Stars Courting

[star62]

Hi All,

I have a pair of yellow stars just beginning to court and the male is bobbing up and down with a blade of grass in beak, trying to impress the female.

I read somewhere that breeding time for the stars is around March - April, so I'm wondering why this pair seem to be going through the motions at the moment?

Advice please on star finch behaviour and right time to breed, as it's only been a week since they were introduced into the aviary.

Many thanks,
star62.

[jusdeb]

March or April in what country / state ??? Only 7 weeks till spring so maybe he is just planning on a long courtship or just so head over heels in lust / love that he just cant help himself.
Who knows what sets the breeding season off , with parrots it can be the rain or certain greens fed to them . Its all a mystery just enjoy his little dance routine coz soon enough hopefully he will be too preoccupied in the business of keeping eggs warm to show of his talents.

[finchbreeder]

Finches of many kinds quite often get into breeding mode about the time the seeding grasses start to seed. Which where I am is about now. So suspect as you are 400/500kms south of me would be about the same thing happening there. Enjoy, and good luck.
LML

[spanna]

i am in perth too, and both my pairs of stars are on nests at the moment. stars will often breed all year round here in WA because of our nice temperate climate. put in lots of nice white sanitised feathers and grasses for nests, give them some live food and sit back and watch the numbers grow!

[star62]

Hi and thnx to Jusdeb, Spanna and finchbreeder for responses so far - and yes, the info I got from a book about March-April was referring to the northern part of Oz I think.

Since we have not seen courting behaviour before, we took video footage and enjoyed watching finch antics for hours:) Fun for the whole family!

Cheers,
star62

[mickw]

March/April might be referring to breeding in the wild in the top end.......but like the others said, they'll go any time given the right conditions......mine went into the aviary 10 days ago and have just about finished building a nest .........have a read of Mike Fidler's articles about austerity periods......interesting and pretty logical stuff.....has REALLY worked for me so far this season.......like I said, the birds went into the aviary 10 days ago and I have a Star nest, a BF Parrot Finch nest ....with eggs this morning ....and various Black throat and Masked nests....though these build a roost nest.......yours may well have responded to your kindness.....and the days are getting a bit longer

Good luck, I'll race ya