My 1st eggs in ~12 years! :D

[WrenNAustinTX]

Well, the same guy as above got his band off AGAIN. seems like best case with zebs is to wait until the wings have pinfeathers, then band. Today was his first day with pinfeathers, and band went on okay but was obviously tighter.

Lesson learned; banding will take a few days as the babies grow pinfeathers in at their own rates.

[WrenNAustinTX]

The oldest chick, who will be designated "Yellow" when he fledges. Look how big!

[afinch]

Huge! Now stop disturbing the nest and leave those birds to raise their chicks in peace

[WrenNAustinTX]

afinch What is this peace you speak of?

[WrenNAustinTX]

"Yellow" and "Blue" (#1 and #2) at 12 and 11 days old

[afinch]

Such cuties!

[WrenNAustinTX]

So everybody has feathers all over, just waiting for them to fledge starting Friday. Mostly so I can clean out that reeking nest box lol

[afinch]

Any hints of male coloration anywhere yet?

[WrenNAustinTX]

I've been taking out the oldest ones to snuggle for a few minutes at a time (they are becoming more and more wild as they "wake up" and become their own little creatures and less bottomless seed sacks lol), but I haven't really looked for coloration, not even to see who is a black cheek lol

I could probs take them out, but I figured I'd be more fun to get pics and take notes the day they fledge/get banded/get named just a few more days!

[afinch]

Why not give them a little bit of formula while they're out? Make them love you, not just hate you less Our nest babies beg me every time I peak into the nest, even though I've never fed them. I just want to stuff their faces!

[WrenNAustinTX]

Haha, I'd probably make them choke to death

But seriously, a few days ago they stopped begging me and started giving me those looks like "hey, wait. My mom said I'm not supposed to let strangers hold me. You sure this is okay?"

It was like a switch flipped and they could suddenly tell I wasn't a finch lol

[MiaCarter]

WrenNAustinTX --- Something you said really resonated with me.
You said it was like they were "waking up."
I really LOVE this!
That's such a perfect way to describe that gradual process where they develop a sense of personality and become slowly more aware of themselves and the world as a whole.
Love that!
"Waking up."
I was looking for the perfect description of the process they go through and this is it! It's a process of "waking up" to the world and to life.

[afinch]

The awakening, brough to you by WrenNAustinTX

[WrenNAustinTX]

Sooooo...a finch was all "play with the babies" and "get pictures of the babies!" and it seemed like a super good idea so I was oooookkkaaaayyyy.....or something like that.

So, I decided to band everyone today! Yay!

[afinch]

I had to start tethering the millet sprays to the bars so the male would stop putting them into the nest lol.

HI BABIES!