Pin-tailed Nest Sites

Nests - 15cm by 15cm by 15cm, external dimensions half-fronted wooden boxes.   A semi-translucent, half-fronted plastic box of 13cm x 13cm x 16 cm (5" by 5" by 6.5") has been used ('4').   Nests started in the baths many times

Material - coconut fibre is all that is needed, some straw can be added but it's not necessary.   Fashion the fibre into some sort of nest in each box

Siting - with a colony, get them started and any container or nook or cranny will be pressed into service.  Plant pot '5' was a classic

Height - sites range from highest available, 2 metres ('1' & '2'), to lowest 90cms ('7' & '8') and even on the ground in an aviary!

 

Material - coconut fibre is all that is needed, some straw can be added but it's not necessary.   Fashion the fibre into some sort of nest in each box

Siting - with a colony, get them started and any container or nook or cranny will be pressed into service.  Plant pot '5' was a classic

Height - sites range from highest available, 2 metres ('1' & '2'), to lowest 90cms ('7' & '8') and even on the ground in an aviary!


 
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Facing - boxes have always been sited with the entrance facing inside away from my gaze.   However, all free-built nests have had their entrance facing outwards!

Nest building was attempted in a bird bath which had fallen to the floor during one particularly intense breeding frenzy.   Once a nest was built in the lower part of a small pot plant ('5')

photo of nest made in narrow gap between shelves
an adult built nest in a 7cm gap between cage bottom and shelf below

Shelves - nests have been built between  shelves formed by the bottom of the upper cage and the top of the one below

Entrance height only 6cms, internal height only 7 cms - reduced by conifer branches on floor of ledge ('3' & '6')


Inspection - never look in a nest if building has started or egg laying may have commenced.   Nest and/ or eggs will be abandoned.   However, with a full clutch they sit very tightly

Nest box tops - make nest box top removable if fostering is intended.   Pin-tailed Parrot Finches make a small, tunnel-like nest entrance

Extracting eggs or chicks with a spoon without a removable nest box top is difficult.   The floors of the cages in the 'factory' were also removable for access to self-built nests in the ledge below


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Material - coconut fibre all that is needed, straw can be added but it's not necessary.   Fashion fibre into some sort of nest in each box

 
Pin-tailed Nest Sites

 

Height - sites - from highest available, 2 metres ('1' & '2'), to very low down

Even on the ground in an aviary

Nests - 15cm by 15cm by 15cm, half-fronted wooden boxes.   Semi-translucent, half-fronted plastic box of 13cm x 13cm x 16 cm used ('4')


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Siting - once colony start breeding any container or cranny used

Nests started in the baths many times - once in bath lying on the floor during a breeding frenzy.   Another in lower part of a small pot plant ('5')

Facing - my boxes always sited with entrance facing inwards

But, all self-built nests with entrance facing outwards!


Shelves - nests built between  shelves formed by bottom of upper cage and top of one below.   Entrance height only 6cms, internal height only 7 cms - reduced by conifer branches on floor of gap ('3' & '6')

 
photo of self-made nest in narrow gap between shelves
self-built nest in 7cm gap between cage bottom and shelf below

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Inspection - never look in a nest if building has started or egg laying may have commenced.   Nest and/ or eggs will be abandoned.   However, with a full clutch they sit very tightly

Nest box tops - make nest box top removable if fostering is intended.   Pin-tailed Parrot Finches make a small, tunnel-like nest entrance

Extracting eggs or chicks with a spoon without a removable nest box top is difficult

The floors of the cages in the 'factory' also removable for access to self-built nests in the ledge below


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