I recently built a finch house so my wife could add to her collection of loved animals and birds. When she bought them they did not have a lot of room to move so I agreed to house them as long as we could provide a much more comfortable environment for them. I ended up with my final dimensions being 16' long x 10' high by 8' wide divided into 3 houses along it's length with one full length but narrower section along one side. Outside of this I built an enclosure made of lanai screen material to provide a safe entry and exit and also a comfortable place with an "L" shaped bench to sit and read while listening to the birds sing.

• 1. Two beautiful Owl-finches that sing so differently to the others that they can be distinguished from the furthest distance
  
• 2. Two Blue (or Royale/Cordon Blue I think) finches that are the quietest
  
• 3. Two 7-color (Gouldian) finches that are so vibrantly colored that it is hard to believe they are natural

In the largest section we have 3 society finches that are easily the most active fliers and singers (little Blondie never shuts up). My wife enjoys them so much it does my heart good to listen to her whistling to them as she adds her mixture of seeds and cleans up each day. She has water tables in each bay and a large plant for them to rest and hide in. They have lots of perches, shelves and feeders and all is well in Finchbury Park. That is until last night at 2 in the morning.

My wife woke me to tell me she was very worried about the Finches as they were standing stock still in their respective enclosures but none had entered the nest. This she assured me was the first time ever that this strange behaviour had taken place and she couldn't sleep or stop checking them through the window of our bedroom and had sneaked out several times without waking me to check up on them.

I immediately arose and visited Finchbury Park in the hot humid outside air and found the 7-color finches standing against the outside netting. The netting is welded steel netting with the smallest squares available to protect the finches from snakes and other hazards. The 3 societies were scattered along their runway seperately but standing stock still.......paralyzed. The 2 Owls were harder to find but were in the same state. When I got to the Blues, there was only one present and it lay dead on the concrete floor. I searched with a flashlight for the other but to no avail. I searched every inch and still nothing. I then went through all the adjoining enclosures looking to see if Little Bluey had somehow passed from one to the other. Lying on one of the wooden beams about 16" from one of the owl finches and inside the Owls enclosure was a 3' Corn snake curled up into a small ball. Obviously full and happy with his day's endeavours.

After photographing it and comparing it to photographs on the internet on the results page for a search entitled "Florida snakes", I contained it in a clear plastic drum 10 minutes later, still unsure if it was a Corn or a similar looking poisonous snake.

My wife was devastated and did not sleep a wink all night. This morning she relayed all her multiple thoughts of snakes killing birds throughout the night. On daylight inspection this morning we found a small area of damage to the fortress caused by a falling branch during a storm 2 days ago. My wife worked 10 hours today inspecting and re-fortifying the aviary and by the time I returned from work she was whistling away happily in the Finch home and the birds were more active than I have ever seen them so far. Is it possible that they understand what transpired? They certainly seem happy for their new lease on life. What really has impacted me now that this horrible event has passed is that the snake lying in the Owl house 16 feet away had the 7-colors paralyzed. One of the Owls was almost within striking distance but was paralyzed. The 3 Society's have the most room to move but were paralyzed in various locations throughout the house; some very close to the snake and another at the opposite end.

Every snake deterant known locally has been installed in or near the Aviary at this time. And little corny? What happened to him you might ask? I was ordered to drive him to an area of undeveloped natural land and release him without damage. I had to promise not to torture the bird-killing-intruder before release. After studying the corn snake on the internet I have a greater understanding of our visitor and even a little bit of admiration when I can convince myself not to think of little Bluey inside it's belly.

Great web page. Keep up the good work. Paul O'Callaghan.

Article © Paul O'Callaghan 2003