CLIMATE CHANGE - LOCAL EFFECTS

Being long in the tooth and the outdoor type, means hindsight reaches farther back when judging Climate change on a personal level.

                          In recent years I have observed the rapid decline in insect life especially in late spring, early summer. 

This in turn effects the insect eating birds dramatically.

 My daily observations over the last 16 years on the riverside gives me a historical perspective on our local waterbirds behaviour. 

This is the first year we have had five local hatchings of ducklings after mid August, which is late. 

Traditionally nesting season would be all but over by the end of June. Having the odd late hatching is not unusual, but having five is. 

Over the past few years I had noticed that some ducks had delayed nesting until mid summer, this got me thinking on the reasons. 

My conclusions were lack of natural food in the spring months as well as lack of vegetation cover. Even in the house and garden the lack of insect life has been very obvious. Ask any long standing car owner, how many insects they have stuck to their windscreens and headlights, compared to a generation ago?

 Lack of insects might be a boon to some, but these are a vital part of the food chain, for us as much as other species. Currently we have a large high pressure over the country. It will be interesting to see how the jet stream effects the migration times this autumn. Climate change is here and now.

Saffron And Ebony

Recent new Trust member Louise, called the new saved ducklings "Saffron and Ebony". I thought these were very apt names for our bonnie wee ducklings.

 My efforts to get Disco to foster them are having mixed results so far. 

The drawback is Doris and her 10 ducklings who are intrigued by Saffron, and Disco is reluctant to embrace them...so far! 

All credit to Saffron, who is trying to get closer but threatened by Disco's  occasional warning jab to keep her distance. 

Don't know what sex either of the ducklings are, and if this has any bearing on Disco's attitude, but have a feeling that Saffron is going to win in the end! 

Series of shots show the reluctant Disco, and the beautiful and persistent pair of ducklings.

LAST ONE SAVED !

Three days ago, a duck turned up with 7 new ducklings, incredibly 3 of them were beautiful yellow hybrids. Every few years we get one and they are usually taken by predators within a day or so. In my 16 years I have never seen 3 from one brood.

 The Crows and Gulls spot them easily and they rarely last a few days. one got taken 2 days ago, and another yesterday. The Crows and Gulls have already taken about 40 this year so I was determined that they would not get the last Yellow one !  Tonight I got a chance when  they turned up at feeding time, I saw a gull having a go and I waved my stick in the air to chase it off. 

The mother duck approached with the ducklings and fed happily on the Dried mealworms. I made a move for the net and of course all the birds scattered about 100 or more ducks. Luck was on my side as the yellow one and a sibling split from the others on my side of the river. I had to move as fast as I could to head them off as they headed downstream. As I got slightly ahead they turned and made for the bank, I pounced and got the sibling but the yellow one kept ahead and nearly got away, out of breath, I just managed to catch up and caught it ! 

My long standing experience gave me the edge, but catching ducklings in a river is not easy !  

                       It was imperative I got the yellow one and a sibling, to be reared together for the next 9 weeks.  

Currently they are in the coop alone, but I will gradually introduce Disco as a foster Mum, which I'm sure she will be able to do.

 Short video below of their first hour in captivity...having a good feed of Mealworm and lettuce !

Bottoms Up !

Cygnets are now the size of Slim and Sue, able to reach down a couple of feet if need be. short video below. 

Also Doris and her ducklings are growing fast, having great fun with the hose and fresh pond refill. See Doris walking improvement in the foreground. Short video below.

Trust Rescue Mission

 Panic stations this afternoon when a local resident, Eddie Lang, found a lost duckling in Claymore gardens.

Knowing it was most likely one of a newly hatched brood, I asked Eddie to have a look around the area again. Thankfully an hour later, he discovered the mother duck with 7 ducklings happy to get her lost duckling back !  The task now was to get her across the Town safely to the River. Eddie and myself walked behind at a pace to suit the duck and her ducklings. The Traffic on the main road was back to the usual busy A96 but we made it across, up Douglas street, then across the high street, to the Town square - finally down the steps to the riverside! 

This duck has successfully reared several broods over the years in Glebe road, her favoured spot! However the road crossings are deadly, as we know from Doris experience 5 weeks ago! Anyhow I checked the river tonight and she was there with the ducklings.

 A successful outcome, and thanks to Eddie for his help and the photos and video below.

 

 

Runty At Three Months

Observing the cygnets  at 3 months old, I can see the Runt is still lagging behind in it's development. I would say about two weeks behind the others, in spite of my efforts to give it more food. 

You can see in the photos the big difference between them. The wings are the last major development and Runty has some way to go.

 Does not matter at this stage, but when flying lessons begin it will be left behind during training. I'm pretty sure it will make it in the end.

New Focus

With Doris and her ducklings doing well and Disco as a back up foster mum.

 A little respite for me was interrupted by a new focus on a local pigeon. Incredibly it landed on my half stooped back in the garden, then barely made it onto my wheelie bin. Was obviously not well, so I took it indoors to check it over. 

Thin and underweight but nothing external that I could see, I put it in a box with food and water. Following morning was still alive but shivering and poops indicated an intestinal infection. Have now been administering antibiotics 3 times a day and it seems to be more alert now.

 Will keep up the treatment for another week - fingers crossed.  

Meanwhile I was told that another mother duck with 9 ducklings took to the river this morning, Sure enough I spotted her down by the Swans Island, with the late day old ducklings. Although late in the season, their chances of survival are actually better than early in the year. Warmer, more insect life, more cover, less predatory pressure should all help survival. Just as I was  enjoying the sight of new ducklings, I was then told that the Swans and cygnets had just been attacked by a brown Spaniel called Jessie !

 Have checked the Swans are OK this evening, as none of them are able to fly yet, never a dull moment !   

Doris Progress Walk

Our brave duck Doris, is continuing her recovery from the crippling traffic injury. She is no longer on any medication and shares the garden with her ducklings and Disco. As I'd hoped, she is getting partial use from the gammy leg, less than a month after the accident. 

Even Disco tolerates the ducklings close by,  which is heart warming to see. My Treatment strategy seems to be working, and hoping her recovery will continue for some weeks yet. Short video below showing Doris ability to walk again. 😊

SIMPLY SUPERB 2022 CALENDAR

                         In a break from the past, the Trust have now produced a special edition 2022 Calendar- with some fabulous photos from Trust members included. Our New Trust Secretary Iona Gibson, has shown her professional talents by designing this superb Calendar. In keeping with our environmental aims, the calendar has been printed on both sides, reducing waste and our contribution to Climate change. 

High quality at a lower Price for Trust members at £6 each. Also available from other local retail outlets, The Nairn Bookshop, and Strachans. 

                        Ideal attractive low cost Christmas presents, with the assurance that every penny goes to the care and welfare of the river wildlife! Limited amount available now.

Donnie Takes Flight - But All's Well

 

Hearing a commotion from Disco last night, I guessed that Donnie had taken off about 11pm. He has just moulted and grew his new plumage recently, the new lot of Ducklings and Doris probably made up his mind to move back to the river for some peace !  

He and Disco were an item, and I think he may well return in the spring, we'll see. 

Meanwhile, Disco has now to get friendly with Doris and made some serious efforts today, not threatening her ducklings and getting into the pool with all of them! 

Doris was keeping a beady eye on her, shadowing her round the pool.

 Doris is still improving, and I think they will be great company for each other after the ducklings fledge. 

Meanwhile down on the riverside, the Cygnets are almost the size of Mum and Dad, and both Slim and Sue are moulting with Sue due to get her new plumage first. 

The mother duck with 9 and another that tags along, are also thriving and she is as diligent as ever keeping them safe. Two short videos below showing both families after feeding, and Doris ducklings at home.

Doris Puts Her Foot Down

Doris is amazing and improving every day, she is strong and even  with a gammy leg able to defend her offspring. I let her and the ducklings into the garden 4 times a day, to forage and bathe. 

Today while they sat by the pool close to Disco and Donnie, one of the ducklings strayed too close to Disco and she opened her bill to threaten it. Doris immediately jumped up and attacked Disco who backed off, even with one leg she was not deterred from a fight! 

She has put her foot down several times today, and I saw her scratch her neck and face with it.  I still keep Doris in the coop for 12 hours at night to rest her leg, the remainder of the day they can use the garden to forage and bathe. The shattered bone and ligaments have been damaged, but I hope that she will get enough use of the leg in time. Short video below showing her gradual use of the leg as it begins to touch the ground.