Crazy parrot finches again!

Matt · Post by **Matt** » Sat Jan 17, 2009 5:19 am

I am guessing one of two posssible outcomes.

1. The parrot finches finish laying their clutch, kick the owls out and incubate day and night, or

2. Parrot finches finish laying then forget about the nest altogether and leave it to the owls.

Good luck either way and NO MORE PEEKING!!!

dfcauley · Post by **dfcauley** » Sat Jan 17, 2009 6:27 am

I am not peeking in the nest anymore.

I can see the birds in the nest from a distance. This morning I got up really early to feed them and put on the lights. I stayed up to watch and see what would happen. The two owls came right out when the lights came on. Withint ten minutes the parrot finches were in there.

So now begins day three of the parrots incubating them. At least they are being kept warm at night. That was the problem last time, they were coming off the eggs at night. I do not have a clue why these stinkers won't sit at night. Even when they had their own nest with eggs they came off when it got dark. They seem to stay up alot of the night. I get up sometimes and can hear them in the aviary. They have toooo much energy. I am surprised they even sit during the day.

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Sat Jan 17, 2009 9:30 am

I'm glad to hear they are each taking their shifts! If you have a straight line of vision into the nest from a distance - you can even use binoculars to view them. That's what I do when I'm on "tossing" watch. That way I don't have to go into the birdroom as often.

dfcauley · Post by **dfcauley** » Sat Jan 17, 2009 10:18 am

L in Ontario wrote:I'm glad to hear they are each taking their shifts! If you have a straight line of vision into the nest from a distance - you can even use binoculars to view them. That's what I do when I'm on "tossing" watch. That way I don't have to go into the birdroom as often.

That's a great idea Liz. I will try that.
It is a funny thought though to see you doing that.

I would like to be a fly on the wall. Sortof like my husband says.... when I am at school doing dance and movement with my students. He says he would pay to see that.

williep · Post by **williep** » Sat Jan 17, 2009 3:58 pm

Now this is a really interesting scenario for me, firstly because I keep parrots and owls together too and secondly because I find it very strange that the parrots allow the owls into "their" nest at night. Although they are classified passive my parrots are quite aggressive around their nest especially towards the Peter’s Twinspots and the stars (but this is the age old red-bird-hating-other-red-birds problem IMO), but they have being going at the BCCB and owls to.

Keep us posted and let's hope that no matter who incubates and/or raising that you end up with healthy babies!

dfcauley · Post by **dfcauley** » Sat Jan 17, 2009 8:30 pm

williep , these parrot finches have taken over the nest of the owls. They lay claim to every nest in the aviary. They have built nest for six months now all over the place. Driving me crazy

The owls sleep in this little nest every night. They have apparently laid their eggs in there. They sat there again all day today. I put lights out about 6:30. By seven they were out and the owls were in again for the night tonight. It is crazy.

For some strange reason the parrot finches will not stay in the nest at night. They did this about a month ago and the eggs got cold so I tossed them. The owls just want to sleep there, so they wait for the parrot finches to come out and in they go.

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Sat Jan 17, 2009 9:04 pm

dfcauley wrote:
L in Ontario wrote:I'm glad to hear they are each taking their shifts! If you have a straight line of vision into the nest from a distance - you can even use binoculars to view them. That's what I do when I'm on "tossing" watch. That way I don't have to go into the birdroom as often.
That's a great idea Liz. I will try that.
It is a funny thought though to see you doing that.

I would like to be a fly on the wall. Sortof like my husband says.... when I am at school doing dance and movement with my students. He says he would pay to see that.

It comes from my 'outdoor birding days' with my daughter. We practically lived with binoculars glued to our eyes!

Trying to view birds from a distance without disturbing them. At the end of the day, we looked like

I'm sure you appreciate the improvement you see in the kids in dance and movement throughout the school year.

dfcauley · Post by **dfcauley** » Sun Jan 18, 2009 2:02 pm

Liz, the binocular idea worked great. Checked this morning, owls were in all night and the red parrot finch is back in there today. I do not think they are taking turns (parrot finches) One sits on the perch and looks in at the other most of the day. No sooner than I turn the lights out at night..... out he pops, in go the owls......

Yes, I appreciate the difference in my students in their movement. Just the fact that they will actually do it.... in the beginning of the year, they just look at me like I am crazy.

Now they beg for it.

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Sun Jan 18, 2009 4:54 pm

Glad to hear it... on boths accounts.

...and I had 4 Gouldians hatch last Wednesday and at least one more (from a different pair) hatched yesterday! All babies are being fed by their parents and doing well - NO tossing!! I'm a happy camper

Now I'd better go grab my binoculars again.

dfcauley · Post by **dfcauley** » Sun Jan 18, 2009 5:36 pm

[woo hoo..... lots of babies for you too Liz!

dfcauley · Post by **dfcauley** » Mon Jan 19, 2009 7:56 am

Well the saga is over...... Last night the parrot finches took a long time to come out after dark so they owls after several attempts to get into the nest went elsewhere to roost.

The parrots came out later and stayed so the eggs got cold.

I tossed them this morning so they would not go in and sit all day for nothing. If they lay again, I may just give them to the society finches. I would love for them to raise their own....... but I don't know why they won't sit at night.

dfcauley · Post by **dfcauley** » Mon Jan 19, 2009 7:56 am

Well the saga is over...... Last night the parrot finches took a long time to come out after dark so the owls after several attempts to get into the nest went elsewhere to roost.

The parrots came out later and stayed so the eggs got cold.

I tossed them this morning so they would not go in and sit all day for nothing. If they lay again, I may just give them to the society finches. I would love for them to raise their own....... but I don't know why they won't sit at night.

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Mon Jan 19, 2009 8:57 am

Aw I'm so sorry to hear that Donna. Is that the end of nesting for this season for your fids or will you give them another chance? How old are they now?

dfcauley · Post by **dfcauley** » Mon Jan 19, 2009 9:19 am

L in Ontario wrote:Aw I'm so sorry to hear that Donna. Is that the end of nesting for this season for your fids or will you give them another chance? How old are they now?

Sorry for the double post.... is there a way to delete it?

Liz.... I would like to end breeding season but I don't think you could stop these parrot finches if you wanted to