January 24, 2010
-
We have fledglings! Squee!
According to the book, the babies should have started fledging yesterday. I had no fledglings yesterday, nor early this morning....But about midmorning, I went up to change their cage and two of them were out and about!
They fly well. Evidently, finches are hardwired to fly. However, they are not hard wired as to how to land gracefully (or land at all!) nor on how to control their flight. There has been lots of flying into the side of the cage and then clinging on for dear life as the baby slowly slides down the bars. There has also been some very untidy crash landings onto branches and the bottom of the cage. Each time though, they manage to get themselves righted and balanced and into the air again.
There is also a major disturbance in the group. The parent birds are very protective and since the babies are all over the cage now, they are giving my other pair a hard time. I expect this will all even out as the parents start pushing the babies toward independence and some pecking order issues are worked out.
These babies won't actually be staying with us though. They are spoken for by Berry, who would like a lovely bit of finchy sweetness at her house.
Now, the pictures:
Here were the babies a few days ago skulking in their nest.
And then this morning....Freedom!
See how the babies still have their juvenile plumage? They are dark gray and their beaks are black. At this point, there is no way to sex them...It will be a surprise later.
Yes, I took advantage of a bumbling baby and caught it....It was very easy to do this morning as the poor thing couldn't figure out how to fly away. I tried to catch one a few minutes ago (late afternoon) and they have already learned how to dodge and weave and stay away from the Hand.
Of course, once I had the baby this morning, it perched on my thumb and stayed there. I waited and waited and finally had to just sort of slide it off onto one of the perches.
As you know, I love my finches. They are so fun to watch and so pleasing to hear. I am very glad I got them!
Comments (2)
wow! they have changed A LOT in such a short time.
@lilms_sassy - Yes! Isn't it amazing!? When I think of how long infancy and childhood last for us, and then see other creatures and that they develop so quickly....It is just interesting to see! I can't wait until they get their adult plumage. Then they are officially "grown up."