We've got a baby!

[venetta]

A pair of our painteds have been sitting and we noticed Friday afternoon when we went in to pull up grass that was growing through the weedmat that there was one little hatchling!!

We were so excited, we don't want to disturb them much more, but we want to make sure the baby is okay etc..

How soon do you usually hear them in the nest??

This morning when topping up water and checking food we could see it was still alive as mum left the nest.
We're obviously going to leave them be as much as possible, but really want to make sure it's also okay...

Any advice?

[zebman]

I would say just let Mum and Dad look out for the young, and you just keep up the food and clean water and all should be fine.

[Redwing]

Painteds are great parents but are usually pretty laid back and don't mind a bit of a quick look, but still best to leave them be as much as possible, particularly if it's their first clutch. If there's more eggs they will need to still be sitting tight. I tend to look only if they're both off the nest, and sometimes have found it easier to hold up my camera, point and click.

[Pete Sara]

I dont usually here mine till they out the nest as the parents make a differant warning noise to normal, just keep the feed and fresh water up as it may have left the nest early due to the heat That we have been having lately, I have one out that may have been kicked out by the siblings to create room with this heat. As long as the parents are feeding it , it should not be a problem, some birds I have problems with nesting in this heat as they build there own nests and it makes it hard to stop them ... pete