Preparing for release!

The fledglings are growing fast and release day is creeping ever closer. Firstly the fledglings are banded and given a health check, then are transported to their release cages with extra high perches to encourage them to strengthen their wing muscles.

This year geolocators will be attached to some of the fledglings in hope that if they return next year after migrating, they can be caught and the information in their geolocators can be extracted. This will tell us where exactly in the South Eastern US they migrate to and spend the winter. Currently this is a knowledge gap that If filled will greatly increase the chances of this species successful recovery. Some fledglings however will be kept behind and retained for the captive breeding population.

Just over a week ago we had a storm with hail the size of marbles. I sat in the cabin biting my nails with worry about the fledglings getting pummelled with icy bullets. After the storm passed I check up on our closest cage. As I feared the fledgling was sat out in the open and had't attempted to get under cover. Thankfully though it seemed unharmed and on checking the other cages the next morning everyone seemed fine. Sadly though a female nighthawk that had nested just outside one of the cages was not so lucky. Being a ground nesting bird she had laid her eggs directly on the ground out in the open and was unable to sit tight during the storm. The next morning she has abandoned her eggs, both had died just as they had started to hatch, one even had it's egg tooth poking through the shell. It was a sad reminder of how vulnerable wildlife can be.

Hazel watching the storm rolling in.

On a brighter note, we have a new shrike team mascot - Maddy.

And this is bunners, a wild hare possibly a jackrabbit that decided to join me in the feed room whilst preparing the shrike food one morning. I gave him some apple and after a few bites he jumped towards me, sniffed my shoe and then quickly hopped away. I don't blame him.