Tough little Aussies a delight to watch

Regular visitors may have already noticed the more recent additions at the aviary. A mixed flock of red-headed and black-headed Gouldian finches have just joined our existing flock of five birds, bringing the total number of these finches held at the aviary to 14. These colourful little Australian birds are native to the Northern Territory and the Kimberley region of Western Australia where they can gather in large flocks, feeding on seed of several different naturally occurring grasses.

Gouldian finches populate savanna woodlands in tropical and subtropical regions, which is not exactly how one would describe Dunedin’s climate, but these are tough little Aussies that adapt well to New Zealand conditions and are a common finch species held in private collections and zoos across the country.

Gouldian finches are an absolute delight to watch and have the most stunning colour combinations — it is very hard not to marvel at nature’s creativity. We hope these spectacular small birds will breed in the coming seasons.

This species was once found in its millions but during the last century, due to harvesting and exporting to zoos and private collections, numbers fell to an estimated 2500 mature individuals. This practice has since been banned. Our new birds were bred in New Zealand.

It is an all-too-familiar story. Here in Aotearoa so many of our native bird species have also been reduced to small and valuable populations.

Garden Life is produced by the Dunedin Botanic Garden. For further information contact Alisha Sherriff.