It seems like just yesterday that the first chicks were hatching in our productivity plots, but, in fact, many of them are already about a month old and large enough to band. We only have a short window of opportunity for getting this done, since it's around this age that chicks begin leaving their nests and moving to different areas of the colony, where their parents will continue feeding them for several weeks before the chicks are able to fly.
We banded our first round of nestlings on Chester Island last week, and both of us came away with our arms and faces covered in scratches. The nestlings weigh almost as much as adults at this stage, and their bills, though shorter, are just as sharp. Plus they're very agile. While adult pelicans are silent, pelican chicks are extremely vocal, making the whole process loud as well as hazardous.
Besides starting on chick banding, we've also been continuing productivity monitoring and behavioral observations, collecting lots of fish samples, and helping out with the annual censuses on Shamrock and Chester Islands.
Besides starting on chick banding, we've also been continuing productivity monitoring and behavioral observations, collecting lots of fish samples, and helping out with the annual censuses on Shamrock and Chester Islands.
| Following the Shamrock census, we installed four new productivity plots on that island and captured five adults for transmitter attachment, which brings our total to 25 for the year (88 overall). We also spotted a juvenile Brown Booby on Shamrock. This pelican relative breeds in the Caribbean but rarely visits the United States, so it was a treat to see one here. |
Beautiful weather, light winds, great birds. We're living a charmed life in Texas!