RIP Blork

We sadly have to report that we have lost our beautiful Blork. All had been well for a long time when we noticed a small clump of bloodied feathers on the ground near the door to the enclosure. We looked around, but there was nothing else. Many of the birds are squabbling, so we decided it was just a slightly more epic fight than we usually have - until we found more feathers. We immediately feared another rat had got in, and diligently searched the entire perimeter - no holes, no dead birds (we have always found bits of birds after rat attacks). Chloe noticed a feather drifting down from the top of the net, but there were no holes in the roof, so we put it down to normal moulting and a windy day...
We were worried though, and did a head-check count of all our birds. Snowpea and Blork could not be found. Blork, when we last saw her, had a slightly damaged eye, probably from fighting off an amorous male.
I don't know why Seb climbed onto the shed roof, but he did, and there were more feathers. I went up, and there she was (or wasn't, all that was left was a leg and her wings!). She'd been eaten - through the net - by a hawk. We think she flew up onto the shed roof, which is about a metre below the top of the net, and, probably while hesitating and a bit confused about where she was, she was seen and taken. There was no hole in the net, but it would be very easy for a raptor to strike and reach her through the net at that distance.
Poor lovely girl!
So now we are back to square one, with too many males...
Let's hope the latest broods survive and am dominated by females!

Comings and goings

We've had a lot of girls sitting over Spring and into Summer, so finding a little clutch of warm eggs is becoming commonplace. This nest is Snowpea's latest brood - or so we thought...

Here is Spock, sneaking onto the nest, laying her own egg and attempting to roll Snowpea's eggs out!

 

Spock taking advantage of the situation

 Snowpea wasn't having any of Spock's takeover attempt however - as soon as Spock finished laying, Snowpea returned to her nest, pushed her eggs back into position and fluffed back over them. We know the birds often have communal nests, but it is rare that one will continue to lay in a shared nest once the sitting mother is in place.

Snowpea back in place

 There's been quite a bit of change in recent weeks - five birds (three boys and two girls) have gone to live with young William and his sister Brooke, on the Tasman Peninsula. William wanted a quail for his birthday - and got a small flock! We hope they'll all be happy together.

Back in our garden, Spock's little chick is growing into a very handsome male. We've called him Fedderdix.

Fedderdix surveying his domain - the grapes are coming along nicely...

"I am quail...hear me call!"

 After selling five birds, we also did a swap - giving two of our girls in return for...Mr Frizzles. We're hoping he'll bring a new bloodline to our flock. He's certainly trying his best to get to know all the girls! He has lovely markings, and is very friendly, having been hand-reared. He also has a club-foot, which makes him a bit ungainly, but doesn't seem to worry him at all.

Introducing...Mr Frizzles!

At full stretch - mid dust bath!