Aussie Finch Forum

Gday all,
Can anyone give me an idea of the height the following species build their nests at, and whether theyre likely to Prefer nesting options other than brush?

Cordon
Tri nun
Long tail
Plumhead
Painted
Saint Helena
Senegal Dove

Thanks!

Plum headed, scroll down to "Nesting"
http://birdcare.com.au/plum_headed_finch.htm
Saint helena scroll down:
http://www.birdcare.com.au/st__helena_waxbill.htm
cordon bleu scroll down:
http://www.birdcare.com.au/cordon_bleu_waxbill.htm
Long tail, scroll down to "Nesting"
http://birdcare.com.au/long_tailed_finch.htm

Painteds & Plumheads tend to prefer lower nest sites compared to the other species on your list (say knee height to waist height). Others mid to upper level within the aviary.
Plumheads will choose grasses if good sites in them are available but will happily use brush. Brush is usually prefered by the others, denser the better.
No idea about the doves.

Thanks!
My ideas for nesting so far are brush lining the walls quite densely from waist height up, then a vertical wire tube stuffed with bracken fern hanging in the shelter. I also had an idea for those semicircular hanging flowerpots (semicircular so they fit close to the wall) filled with sand with a clump of dried (probably dead) grass dug into it - basically an airborne tussock. Any good do you reckon?
Unfortunately those links didn't seem to answer my question about height.
The real reason for my question was to ask how far down to put brush on the walls.

If the grass tussocks you are putting in are big enough they may tempt them. I'd also consider putting in at least one lower bunch of brush as well for extra choice. If one or two pairs can be tempted to nest lower than most others this should reduce competitive pressure between the aviary's inhabitants.

fantastic, thanks!
Do you think it's worth lining the bottom or just putting in clumps here and there? I'll probably stick some dense bits of brush into the floor for the quail to hide in.

Most of your species should choose higher sites so a well placed lower bunch or 2 for those who may prefer it should be fine I reckon.

Great. Thanks Tiaris!!!
Also, on a side note, how can I make sure they all get an adequate supply of termites? Currently they're getting a small peanut butter lid a day in the feeding cage, but when the season comes round I was thinking of setting up a pot-plant holder, stringing it up on a chain in the middle of the shelter and using that instead, just to make sure the parrot finches don't eat it all before the others can get there!

my painteds, in a large aviary have nested anything from half mtr off the ground up to 2 mtrs. They have plenty of choice and if I had to guess I would say that they tend to nest lower to the ground on more occasions rather than higher. As far as your question on brush placement, I have brush lining the main enclosed breeding area beginning about half mtr off the ground up to the roof. It seems to acomodate the breeds that I keep. However I dont have plumheads or longtails,so the experts will have to let you know about these.

My pairs of Senegal Doves nest at middle height