They have been the most perfect of parents - even despite some fertility issues - and worked in a perfect distribution of labor on shifts to incubate their eggs, and to provide food and care around the clock to their three adopted society finch children, who will be fledging within the next week or so. Most interestingly, I have found them to be incredibly peaceful around their nest site, allowing the other finches to sit near and directly in front of the nest's opening and clamber all about on its roof without the slightest hint of agitation, even while their are babies! The male builds the most lovely nests inside his box and somehow manages to build continuously even while eggs and babies are inside without ever covering or smothering them like zebras and societies sometimes do. They seem just overall a lot smarter and more aware than these species. They have so much personality.
Our hen is sweet and quiet, but insatiably curious of everything. If there is some sort of tight space to squeeze into, she is inside it exploring. She loves to crawl under furniture and into the strangest of dark spots where no normal bird would dare go (nowhere dangerous of course), and though she flies as well as any bird she really prefers to hop whenever possible and sometimes will cross the whole aviary by hopping from branch to branch alone, checking out everything. Our male is much bolder and braver, and comes across as a very proud bird, but also a very caring one. He tends to his mate with incredible adoration, not only grooming her but snuggling her and giving her random 'kisses' on the head at every opportunity in daily passing. If he feels she is in danger, he comes to her immediate rescue - one time when I accidentally spooked her from her nestbox, the male did not run to comfort her or flee with her - he flew immediately to the shelf inches in front of me and stared me eye-to-eye. He knew I scared his girl and was giving me the business! At night, the male's nurturing instincts do not only cover his mate, but the entire group of birds - he is the last bird to sleep. He acts almost as the watcher of the flock at this time, making sure everyone is accounted for, only resting once he knows everyone is safe. He waits until every last finch has gone to bed before settling down himself - if a bird is slacking, he gently nudges them towards their nest. Only when every other bird is settled down does he finally go up to his perch to rest - normally right alongside his mate on the branch (my Javas are curiously my only finches who do not preferentially sleep in nests). Whilst his mate takes the night shift over their babies, however, he cuddles with our most peaceful male budgie, Arthur, wherever Arthur happens to decide to sleep.
If anyone is looking for a peaceful, strikingly beautiful, intelligent, and overall perfect bird for a mixed collection, you cannot go wrong with Javas! They really seem to get along with everyone - I have not found a more peaceful species; our Javas are more peaceful than our societies.
Go figure I give them shredded paper, feathers, hay, and coco fiber to use and they won't touch the shredded paper...lol