So far so good………

for the baby falcon. Still alive! I figure Mum must be feeding it. If not I’d say it would have died by now. As I type it’s 102 hours and 20 minutes old, but hey, who’s counting

We also have 4 fertile Great Grey Owl eggs, and another two that I haven’t candled (candling is the process where a concentrated light can be shone through an egg and reveal any development inside) yet. If we get all these out, late May will be a busy time for feeding baby owls.

We had another terrific day at The Falkirk Wheel yesterday (Monday) where Robin stepped up to the plate and managed his first commentary with demonstration. The boy did good!

The dynamics in the eagle aviary have really changed. The male had been the dominant figure, very much in control of high perches and the nest. However, over the past few days, the female Golden Eagle has exerted her power and dominance and without doubt has taken the lead role in the aviary. This turnaround may bode well for next years breeding season as his pressure had been suppressing her breeding instinct. This change may have her hormones racing at the right time next year.

Our first pair of Harris hawks are rasing young now, with the second pair having their clutch due to hatch in about another 10 days. I love all the new life.

I reported in an earlier blog about the sad demise of our superb old male Redtail Hawk (Buteo Jamaicensis) at the end of the season – killed by a hare. Well we find out in about a week if his very old Dad has sired any new males and if so, we’ll be having one. The place really isn’t right without him here, and his half brother (his Mum died a few years ago) would make it feel right again.

I think that’s all for now. I have a week of pest control (early starts) physio (sore shoulder) and another consultant peering into my dodgy ear (best reach for the tweezers, or strimmer to clear the path), but I’ll keep you all up to date on the progress of the babies and the eggs.

Thanks for looking in.

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