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Oliver - OC Aviary

@ocaviary

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🌿Conservation Aviculturist 🐥
🇬🇧 UK Based 🇬🇧

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Is this the smallest eggs you’ve ever seen?😱🥚

#egg #birdegg #birds #eggs #birdnest #babybird #finchegg #canary #goldfinch #carduelis taken in United Kingdom by @ocaviary

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2 years ago

New life on its way😍🐣🪺

#egg #birdeggs #birdnest #babybird #newlife #spring #wildlife #bird #birdlovers #aviary #finch #finches #carduelis #goldfinch #canary #birdbreeder #birdkeeper #aviculture #redpoll #chaffinch #bullfinch #greenfinch #eggcandling taken in United Kingdom by @ocaviary

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2 years ago

Four years of searching for this bird… and finally, THIS moment! 🤯🐦

On every visit to Chester Zoo, I’ve hoped for a glimpse of the black-browed barbet. This time, I finally found it — and managed to capture some footage that made the wait worthwhile!

One of those moments that reminds me why I love birds. Worth every visit. 🙌

#aviary #aviculture #blackbrowedbarbet #barbet #birdphotography taken in Chester Zoo by @ocaviary

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17 hours ago

Stepping inside an AMAZING tropical aviary, what bird species did we find? 👀🌿

This is the UK’s largest indoor habitat, home to over 2,500 plant species and some quite spectacular bird species from south-east Asia.

Which species caught your eye? 🤔

#aviary #aviculture #rainforest #birds #chesterzoo taken in Chester Zoo by @ocaviary

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2 days ago

A couple of highlights from the aviaries of Chester Zoo 📸

Canon EOS R50 + 55-210mm lens

Which is your favourite? 🤩

#chesterzoo #birds #aviary #aviculture #conservation taken in Chester Zoo by @ocaviary

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2 days ago

Exploring Our Story with David Attenborough at Chester Zoo 🌍💚

Yesterday I was invited to an exclusive creator preview ahead of its opening tomorrow, with the chance to experience it and share a little of what awaits.

Through OC Aviary, I share my passion for birds and conservation, so it was lovely to explore another way of bringing people closer to the natural world.

Here’s a glimpse inside… 👀

Thank you to @chesterzoo for the invitation!

#ChesterZoo #OurStory #DavidAttenborough #WildlifeConservation #NaturalWorld taken in Chester Zoo by @ocaviary

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3 days ago

A forest aviary with some very special residents 🌿

This beautifully planted enclosure, complete with a waterfall and stream, is home to a pair of Sumatran laughingthrushes — named for their loud, cackling calls that sound like laughter!

Found naturally only on Sumatra, these striking birds are Endangered, with trapping for the songbird trade a major cause of their decline.

Watching them explore the planting and bathe in the stream is a lovely reminder of how rewarding thoughtful aviary design can be 🖤🤍

#SumatranLaughingthrush #Aviculture #Conservation #Aviary #Laughingthrush taken in Chester Zoo by @ocaviary

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4 days ago

Three photos of one very handsome male Bearded Tit 📸

That black moustache, blue-grey head and warm russet plumage look even better up close. A real pleasure to keep, photograph and appreciate!

Which photo is your favourite — 1, 2 or 3?

#Aviary #Aviculture #BeardedTit #BeardedReedling #BirdPhotography by @ocaviary

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5 days ago

Why don’t more people keep them? 🤔

I’ve been keeping Lapwings for 12 months now, and they’ve been an absolute pleasure to keep - albeit they aren’t yet at breeding age.

So it got me wondering, why is it that we don’t see more wading birds like these in private aviary setups? Whilst they do command a larger aviary with a pool and some vegetation, many species can be kept in mixed enclosures; whether that be with other waders or even finches, softbills, hookbills or doves.

Dietary wise, they are fed on specialist water-bird pellets. For water, a shallow pool or scrape appears to be perfect and easily maintained. Noise, well they can be a bit noisy but no more than parakeets. There’s no real difference other than basically keeping some quirky looking ducks 😂

Would you consider keeping wading birds?

#aviary #aviculture #birds #wadingbirds #shorebirds by @ocaviary

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6 days ago

Another step towards our Northern Lapwing breeding aviaries! 🌿

We’ve been installing privacy screening around the perimeter of our aviaries to minimise visual disturbances and reduce stress.

Lapwings are naturally wary birds, so creating a secure, undisturbed environment is particularly important during courtship, nesting and chick rearing.

Small improvements like this can make a big difference to breeding success and ultimately our conservation efforts!

#NorthernLapwing #ConservationBreeding #Aviculture #BirdConservation #Aviary by @ocaviary

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7 days ago

THE MIGHTY HAWFINCH! 🤩

Without doubt, one of my favourite European finches to keep and breed!

The Hawfinch (Coccothraustes coccothraustes) is a truly remarkable species, with its powerful beak, striking plumage and fascinating behaviours making it a real pleasure to work with.

For me, one of the most rewarding aspects of aviculture is being able to observe these birds up close, learning about their natural behaviours, dietary requirements and breeding habits.

Successfully breeding Hawfinches in captivity is particularly rewarding, and they’re a species I believe deserves far more appreciation within British bird aviculture.

A spectacular bird and certainly one of my favourites here at OC Aviary! 🪶

#Hawfinch #Aviculture #BritishBirds #Aviary #Finch by @ocaviary

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8 days ago

Replicating a natural diet for my European finches 🌾🐦

Alongside their usual food, I offer a mix containing grass seeds, teasel, plantain, milk thistle and more—helping reflect some of the variety they’d encounter in the wild.

These seeds contribute energy, protein and useful fats, including plant omega-3 from gold of pleasure. Some also contain naturally occurring antioxidant compounds.

Different species have different tastes, so it’s always interesting to watch which seeds they choose first!

#aviary #aviculture #finches #nature #birdkeeping by @ocaviary

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9 days ago