14



Breeding Successes in New Zealand



BREEDING SUCCESSES IN NEW ZEALAND


BREEDING THE PILEATED FINCH


We obtained a pair of these birds in June, 1935, and kept them

in a large cage in the house until the following December, when they

were liberated in a mixed aviary of Finches and Waxbills.


By the middle of January, they had built a nest in a low-growing

privet bush in the open flight. The nest was small for the size of the

birds, and beautifully made with soft pieces of wood fibre, unravelled

rope, and pampas grass.


Two rather long, greyish-white eggs were laid and the hen only

sat very closely for twelve days. At no time was the cock bird seen

to take any turn on the nest, but he sat on a near-by branch most of

the time and constantly fed the sitting hen.


On 31st January two young birds were hatched out, but the follow-

ing Sunday we experienced a severe cyclone and, although the hen

never left the nest during the storm, the young birds died two days

later.


The parents immediately set about repairing the nest and, in about

a week’s time, the hen was again sitting on two eggs. Both eggs hatched,

but after four or five days one young one disappeared. The other grew

very rapidly and kept both birds busy feeding it. As soon as the young

bird hatched, we observed the old birds became almost entirely

insectivorous, and it was greatly owing to the kindness of Mr. G.

Rowland Hutchinson, who helped us obtain large supplies of crickets

and grasshoppers, that we were successful in rearing the young one.


On 8th March it left the nest when about two weeks old. For three

days the parents kept it hidden in the undergrowth. As it was wet,

stormy weather we were afraid we had lost it, but when they brought

it out, it was well-feathered and could fly fairly well. It is now a fine

young cock bird as big as its parents.



L. C. Spencer.



