Bourkes Parakeet Nesting Journal

[TomC]

In addition to fish, I keep a few cages of birds. The Bourkes Parakeets have been mating, so I added a nest box. The first egg appeared last Friday, December 2nd, and now there are two. I will continue to post pictures as things happen.

The parents:


Two pictures from a webcam hidden inside the nest box. (Video to come if I get around to posting on youtube.)

[Momobobo]

Thats so cool

[Ursus sapien]

that's cool, Tom, I didn't realize you had birds too. Bourke's are sweet.

[Keri]

Aww so cute! Bourques are fairly quiet, right?

[TomC]

Aww so cute! Bourques are fairly quiet, right?

Yes, thats why I chose them. Budgies have a more outgoing personality, but can be very loud. Bourkes are very quiet and peaceful. Out of nesting season, they get along well with finches. This male used to be buddies with a Society Finch, who was always begging food from the parakeets mouth.

[TomC]

December 8: The last three days have seen two more eggs laid. The female is nearly always on the eggs, coming out several times a day for only 2 or 3 minutes a time. The male feeds her in the nest box.

[Morainy]

This is fascinating, Tom!! And the eggs are so perfect-looking and translucent (a little bit like ping pong balls in the photos). I didn't realize at first when I saw the title of the thread that this was your journal about your own parakeets. I look forward to seeing the other photos.

Did you build their house? Do they live indoors? Can they fly around your room? I see the opening in the wall but I don't know if it leads to freedom or to another room. How did you get your camera in there?

[TomC]

I bought the nest box. The birds are in a large cage in my living room. (see picture below) Unfortunately, I can't let them fly around the room because they're just too hard to catch. The opening leads to the cage. The camera is mounted upside down and peeks in through a little window cut into the box, which is why any movies I wind up posting will be upside down.

[TomC]

Egg number four was laid on Monday the 12th. If the eggs are fertile, the first chick should appear next week, but I'm not optimistic. The eggs seem a bit clear, which is a bad sign. When held up to a light, good eggs are opaque and bad ones are clear. But I don’t want to disturb the mother to find out for sure. Keeping my fingers crossed.

[TomC]

December 22: Still four eggs. If any are fertile, there will be a chick anytime between now and New Years. Meanwhile, here is a video of mom being fed by dad.