I returned to the island on Wednesday and, as expected, found the colony fully engaged in producing the new generation.
The ALCIDS are well into the rearing stage with their peak hatch a couple weeks past. So far, food doesn't seem to be a problem.
There are 4 or more BLACK GUILLEMOTS hanging around near the boat ramp and there's some attempted breeding but I don't think there is any nesting
The TERNS are showing their aggressive nature. Over the span of about 10 minutes, while close to 2 chick-bearing nests, I was hit 58 times. The earliest chicks are getting quite well grown but there are lots of eggs yet to hatch and still some being laid.
The mini-tempests and associated rain which moved over a lot of the province during the past days missed us. We could see the heavy rain just a few miles away and heard a bit of thunder but, fortunately for the tern chicks, nothing quite reached us.
Any cold, wet weather is bad for the young birds but heavy or sustained rain is a real killer. The chicks are unable to regulate their body temperature and, although parents do their best to protect the little ones, many die.
It's triple jeopardy. Even the best parents find it difficult to protect the chicks from severe or prolonged weather.The chicks can't be left alone and that limits the adult's ability to feed the chick (and themselves). Any disturbance may force the adult to leave the nest, expose the chicks and the chicks will try to hide in wet vegetation.
Today the rain did get here. About 3am until 8am it rained quite steadily. At times the rain was heavy. Then, thankfully it began to dry up and the larger chicks, at least, appear to have faired okay.
Now, as night approaches it's shut down with thick fog.
There have been up to 4 BLACK TERNS around lately, one of which is a 2nd year bird that hasn't attained full adult plumage.
Song birds are scarce out here in summer & winter, in direct contrast to the migrations. Other than our resident SAVANNAH SPARROWS, a single BLUE JAY, STARLING or warbler is usually notable. This year there was an unusual number of migrant CATBIRDS that lingered last. At least two of those have stayed. The jury is out as to whether there is nesting.
Wednesday there was a really brilliant BROWN THRASHER and a few days before there was a single Blue Jay. Yesterday, a BARN SWALLOW.
PEREGRINES are a continuing threat to the island's larger birds. Yesterday there was one of the falcons hunting by 06:30 and a 2nd showed up shortly thereafter. Based on size along, both appeared to be female. One was fully mature and the other a bit young.
The GANNETS are still very much in evidence, although there hasn't been any new egg to replace the one that was broken.
It's so late in the year that a re-lay wouldn't succeed, anyway. The core group of 3 Gannets appears to have grown to 5. In addition, there are 3 or more occasional visitors.
I see that my "Jelly Sparrows" are back at it and at least one appears to be trying to carry jelly to its young. That got really difficult today because the rain turned the jelly into something resembling thick grape soup.
The Catbirds are taking jelly but not as much as the Savannah Sparrows, The Cats seem more inclined towards grapefruit.
-- The ALCIDS are well into the rearing stage with their peak hatch a couple weeks past. So far, food doesn't seem to be a problem.
There are 4 or more BLACK GUILLEMOTS hanging around near the boat ramp and there's some attempted breeding but I don't think there is any nesting
The TERNS are showing their aggressive nature. Over the span of about 10 minutes, while close to 2 chick-bearing nests, I was hit 58 times. The earliest chicks are getting quite well grown but there are lots of eggs yet to hatch and still some being laid.
The mini-tempests and associated rain which moved over a lot of the province during the past days missed us. We could see the heavy rain just a few miles away and heard a bit of thunder but, fortunately for the tern chicks, nothing quite reached us.
Any cold, wet weather is bad for the young birds but heavy or sustained rain is a real killer. The chicks are unable to regulate their body temperature and, although parents do their best to protect the little ones, many die.
It's triple jeopardy. Even the best parents find it difficult to protect the chicks from severe or prolonged weather.The chicks can't be left alone and that limits the adult's ability to feed the chick (and themselves). Any disturbance may force the adult to leave the nest, expose the chicks and the chicks will try to hide in wet vegetation.
Today the rain did get here. About 3am until 8am it rained quite steadily. At times the rain was heavy. Then, thankfully it began to dry up and the larger chicks, at least, appear to have faired okay.
Now, as night approaches it's shut down with thick fog.
There have been up to 4 BLACK TERNS around lately, one of which is a 2nd year bird that hasn't attained full adult plumage.
Song birds are scarce out here in summer & winter, in direct contrast to the migrations. Other than our resident SAVANNAH SPARROWS, a single BLUE JAY, STARLING or warbler is usually notable. This year there was an unusual number of migrant CATBIRDS that lingered last. At least two of those have stayed. The jury is out as to whether there is nesting.
Wednesday there was a really brilliant BROWN THRASHER and a few days before there was a single Blue Jay. Yesterday, a BARN SWALLOW.
PEREGRINES are a continuing threat to the island's larger birds. Yesterday there was one of the falcons hunting by 06:30 and a 2nd showed up shortly thereafter. Based on size along, both appeared to be female. One was fully mature and the other a bit young.
The GANNETS are still very much in evidence, although there hasn't been any new egg to replace the one that was broken.
It's so late in the year that a re-lay wouldn't succeed, anyway. The core group of 3 Gannets appears to have grown to 5. In addition, there are 3 or more occasional visitors.
I see that my "Jelly Sparrows" are back at it and at least one appears to be trying to carry jelly to its young. That got really difficult today because the rain turned the jelly into something resembling thick grape soup.
The Catbirds are taking jelly but not as much as the Savannah Sparrows, The Cats seem more inclined towards grapefruit.
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