settling lengthwise along the
branches which makes it harder to spot them. These birds
are year-round residents in some parts of their range, but
in many, they are nomadic, staying on the move in search
of food. Cockatiels lay up to seven eggs. Incubation lasts
22 days, and the young birds are fledged in five weeks .
GREEN-CHEEKED CONURES
Green-cheeked conures (Pyrrhura molinae) are tiny 10-
inch (25-cm) birds with huge attitudes. Small enough to
nestle comfortably in a human hand, these pint-sized
dynamos aren’t afraid to challenge birds much larger than
themselves. This fearlessness can lead to dangerous
situations unless the Green-cheek owner is constantly on
guard when the conure is out of its cage. Often mistaken
for Maroon-bellied conures because of their similar
appearances, Green-cheeks are feisty, outgoing, and
sometimes nippy birds. Green-cheeks have dark green
bodies and their upper breast, throat, and nape area is
covered with brownish green feathers edged with tan.
They have maroon-colored abdomen patches, brownish
feathers on the head, and bright green cheeks. The eye
ring is white, the eyes brown, the upper and lower
mandibles are gray, and the feet and legs are gray. There
is also a patch of maroon coloring above the tail.
AFRICAN GRAY PARROT
A forest-dweller, the African gray parrot is one of the
most distinctive members of the parrot family, and also
among the most intelligent. No other parrot looks like it,
and few can match its remarkable ability to mimic human
speech and other sounds, making it a prized caged bird.
Although this has had a harmful effect on the species, this
bird is still locally common in some parts of its range. In
the wild, African gray parrots spend most of their lives in
trees, favoring mature forest and isolated clumps of palms.
They feed on nuts and fruit, also raiding fields for corn.
Flying high over treetops on fast-flapping wings, they
make a variety of screeching and whistling sounds to keep
in touch with each other. Like most parrots, African gray
parrots mate for life. They incubate the eggs for about 30
days. The young make their first flights at the age of about
14 weeks. Once fledged, they have a potential lifespan of
over 50 years.
RAINBOW LORIKEETS
One of the most colorful and variable species in the
parrot family, the rainbow lorikeet is a slim, sleek bird
with a long, tapering tail, a streamlined shape, and sharply
pointed wings. It typically has a deep blue head, and a
bright orange bill, while its back and wings are green. One
widespread form has an orange-red chest, but there are a
dozen subspecies with their own distinct coloration and
range. Unlike seed-eating parrots, rainbow lorikeets feed
mainly on nectar and pollen, along with fruits and
blossoms, and also some insects and small animals.
During the breeding season, rainbow lorikeets nest in
hollows high up in trees. Females incubate alone, and
once the eggs hatch, take sole charge of the young.
SULFUR-CRESTED COCKATOO
A medium-sized bird with a raucous screeching call, the
sulfur-crested cockatoo is a common sight across much of
its range. It has distinct, all-white plumage, and a vivid
yellow crest. The crest is normally held flat like a folded
fan, but is raised when the bird is alarmed, or carrying out
a display. Also known as white cockatoos, these flock-
forming parrots roost and breed in trees, but feed mainly
on the ground. Their bills are multipurpose tools, used to
collect seeds, dig up roots and tubers, and to climb. These
are also used to tear off strips of wood—a habit that
makes these birds problematic visitors in cities and towns.
Like most parrots, sulfur-crested cockatoos are cavity
nesters. They lay their eggs in hollows lined with debris,
high in eucalyptus trees. The parents share the task of
incubation, and both bring food to the chicks. The young
fledge after about 12 weeks.
ECLECTUS
This rain forest parrot shows a remarkable difference
between the sexes, which is rare among parrots. Males are
bright green with a pale yellow bill, while females are
scarlet, with a black bill and a blue band across the chest
and back. At one time, they were thought to be different
species, until the two sexes were found to breed. Eclectus
parrots feed on fruit, seeds, and flowers, mainly high up in
trees. They forage in pairs or small flocks, but gather in
larger groups to roost. Their breeding system is also
unusual: females nest in tree holes, pairing up with several
males. They remain at the nest, while the males bring food
for them and the young. The eggs are incubated for up to
30 days, and the young parrots fledge at about 12 weeks.
SWANS, DUCKS, AND CHICKENS
SUSSEX
Often referred to as the ‘farmer’s fowl’, the Sussex is a
breed with its roots set in Southern England. For most of
the 19th century, it enjoyed an all but unchallenged
reputation for being top-quality table fowl and,
consequently, its home county became the centre of a
vibrant and lucrative fattening industry, centred on the
East Sussex town of Heathfi eld. Initial development was
a slow process, resulting from the gradual inter-breeding
of indigenous Surrey, Sussex and Kent fowl. The white
was one of the last colours to be created and today’s
versions still offer a cracking, dual purpose option for
enthusiast and/or pet chicken keepers alike. These birds
present a wonderful temperament, are very easy to handle
and non-fl iers. The hens make reliable, broody mothers
and all will be hardy and resistant to disease. The only
points to note on the downside are that the cockerels tend
to be noisy crowers and can also get feisty during the
breeding season.
SILKIE
This must surely be one of our most distinctive pure
breeds, with its ‘ball of fluff’ appearance resulting from
uniquely fluffy, hair-like feathering and short, feathered
legs. Other unusual features of this ancient, Asian breed
are that it has five-toed feet, black skin, dark purple or
black comb and, sometimes, turquoise blue wattles! The
Silkie is a friendly non-flyer that's easy to handle, and the
females enjoy the reputation of being excellent broody
hens. However, there are some minus points to consider,
too. These birds are recognised sufferers with Marek’s
disease, and can be particularly prone to both leg and crest
mite problems. It’s also a relatively poor layer and a
difficult bird to breed well if you have ambitions in the
show pen.
• Origin: Asia
• Weight: Large male 1.81kg (4lb)
female 1.36kg (3lb) min.
Bantam male 600g (22oz)
female 500g (18oz)
• Egg laying: 80-100pa
• Colours: Black, blue, gold, white, partridge
SEBRIGHT
Yes or no? Created by Sir John Sebright during the
early 1800s,this striking True bantam is thought to have
been bred using the Hamburgh and maybe the Poland
too. The gold version came first and the breed club was
established in 1815 (possibly the oldest). The breed
offers wonderful looks, family-friendly character, and
an interesting, non-destructive ownership proposition.
Adults are hardy and mix well with other birds.
However, the male birds can be noisy, fertility levels are
an issueand the chicks can be vulnerable to problems.
The females aren’t great layers and all will fly!

Size: True bantam

Male 620g (22 oz)
Female 510g (18 oz)
Colours: Gold or silver
BLACK SWAN
The world’s only largely black swan can look
completely black when swimming, but has conspicuous
white flight feathers on the outer half of its wings.
These are revealed during flight. Its bill is red with a
pronounced hook at the tip. Black swans are highly
social and usually live in pairs or flocks. They are
largely vegetarian, eating submerged plants or grazing
on the ground. Like most swans, black swans have a
single partner, staying together for life. They have no
set breeding season, nesting instead when the weather is
favorable. Both parents help build the nest, a spreading
heap of vegetation in shallow water. A typical clutch
has six greenish white eggs, which are incubated for
about five weeks. Once fledged, the young swans,
called cygnets, need three years to reach maturity. Black
swans are often seen in other parts of the world as
ornamental birds. In New Zealand, where the species
has been introduced, it is now common in the wild.
MUTE SWAN
Graceful and majestic, the mute swan is one of the
world’s heaviest water birds, and a familiar sight in
parks and lakes in Europe, northeast North America,
and Australasia. It originally comes from the steppes of
Central Asia, where it is still found. Males and females
are almost identical, with white plumage. Unlike geese,
mute swans feed mainly in water, upending to reach
plants and animals in lake mud and riverbeds. They are
not completely silent: if threatened, they hiss and snort,
raising their wings in defense. Their weight does not let
them take off from a standing start. They typically
splash across the water, gaining enough speed to
become airborne. Cygnets are tended by both parents
and leave the nest soon after they are hatched.
GREEN-WINGED TEAL
Slightly built compared to many other ducks, the
green-winged teal is quick to take to the air at the first
sign of danger, circling several times before touching
down on the water. When breeding, it lives on
freshwater pools and lakes, but outside it may be found
in reservoirs, estuaries, or tropical swamps. This is
when it can form large flocks. Green-winged teals pair
up in their winter quarters. At their breeding grounds,
they build nests lined with the female’s down, among
waterside vegetation. The female incubates the eggs and
cares for the young. The green-winged teal feeds by
dabbling or upending in the shallows, collecting plants
and small animals. These birds usually migrate
southward for winter, although they remain in parts of
western Europe all year round .
CAROLINA WOOD DUCKS
Often kept in captivity, this North American species
is one of the world’s most attractive ducks—a title it
shares with its close relative, the Mandarin duck. In its
breeding plumage, the male has a glossy green head
with a backswept crest, and a complex pattern of
contrasting colors on its body and wings. The female
is much more subdued. Adults are fast and agile on the
wing. When swimming, it bobs its head back and
forth. Wood ducks usually live in small groups,
gathering in larger numbers to spend the winter. They
feed mainly by dabbling in shallow water, but also
graze on the shore. At the onset of the breeding
season, females seek out tree holes to lay eggs. The
ducklings jump to the ground within a day of hatching
and make their way to the water.
FINCHES, DOVES AND PIGEONS
 BRONZE MANNIKIN
A departure from the norm, the Bronze Mannikin Spermestes cucullatus, has
become a bird of the towns of Africa. Common in parks and gardens, there was a
good chance of finding a flock wherever green panic grass is allowed to run wild.
The birds take advantage of the long grasses of roadside tangles, unkempt parks
and forest fringes. Flocks invade the grasses by clambering about the stems to
find seed. We found them along the river at Louis Trichardt and on the outskirts
of Chobe and in many other locations. As with many mannikins, the Bronze is an
attractive combination of earth-brown and glossy black colours, with white
below. It has a two-toned bill, characteristic of mannikins. The Bronze Mannikin
was readily available in Australia, but by the 1970s Russell Kingston reported
that it was unobtainable and no longer offered to aviculturists in this country.

MELBA FINCH
We found the Melba Pytilia melba in acacia savannah and the dry woodlands of
Botswana. They are not common and are notoriously difficult to photograph
because they usually hide themselves in brush. In an exception, a pair appeared in
a thornbush one morning at our camp and proceeded to pose in the sun. Pairs
were often seen feeding on fallen minute grass seeds on dusty patches of ground,
only to dart away quickly when approached. The birds are extremely swift and
manoeuvre through the bush—their natural instinct is to pursue insects. The
Melba Finch we saw were identical to the aviary specimens held in Australia.

BLACK-CHEEKED WAXBILL
Not a finch that I expected to see, the Black-cheeked Waxbill Estrilda
erythronotos was a bonus when it was sighted in north-east Botswana. What a
beautiful combination of colours—the black mask, black and white-barred wings
over a grey to pink and dark red body make a uniquely coloured finch. Feeding in
pairs on the ground in grassy areas around water, it is said to be nomadic for
much of the year. Sadly it is unavailable in Australia.
BLUE WAXBILL
The Blue Waxbill Uraeginthus angolensis is perhaps the most
common waxbill in this part of the continent. Our first sighting of this
species, a f lash beside the vehicle as we waited at the gate to enter
Kruger National Park, was a positive sign of things to come. The finch
was photographed through the open door of the vehicle. How easy was
that? Blue Waxbills are seen everywhere. Initial sightings are a novelty
and the delicate, powder blue colour is a treat. However, the more we
saw, the more complacent we became so we began to look for the less
common finches, which was a disservice to this beautiful waxbill.
They are certainly not afraid of human habitation, so many were seen
at our camps. Even at the border post entering Zimbabwe, we caught a
glimpse of tame Blue Waxbills in the garden. Usually found in pairs
on bare ground, they feed on fallen dry seed and small insects.
Protection is available in adjacent thorn bush and acacia scrub.It is
ironic that the most common Blue Waxbill in southern Africa is now
lost to aviculture in Australia.Thank goodness we still have its close
relatives, the Redcheeked and magnificent Blue-capped Cordon Bleu.

FIRE FINCHES
Botswana is home to four subspecies of fire-finch and we were
fortunate enough to find all four. The Red-billed Firefinch
Lagonosticta senegala, found in our aviaries at home, was commonly
seen during our travels. The Red-billed can be distinguished by its red
beak with a central black stripe and red rump. We also discovered the
Blue-billed Fire-finch Lagonosticta rabricata and the Jameson’s Fire-
finch Lagonosticta rhodoparela. The Blue-billed was darker and
displayed black underneath. The Jameson’s Finch seemed lighter in
colour and almost pink in good light. Both finches are identified by
their blue bills. We photographed these birds together at Crooks
Corner on the border of South Africa, Zimbabwe and Mozambique.
The Brown Fire-finch Lanonosticta nitidula was seen at Chobe in the
far north of Botswana—the extreme southern edge of the birds’ range.
The Brown Fire-finch can be readily identified as it has no red on the
rump and is generally darker overall. It has a subtle deep red on the
face and chest and an abundance of spots on the upper parts, which are
very distinctive against the dark brown body. The Brown Fire-finch
was my favourite, but unfortunately it is not available in Australia.