Update on families and friends - December 7th

It is as though we have families on the island, even if it’s just our favourite birds and their young. There I love working out names for the young just as they are about to fledge. There is one black robin whose offspring are always named after islands. I was keen for Stewart and South, but got out voted and we decided on Whenua Hou (also called Codfish Island where the Kakapo live) and Ulva, another great bird island in Paterson Inlet, off Stewart Island. Another bird’s offspring are named after Norse Gods. We decided on Freya and Loki for her two chicks. If the nest I found today (that makes two nests now) has chicks, I’m hoping to name one after my niece Aroha.

A black robin chick:

I know that Alex has introduced you to some of our favourite birds, so I thought I should update you on their progress:

Fast Eddie and his mate, the tomtit pair who live around the west side of the hut have eggs, which should be hatching any day now. Fat Freddie and his girl, who live further up Summit track past the toilet also have eggs, but we don’t know when they were laid so are not sure of their hatching date. We’ll keep checking the nest of course and hope to hear the chirp of tiny birds in the near future.

Drusilla, the female tomtit in Ikes Bush, has three chicks that look like they have just had posh highlights put in and are about to fledge.

Drusilla's three chicks:

We went to check on Liddy and her chicks yesterday, to weigh and band them. To our distress all of her gorgeous chicks have died. Two of her chicks must have died a few days ago and she removed them from the nest. Liddy was brooding one dead chick that must have died just a few hours ago when we visited the nest. It was very quiet in the hut for a few hours after this finding as we were all very sad about it. When there are only 160 black robins in the world, losing three nestlings at once is a huge blow to the future of the black robins.

Black robin chick:

On a lighter note:

“Sophie, you know AB18?” asked Melanie.

“Which one is that?”

“The one up the tree.”

Brigitta laughed so much her tea nearly came out of her nose.