FEATURE


hook the back two toes through the ring. The ringing went well but it was fortunate that this was carried out on a Saturday when I always feed the dry staple Versele- Laga Big Parakeet mix and clean off the feeding shelves because I noticed that the hen Pennant had not gone back onto her youngsters, after an hour she did return so all was well. When ringing it is best to do it in the evening as the adults tend to be more eager to return to the nest box at this time of day. At the time of obtaining these birds I also received the nest box which they had bred in for the two previous seasons and that they were obviously very happy using, sometimes by changing nest boxes when they become chewed makes birds unhappy and they will not accept the replacement, if you do change boxes try to find a space where you can retain the old damaged one just in case they decide they want it back! I know patched up nest boxes look rather untidy but that is a small price to pay for a successful nest of young parakeets. Soon after the young left the nest the hen continued to show interest in the box but nothing came of that and I was not surprised when she started to go into the annual moult. So from two pairs I have bred 8 healthy youngsters. So 2015 was a better year for my Pennant’s Rosellas than 2014 with eight good quality babies on the perch. What will 2016 bring? Again the parents will be kept in their aviary and the same


regime followed as in 2015 but with the addition of more fruit to the diet which was mainly apple following a good harvest from my trees, the only problem with feeding fruit during the summer months is that it does attract wasps which can kill birds if they sting them, so if wasps are present in high numbers it is possibly best to curtail the use of fruit in August and September. I am delighted that there were five


babies because that has been the best nest I have obtained from a pair of Pennant’s for a number of years and an indication that fertility is good. I do hope that you have enjoyed reading this article as it underlines that Pennant’s Rosellas can be free breeders but sometimes there are unexpected and unexplained reasons why things do not go to plan. If you require any information on the Pennant’s please do not hesitate to e-mail me at les.rance@theparrotsocietyuk.org or telephone me on 01442 782245 at the office, I would be pleased to help.


…sometimes by changing nest boxes when they become chewed makes birds unhappy and they will not accept the replacement, if you do change boxes try to find a space where you can retain the old damaged one just in case they decide they want it back!


BIRD SCENE 25


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