Alfred Ezra—Nesting Notes from Foxwarren Park in 1932 123



NESTING NOTES FROM FOXWARREN PARK


IN 1932


By Alfred Ezra, O.B.E.


Although a good many birds nested during the fine summer of

1932, very few young were reared, and only two that had not done so

previously. These were the White-winged Mynah ( Sturnia

nemoricola) and Fytch’s Bamboo Partridge ( Bamhusicola fytchii).

I now give the particulars of all the nesting and rearing of birds during

the year.


Elegant Parrakeet (Neophema elegans). A pair of these birds

laid their first egg on the 4th April. In all three eggs were laid. Two

were infertile and the third had a partly formed chick. Nesting again,

the hen laid four eggs about the third week of June. By the 17th July

four young were hatched. Two of these died, but the other two were

successfully reared, leaving the nest on the 19th August in splendid

condition.


Bourke’s Parrakeet (N eopsephotus bourkei). A pair laid two eggs

in June but did not sit. The eggs were transferred to an Elegant’s

nest. One young was hatched on 15th July. Chick found dead on

the 17th, most probably because the Elegants were incubating four of

their own eggs, and these did not hatch out till the 17th. The male

Bourke’s was found dead on the 29th July. Cause, congestion of

lungs. A new male bird was put in with the hen on 8th August.

Another nest, and three eggs were laid the first week of September.

One young hatched out on the 24th, but the other eggs were infertile.

Young one found dead on the 10th October. Parents had been feeding

well. A female Elegant paired to a male Bourke went to nest and

laid three eggs. All infertile.


Ring-necked Parrakeet ( Psittacula krameri). A lutino hen

mated to a green male bird nested early in February, laying three

eggs. One was broken during incubation, one was infertile, and one

young was hatched out on 3rd March. Found dead on the 29th.

Nested again about the end of April, laying three eggs. Two young

were hatched out on 25th May. The third egg had been cracked.



