Breeding Green Avadavats
Green Avadavats have an unusual breeding pattern.
The first sign of breeding with most waxbills is the carrying
of grass. You may be lucky and see Green Avadavats carrying
grass however a nest usually magically appears. It is found
after both birds have disappeared and you go looking and find
them sitting in the nest. The nest is oval shaped with a small
tight entrance facing slightly downwards which makes it difficult
to see inside.
For several days both birds will “sit” in the nest. This
behavior can last for over a week after which the usual pattern
of incubation prevails – one sitting. The eggs (usually 4)
are laid sometime during this period.
An increased interest in live food indicates that the eggs
have hatched. At this time both parents can be found sitting
in the nest. This goes on for several days after which the
usual pattern of both birds rearing the young occurs. The young
can be heard feeding at about 7 days old. This occurs when
a parent bird enters the nest.
The young leave the nest approximately 21 days after hatching.
However due to the unusual characteristics of both birds sitting
on the nest prior to laying eggs, the time taken up to fledging
can be up to 7 weeks. Many a nest has been spoilt by the breeder
checking the nest thinking that the young are overdue, thus
causing the parent birds to desert.
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