I can see lots of discussions have gone on over the last 3 weeks while I was in Australia so it’s certain the counters were malfunctioning.  I left knowing that my Java Sparrows had successfully incubated and hatched young as I could hear the hatchlings before I left.  Even now some 24 days later they are still in the nest which  indicates that these large finches take longer to grow before fledging – aroung 30 days from hatching.  My birds are probably descended from pairing captive bred birds purchased in August with the wild ones I “discovered” in my aviary a year ago.  I’m not sure how many young are in the nest box but I suspect there are only two.  I’ll keep these guys and hopefully they will pair up with some other wild sourced birds.  In Australia there are very few normal Javas left as most carry recessive genes for pied, fawn or silver so I consider myself privileged even if the rest of Asia considers them a little ordinary.  The Javas didn’t show much interest in breeding until the supposed captive bred birds were introduced and 1/2 open wooden nest boxes were introduced. With me away nothing special was provided in the way of food which consisted of a course dry grain mix and each morning they were given sprouted grain, grated quail egg and fresh green seed.  This seems consistent with what I’ve read -  live food and complex soft foods are unnecessary.

Another success was had with my cut-throats – the first in 6 month.  At least one pair has now gotten the toad toxin out of their system as they fledged 2 young while I was away and now have 2 more nestlings.  The pair I kept with Javas while they didn’t breed they laid and laid and laid. In all this nest had 26 eggs – far too many to incubate and all but 2 or 3 appeared to be sterile but obviously there’s nothing wrong with the hen but laying this many eggs is a serve drain on the body so I’ll have to rest her for a month or so and perhaps swap with the male of my 3rd pair which laid no eggs.

In my main (toad-affected) aviary there were plenty of nests but no successes.  My Diamond firetail cock is a prolific nest builder. I’ve only had them since September but they have seven nests – all unsuccessful (2 eggs/clutch of which only  has managed to hatch and was tossed dead from the nest soon afterwards).  I suspect my star finches are on eggs but they are readily dessert so I won’t investigate.  I’m amazed that the Zebras haven’t tried to nest since June 2009 but that’s not a tragedy given but it’s the same story for the Gouldians and owls so I’m disappointed but hopeful given what’s happening in the other aviaries.