Euplecies Orixftanciscana

ORIGIN:

Northwest and eastern Africa. Found in open savanna with tall shrubbery thickets and trees.

DIET:

Throughout the year they feed on the green and ripe seeds of grasses and small brush. They may feed on the ground or by hanging from seed heads of grass and plant stems. Have been observed feeding on new leaves and flowers of small shrubs.

SPECIFIC FEATURES:

This is a dichromatic species, the males sprouting nuptial plumage that is quite different from their out of color phase (pictured above, male in color on left, out of color on right) at which time they resemble hens and juveniles.

Flocks numbering thousands are blamed for grain crop damage when they stop over in a cultivated field to feed. Attempts to eradicate them as pests have included setting fire to their roosting trees at night which, while killing thousands at a time, seem to have little effect on the overall population.

REPRODUCTION:

Males in color gather in large flocks to locate a nesting territory, usually a thorn scrub thicket. They weave neat, suspended globe nests from long grasses and await the arrival of the flocks of hens. The females inspect the nests and award the best jobs by accepting the architect as mate and the nest as home. From 3-5 white eggs are the usual clutch and the chicks, fed on insects and green, milky grass seeds, fledge in about 25 days.

BISHOP WEAVERS IN CAPTIVITY

HABITAT DESIGN:

Open substrate bordered by tall grasses, dense shrubbery, and dense tall thickets would best replicate their natural environment. The habitat should be kept on the dry side and should be as large as possible. They prefer to display in the open branches of dormant or dead trees and they should have plenty of access to these. Since, in the wild, they live in large colonies (hundreds of individuals), the best breeding success comes when they are the only inhabitants of the enclosure. Single pairs may successfully be kept with larger, more aggressive finches and doves in a mixed collection. Several feeding stations will work better than one in a large colony.

DIET:

Small and large millets, canary grass, hemp, hulled oats, and hulled rice make up the largest part of the diet throughout most of the year. Small amounts of green food will be taken as well, and should be available during the breeding season along with small insects like young crickets, mealworms, waxworms, termites, and sprouted seed. Soaked Zu-Preem has been successfully fed to some birds and most will learn to feed it to their young after a period of acclimation.

BREEDING:

Captive breeding success has been sporadic depending, it seems, on how much time the keeper has to put to the project. Larger colonies seem to work better than smaller ones, three or four hens per cock better than pairs. Lengthening photo periods coupled with an increase in food supply and quality seem to incite activity, and keeping the hens and cocks physically separate but within visual range before breeding all seem to yield the best results.

The males are provided strands of long, coarse grass such as green fountain grass. The leaves of this species are up to 18 inches long and their rigid structure helps build a sturdy framework for the nest. Growing clumps are placed on the floor of the enclosure and the birds harvest the pieces they want. Several clumps should be available to avoid excessive fighting between the males.

The hens are introduced when the males have been earnestly working on their nests for a couple of weeks and then the games begin. If sprouted seed and a small number of insects are also given at this time then gradually increased, success is almost certain.