Privacy feather
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flap
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- Posts: 1251
- Joined: 20 Jul 2010, 08:54
- Location: Perth, WA
- Location: Perth WA
Noticed a white upright feather outside the entrance of the stars nest. I remember seeing a reference to a "privacy feather" but not sure exactly what it is, or where I read it. Tried to google with no luck. Can someone explain it to me? thanks
flaP
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Diane
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- Location: Northern 'burbs of Adelaide
- Location: Northern 'burbs of Adelaide
It could mean the start of eggs. I havent had stars, but I know that my firefinches, orange breasts and Blue faced parrot finches use this feather front door.
Diane
The difference between Genius and Stupidity is, Genius has it’s limits
The difference between Genius and Stupidity is, Genius has it’s limits
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Diane
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- Posts: 7402
- Joined: 05 Apr 2009, 14:23
- Location: Northern 'burbs of Adelaide
- Location: Northern 'burbs of Adelaide
Probably, it would also hide the contents of the nest, any other bird sticking nosing around the nest wouldnt be able to see in.....bit like net curtains at a window 
Diane
The difference between Genius and Stupidity is, Genius has it’s limits
The difference between Genius and Stupidity is, Genius has it’s limits
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E Orix
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- Joined: 29 May 2009, 23:30
- Location: Howlong on NSW/Vic Border 30km from Albury
- Location: Howlong NSW
If you look at Dome nests in general they are constucted in a number of ways to enable the sitting bird a better chance of escape
Parrot Finches generally have an entrace hole slightly larger and pointed down so the bird can bolt as the preditor moves across the top to get to the entrance
The Waxbills such as Cordons,St Helenas etc and some Weavers build in trigger stems when constructing their nests. These triggers are generally longish pieces of fine grass around the entrance. It is an early warning device as a preditor heads to the entrance the trigger is moved and out comes the sitting bird.
Birds have evolved numerous defensive methods depending on what is trying to prey on them. While alot will build in areas assisting them(over water), others have evolved other methods some nearly to the extreme. The Baya Weaver from the Asian Jungle has to contend with snakes so it builds a long entance tube(up to 300mm) and pointing down.The attacking snake has great difficulty getting to the nest then trying to bend in two while pointing down just to get to the nest chamber.Their other enemy is the Monkey so it builds right out on the outer tip of Bamboo etc.thus making it so hard to be attacked.
There are so many variations that are built into their Genes.While not protecting it from preditors the Painted Finch collects bits of wood,bark and so on as a base for it's nest. What it is doing is actually building a raft.In the wild one major choice of nest site is Spinifex Grass. This grass has needle points and will grow incredibly quickly when it is watered by rain.If the Painteds nest didn't have the raft the grass would grow through the nest and the chicks would be destroyed. With the base it simply floats on top of the spines.
There is so much to learn from watching your birds,looking at how they are built and reading about them.
Parrot Finches generally have an entrace hole slightly larger and pointed down so the bird can bolt as the preditor moves across the top to get to the entrance
The Waxbills such as Cordons,St Helenas etc and some Weavers build in trigger stems when constructing their nests. These triggers are generally longish pieces of fine grass around the entrance. It is an early warning device as a preditor heads to the entrance the trigger is moved and out comes the sitting bird.
Birds have evolved numerous defensive methods depending on what is trying to prey on them. While alot will build in areas assisting them(over water), others have evolved other methods some nearly to the extreme. The Baya Weaver from the Asian Jungle has to contend with snakes so it builds a long entance tube(up to 300mm) and pointing down.The attacking snake has great difficulty getting to the nest then trying to bend in two while pointing down just to get to the nest chamber.Their other enemy is the Monkey so it builds right out on the outer tip of Bamboo etc.thus making it so hard to be attacked.
There are so many variations that are built into their Genes.While not protecting it from preditors the Painted Finch collects bits of wood,bark and so on as a base for it's nest. What it is doing is actually building a raft.In the wild one major choice of nest site is Spinifex Grass. This grass has needle points and will grow incredibly quickly when it is watered by rain.If the Painteds nest didn't have the raft the grass would grow through the nest and the chicks would be destroyed. With the base it simply floats on top of the spines.
There is so much to learn from watching your birds,looking at how they are built and reading about them.
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flap
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- Posts: 1251
- Joined: 20 Jul 2010, 08:54
- Location: Perth, WA
- Location: Perth WA
Wow Orix that is really interesting! Won't be able to work out much about how the stars' nest is until they are out of there! the entrance is such that when bird is sitting its little face sticks out of it. Can't see bottom by looking at entrance from a distance, and they have lined it with a cloud of feathers.
flaP
