Update from Roland Digby
On Friday 14 July, we finally got the first couple of broods of birds out into the release aviary. Because of the storm we couldn’t put the birds out as early as we’d hoped (Wednesday 12 July), so the first couple of broods were a bit older than the 7 days of age that we usually put them out at. Nevertheless they seemed fine for their extra couple of days in the house (see photo from evening of 13 July below).
First brood of chicks indoors waiting for storm to abate before being moved outside, 13 July 2017. Photo by Nikolay Yakushev/BirdsRussia.
A further 8 birds were moved on the 14th, another 7 on the 15th and the last 7 on the 16th. During this period the weather was mild, but with the usual Meinypil’gyno fog and mist until yesterday when conditions cleared up and we had some well deserved warm and dry weather which has continued through to today which has been a real scorcher (probably not by UK standards mind you as I still seem to be wearing thermals!).
Chicks feeding at entrance of rearing coop, 19 July 2017. Photo by Roland Digby/WWT.
All birds are now settled and adjusted to the change of temperatures and all extra heating was turned off this morning. We are also starting to mix the broods so as to give them access to more space as they grow and by Friday 21st all birds should be mixed and have full access to the rearing / release aviary. There’s quite a mix of ages, with the older birds expected to start flying (not very well) in the next 2-3 days, and since yesterday, there has been lots of jumping up and down flapping.
Older chick, 14 days old, feeding on freshly caught Daphnia, 19 July 2017. Photo by Roland Digby/WWT.
The ages are still close enough together to allow for a single release and, weather permitting, we plan for this to happen on 28 July.
One of the younger chicks, 10 days old, feeding on Daphnia, 19 July 2017. Photo by Roland Digby/WWT.
As I said earlier, the weather has been lovely for the last couple of days and Evgeny and the Chinese delegation were finally able to leave today on their helicopter that had been delayed since the 12th.
Yesterday Ivan and I had a close, but not dangerous, encounter with a bear as one came on to the marsh and started to dig up young souslik (ground squirrels). The wind was in our favour, so the bear was not aware of us sitting on the Vekzdia hode watching it dig around 60 meters away from us. Once it had got its prize, it went off on its way and here is the obligatory bear photo for this year.
Obligatory bear photo from the Monument Marsh, 18 July 2017. Photo Roland Digby/WWT.
That’s all from me for now. Thank you to everyone who’s reading these updates. If you don’t hear from me before, I’ll make sure to send an update shortly after the release.
You are doing wonderful work. Thanks for the blog and all the photos. Good luck to the birds on release day and after.
GREAT JOB! It’s so nice to see the chicks growing up well. Hope to hear more from your team on the release!
Thank you for your detail infirm with kindness.
God bless for you and all about SBS in the world.
Fabulous. Lovely to get this encouraging news.
Best of luck for release day JULY 28 and sincerely hope for good weather for them to experience their freedom.
Also hope obligatory bear keeps his distance!
What a resounding success you have achieved over the past few years. Well done and many thanks for all your tireless dedication to help secure a future for these super little birds and for including your supporters with regular updates
Continuing appreciation for everything you have all done
Mo Warren
This is wonderful news Roland. Thank you and Birds Russia for all your hard work over the weeks and I hope all goes well with the release. How is the little guy or girl with the poorly leg doing? I hope he/she survived OK.
Take care of yourselves and keep that pesky bear busy with ground squirrels not Spoonies!
Helena