Animal Diaries Archive

Finch Real-estate

18 April 2008

Australians dream of owning their own homes, raising a family and living happily ever after. But with today’s rising interest rates and the cost of living increasing, this dream is fast becoming just that; a dream.

Now spare a thought for the humble little finch that on one hand doesn’t need to watch interest rates but does need to keep a close eye his neighbors. Finches build there own little homes; they are a small dome of inter woven grass and lined with softer finer grass about the size of a softball with a small opening on one side. Finches are prolific nest builders and are always on the hunt for that perfect piece of grass for that renovation they have always wanted to do to their own nest. Nests are usually about 2 meters off the ground in reed beds, long grasses and swamps.

The nest is worked on tirelessly by both parents; always building and shaping until finally the construction is completed. Finches lay between 4-8 white eggs inside their nest and are incubated for around 13 days by both parents.

Now here is where the trouble starts; shortly after the fledglings have left the nest (about 3 weeks), other budding entrepreneurs and potential finch parents, find the unattended nest and start to move in and renovate the nest as their own piece of real estate.

The entire process of building, raising their family and losing their newly built house can take as little as 4-5 weeks. Then, just a few weeks later, the process starts all over again.

So next time the reserve bank rises repayments just remember the plight of our little manikin finches.

If you’re planning a trip to Australia Zoo make sure you come in to our beautiful Rainforest Aviary and see the hardest working parents around.