I lifted the lid on the Gouldian nest in the aviary today to check how the recently hatched chicks are going.  We have five healthy looking youngsters (and one unhatched egg).

When I fed and watered the finches in the main aviary this evening I noticed that both of the Gouldian Finches were inside their nesting box.  Thinking I’d better check if everything is ok, I climbed inside the aviary.  To my surprise I discovered that some (possibly all, it’s a bit hard to see everything in there) of the eggs have hatched!

Did a quick check on the Gouldian Finches this afternoon and there are six eggs in the nest box.  Mummy bird was less than impressed but quickly resumed duties when I closed the lid and made my exit.  I’ll be happy if one or two are reared successfully.

All four Zebra Finches that hatched earlier had fledged and seemed to be going well.  During January, however, two died.  Unfortunately I have no idea why.

I’m in the process of cleaning out the cages so I have returned all of the Zebra Finches to the main aviary.  I also replaced the two (dead) potted grasses with alive (for now).  A bit of greenery really makes the aviary looks nice and the birds seem to like it as well.

All four young Zebra Finches have left the nest and a happily flying about the aviary.  I don’t think the Gouldian and Painted Finches are terribly impressed with the young whippersnappers and their constant chirping and reckless flying.

Interestingly, one of the new arrivals appears to be a charcoal, raising the possibility that the pair of normal Zebra Finches have incubated and raised an egg from the pair of charcoal Zebra Finches that occupied the aviary (until the female died).

Still no news from the nest of the fawn Zebra Finches (there are at least four eggs in the nesting box).

For the second day in a row the strongest fledgling in the aviary has escaped from the nest and had a bit of a run/fly around the floor.  This seems to cause the parent finches no end of distress and in both cases we have returned the truant finch to the nest.

Truant fledgling Zebra Finch (note the grey beak)

So in summary:

• 4 fledgling Zebra Finches in the pot plant in the aviary;
• No news regarding the nest and eggs in the smaller cage (I am starting to suspect they are too young).

As far as I can tell four eggs have hatched in the main aviary.  The young make a racket when they would like a feed.  Despite that they are very hard to see (their parents have done a sterling job with the nest construction and camouflage).  The remaining two eggs may be from the charcoal pair (where the female died) so they may not hatch.

None of the eggs in the smaller cage have hatched.  I’m starting to get suspicious…

Two of the eggs in the main aviary nest (normal/grey Zebra Finches) have hatched.  Four unbroken eggs still in the nest.  The parents are constantly feeding and maintaining the nest – wonderful to watch.