Thanks for your interest in our blog, and for taking the time to write in with your kind comment.

If you are interested, I have written other articles on similar themes, including Stress and Finch Nestlings and Colorful Finch Chick Mouths. Hope you enjoy!

Best regards, Frank Indiviglio.

I don’t know of any other bird that apportions food among chicks in such a manner. I’ve watched a number of nests of other birds fairly closely (in zoo collections) and it seems that the biggest and largest mouth gets the most food.

In fact, sometimes any large mouth will do – I was once shown a photo of a robin stuffing an earthworm into the mouth of a fish (a koi that had surfaced near when the robin was foraging)!

Always pleased to receive interesting news, thanks very much…

Best regards, Frank Indiviglio.

Thanks very much for the story…sitting here in frigid NY, I’d give anything to be able to see rosellas in my back yard!

Fledglings of all species nearly always leave the nest before being able to fly well, and a great many are caught by predators in the first few days thereafter. However, because of their “equitable” feeding strategy, rosella chicks are usually in better shape than most other species, and have a better chance at making it. The fact that there were only 2 chicks is very much in their favor. Two is a small clutch, so the chicks most likely were well-fed and stronger than average upon fledging.

As for the parents seeming to search for the chicks, that’s very odd…usually fledglings are easy to locate, as they cannot go far (in some species the chicks are fed for a few days after fledging). Perhaps these were good fliers right out of the nest, which again would work in their favor. Another possibility is that a snake, lizard or small mammal moved into the nest box once it was empty, and the parents were making a fuss over that. Whatever the outcome, I think all went as well as could be, and you were very fortunate to have been able to see it up close.

Best regards, Frank Indiviglio.

Thanks for your interest in our blog, and for taking the time to write in. Your kind words are much appreciated. Any feedback, questions or thoughts concerning articles that you’d like to read would be most welcome.

Best regards, Frank Indiviglio.

Frank Indiviglio here. Thanks so much for your kind remark. I’m particularly pleased as regards this one because I enjoy adding research updates, but worry that people might prefer practical articles.

I’ll add similar ones from time to time; please be in touch if I can be of any help.

Best regards, Frank Indiviglio.