Pintail Whydah fledglings!
Posted: 26 Jan 2014, 06:58
Went out to do the usual routine this morning and saw a couple of young st helenas had fledged. Wandered into the shelter section of the aviary and then saw two more fledglings that obviously weren't st helenas. I first thought they were young black headed nuns but were lighter in colour than usual but then I heard them make a noise which I haven't heard any of my other birds make. I instantly knew I was looking at a young pair of pintails! To say this is a highlight in my years breeding finches is a massive understatement!
I'm pretty sure they have both fledged from the same nest which is odd because pintails supposedly only lay one egg in the host nest and I only have one hen. I had been keeping an eye on this nest for the last couple of weeks as it was near the shelter entrance and had a nestling chucked out on three occasions that I put back into the nest but it ended up dying. I wonder if the pintails ejected the young saint or if the nest was just too overcrowded. It looks like there are 3 saints fledged too so it would've been pretty tight for room in the nest.
I have pics on my phone but have no idea how to get them from my phone. I can text or email if someone wants to put them up for me.
Hope everyone has a great Australia Day. I will be celebrating mine with a six pick of Pintail Pale Ales!
I'm pretty sure they have both fledged from the same nest which is odd because pintails supposedly only lay one egg in the host nest and I only have one hen. I had been keeping an eye on this nest for the last couple of weeks as it was near the shelter entrance and had a nestling chucked out on three occasions that I put back into the nest but it ended up dying. I wonder if the pintails ejected the young saint or if the nest was just too overcrowded. It looks like there are 3 saints fledged too so it would've been pretty tight for room in the nest.
I have pics on my phone but have no idea how to get them from my phone. I can text or email if someone wants to put them up for me.
Hope everyone has a great Australia Day. I will be celebrating mine with a six pick of Pintail Pale Ales!
