A. C. Furner—Successes and Failures in the Aviaries



11



The Red-ramped Parrakeets went to nest in May, but before the

young were hatched we found the cock bird dead and the hen apparently

left the nest.


I immediately took the eggs and nesting log away, putting in a

new log and a new cock bird. Although I was very doubtful about

the reception which the new suitor would get, so soon after the first

husband’s decease, all went quietly, and within a fortnight of putting

him in they had gone to nest, resulting in four young hens. As she

already had had the first misfortune I did not allow her to go a third

time.


It is rather interesting to note that during the last three years

out of ten young Red-rumps from this hen eight of them have been hens.


The pair of Swainson’s Lorikeets which I obtained from separate

sources last year caused a good deal of excitement by laying three

eggs and sitting on them for four weeks, when they both lost interest

in the nest-box, and we found the eggs were clear. Here again they

made no further attempt, although they appear to be mating up again

this late time *of the year.


It has been a good season amongst the Lovebirds. A pair of Masked

that I have had for some years, and who have spent three parts of

their life sitting on eggs without hatching any, have produced two

young ones which have left the nest perfect, and they have gone to

nest again.


I attribute this success entirely to the Marquess of Tavistock’s

definite preference for an outside nesting box, and it was at the second

time of nesting in this outside nest-box that the success occurred.

During practically the whole time of their incubation it poured with

rain, and I certainly propose next spring to put all my Lovebirds’

nesting boxes in the flight portion of the aviary instead of the roost.


In another aviary a Fischer cock mated to a Masked hen have

continued to produce their kind, and these birds have brought out

six sturdy youngsters since May, and are still keeping it up as the

hen bird is sitting again.


Another pair of Masked Lovebirds, purchased by me as a true

pair, have brought out four young which are most handsome little

birds but definitely not true Masked ; the yellow breast feathers



