pictmanual3

David Pace's Pictorella manual (Page 3).

1.5 Breeding
Breeding occurs between January and May in the Northern Territory and April and May in Queensland (Readers Digest '75).
Pairs move inland with the advent of the wet season. Courtship takes place on the ground with both birds making pecking gestures on the ground and picking up and dropping small twigs and rocks. The male, with body feathers fluffed and tail fanned, usually holds a piece of grass in his up-turned beak and hops in a semi-circle in front of the female. This motion increases in speed as the semi-circle becomes smaller. Eventually, the male is left hopping directly in front of the female.
The male, with tail still fanned, drops the piece of grass, if used, and moves around the back of the female and delivers a deep bow. This may be repeated several times until the female reacts with the quivering of her tail, which results in mating taking place.
The bottle-shaped nest is an untidy construction that lacks an entrance tunnel and is situated in a low bush or grass tussock. Nests are often recorded at only a few centimetres from the ground, with records of nests over 60 centimetres being rare (Immelmann '65). The nest is composed of dried grass, rootlets and small twigs and is lined with a few feathers.
Four to six white eggs measuring 16mm x11mm are laid. Both sexes are involved in incubation with only the female sitting over night. The incubation period in the wild is unknown and fledging occurs between 20 - 24 days. The young return to roost in the nest for the first few nights and become independent two weeks after fledging (Rowland '96).

1.6 Lifetime reproduction
In the wild: Unknown
In captivity: This species is reported to have been bred as young as 7 months and as old as 7 years. It seems though that 3 to 5 years is the most productive period (Breeding & Research Sub-Committee, '93). Mating activity after five years declines dramatically (Queensland Finch Society '87). Vujovich has bred from a female that was seven years old when she produced three clutches of six, four and five young in her final year (Vujovich pers. comm.).

1.7 Longevity
In the wild: Unknown
In captivity: 7 years with an average life span of 4 years (Breeding & Research Sub-Committee, 93). Harman records birds living up to an average of eight years (Harman '74). It is recommended that when acquiring new birds, preference should be given to semi-coloured birds so to ensure they are young (Stossel '93).

Captive Husbandry
Preferred Housing Requirements
2.1 Shelter
Considering the wild distribution of this species, it is not surprising that the Pictorella does best in aviaries that are kept draft-free and dry (Queensland Finch Society '87). John Alers from Perth houses his birds in aviaries that are completely protected on all four sides, with one third of the aviary roof open to the elements. In Melbourne, I have housed this species in aviaries that are fully covered with clear fibreglass, allowing added natural lighting for both birds and plants. These aviaries were protected on three sides and a clear blind was utilised on the fourth side to provide extra protection during Melbourne�s changing weather conditions. Plants in these aviaries were watered with a drip system, ensuring the general aviary floor remained relatively dry.
Stossel, in Queensland, records success with aviaries that face north, and even success with an aviary that faced south, and advises against keeping Pictorellas in breeding cabinets or small aviaries (Stossel '93).
The floor should be as dry as possible as Pictorellas spend a great deal of time on the ground. Ideally, planting should occur in clumps, leaving open areas for the birds to stretch out and sunbathe (Stossel '93). Close plantings will provide Pictorellas
with the required privacy in order to feel secure (Breeding & Research Sub-Committee '93).
In comparison, John Cameron from the very wet area of Ferntree Gully, Victoria, has had success in a large open aviary that measured 10m x 4m, with a 3m x 3m shelter at the rear. Only the shelter and a small section of the flight were covered. The flight was planted with a �jungle of weeds and grasses... , which was 1.25m high which covered 80% of the entire flight". The shelter section was dry and �desert-like all year round. " Feeding was done in the shelter and the Pictorellas utilised the floor, foraging for fallen seed and mealworms that lived in the layer of seed husks (Cameron '90).
Kingston, in Queensland, records greatest success in large planted, open aviaries (Kingston '94).

2.2 Water
Fresh water should always be available as Pictorella Manikins do bathe. Water can be supplied in an earthenware dish that keeps water cool in summer, or be provided in the form of a natural-looking pond. Vujovich uses inverted bottles that supply birds with a drip system. This keeps the aviary floor drier and makes servicing aviaries easier (Vujovich per. comm.).
Pictorellas require dry aviaries and so it is important that vegetation in planted aviaries is watered by a drip system. This ensures that the general aviary floor is kept as dry as possible. This is particularly important in winter, as wet foliage and floors can prove to be a lethal combination.

2.3 Aviary furnishings
Flooring:
Washed river sand, particularly the coarser varieties, allows good drainage and helps keep aviary floors dry. Vujovich utilises hay on cement floors, replacing the hay once a year (Vujovich per. comm.).
Rodent proofing:
Aviaries for the Pictorella should be rodent-proof. As Pictorellas will nest close to the ground, they are more vulnerable to being disturbed by rodents than many of the other grass-finch species. I have found that in aviaries that were not vermin-proof, many nesting attempts low to the ground in grass tussocks failed, while nesting attempts in brush or taller vegetation usually resulted in success.