Monday, 1 April 2013
Its April 1st, and the coldest
Easter on record, but actually yesterday was really very pleasant, yes it was
cold, but it was sunny most of the day and the birds flew just amazingly. We
had one visitor who had been concerned about paying to come in and indeed I
think two of them stayed in the car, when he left he said it was the most
amazing place, quite fantastic and he would come again. It’s always so very
difficult to encourage people that what they will see here is amazing and well
worth the entry money.
Mark’s young Grey Buzzard Eagle was just
staggering yesterday, he is almost unfailingly good and uses the wind really
well, but yesterday as you will see in the picture, he got really ambitious and
did the most amazing stoop. Holly and I were watching him from the Hawk Walk
and we were really excited about it, so John got an even better view and the
visitors were entranced. I have to say that Fortina also went brilliantly, both
she and Alexandria and getting back to fitness and she had a whale of a time
yesterday. Alexandria is more tricky, she is 11 years old now, and she had a
couple of illnesses last year, so some days I think I will never get her fit
again, and others she does really well, so we persevere and I am pretty sure
she is having a good time with it.
The babies are doing well, the young Bald
Eagle that we put with the Stellers had to come out though. When we put it in
the Steller’s chick was about twice the size, but they were doing OK, now
however the Stellers is nearly four times the size and the problem is with this
interminable cold is affecting the young. When the parents get off to get food,
or feed the chicks, it is so cold that they quickly lose heat and then don’t
want to feed. So we have whipped the Bald Eagle away and will try it with
another parent on Tuesday when more staff are in. However our most delightful
hatching is our baby Verreaux’s eagle, he or she is doing well, five days old
now, feeding and growing well and due to go to a foster parent in a week or so.
We are really pleased about that. We also have a Hooded Vulture egg with the
hooded vultures, and the Palmnuts have laid and so far the eggs are well, the
new nests are making a difference and the eggs are not getting pushed around as
much.
The Lanners had four eggs and we are double
clutching them, the Sakers have laid and Sage is doing much better with Jack
Danials, he looks like he will be a potential dad, which will be lovely, its not
easy to find pure bred birds these days. We just hope the weather will break
soon and we will have some warm dry weather to encourage everyone else to get
on with laying.
It’s cold and grey today, but at least it
is dry again. The mares have gone back home, Autumn is getting close to
foaling, and my field has no grass left. I need to chain harrow and roll it now
so that if the grass ever does start to grow again, it will have a good chance
and the field needs to look good and be sound by the end of August for our
Falconry Weekend!
And as usual, thanks to Linda for not only her staggering photo's, but her endless generousity in sharing them with us. And that thanks goes to all the photographers who are amazing with their support and their offering of photos, we really appreciate you all.
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