More media

Last week TT was here to make a news report which later was picked up by Skånska dagbladet and Metro.

Egg-laying?

Today Juno has started to sit on the nest, and she only comes down to feed or to stretch her wings. I guess that means that she has started to lay her eggs. I takes several days to lay the eggs, and when that is finished, I expect that she will stay on the nest. Last year she did'nt come down to feed for the first time on the 22nd of March, so this year they seem to be at least one week earlier. But judging from her open beak it is already warm in the nest - last year we still had a thick layer of snow on the 22nd!

Juno staying in the nest means that Siden's long period of hard work starts. First, he has to feed his female during the incubation, and then he has to feed her AND the hungry chicks for several weeks. When they are big enough to be left alone in the nest, Juno will help with the feeding...but that is weeks away.

As Juno was in the nest I didn't expect them to be interested in anymore building material, but as I was brushing one of the horses just beside the aviary, I just propped some of the abundant winter coat through the mesh, and ZOOM! In a blink Juno was there to collect the horse hair.

//Helena

Experienced nest builders

It is not only Siden and Juno who learned from building a nest last year. Also I know what twigs are preferred and in what order.
So when I started to manufacture the pieces of hemp strings they used for lining last year, Siden and Juno was thrilled - clinging to to the fence, their bodies screaming  - hurry up!

 

 //Helena

Two weeks early

The winter in southern Sweden has been unusually mild, and the last week has been nicely spring-like. Siden and Juno has already courted each other for a few weeks, and we have them separated from the rest of group in one of the aviaries.
When we came home from Bavaria last week they started on their nest - same spot as last year- but it took them several days to find the perfekt starting-twigs. They tried out at least 40-50 twigs before the base of nest finally started to form.

Last year they didn't start building until mid March, and on March 13th it looked like this!


 //Helena

Visiting Austria and Bavaria

Last week we visited Auguste von Bayern in Bavaria, and also made a quick stop at Haidlhof for a chat with Thomas Bugnyar. Mathias was discussiong a joint book project with them both, and at Auguste's place we also met Ivo, who is doing planning experiments on the New Caledonian crows.
Unfortunately I completely forgot to take photos, but Mathias shot some pictures of these lovely little black creatures...hand raised baby Caledonians..!

//Helena

Research on the news

Last week, the news report made by the local tv-news some time ago appeared on tv. Watch it HERE.

Smelly clams

We get most of our raven food from the local ICA Kvantum grocery store. As you can guess, we are very grateful for this, as the ravens eat quite a lot - most of it meat. As the food that we get is past due date, it sometimes gets extremely smelly - especially fish and seafood. And even if the ravens don't mind, we still have to handle it...or get it stuffed into our pockets or into our collars. It has happened more than once that we have sensed a weird odour half a day...before finding a piece of rotten liver, neatly hidden in one of our pockets. This is why fish and seafood is best given frozen, or when the temperature is below zero.
Especially clams is a rare dish on the raven meny, so when we got several packages of clams last week, we were quite happy! Not only because it diversifies the diet - it is also enriching. The ravens seem to enjoy the shape and size as much - or even more - as the content. A bit like a Kinder egg.

Best to bring my clam where ever I go.

//Helena