When You're an Egg, The View is Always the Same

Yesterday, Mary Ann looked a bit "peak-ed" to me. Sutcliffe stood next to the entrance hole of the nest box most of the day, and she was quite near the front. Notably, it was a bit colder. Today, however, the furnace has really kicked up, and when I put greens out (watercress and dill weed) both parents were very pleased! Mary ann otherwise has been sitting on the eggs constantly. The world, if you are one of her eggs, is largely yellow, warm, and soft. Doesn't sound too bad!

Tuesday is Boo's Day

I have decided that it would be fun to make every (or at least Most) Tuesday's a "Boo's Day". The reasons are several:
1. Most of the blog focuses on eggs, but, Boo is also very interesting.
2. Boo is my adored favorite. (is that wrong?)
3. You gotta love him, he's the baby! (We'll see what happens when the next brood comes along though, lol!)
He is now in his own cage, and happy again, with Mia in a new cage by herself. She caused him to lose weight (a whole 2 grams, and he only weighs 32 grams!). She also stressed him out so badly that he went into a massive molt. But this morning, one week or so after Mia's removal, he was singing to his hearts content. She was eating some dill weed that I put in her cage, contentedly it seemed, though did I imagine it, or was she also doing it a bit grumpily?

Stopping at Four in a Feathered Nest

It appears that Mary ann and Sutcliffe are stopping at four: we see no additional egg since our absence over the Thanksgiving holiday. The fourth egg seems to be a bit neglected. The first three have been "herded" into a central spot, and Mary ann sits on them almost the entire day. The fourth remains on the periphery, which is concerning. Yesterday I HAD to clean the cage (there have been two requests for poop pictures, but that was vetoed by J for this blog). In any case, during cleaning, Mary ann was very agitated and came out of the box. She has already lost weight. I hope Sutcliffe can keep up with feeding her and when they hatch, the young! It is likely only one, or even one, will surivive. But we will see!

Another Egg Laid: Four Eggs!

I hope this stops at some point! However, we know that Mary ann laid four eggs last brood, so it is not surprising that she laid four again. the survival rate for budgies hatched in aviaries is 50%: our first attempt, boo's clutch, had a lower success rate, with only one of four surviving. That could be the same with this group, or even worse, so we must prepare our gentle readers of the blog for the likelihood of at least some bad news at some point in this process. Biology is not a gentle field. That said, this is still very great news.

Three Eggs!

Very exciting! We can count three eggs as of yesterday. The parents are very much covering the view most of the time, with Mary Ann into close to full time brooding behavior, so we can't tell if another one has been laid or not today: so three for sure, so far. Sutcliffe continues to scuttle about, but today, for the first time, Mary ann booted him out of the box. Perhaps this signals the end of egg laying, perhaps not. Of course we will keep you posted! As R noted earlier, a lovely flourish of trumpets is warranted!

Ta dada DAAA (trumpet flourish!)!!!!

Budgie Breeding-A Euphemistic Yet Biological Update

I have received a few requests to not be vulgar on this blog, so, I am using Euphemisms from this point forward as much as possible. However, if anyone wants a euphemism to biology translational post, I'd be pleased to oblige upon request.

This morning, both parents were out of the nest box. Mary ann did her "toiletting" Her "butt" was triangulated in appearance. The tail region was large. Sutcliffe was feeling "romantic" and attempted/succeeded in mating activity.

This is of interest, because there are already two eggs. Therefore, not all eggs are fertilized, one would surmise from this, at the same time. Only two eggs were seen so far. Last time, she laid 4 eggs, three hatched, only one survived. I don't know if there are unfertilized eggs laid when there is a cock around, or if the other simply didn't make it at an earlier point in the brooding.

Mary ann and Sutcliffe have also begun rigorous housecleaning. Mary ann "toilets" once a day (always in the same spot: to me, that is interesting). However, Sutcliffe occasionally "goes" in the nest box. This is removed promptly, as are some feathers (others remain, not clear how these are chosen-perhaps soiled featehrs are removed?).

More Big News!

A second egg has been laid! We are quite sure that it was not present yesterday. While we are not quite sure of when the first was laid (though within the last week), we are quite sure of the date of this one: today. Therefore, we will be able to fairly accurately time how long it takes to hatch (assuming they will hatch in order...which may not be a fair assumption). Mary Ann continues to roll both of them (could not get video of that) and also, sits on both of them. This may be anthropomorphising, but it seems that Sutcliffe, who is spending a lot of time in the nest box, is getting on her nerves. He needs to let her brood on the eggs. Instead, he "scuttles about" and disturbs her. Surely he is trying to protect his little family in his own way.

BIG news!

An EGG!

We got the webcam hooked up today, and lo and behold, AN EGG. Naturally, we were very excited. I hope we did not disturb the parents too much in webcam set up. They seemed a bit agitated during the set up. Mary ann came out and I witnessed the GIANT budgie crap as well. So far, one egg. It seems to be nestled in a tiny collection of feathers (very cute). At one point, Mary Ann was rolling it about, and at others, both she and Sutcliffe covered it with their bodies. They spent a bit of time outside of the box after the "webcam set up disturbance". We will keep you posted. Of course. Keep your fingers crossed for 1. a healthy brooding and hatching of this egg and 2. laying, and health, of more eggs. And of course, 3. Health of the parents. and Finally 4. Successful blogging.

Increase in Nest Box Time!

Both Sutcliffe and Mary ann are spending much more time in the nest box: Mary ann certainly is "in" more than she is "out". Additionally, the "giant budgie poop" as mentioned in earlier posts is still occurring, daily. Our webcam is not functional (it figures) but, I did peer into the nest box. I saw no eggs, but I did see Stucliffe grooming Mary ann on the top of her head with what I believe to be great affection. He also fed her cilantro last night which I provided. She basically doesn't eat at all now, and he does all her feeding, even if she is out of the box.For interest sake, pictured here is an earlier shot of the M and S in teh nest box, looking out.

Helping our Feathered Friends!

Some poor feathered friends were injured in an oil spill. Thank goodness some humans are helping out! Check it out, http://intbirdrescue.blogspot.com/.

A Change in Routine

Warning: some content of this post may be embarrassing to some people (but not birds).
Over the last week, Sutcliffe and Mary Ann have been spending even more time in the nest box. It is not possible to estimate the total time spent in the nest box, because we are not monitoring them constantly. However, more often than not, when we go to visit them in their love hideaway (Ie the basement), they are both in the nest box.
The "BIG" news: this morning, I spied a very large stool. It is the type that Mary Ann had when she last laid eggs: some may recall, that unlike most budgies, who poop pretty much throughout the day delivering tiny pellets of waste, the nesting budgie goes once a day, and delivers a large dollop.
The unfortunate matter of this is its right next to the food bowl. That could prove to be a bit of a messy issue. Otherwise though, an excellent, and yes, very exciting sign.
Yes, its a giant bird poop, and its VERY exciting!
For those of you who are really fans of biology, I will try to get a photo. I'll watch comments to see if the fans of the blog wish me to post a giant poop picture.

Introducing: MIA

In order to discourage Boo's constant chirping to his mother (who is on another floor, but still, seems distracted), we have gotten him a new companion. Her name is Mia. She is lovely, white with a yellowish face, and a bit of other delicate coloring.
We were going to adopt, but, the hassle factor was SO high: we had to first drive to fill out an application. Then, when our application is approved, meet the bird. Then, get a home visit from some Takoma Park Hippie. Then, drive out and get the bird. All this for a budgie? I mean, yes, adoption is the right thing to do. But they need to lower the bar a bit, at least, on this. I mean, its a BUDGIE. And budgies are $25 at Petsmart. Which is where we got Mia. Walk in, get a budgie, walk out. I feel a bit guilty, but, hey, mission accomplished.
So far, Boo seems to hate her. At least, they spend a fair amount of their time pushing each other off of perches. He also pecks at her. But, he seems a bit deferential, as well. She comes in from the Budgie Bin, where it was a "Bird eat Bird" world, and he has known nothing but pampering and adoration. We will see where this goes, and, if it helps Mary ann and Sutcliffe FINALLY get the lovin' they need from each other.
On a general blogging note: I wonder if I should get myself one of these t-shirts for myself? http://www.onehorseshy.com/highbrow/no_one_cares_about_your_blog/.