Lets go to the Gym :)

The chicks are well into flight training at the moment - a great time to come and see these little (or rather large) guys working out. It's muscle building time!

Flight Training for the chicks consists of them basically flapping their wings in the wind - they don't actually fly as part of their flight training. So when they take off on their inaugural flight they will head straight out the sea for 5 years, never touching land until they return to find a mate. It's an amazing (and rather nervous) time as we wait for our first chick to fledge....

Did someone say Salmon?

Salmon is on the menu for one lucky chick!!
One of our foster chicks is now being supplementary fed as its foster mother (who laid an infertile egg this season) has not been seen for a number of weeks.
Thanks to New Zealand King Salmon who kindly donated us the fish!!

Itchy and Scratchy

The moulting stage for our chicks has begun!!
They are all looking rather cute and scruffy as their soft downy feathers fall out giving way to their fantastic adult wing feathers.
Now is a great time to see this special stage in the birds breeding cycle!! Our chicks are often seen stretching and flapping their wings in an attempt to rid themselves of any loose feathers and no doubt that irritable itchy feeling :)

Pesky Neighbours

Conservation work at its best!!
So far this season 69 rats and 3 cats have been caught!!
The chicks are reaching 3 months of age at the moment so are slowly getting to the size that the risk of predation reduces, however you can never be too safe...

Sad News :(

Our last chick finally hatched on the 17th February, which was followed by several wet and rainy days. Unfortunately as a result the chick became very weak and died only 3-4 days after hatching.

On the upside our remaining 19 chicks are putting on weight very nicely and are preparing for their parents to leave them on the nest by themselves. The adults will then commence to return every 1-2 days to feed the chicks.

"Congratulations, it's a ......"

Our chicks are just about all hatched. The first chick hatched on the 19th January so will be reaching 4 weeks of age and getting close to 3kg in weight!!
We have 20 successful nests currently, with 19 chicks hatched so only one to go!

It's time to Celebrate!

Wishing Everyone a Happy and Safe Holiday!

Not only are we celebrating the festivities of Christmas we are thrilled to have sighted a record number of birds this season!! 7 of which are chicks returning for the first time after their 5 year voyage around the Antarctic.