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A few days ago I got a surprise in the Aviary, A bonnie white homing pigeon had gone in to get a few seeds.
I noticed it had a ring on it's right leg with the following letters and numbers, NE 4736 and SU13.
It also had stencilled letters in red on the inside wing.
If anyone knows who the owner might be, they can contact me by email at jayteescot1@hotmail.com it might be possible for me to catch it since it has taken up with a dozen or so feral pigeons who come down for a feed.
The Injured Duckling given to me on the 13th by Hamish Reid, has made steady progress every day, it now has some use of the injured leg.
The antibiotic given by Moray coast vets and the painkiller I have given it daily seems to have done the trick. I expect it will get full use of the leg eventually, as it grows and learns to adapt and manipulate it.
Meanwhile woody the wood pigeon although free, comes back almost everyday at some point for his favourite sunflower seeds.
He is such a lovable character and plays to the camera, to the point where he wants to fly and land on it !!
A few pics of the cygnets at a month old.
Also a reminder that there is only 2 weeks left to get your entries in for the Wildlife Photo competition !
With the nesting season in full swing, it's the time of year that many of us dread due to the carnage of young birds to predators or on the roads etc. Yesterday it was the turn of a gull which I found along the riverside trailing a wing. I took it home and called the Scottish SPCA who promptly picked it up.
This is their busy time of year with numerous calls about birds having fallen from buildings and road accidents etc. Their new number is worth noting 03000 999 999, for some of you will find injured birds this summer. Three days ago I found another gull bleeding from the chest, it died shortly afterwards. I think the increased traffic on the A96 is adding to the casualty numbers, since birds fly over the bridge and collide with vehicles.
Earlier today it was the turn of a duckling handed in by one of our long standing electricians. He found it in his garden with an apparent broken leg, perhaps dropped by a gull or a crow.
I could not determine if it was a break and took it to Moray coast vets who quickly established that it seemed to be a bite to the thigh possibly by a cat or a rat. The puncture wound was infected and was promptly administered antibiotics, I have to follow this up with an anti inflammatory and hopefully the duckling will survive - which is more than can be said for most of the ducklings on the river. One of our Trust members saw a crow take the last one of a brood trying to reach the water yesterday, and I saw a gull take one earlier in the week from the water, seems there is no safe place for ducklings at all.
At least the Cygnets are doing well with two very protective parents and many watchers.
It made a refreshing change to see the Links ducklings getting a lesson from Mum on how to hassle a duckling Killer.
The Heron was doing a spot of Salmon Parr fishing when the ducklings decided to inspect what was going on.
They got a close up of that deadly beak and the speed at which it can operate !
The Heron missed out and decided to move to pastures new, only to be followed by the inquisitive ducklings.
Sequence of distance pics tells the story.
After nearly 2 months I decided it was time to let Woody the Wood pigeon go, and take its chances in the wild. I let him go yesterday after a good meal of sunflower seeds and lettuce, his favourite foods.
It was a privilege to rear him and experience the joy that comes between man and bird, I will treasure the memory.
Para the spinal injury pigeon decided to come back where the food and board suits him best, he was in the aviary this morning after only one night away.
Looks like I'll have to keep him as a permanent pal.
With the nesting season halfway through, the tidal reaches of the river are proving to be disastrous for this years ducklings. So far 47 ducklings have been wiped out by the gulls and crows. The last sizeable brood of 9 were all taken within three days. People keep asking me "where are all the ducklings ? "
It is extremely depressing seeing newly hatched ducklings, taken to feed even more of these predators. Yesterday evening I saw a gull swoop down and pick up one of only two ducklings left on the lower river. I again appeal to those people who continue to feed the gulls on the river to stop doing it, creating a gull colony on the river is bad news for other species. Predation appears to stop at the gulls and crows, to the detriment of other species. The only survivors are 7 links ducklings that I kept out of harms way in the Aviary for 3 weeks,
before putting them into the river.
The Nairn Cygnets have provided countless photo opportunities for locals and tourists alike. Many will return to their homeland, keen to upload their photos and show them off to friends and family.
Am always pleased to divulge information about the Swans their offspring and habits, to anyone with an interest in wildlife.
This week has seen tourists from as far away as South Africa and China, as well as local caravan park visitors, all delighted to see our 9 new cygnets.
Here are some of my views over the past week or so.
Only 4 weeks to get your entries sent in for the 2013 Wildlife Photo Competition.
All entries MUST be received by this July 1st. Extra spending money for the Summer holidays if your entry comes in first £40, second £20 or third £10. Plus a years FREE membership to the River Nairn Swans and Waterfowl Trust.
Download your entry form below or from this LINK .
Competition is open to all 8 to 15 year olds inclusive, living in the IV postcode area.
Get Snapping and Good Luck !
Short cygnets close up video, courtesy of Popeye letting me get so close !
Cygnets are still intact and thriving, Popeye and Penny keeping them close and ever watchful of potential danger. Penny is entering the pre moulting stage and pulling at her feathers, I think there is some irritation and possible parasites that need expelled with the old feathers.
Sitting on a nest for nearly 7 weeks is bound to allow some pests to get onto her body.
She was doing a lot of picking and had a vigorous bath. ( short video below ).
Generally I keep my camera set on auto, because I found that I can't really improve much on the auto setting of my particular camera.
However I switch to the macro mode when getting the chance to take close up shots.
Enclosed some recent shots of the cygnets in macro mode.
