Somehow a little Gouldian egg hatched in a Zebra nest. The baby managed to get himself fed, and eventually fledged...
After fledging he begged to every passing Zebra. I don't know who his foster parents were, because he begged to all of them, and not one would feed him. It was strange, because his beg was silent. I presumed he would die...
A few days later he was still there, yet still for as long as I watched not a single bird fed him. He was begging like crazy, though making barely a sound, all day long.
After a week or so I saw the tip of his beak was blunt and worn short. I presume that fledgling beaks are soft(??) and he must have been pecking at seed to try to feed himself, seeing as no-one else was going to.
Today is about 18 days and I was up by the aviary, wondering what the strange sound was. It was sort of baby Zebra-ish, but weird. Plus I don't have any Zebs of the right age. It was little Mr Foster Gouldian. He is still trying to get Zebra adults to feed him, and his call is now 70% a Zebra sound!! He has some Gouldian rhythm, but the sound he makes is closer to a Zebra buzz-squawk than a Gouldian cheep. How about that?!!
I'm also amazed at a Gouldian being this resilient. Maybe those Zebs taught him more than just their calls!
If 'he' is in fact male, I wonder what his song will be, and whether he will show interest in Gouldian mates.
(If I've a chance to record it I will, but tricky.)
Gouldian baby from Zebra nest - so interesting!
-
Stephanie
- Callow Courter
- Posts: 171
- Joined: Sat Feb 11, 2006 3:27 am
- Location: Sydney, Australia
- Contact:
Gouldian baby from Zebra nest - so interesting!
Finch songs, Gouldian mutations & natural aviary design: https://FinchStuff.com
YouTube Finch channel: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=P ... fhzoRNMuou
Who's Ya Doggy? Dog Breed Guide: http://DogBreedGuide.WhosYaDoggy.com
YouTube Finch channel: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=P ... fhzoRNMuou
Who's Ya Doggy? Dog Breed Guide: http://DogBreedGuide.WhosYaDoggy.com
-
Icearstorm
- Weaning
- Posts: 1612
- Joined: Thu Sep 01, 2016 5:21 pm
Re: Gouldian baby from Zebra nest - so interesting!
Stephanie
That certainly is interesting! I'd guess his song would have the pattern of a zebra finch with the tone of a gouldian. I'm not sure about finches, but many songbirds' songs contain both a learned portion and a instinctual portion.
I have a juvenile society finch that was raised in a mixed flight and his subsong sounds more like the gouldian than either of the societies; he even "sings" with his bill closed. The odd part is that he was raised solely by societies; all the gouldians did was pick on him. Perhaps he'll grow out of it.
That certainly is interesting! I'd guess his song would have the pattern of a zebra finch with the tone of a gouldian. I'm not sure about finches, but many songbirds' songs contain both a learned portion and a instinctual portion.
I have a juvenile society finch that was raised in a mixed flight and his subsong sounds more like the gouldian than either of the societies; he even "sings" with his bill closed. The odd part is that he was raised solely by societies; all the gouldians did was pick on him. Perhaps he'll grow out of it.
-
lovezebs
- Mod Extraordinaire
- Posts: 18214
- Joined: Sun Dec 15, 2013 11:51 am
- Location: Calgary Alberta Canada
Re: Gouldian baby from Zebra nest - so interesting!
~Elana~
Linnies~ Canaries ~ Zebras ~ Societies ~ Gouldians ~ Orange Cheeks ~ Shaft Tails ~ Strawberries ~ Red Cheek Cordon Bleu ~ Goldbreasts ~ Red Brows ~ Owls ~ Budgies ~ Diamond Firetails ~ Javas ~ Forbes Parrot Finches ~
Linnies~ Canaries ~ Zebras ~ Societies ~ Gouldians ~ Orange Cheeks ~ Shaft Tails ~ Strawberries ~ Red Cheek Cordon Bleu ~ Goldbreasts ~ Red Brows ~ Owls ~ Budgies ~ Diamond Firetails ~ Javas ~ Forbes Parrot Finches ~