Fledglings emerge from the nest after twenty days. They are usually well- developed, albeit with short tails, and capable of short flights. The plumage is almost entirely brown, lighter on the underparts. There is a smudge of Alizarin Crimson on the rump. The mandible is charcoal in colour.
building material is variable. This may consist of soft, dried pliable grasses of lengths up to 250mm, soft white feathers and swamp grass. The dome-shaped structure has an entrance hole on one side. A feather of grass head may be placed strategically at the entrance so as to inhibit viewing of the interior. Four or five small elliptical eggs are laid with serious incubation commencing upon the arrival of the fifth egg. In extreme circumstances, up to eight eggs may be laid by a single hen bird. The incubation period lasts for 12 or 13 days. Whilst there are eggs or very young chicks, both parents will brood at night. During daylight hours, the male bird carries out the majority of the incubation duties and, in the evenings, the hen takes over or shares with the male. An increased taking of insects, such as the termites, precipitates the imminent hatching of the youngsters. The parents do this when they hear the youngsters within the eggs. The discarded eggshells are removed from the nest by the parents and deposited
at some distance. The parents do not feed the dark skinned hatchlings for their first 24 hours of life. They are brooded by their parents for the first nine or ten days. If after that period, there is a sudden drop in ambient temperature, the nestlings are at risk of dying of exposure.
Fledglings emerge from the nest after twenty days. They are usually well- developed, albeit with short tails, and capable of short flights. The plumage is almost entirely brown, lighter on the underparts. There is a smudge of Alizarin Crimson on the rump. The mandible is charcoal in colour. The parents will lead the fledglings back to the safety of the nest for the first three or so nights. The fledglings usually stay together and much of this time may be spent on the aviary floor. Whilst some of the chicks may be seen to be picking around food bowls or on the floor, it should not be safely assumed that they are fully weaned until they are at least two weeks old. I have not experienced issues
An increased taking of insects, such as the termites, precipitates the imminent hatching of the youngsters. The parents do this when they hear the youngsters within the eggs. The discarded eggshells are removed from the nest by the parents and deposited at some distance.
08 12 BIRD SCENE
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