Aussie Finch Forum

I believe that wild painted firetails nest on the spiky tops of spinifex, which is why they build a nest on a bulky base of sticks.
So maybe this bucket of nails I left in there overnight made them feel at home.....

Now are you going to be nice and leave it there?
LML

Jeez your painteds must have been weightlifting, look at the diameter of some of those sticks!
Not a bad idea though, clear bucket with sticks in it to see if it gets the painteds going. Certainly would keep the draughts off them and the chicks.

My thoughts exactly BB,there is noway painteds could lift sticks that big,are you sure the kids haven't been in there?. Craig

Hi Craig,
I'm pretty sure it's paints, and I've seen them do this before.
Here's one with a finch for scale:
Here's one from above; I must put some feathers out:

Re 2nd pic...Never trying to carry that one surely? Even I know that "stick with the bristles on the end" is waaayyy too big for the bird to carry...

Looks like he is working on picking up the paintbrush

Well I've heard they'll nest with any brush they can find.....

Jayburd wrote:Well I've heard they'll nest with any brush they can find.....

@Jay

finchbreeder wrote:Now are you going to be nice and leave it there?
LML

Yes, I did.
On Sunday I snapped this shot: the two eggs are barely visible in the bottom.
Yesterday they went nowhere near it, though, and I fear they have deserted.
Not surprising really, as they are right next to the front door and seed bins.
I try not to look at paint nests as they have deserted on me before, but this one was hard to avoid.

Don't give up just yet. Sometimes they play "us? nesting? no of course not!" When you go near, and slip back as soon as you leave.
LML