Lavender waxbills

[w.l.]

The Blacks are kind of glossy black on head and belly, especially the males, but brownish black on the wings and back. Overall, B&W mannikins do the glossy black color much better.

I do carry a camera and did snap some pics.
Might try posting later, but don't expect NatGeo quality - my camera is basic and the birds were shy.
I did also see a 3rd, unusual and never-kept species of finch, Montain Firetails, but those never posed long enough for a pic.

[isobea]

w.l. - You are so lucky to be able to travel to all these exotic places. I agree with Elana about us needing to see pictures from your adventures. Could you post some in the 'Off topic' category?
And you brought back 13? Boy, when you go shopping, you go shopping! And all I need is a female cordon bleu and a male European goldfinch...
Iso

[lovezebs]

w.l. isobea

I just looked up the Firetails...

Is this them?

20170425_175505-366x243.png (141.32 KiB) Viewed 2386 times

They are so cute and round, I love them.

[w.l.]

lovezebs

Yes, that's it.
They actually are quite large for estrildid finches, which makes them less cute. Never been kept in captivity aparently, and little-known in wild, too. I even read they might feed on mosses... good luck feeding them. They live in pairs in bush, rather than in the open grasslands, and I tended to catch only brief glimpses of them.

[lovezebs]

w.l.

How big are they?

[w.l.]

They appeared at least as big as Java sparrows to me. Field guides give their size as smaller, but the short-tailed and rounded body might make them bigger overall.

[isobea]

Update on my lavender eggs: several days ago I checked on my lavenders' eggs since it had been about 16 days since I had found them in the nest and they should have hatched by now if they had been fertile. They were in perfect shape but infertile. The parents were extremely diligent sitting on them at all times (even when I was in the aviary for feeding, cleaning etc.), so they should make great parents the next time around. After I removed the eggs from the nest, I left them for a few minutes on one of the 2x4s that are part of the framework of the aviary and both birds flew over, sat next to them and looked at them. After that they didn't return to their nest. Odd, isn't it? Maybe they understand more than I would have given them credit for. They are always very observant and interested in what's going on around them.
I consider myself lucky that they even laid eggs. So there is hope for the next time.
Iso

[lovezebs]

isobea

Sorry to hear that there are no kleinkinder this time around, but wishing them the best for next time.

[w.l.]

Yes, it is great that they already nested so soon aftee purchase.
Wish you more luck next time!

[isobea]

lovezebs and w.l. - Thanks for the encouragement. In a way later might be better anyway as everything I've read pointed out that high temperatures are important for the hatchlings and our daily highs usually don't go much above 68 or 70 F.

w.l. - I noticed that both adults don't seem to go into their old nest anymore. Even before the eggs were laid they spent some time inside it during the daytime and then slept in it at night. Should I take out all the old nesting material?
Iso

[ann]

isobea

I'm sorry to hear about that. But the hot weather is coming, and I bet they try again when it heats up a bit.

[w.l.]

isobea

I'd leave it in, but maybe add more nesting material in case they want to build a new one.
Perhaps they consider the old nest unsafe after it has been robbed.

[isobea]

Hi everyone,
it's been a long, long time and an update is due. My lavenders did not take advantage of the warmer summer temperatures to raise a family. They sure enjoyed their summer, though, doing their own little birdie things.
Now, that the night time temperatures are dropping (to about low to mid 50s), they finished another beautiful nest and during a routine nest check a few days ago I found three eggs in it! They are sitting tight by now with the male spending about 80% of the daytime hours in the nest. Hopefully these eggs will be fertile.
I have a question for all of you: I have fruit flies breeding in a dish inside my aviary and I will go get some mini mealworms tomorrow. Yesterday I found out that Quiko makes an egg food for carnivores. It is called "Quiko Goldy egg food for softbills and finches". Has anybody used this? An opinion on if it would be worth adding it to the limited live food I can offer my birds? In the past I have always had good luck with Quiko's regular egg food (mixed with hard boiled egg and freeze dried blood worms).
Iso

[lovezebs]

isobea

Hi Iso,

Regarding this food, I have tried it once or twice.
Here in Canada it's fairly expensive, with a bag costing $23.00 or $24.00 bucks.

Honestly, I didn't find that any of the birdies were really all that interested in it.
The only way they would eat it, was when I mixed it into their egg food.

Congratulations on the baby eggs Iso, it's so exciting .

[isobea]

lovezebs - Hi Elana, here the regular price seems to be the same as in Canada. Yesterday I found three websites, though, that have it on sale for $9 (shipping costs differ).
I would also be mixing it with fresh egg food. Just trying to get some extra insectivorous food to supplement the live food I can give them.
It contains (after a bunch of other ingredients) dehydrated ant eggs, dehydrated prawns, dehydrated shrimp and dehydrated insects.

Would it be worth it?
Iso