Testing the Wings

photo courtesy of Dennis Swayze

Sometimes you just feel the need to drop everything…this was the case on July 11th.
Early morning and after my fill of coffee I had the feeling I should go check a nest site to see how the young Peregrines were doing…timing was perfect as this one had likely just fledged early that morning.

There I sat and clicked away as this juvenile tried to figure out how to get it’s wings working.

Peregrines…the Bitter Sweet

photo courtesy of Dennis Swayze

Not a good year for the Peregrines as we lost three adults…Joli ( resident female Logan ) Bristol ( female from West Wpg 2014 ) and Beaumont ( male from West Wpg 2014 )

Bristol had partnered up with Sundance ( Logan 2013 ) and successfully had 3 chicks…the Bitter was she had been found dead near the site.

The Sweet being that 1 of their chicks was found, checked out, banded and fostered by Joli & Hart at the Logan site…as circumstances had prevented us from returning her to the nest…and named Bridget.

Sundance ( Logan 2013 ) now a lone parent went on to do a fine job in providing for two hungry chicks. Last time they had been seen they appeared to be doing well.

Timing turned out to be perfect one morning as I spent a few hours with one of the chicks…I believe it had likely just fledged that morning and it took some time before finding the wings and being able to reach a higher perch.

Which One Doesn’t Belong ?

photo courtesy of Dennis Swayze

Well not really an Ugly Duckling but one of the ducklings doesn’t belong.
While checking canals on Willow Island I came across a family of Mergansers.
Appears Mrs.Merganser had adopted a duckling that wasn’t her own…my sources are telling me that the “Ugly Duckling” is a Common Goldeneye.