colony breeding?

[Ryan.W]

i was reading up on budgies in their native habitat and found this.

Like seagulls and cormorants, budgies are colonial birds. You can often see two or three couples of budgerigars bringing up their chicks in different cavities in the same eucalyptus tree. Nesting in colonies is an effective way of protection against predators. In a large flock, many birds and a lot of eyes are watching the surrounding area at the same time. This way of living guaranties a maximum of safety for each flock member. Certainly the budgerigars have to have a unified "language" to be able to warn one another in the case of danger. The budgerigar has a very various voice repertoire which every other conspecific can understand. Also in domesticated birds in an aviary or in a cage one can observe these acoustic communication and typical way of behaviour.

If it's natural to budgies why is their so many problems from colony breeding of captive birds, if it's what they would do in the wild.

[Gaile]

in the wild they would have more choice and area!

[BudgiesBuddy]

They do live in flocks with each other. But when it comes to breeding, even in the wild budgies fight for mates and nests. I have seen in a video male fighting in order to get females, even blood was shed.

[BudgiesBuddy]

Apr 9, 2012 18:36:24 GMT Ryan.W said:

If it's natural to budgies why is their so many problems from colony breeding of captive birds, if it's what they would do in the wild.

Here is the answer to your question

[BudgiesBuddy]

There is a dispute for the nest first and later a fight for the female.

This is one bad female watching the fight eagerly ;D

[BudgiesBuddy]

Here is a good article about Breeding Behaviour of the Wild Budgerigar.

[Hezz]

Apr 9, 2012 20:10:01 GMT BudgiesBuddy said:

There is a dispute for the nest first and later a fight for the female.

This is one bad female watching the fight eagerly ;D

I am sure I saw her rolling her eyes and murmuring "men!"

Love your avatar, BB

[BudgiesBuddy]

Apr 10, 2012 0:54:15 GMT Hezz said:

Apr 9, 2012 20:10:01 GMT BudgiesBuddy said:

There is a dispute for the nest first and later a fight for the female.

This is one bad female watching the fight eagerly ;D

I am sure I saw her rolling her eyes and murmuring "men!"

Love your avatar, BB

Thank you Hezz

[stace]

Just to add to that Ryan, a captive caged colony and a wild colony are two different things. We use the word 'colony' but the actual environment in the two states can be quite different. Think how zoos often fail to get certain wild animals to mate in captivity, even though they are trying their best to recreate their habitats.

[BudgiesBuddy]

Apr 10, 2012 0:54:15 GMT Hezz said:

Apr 9, 2012 20:10:01 GMT BudgiesBuddy said:

There is a dispute for the nest first and later a fight for the female.

This is one bad female watching the fight eagerly ;D

I am sure I saw her rolling her eyes and murmuring "men!"

We poor males

[BudgiesBuddy]

Apr 10, 2012 6:35:27 GMT stace said:

Just to add to that Ryan, a captive caged colony and a wild colony are two different things. We use the word 'colony' but the actual environment in the two states can be quite different. Think how zoos often fail to get certain wild animals to mate in captivity, even though they are trying their best to recreate their habitats.

Very good point Stace

Word "Colony" has different meanings in wild and in captivity.