Spring in the Air

Approaching the Spring Equinox and spring in the air has prompted an exodus of ducks from the lower river, dispersing throughout the area looking for nest sites.

As always I hope this is not too early, since the changeable climate can be cruel well into April.

 Meanwhile Popeye and Penny are flirting on a daily basis and slowly preparing the nest site.

Penny continues to seek out Algae and scours the harbour Pontoons and boat hulls for the meagre growth.

Waiting

Popeye and Penny are waiting for the spring Equinox later this month. This usually comes just after the March Spring tides, when serious mating and nesting gets under way.

Meanwhile the injured duck is recovering well, and also waiting until she gets released...always keeps a close wary eye on me though !
 

Snowy White Swans

With Today's Spring Equinox there is no spring weather to match,  and the winter forecast is for yet more Snow on the way.  Ah well - better now than April and May, for many of the birds are already nesting. 

The Swans are well into their nesting preparations and Penny is seeking out minerals and algae nutrients. Snowing or not, she is moulding the nest site for this years brood.

I have done some remedial work to the island that was eroded by the big Storm surge a few months back, with still a little more to do.

Timing

Even though the weather has been spring like for weeks, the Swans are still not inclined to start nesting. It seems that nest timing is not determined by nice unseasonal weather, but more to do with solar seasons. Around the spring Equinox, seems to be the real starting point for nesting - based on previous swan nesting seasons. They may not have visible clocks, but evolution has provided the Swans with built in ones ! They know when there is equal light and dark hours, and have their young hatching at the optimum time to suit an abundance of natural foodstuff - thereby giving their offspring the best chance of survival.

We all know that timing is critical for most things in life, especially when it comes to natural survival. I received a remarkable link to a bit of video from a friend of mine this week - showing an Osprey using timing for catching it's prey, if you like the natural world...well worth watching...enjoy ! http://www.arkive.org/osprey/pandion-haliaetus/video-00.html