2009 Zebra Finch Babies! UPDATED 03-15-2009: With the big birds now

I recently acquired a male and female Zebra finch, who had been desperately been trying to have babies in the pet store where they had lived. I guess it was too busy or something there, because they never were successful.

Not even a week after I brought them home, the female began laying eggs. Soon, she had four eggs in the nest. I checked them after a week ("candling" the egg -- holding it up to a light to see inside), and saw veins and little heartbeats! So, I knew they were fertile.

Well, last week, the first chick hatched! The second chick hatched the next day, and the third and fourth chicks hatched two days after that. Unfortunately, the fourth one did not survive; however, the three that have survived are doing very well so far!

Zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata), from Australia, are named for the stripes seen on their breast in their natural color mutation. The chicks have black beaks, while adult females have bright orange beaks and the males red-orange beaks; Zebra fincehs are half the size of a ping-pong ball, and make the cutest beeps and twitters almost all the time. In the wild, they can live about 5 years; in captivity anywhere from 5 to 12 years.

Male Zebra finch. Picture from the internet.

They eat seed, preferably millet, but also eat fruits and vegetables, eggs (the calcium of the shell helps replenish calcium lost when producing eggs of their own), and mealworms. They are messy little birds, and fling seed all over the place; this is Nature's way of spreading seed around.

Zebra finches make elaborately woven nests out of plant fibers and other materials. Mine have even used curling ribbon which I've put in their cage to play with! The nest they build is substantial for such small birds, and is an oval shape with a "cave" inside, so the birds are surrounded by the nest material.

Wild Zebra finch nest. Picture from the internet.

The female will lay 3 to 12 eggs per clutch (young in eggs), and the eggs hatch about 14-16 days after being laid, in the order in which they were laid. Zebra finches are excellent parents, constantly caring for the chicks by providing warmth, protection and food. The male prefers to sit atop the nest while the female is laying eggs, but they will sleep together at night on the eggs.

My chicks began hatching on 15 January 2009. Three days later, all four eggs had hatched. The chicks have soft white fuzz which sticks straight up -- kind of like Einstein's hair -- and pink, translucent skin which is paper thin. You can see their organs, intestines, everything through the skin. They have little black spots on the roof of the mouth to direct the parents where to put the food. And they gape (open the mouth to beg for food) as often as possible! When gaping, they wiggle their heads from side to side, and waggle their tongues from side to side, and with the white fuzz it on the head it just looks so funny! Can't help but giggle when you see them!

So here are my three Zebra finch chicks (the fourth one did not survive). No, they are not named yet; we'll see what kind of personality each one has. The parents, however, are This One and That One; I know, odd names. My Orange bishop weavers are Dennis, Dream and Sigourney, just as corny!

I hope to keep this updated with the progress of the little babies. Keep in mind that being a baby bird is extremely difficult, and the survival rate is only about 50% in the wild -- in captivity, of course, those odds can be greatly increased, but the risk is still there. I hope you enjoy watching their journey as much as I do!

Zebra finch chicks #1 & 2, eggs #3 and 4 on 01-16-2009. Picture by Delphia Janiszeski

Zebra finch chicks #1, 2 and 3; note the extremely full crop of the one on the far left! Picture by Delphia Janiszeski



Zebra finch chick gaping; note the "directing" spots inside the mouth and the bright white sides of the mouth. Isn't the fuzz adorable?!? 01-18-2009 Picture by Delphia Janiszeski





Zebra finch chicks #1, 2 and 3 (l to r) on 01-18-2009 Picture by Delphia Janiszeski

UPDATE: 01-21-2009

All three chicks are still doing well! Pin feathers have appeared on #1 and #2, and #1's eyes are starting to open! Chick #3 was born a few days after the others, and is much smaller; I suspect that it might be getting overlooked some of the time, because it's crop is never as completely stuffed as the other two. Today, I took the little one out and gave it a few seeds, while it peeped plaintively and waggled it's little tongue back and forth. They're so cute!

In this picture, you can see the great size difference between the three chicks:

Zebra finch chicks, 01-21-2009 picture by Delphia Janiszeski

Here, you can see the pin feathers breaking through the skin:

Zebra finch chick #1, 01-21-2009 picture by Delphia Janiszeski

Here's a shot of #3, seeds in his crop.

Zebra finch chick #3 01-21-2009 picture by Delphia Janiszeski

And here are the parents in the nest. You can see one of the chicks peeking up between them.

Zebra finch parents in the nest 01-21-2009 picture by Delphia Janiszeski

UPDATE: 01-25-2009



All three chicks have opened their eyes!





UPDATE: 01-27-2009


A picture of all three chicks. Look how big they are already!


Zebra finch chicks #1, 2, 3 (top to bottom) 01-27-2009 picture by Delphia Janiszeski

UPDATE: 02-01-2009

Chick #1 has left the nest! The parents, This and That were not happy and were extremely chatty and kept close to the chick. Before putting it back in the nest, I took a few pics. Chick #1 was hatched is 17 days old in these photos.


That, This and #1 (l-r) on the occasion of #1's first foray out of the nest on 02-01-2009. picture by Delphia Janiszeski




#1 Perching on a low branch during his first time out of the nest on 02-01-2009. picture by Delphia Janiszeski




Zebra Finch chick #1 looking befuddled after leaving the nest for the first time on 02-01-2009. picture by Delphia Janiszeski




Chick #1 and #2 (l-r) in the nest. Chick #3 is behind and under them and not visible. Taken 02-01-2009. picture by Delphia Janiszeski






UPDATE: 02-04-2009



ALL THREE CHICKS HAVE LEFT THE NEST!! Chick #3 still has a few tufts of baby fuzz, and he is visibly smaller than the other two, but he is doing well! He is much more timid than the other two, and I did not want to stress him out by taking pictures, so you'll just have to use your imagination!






UPDATE: 02-17-2009



The chicks' beaks are starting to change color! You can see in this picture, there is a tiny bit of orange showing up on the tip and at the nostrils.


Zebra finch chick #1, taken 02-17-2009 picture by Delphia Janiszeski


UPDATE: 03-13-2009

Yesterday, I put the Zebra finches outside for a few hours to start getting used to being there and to see the other finches with whom they will be living. As soon as I took them out, all the finches in the outdoor cage started beeping and chirping, and that got the Zebras going. It was so cute!

If it stays over 60 degrees (F) for five nights in a row, I will put them outside with the other finches. I'm so excited to be able to see the conclusion of this journey!


The Zebra finches outside for the first time on 12 March 2009. Picture by Delphia Janiszeski.



Here is the whole family. Left to right are 2, 3, 1, This and That.

Chicks 2, 3, 1 and parents This and That enjoying their first time outside. Taken 3-12-2009. Picture by Delphia Janiszeski.

UPDATE: 03-15-2009  "In with the big birds now!"

The family spent their first night outside last night, and all went well.  They joined the dawn chorus and were beeping up a storm!  Since that went fine, I decided to go ahead and put them in with the rest of my finches (I brought home a pair of button quail from a friend yesterday, too.).  So far, so good!

I am elated that all three chicks have grown up to be happy, healthy birds.  I'm so glad I could share this adventure with all of you, my nestwatching friends!

Nest watching from my kitchen window: The end of the road

UPDATED 4-12-08!

Earlier in March, a pair of pigeons who hang out in my backyard began building a nest on top of my outdoor aviary. They built it on an angled roof, though, and it was sliding off. I moved it to the top of an old dresser I have sitting outside my kitchen window (the dresser is coverered in heavy plastic, awaiting refinishing). I didn't think they would come back to the nest, since it was right by the sliding glass door (which gets opened and closed a bazillion times a day for my dogs) and next to my kitchen window.

Then, on the 28th, I saw one of the pigeons sitting on the nest! All I have to do is look through my kitchen window to see the nest. Below are a few pictures I've taken so far.

Girl Rusty, a red color morph, sits on the nest during the daytime, with Boy Blue (a "checker" color morph?) usually sitting on the block wall nearby, on the roof of the house, or watching from the grass while foraging.

Now, normally the female incubates the eggs at night. However, Boy Blue takes the overnight shift on this nest. I know that Blue is male because I have seen his mating displays, and watched him bring sticks to Girl Rusty with which to build the nest -- and they built a really good nest, which is kind of unsual for a member of the dove family (yes, Pigeons are doves -- Rock Doves, to be exact)!

Rusty has no problem with me being out in the yard, or on the porch taking care of my outdoor birds. Blue, on the other hand, is afraid of his own shadow, and will take off if I look at him for too long or if he thinks I'm getting too close to the nest -- which is hard not to do, since it's right next to the patio door (I have a chunk of split firewood next to the nest as a way to 'enclose' the nest area). Blue has started to return to the nest while I'm still out there, though, which I take as a sign that he is getting used to me. Plus, I make sure to look at him through the window and do things at the kitchen sink so he gets used to me being busy around him.

Now, I don't feed the pigeons in my neighborhood, and only these two pigeons actually 'hang out' on my porch for any length of time. I do not intend to make these two tame, or to tame the chick(s) if any hatch. I just enjoy watching the process unfolding before my very eyes!

There are those out there who think that pigeons are vermin, "flying rats", pests...but really, they are amazing creatures. They are highly adaptable: normally, they nest on rock ledges (hence "Rock Dove"), but the urban landscape provides them a multitude of surfaces on which to nest. Humans provide all kinds of food for them, as well, even when they don't intend to do so.

Pigeons are also astounding navigators! They are able to find their way home when released from an unfamiliar site, even when blindfolded on the trip there ("homing pigeons" are the best example of this). They are known to recognize and use physical landmarks such as roads and buildings to make their way to their roost. Recent studies have also shown that some pigeons can count, and even remember as many as a thousand images and which feeder they are connected to!

Incubation of the one to two eggs is approximately 18 days, and the chicks remain in the nest for another 25 to 30 days after that. I hope to be able to bring you pictures of at least one chick hatching in this nest! Enjoy the pictures I have so far:

~*~Girl Rusty on nest ~*~

3-28-2008

~*~Boy Blue on watch~*~

3-30-08

~*~The First Egg~*~

3-31-2008

~*~The Second Egg~*~

4-1-2008

UPDATE: 4-6-2008

~*~Boy Blue on Nest 4-6-08~*~

I candled the eggs today (meaning I put a flashlight behind it to shine the light through the egg) and to my great surprise, there is a network of veins -- a sure sign that the eggs were indeed fertilized! The first egg should hatch about April 17th, the second egg about April 19th.

~*~First Egg: Veining 4-6-08~*~

The darker spot to the upper left of center is where the heart is. You see my thumb and forefinger on the edges. Clearly more veining in this egg than the second, see picture below.

~*~Second Egg: Veining 4-6-08~*~

The darker spot is, again, the heart. YES -- you can actually see it beating! It is the most amazing thing to see!

UPDATE: 4-7-2008

I let the dogs out late last night and scared the holy bejeebers out of Boy Blue. He shot straight up in the air and bounced himself off the ceiling of the patio cover, then flew away. I don't think he ever came back, because a little while ago, I let the dogs out again -- the nest is empty and the eggs are cold.


The eggs need to remain at a constant temperature, and be turned several times a day to prevent the embryo from "sticking" to the inside of the shell. I don't know if the eggs getting cold will end the development of the embryos inside or not, but I have serious doubts that the embryos will continue to develop. I really, really hope that Girl Rusty returns for her day shift, and that the eggs will be okay.


I do not have an incubator to put the eggs in, I can't afford to buy one, and in truth, I should let them be; native species or not, they are wild animals and I should let the natural process do what it will. As a wild bird rehabilitator, it is my duty to not interfere unless absolutely necessary, such as a bird that has been affected by some sort of human interference (hit by car, poisoned, nest site in danger, etc.).


Oh, but it is so hard not to, especially when they are right there....

~*~

Boy Blue finally came back! He sat on the nest until about 11 am, then Girl Rusty came for her day shift -- quite a bit later than her normal time.


Before the changing of the guard though, I happened to catch Boy Blue flying to the fence to greet Girl Rusty and "kiss" her hello (actually, feeding each other is part of the mating & bonding process). Then he went back to sitting on the eggs while she went who knows where!


I'm so glad to see that they are still determined to hatch those eggs. 10 days or so from now should be the first hatch!

UPDATE: 4-8-2008 -- Other birdy happenings in my yard

My Diamond doves have decided to nest! I have one male and two females. The male is Nemo, so named because he was born without the lower part of his left wing. The females are Barbara (as in Barbara Streisand -- who did a duet with Neil Diamond; Neil was Nemo's original name until I discovered his birth defect) and Yellow Rose (so named because she has yellow leg band and is more delicate than Barbara, who has a green leg band).


I have a nest box which is actually for other types of birds, but no one uses it; there was a shallow nest in another corner in which one of the females laid her two eggs, but it was in a high traffic area, so I moved the eggs to the nest box, and propped the top open. The Diamond doves decided that this was ok, and the other female has laid an egg too (doves lay one or two eggs only; there may be a fourth egg since both females are using the nest).


So here is a picture of Nemo on the nest, the eggs in the nest, and the eggs in my hand for size comparison:

~*~ Nemo on Nest ~*~

4-8-08

~*~ Three Eggs in Nest ~*~

4-8-08

~*~ Three Eggs in My Hand ~*~

4-8-08

The eggs are about one inch long from point to point, and about one inch in diameter at the widest point. My index finger is about 2.5" long.

~*~

A group of pigeons decided to hang out in my yard today, and I was able to take a few pictures of the beautiful iridescent feathers on the neck of a banded male, and the pattern on the wing of a checkered male.

Note the chair legs in the third picture; that's Joey's (my male Italian Greyhound) chair -- he loves to lay in the chair! It's pretty funny :)

UPDATE: 4-9-2008

I happened to catch Blue away from the nest greeting Rusty, so I took the opportunity to check the eggs again. To my great relief, they are still developing! In fact, I could see and feel the embryos moving around inside, and could see where the eyespot is developing! It was the most amazing thing!!!!

So, the eggs are still on track for the approximate hatch date of 4-17/18 and 4-19/20...

UPDATE: 4-11-08

I have not seen Rusty even near the nest for at least a day. Perhaps something happened to Rusty?

The eggs got cold again last night, but I saw Blue on the nest this morning; however, he's acting very strangely, more off than nest than on. Every time I open the back door, or move around at the kitchen sink, Blue takes off. What happened to spook him so badly? He was finally getting to a point where I could mess around on the porch and he wouldn't fly away....

Dare I check the eggs again for movement? I have already resigned myself to whatever fate Nature has in store for them, but still....

~*~

The Diamond dove eggs are not fertilized, which actually is not surprising to me. Nemo sure pesters the girls, but I have yet to see any actual mating.

UPDATE: 4-12-08

The End of the Road

Neither Rusty nor Blue has returned to the nest, and the eggs are cold. I candled them and discovered, as I suspected, that the embryos were no longer moving. Also, the eggs had not been turned in some time, so the contents had settled and adhered to the shell. It's difficult to verbalize my feelings at this point.

I removed the eggs from the nest permanently; it seems odd to look at the empty nest through my kitchen window.