Saturday 6 April 2013
What a turn up for the books, today after weeks
of bitterly cold wind and generally grey and cold weather – although very dry,
today has been glorious and literally almost warm by the afternoon. Yesterday
was bitter and very windy, although the day before was even worse and you could
see that the birds were getting fed up with it, and apart from the Kites not
flying quite as well the last four days. However today they all had a field
day. I was particularly pleased with Pleiades (female Tawny Eagle) whom I
thought might be lazy today with no wind, but she was a star and loved the warm
and even managed to find a little bit of lift, I came out of the flying ground
with a big grin. Fortina too was first class today and was gaining height even
though she was the last bird of the day.
Yesterday was an interesting day. It was
hectic to start with and we were short of flyers for the first demonstration
because of an experience day and the wind, so I reckoned that Hare should be
the right weight and could do his first demonstration of the year. He was the
last bird, so started at about 11.45, and finally came down again at about 2.30.
While he was in one of the many trees that he sat in that day, Sally came over
the radio and mentioned that there was a car on fire in the car park. And it was
most certainly on fire, in fact quite dramatic. We were worried that the petrol
tank would go up and cause some damage. Luckily the poor family who owned the
car had literally just arrived and so they were out of the car and safe. The
fire engine arrived and all was put out, although the car was not a pretty
sight. I spoke to the family a bit later and I would like to make a comment
about the Prudential Insurance Company with whom they were insured. The husband
phoned the company and bear in mind that at this point anyone would be shocked
and stressed. The pratt on the other end of the phone said that they had to
have the policy number, and he pointed out that the policy was in the car which
had burnt. Eventually the insurance company woman hung up on him!!! Now I think
that is disgraceful, surely insurance companies train their staff to cope with
stressed and upset people and if they don’t, they bloody well ought to. I would
like to bet that if you phoned your company and said that you wanted to insure
another car, and just gave them your address they would find you with ease!! So
be warned – don’t use the Prudential, they are not a pleasant or professional
company in our opinion. Good job I was not on the end of the phone or I would
have ripped them up hill and down dale!
Green Flag on the other hand collected the
car before we had even closed, so they get brownie points. The rest of the day
went OK, although it was cold and windy to the bitter end.
The baby Verreaux’s Eagle is doing very
well and growing nicely. His or her parents are now rearing a baby Bald Eagle
and doing a wonderful job. The chick which was with the Steller’s recovered
from being cold and upset and on Tuesday we tried it with the Verreaux’s. It was
a risk, but one that we felt worthwhile. They had had a Steppe’s Eagle egg last
year, but the chick vanished. However this chick was large enough that they
could learn how to care for it. They brooded it the first day, although they
did better once we had removed the goose egg. The second day Holly watched the
parents on the nest ledge and the male was feeding himself and the chick was
trying to feed, then the female started to eat and the chick moved to her and
each time she pulled a bit of rat off for herself, the chick took it, so after
a few minutes she got the idea and was offering the food to the chick. It is an
amazing thing to watch them learn and bodes really well for next year. We were
all delighted.
My baby Savigny’s Eagle Owl is doing well,
he is called Coll, the theme being British Islands, although some of my staff
insist on calling him Collin, however they will grow out of it. And I like to point
out that names are very important. I believe that if you have stupid or
careless names it shows a lack of respect for the birds. We try to make sure
that the birds have nice names that suit them and show them the proper respect
that they deserve.
We are in a lull on hatching, just waiting
for the next batch to arrive. Hopefully the new mincer which I have just
bought, will arrive in time to be useful with feeding chicks. Although we have
been having to chop up food for some of the injured wild birds as well. More have
arrived in, roll on the weather change, so that the wild birds can have a
chance at recovery.
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