The weather over the past couple of days has been torrential and very cold. Prolonged weather like this is a serious threat at this vulnerable stage of the chicks lives. They have not developed their full feathers yet and rely very much on their mum to keep them warm. She is such a good parent and has shielded the youngsters and has successfully got them through this trying time. The male has managed to bring fish to the family despite the weather and although the frequency of his offerings dropped due to poor fishing conditions it has been enough to sustain the brood. Let’s hope that the weather improves and a few warm days with plenty of good fishing and full stomachs should make for a happy family.
Back Up Nest
Recent footage revealed the three charming chicks in this nest at family feeding times.
The male became a little too nest proud and began a stick tidy in the nest much to his wife’s disapproval. At one point he had one end of a stick and was trying to push it one way and she had the other end pushing it back. Domestic bliss being interrupted with a bit of a feng shui disagreement but the female got her own way in the end and he went off to do the male thing and catch a fish.
This footage is now on show at the centres in the new Back Up Nest Highlights DVD. We have ongoing highlights from all of our nests from the windows on wildlife and the ospreys. Please ask the volunteer on duty if you wish to see any specific highlights when you visit.
Windows on Wildlife
Sad news.
Our swallow family, which were doing so well at Kailzie Gardens have been attacked and killed. Yesterday when the cameras were switched on the nest was empty and it was far too early for the birds to have fledged. Sadly, Emma, the RSPB Information Assistant discovered the grim reason. Little decapitated swallow chick heads were lying around the courtyard. It must have been one of the crow species that perpetrated the crime as the birds had nested on top of the security light and nothing other than another bird would be able to reach them. We will try and move the camera on to another family as soon as possible and in the mean time, keep an eye on the original parents as they will probably try again with better luck next time, hopefully.
The barn owl chicks from the Tweed Valley Nest are almost ready to be ringed and we will film this and show it in the centres. We are concerned that the fourth chick, which is underdeveloped, may have succumbed during this bad weather. We have experienced more technical difficulties with the camera and will have to wait to find out how this family is doing.
A second barn owl family, which had a dead chick in the box, has now got two new chicks. This footage will be shown once the first family have fledged. So far we have new recordings coming in to the centre every few days and this will be put together as highlights to reveal how this family is getting on.
The spotted flycatchers are growing and they have three fine chicks. This can be seen live in Kailzie Gardens.
The underwater cameras in the stock ponds at the fishery in Kailzie are giving fantastic views of the rainbow trout.
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