The Diary of a BTO nest recorder: Mallard

Wednesday, 16 April 2014

Mallard

Really short on time this morning so spent a couple of hours cold searching gorse for Chaffinch and Long-tailed Tit nests. Didn't find any but did have a female Mallard slip quietly off nine eggs. My first Mallard record.......

1 comment:

Haddock19 April 2014 at 13:15
Wow.... look at the lining of feathers inside.
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Simon Taylor (Cornwall)

I spend most of the year nest recording as part of the British Trust for Ornithology's "Nest Record Scheme". I very rarely go birdwatching, do not keep any lists, i do not go twitching rare birds, all my spare time for 6 months of the year is dedicated to Nest Recording. During the winter I spend time repairing / making nest boxes. I am also a huge fan of garden wildlife. My main nest recording area is the woods down the road from me at Treslothan but I also monitor breeding sea birds at Hells Mouth. I currently have approx 190 nest boxes. I am a member of BTO and also Bumblebee conservation and currently the only registered BTO Nest Recording Mentor in Cornwall. I can be contacted at simontaylor346"at"gmail.com

Chick codes explained

When the eggs hatch the young are then given codes as to their condition and feather growth. The young in nests found in the woods start off as naked and blind and after 4-5 days their eyes begin to open. The sheaves from which their wing feathers will grow from begin to emerge, this being called "in pin". Once the feathers begin to emerge they are coded FS (feathers short) when they are 1/3rd emerged, FM (feathers medium) when 2/3rd's emerged and FL (feathers large) when fully emerged.

NA -Naked

BL - Blind

EY - Eyes just open

IP - In pin

FS - Feathers short

FM - Feathers medium

FL - Feather's large

RF - Ready to fledge

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Wednesday, 16 April 2014

Mallard

1 comment: