First tantalising view of Timor Zebra Finch chicks........

The parents, particularly the female, have been very attentive, feeding the chicks a mixture of sponge cake fortified with calcium and dried mealworms and panicum millet. It does feel as though the chicks have been in the nest a long time so this first glimpse of them, including a clear gape, is very pleasing. The Timors have been more of a challenge to breed than normal Australian Zebra finches. They completely ignored all nesting receptacles offered and made their own domed affair.