The Eggs Have been Removed

Yesterday we removed three eggs, cleaned the box, and held the baby (pics to follow). She's a giant baby! (note: will use he/she interchangeably). Her eyes remain closed. She has quite a few feathers and a large, full, buddha tummy. She flapped her wings. Mary ann and Sutcliffe were understandably concerned, but after replacing the box, they both went in and fed the baby, and today, all is well. The three eggs were as follows: two empty (unfertilized?). one: fertilized, but no viable offspring. However, this giant baby is going to take all of her parents attention, I am sure! Here you can see Mary ann is getting suspicious. She's a smart bird.

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!

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.

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.

A Move in the Right Direction

Today when I went to feed Sutcliffe and Mary ann, both scuttled hastily into the nest box. A very good sign! This is the first time I have seen them in the nest box since Boo came home (about a month ago). I had quite a few thing to do in the vicinity of the couples cage (it being Saturday: they are near the laundry; also, I had to tidy the cage and the surrounding area). From time to time, they headed into the nest box either singly, or together. Sutcliffe was looking at it yesterday: today he is the one who was in it more. Boo continues to make loud "tweeEEEP tweeEEP" noises, and his mother seems to hear them, but, hopefully, this nesting behavior will continue and flourish.

A Little Less Hot, a Lot More Action

The weather has markedly cooled over the last two days; from highs in the mid to high 80s (F) and lows in the high 70s, to highs in the mid seventies and lows down to 50F. It rained yesterday. I believe this has weather change induced a much more amorous feeling in the budgies, if nest box visiting is a measure of that. Both birds are spending a lot of time in the next box, including, together. Also, Mary ann will stick her head out of the box and Sutcliffe will feed her. Its pretty cute. There is still plenty of time being spent outside the box, as well, but, the trajectory is clearly in the right direction. We also "exercised" the budgies yesterday, by taking Mary ann and Sutcliffe out and letting them do some finger sitting. Perhaps the exercise was also good for them. We have put "fresh" (ie, additonal from C.s original batch) eucalytus in also.

Sutcliffe Is Doing What He Can (It Seems)

Sutcliffe seems very into the entire nest box and mating idea (although we haven't actually caught him um, er, in the act). However, he is in and out of the box, cozying up to Mary ann and feeding her continuously, and has a very blue beak in addition to a blue cere. Mary ann, however, seems less enthused. While she is in the nest box from time to time, its not particularly often. She lets Sutcliffe feed her, and she feeds herself. Pretty much, most of her day is spent eating. The weather has cooled slightly, and it is now raining. All I can do is hope that there is something romantic in the air. Mary ann has become almost twice as large as Sutcliffe. She seems happy enough, though. I suppose all we can do now is wait and see. We have moved the camera to a hole over the nest box.

Snack Time

Mary ann is really working on getting as many calories into her self as possible; she is eating pretty much constantly. We put up a snack stick (peanut butter and seeds) and she devoured about one third of it in less than a day: this is a stick that would normally last a couple weeks. She has been in the nest box a lot more today and yesterday than before. Sutcliffe is still having a ball eating eucalyptus, feeding it to her, and hopping about, including in and out of the box. J modified the perch situation so she can more easily get in and out of the box because the one perch we had for the box was not really steady enough, and perhaps, was a disincentive. The biggest factor for breeding, though, I have concluded, is the temperature. As it cools, I think we will have success. I must assure that we put in a lamp on a timer as the days shorten (around sept 21) so they get a good 12 hours of light daily.

Sutcliffe and Mary Ann visit the Nest Box!

I don't know if it is the eucalyptus (in background of video), the weather (a perfect summer day, or just the right time, but both Sutcliffe and Mary ann have been in the nest box today: Sutcliffe, several times! We are about to go on a short trip, and have placed a lot of eucalyptus, and treats in the cage. Hopefully privacy, food, eucalyptus, and hormones will lead to nesting and egg laying.

If this Cage's a'Rockin' Don't Bother Knockin'

As you can see (I hope), Sutcliffe and Mary ann are doing a lot of jumping around, causing the webcam to shake quite a bit. Shake it, budgies!

Cooler Weather

The weather has gone from extremely hot, to autumnally cool. The budgies behavior does not seem to have changed, however. It is a gray, dreary day. People and buddgies all seem a bit cranky.

Mary Ann's Bum

Mary ann's bum is decidedly bigger. And, she is clearly clunkier: she clunked down on a perch so hard it shook, whereas sutcliffe simply hops gently onto the same perch. I suspect she is pregnant. However, she has not even set foot in the nest box. I certainly hope that all works out, and that she doesn't get any egg binding, which is a seriously dangerous situation.

An Experiment

As an experiment, I took grasses collected last weekend, got them damp, and put them in baggies in the freezer. Today, I took a baggie out, ran warm water through it and across the grasses, and then gave them to the budgies. If this works, I think, then I can use grasses collected this season all winter. The result? Well, at first, the budgies were not too interested. later, they sampled the grass seeds, but not with the usual enthusiasm. I would say, this was moderately successful at best.

Mary Ann and Sutcliffe Get Nippy

Mary ann and Sutcliffe seem to be getting along fine, and he continues to feed her, all the time, but more nipping back and forth seems to be going on. However, his cere (nasal bridge) is a lovely testosterone blue, and her cere, a nice feminine estrogenic brownish, scaly pink. Maybe everyone is just feeling the heat.

Does This Nest Box Make me look Fat?

Is it my imagination, or is Mary Ann getting a bigger bum? Maybe it is swollen with egg(s)? However, her only nest box encounters to date (other than the glorious days of Boo's birth) have been after being placed there. Sutcliffe often pokes his head in, though. And, his cere (nasal bridge) is very, very blue signifying, hormonal changes. At least we are having fun with the birds, and hopefully, they don't mind us too much!

Nest Box Travels

In order to try to let Mary Ann and Stucliffe become a bit more acquainted with the box, we decided to let them jump in and out by opening up the back trap door and letting Mary Ann sit on it. It took several hours, and then finally, Sutcliffe went out the other way and left the cage! Prior to doing that he was feeding her, through the hole. Hopefully this experiment will result in nest box familiarity and subsequent eggs. However, I have a bit of a concern that we are overly meddling.

Everything is Hot but Sutcliffe and Maryann

The weather has been downright miserable lately. Simply, too hot. The budgies are in a screened in porch, and in their cages, and while it is perfectly alright for them (they have shade, food, water, and get spray showers from a spray bottle daily) they still don't seem in the mood for love. Maryann has begun some gnawing on a cherry branch stick, a good sign, I think, as it seems to be related to nesting behavior, and also, pulling the occasional nesting material out of the purchased "nesting hair cylinder", but otherwise, no signs at all of breeding potential. This could be a bust!!! lets hope not!

The Nest Box is Up, but Unnoticed

The nest box is now completely attached to the cage and ready for business, but not yet noticed by either Sutcliffe or Maryann. I recall that last time, it took Maryann several weeks, I think, to notice it, at which point she hopped happily in and out, and no breeding occurred until we removed our then third budgie Lola (Lola has been given away to a good family--four budgies was just too much).
We put many wondeful fresh grass seed collected on a walk, in front of the nest box, and the couple ate them, but didn't notice the box. Sutcliffe did a lot of back and forth on the perch, and made loud calls to Boo, who did the same in his cage (he also got greens). I wonder if this loud calling is to send the message, "food is here"?

Its a Start

With so many lovely webcams, pictures, and everything else imaginable out there, it is a bit embarrassing that I am having so much trouble with my set up. I don't find anyone else's stories of woe about usb cable length (or lack thereof), incompatability, and lack of adequate software too interesting, so I'll spare you mine. However, here is the first "test" picture of the budgie cam. As you can see, it is a picture of my finger, and a paper clip, in the nesting box, NOT Maryann nor Sutcliffe. (Boo is now in his own cage to avoid interference with breeding). I also made a video of, yes my finger in the nesting box. Testing, one two three. But, I didn't post it as J says it is more boring than watching one piece of grass growing. So, it is now time to put the box on the cage, and see what happens! Lets all keep our fingers, er, out of the nest box, and crossed. And remember, every journey begins with a single step. Lets also hope that I am not going to be marching in place!