pineapple bring new flavor sensations to the premium pellets originally developed by Dr. Lafeber Sr. in 1973, which were also the first ones specially formulated for pet birds. This gourmet version helps ensure that your bird gets all the nutrients needed for a full, energetic, and healthy life. Each pellet includes essential vitamins, chelated minerals, and balanced omega 3 & 6 fatty acids. Formulated for finches.

Offer a fresh serving of Tropical Fruit Gourmet Pellets to your finch daily, placing in a clean food dish. The average serving portion for a finch is ½ teaspoon, but adjust the serving so pellets are available all day. Include fresh fruits and vegetables (about 20% of their total diet), and always provide plenty of clean, fresh water. For more foraging fun, “hide” some pellets in other places where your finch enjoys hanging out. Be sure your finch finds these within the day!"

Recommendation:

Excellent product for finches as a treat. At first, seed-eating birds may totally reject but gradually they will accept these as a treat.

Magnificent should be a word given to Pigeons and Doves in Australia if you have to review this book in a one word.

It has tons of information on all 37 species (extant, extinct, introduced, vagrants) of pigeons and doves in Australia including the 14 endemic species. The best thing about this book is that information contained in it is equally important to both ornithologists and aviculturists. It is a major work on Australia’s Columbidae since the last published account by Harry Frith in 1982 and this title contains a great deal of research undertaken by Harry Frith along with the updated information by Joseph M. Forshaw by his personal experience with these birds in the field as well as in aviculture.

Book starts with a good introduction about Columbidae family and its taxonomy in Australia along with an introduction of Australian pigeons and doves in the Aviculture with advice on proper housing, feeding and caring. It also includes a plan for designing suitable aviaries.

Next section is the species accounts which cover description of each species, its distribution, subspecies, in-depth coverage of habitats, status, movements, social behavior, diet & feeding, vocalization, courtship, mating and nesting of wild pigeons and doves in Australia. A distribution map is included for each species that shows range across Australia and its neighbors.

The most impressive part of the book is undoubtedly its artwork by William T. Cooper - who British naturalist Sir David Attenborough described as the World's Greatest Living Wildlife Illustrator. The illustrations by Mr. Cooper are so lively and accurate that it seems like birds depicted in color plates are about to fly off the pages ! Format of the book is oblong quarto which is a really good thing as it showcases many birds horizontally. Illustrations are not to scale i.e. birds are not life-sized.

Birds are shown in their natural habitats in the background. The only thing I wish of illustrations was to be on full page (20-30 % color plate page is blank white). Each color plate showcases both male and female of every species except the three extinct species: Lord Howe Island Pigeon, Norfolk Island Ground-Dove and Norfolk Island Pigeon. Also, only male bird is shown in five vagrant species. Some subspecies (not all) are also illustrated along with several small drawings within the text that beautifully depicts typical behaviors of these birds.

There are also very interesting General Notes within every account of each species which gives reader a view of the actual discovery of each species. Important tables containing movement records of several species by Australian Bird Banding Scheme and tables showing food eaten by wild species are also present.

Aviary Notes are included in the end of every account of each species which gives important information on housing, feeding and breeding of a species in the aviculture. Hybrids and mutations (if present) are also mentioned.

In the last, there is a gazetteer, locality map of Australia on full page, references and an index.

Recommendation:

It is a must for those that are interested in pigeons and doves of Australia. Not only it is the comprehensive treatment of Columbidae family in Australia that will meet needs of ornithologists, naturalists and amateurs but it is equally important to the aviculturists. The brilliant artwork depicting the scientifically accurate illustrations by Mr. Cooper is simply unmatched and this title is without doubt among the finest bird art works.

Note: This is a review of Reprint Edition of this title that uses a heavier paper stock.

March 2018