skip to main |
skip to sidebar
Today I had the opportunity to give the nest a final check, the remaining egg was cold and showed no signs of life, so had to be removed. Penny still laid her 8 eggs this season, so even at 15 years old she can still produce a large clutch.
Now she can get on with the business of caring for 6 healthy cygnets without the distraction of non -hatched eggs in the nest. She has already been taking the cygnets into the water at regular intervals to feed.
Happily she is using the turf ramp I set up, giving ease of access for the cygnets and also the smooth pathway to the top of the island.
Again I was privileged to watch the bedtime ritual this evening, showing what happens when they get back home to the nest.
Today, thankfully the wind has dropped and the skies are blue, and the cygnets were taken for their first dip.
This gave me a chance to check the nest after the 6 hatched by yesterday. I found 2 eggs, one of which was obviously dead and I removed it, the other I will leave for today but it probably won't hatch - most eggs hatch within 48 hours of the first one.
Penny seemed to think there should be another, for she kept calling and going back and forth to the nest.
Anyway 6 cygnets makes it 62 that our pair have produced in the past 9 years, a considerable achievement.
The Sun was warm and the cygnets were taken down to the moat for their first dip, the water level is down and makes entry and exit difficult.
The ramp I made the other day did help them get out after the dip, but climbing to the nest was a marathon.
One of the cygnets took a direct route to Penny's call, and led the others on a perilous climb to the summit.
All made it to the top but one was exhausted by the effort.
The series of Pics tells the story and video at the end shows them preening on the nest.
Observing and dealing with wildlife over the years can be a heartbreaking task, especially during springtime.
On the other hand the joy and pleasure can be extremely rewarding too.
This morning I went to see if Penny our resident Pen had finished hatching the last of her clutch.
The skies were grey with that biting northerly wind blowing up river and over the nest site. I could see she was covering her brood from the biting wind and she made a few doleful cries, reaching for more nesting material to try and cut the wind from the nest. I realised her plight and gathered some dry nesting material then up to the nest and threw it towards the base of the nest.
Popeye came up to see what I was up to but accepted that I was trying to help and stood to the side.
Penny gratefully grabbed at the material and pulled it up to raise the edge of the nest.
The wind was cold and keen but she raised her wing to allow a couple of cygnets out to observe the proceedings.
The trust I have built up over the past decade with Popeye and Penny stood me in good stead today, as they allowed me full access to their nest site and contents.
Maybe the fact that I stood on the windward side breaking the wind, and also provided more nesting material had something to do with it , but it was a profound moment of complete trust.
To cap it all, the sun broke through the clouds and she stood up to reveal a beautiful brood of 6 cygnets and a couple of other eggs yet to hatch.
She tidied a few bits of nesting material, then to my amazement left me and Popeye in complete charge of the brood as she went down to the moat for a drink.
This total display of trust with such powerful birds at this point in their nesting cycle, was utterly amazing to me. I had the presence of mind to get the camera rolling and captured many still images and some video footage as well. Enjoy the sequence of events and short video below.( Apologies for not having the wind noise reduction switched on. )
.
After a lovely mid day with sunshine and light winds, this afternoon / evening it all turned pear shaped and back to the usual cold northerlies ! This was a great pity because Penny will keep the new cygnets under wraps, especially while the hatching continues.
However at mid day I did manage to get some intimate shots, I am hoping to get more as the new brood breaks out.
As expected hatching is now under way, first glimpse, but more pics to follow.
With the imminent hatching of the Cygnets, today I had some safety procedures to attend to. Thanks to my appeal for some dead Crows several weeks ago. A local benefactor managed to obtain a few dead crows which I have kept in the freezer until today. I have strategically placed a few over the Swans Island as a deterrent to other crows to stay well clear during the hatching season.
It was immediately noticed, and several crows were swirling and screeching overhead.
I am hoping there will be no repeat of last years killing of a cygnet by the crows. Also mindful of the low water levels in the moat, I carried over a few sods of earth to create a sloping ramp for the cygnets to get out of the moat and back to the nest after they hatch. These seemingly small details could mean life or death to our new seasons cygnets.
I've had several requests for advice on what to do about Ducklings that seem miles from a water course.
Ducks are quite canny creatures when it comes to picking safe nesting spots, so much so that they are often up to half a mile from a water course, perhaps in a nice secluded garden or railway embankment or the like.
The mothers will usually try to get them to a local water source in the morning within a day of hatching. They are already partly waterproofed by the mothers oily under feathers, hence the reason they can take to the water immediately. Getting to the water can be a real trial, crossing roads, and avoiding predators like cats dogs, crows, and gulls. If you see a duck with a brood walking down a street or road, the chances are she knows where she is going to get them to the river or burn. The main thing anyone can do to help is not to obstruct her, but walk slowly behind thereby keeping predators away, and be ready to escort her across any busy roads. Don't be tempted to get in front of her to get a photo on your phone, as this might spook her and divert her away from where she is going. Ducklings are too small to eat at this stage and only require water for the first 24 hours, they are living on the energy of the yolk sac they had when hatched. Throwing bread to them can be a fatal mistake, as this will only bring down Crows and gulls who will gladly take all the ducklings in no time ! Escort them to the water if at all possible and you will have done the right thing.
If they are trapped and cannot get out, the mother will usually kick up a noisy fuss, it is possible to catch the ducklings fairly easily and free them so the mother can do her job. The mother can usually fly out of any situation, but the ducklings cant. Catching the mother first requires a bit of skill and should only be attempted if absolutely necessary, she will not leave the ducklings unless spooked badly. Providing a shallow water tray for the ducklings trapped in a garden is the best option, until a strategy is devised and help is summoned.
The Incubator ducklings are enjoying the first real summer day this year. They spend a lot of time foraging around the garden and have frequent naps, usually together.
The white one that loves the cosy spot among the siblings, really hit the spot today by making a nest from it's brothers and sisters ! At just over 3 weeks old they are coming on nicely. Logic dictates that dark objects absorb heat and white ones reflect it...this duckling seems to know this !
Meanwhile the Riverpark lot are also thriving and looking very healthy in their new aviary home.
As viewers might recall, The River Nairn Swans and Waterfowl Trust was awarded £800 from the Nurturing Nairnshire event organised by Highland Region, I put forward a plan to spend around £500 on various Trees , bushes and shrubs for lower riverside enhancement. The remaining £300 was to be spent on the bird rescue and rehab service at Douglas street.
I can report that around 140 items have been planted and I am hopeful that over the years to come this will have a positive effect and add extra colour and fragrance to the riverside, as well as providing food for the birds. The species planted were Bird cherry, Rowan, Hawthorn, honeysuckle, broom, Scotch rose, and Gooseberry.
As for the bird rescue and rehab service, I am currently caring for 42 ducklings and 3 mother ducks which is full capacity until some of these are safely released to the river.
The cost of this care is considerable, and involves provision of feed, bedding and heat. Previous posts include the building of a new Aviary and coop - now occupied by a mother duck and 13 ducklings.
This cost £480 and was met by the trust, ( I should have applied for a bigger share of the nurturing Nairnshire funding ! ) All in all the money was well spent, and I think if only everyone utilised money as well as the trust - the world would be a better place. Mission Accomplished ....for now !
