My female bird will not have anything to do with a male until he woos her. He must sing, dance, and bring her bits of food before she will even notice him. He must be an active participant in the nest building, and he must do so with gusto. If he finds something to incorporate into the nest, he will fly around with it in his beak, showing off to his female, as if to say, "Look at this magnificent piece of string I have found for our home!" She must insure that the male will be a good partner for what lies ahead.
Once the eggs are laid, he will bring the female food, and if she wants to take a break, he will sit on the nest until she returns. When the babies hatch, he will help feed and care for them. Once the babies are fully feathered and out of the nest, the parents stop feeding. The babies will cry piteously, but apart from slipping them a few morsels from time to time, the parents stop feeding. And in one week, the babies are self-sufficient.
You have commented on this before, and you are so right! Birds do choose mates wisely.
Also, thank you for inspiring me to start doing pushups.
Ann
