Yours truly together with Andy and Will visited the Sand Martin colony on Wednesday where we caught 25 martins. Here’s a LINK to that day for readers to catch up.
During our 4 hours of work with the Sand Martins we noted a pair of Avocets across the more distant, quieter area of the farm that has less traffic from farm vehicles. The larger farm contains fishing lakes where anglers often occupy the wet edges of two other pools that would otherwise be attractive to Avocets and the like.
The Avocets were very vocal across a wide area and engaged in aggressive bouts of chasing off passing crows and gulls. as well as surveying us from above.
It seemed fairly obvious that the adult birds had youngsters in tow and were in the process of showing their chicks the ropes while letting them explore their immediate birth area. It’s a process that birds must go through so as to prepare youngsters for when they go it alone.
Avocet
We three met up again this morning in the hope of locating and then ringing the chicks, Andy with his trusty landing net, me and Will with binos and sharp eyesight respectively. Three heads and three sets of eyes are better than one when finding wader chicks that can run, hide, swim or submerge, often all three.
And so it proved. As soon as we approached the pool we thought might be the one we saw three chicks almost together at the edge of the pool, chicks of the perfect size for ringing. Within a couple of minutes all three Avocet chicks were in the landing net, then quickly ringed and released to their parents close by.
Avocet
Avocet chick
Avocet chicks
Avocet
Avocet
Note: Avocet Recurvirostra avosettta is a specially protected species.
All birds are protected in some form, but some species have additional protection during the breeding season as do their nests, eggs and dependent young.
To disturb Avocets and other species we have a special licence in advance.
In England and Scotland, permits for ringing and/or nest recording are issued by the BTO on behalf of the relevant Country Agency; licences for other activities are issued directly from Natural England or NatureScot. In Wales, all licences are issued directly by Natural Resources Wales but ones for ringing and/or nest recording are applied for via the BTO, British Trust for Ornithology.
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9 comments:
How clever to catch three chicks relatively easy and ring them. They grow into a striking adult. So, what's the purpose of a beak shaped so unusual, or maybe usual, with my limited kowledge of water birds?
Avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta)
It's the bird with the upturned bill, the only one in the world to have this design feature. This allows it to place the flat part of the beak just below the water surface and walk forward sweeping it in an arc to ensure it doesn't miss any food particles.
Wonderful stuff Phil and I'm stuck in my garden with five foxes. Some people have all the luck. May you have much more.
Mike.
Well done on catching the 3 chicks. Love these birds and their unusual bills. Cheers Diane
Outstanding day's work!
Avocets are such graceful-looking birds. We've found nests on a few occasions during bird census projects and it's always a special treat. The new chicks are incredibly difficult to spot if they don't move.
Gini and I hope your weekend is a happy one!
Hello,
The Avocets are so pretty and their chicks are adorable.
Wonderful series of photos.
Take care, have a great day and happy new week.
As always i love visiting you and seeing your birds. Today's avocets are very cute.
Bravo on catching the three chicks, Phil!
The Avocets are beautiful.
Happy Tuesday!
Lovely to see the Avocets and the chicks ... so sweet.
All the best Jan
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